A year's networking in just one night

Billed as "a year's networking in one night", the event, organised by the Solent office of national law firm Shoosmiths, was a unique opportunity for local property lawyers, agents, bankers and surveyors to meet up, let their hair down and make valuable new contacts in the process.

Shoosmiths launched the networking event last year to huge acclaim from the region's property specialists and the enormous number who attended this year has consolidated it as the must attend event in the property calendar.

The evening lasted until the venue - the city's Wild Orchid restaurant - closed and then continued into the night at not one but two local nightclubs.

Joint organiser Kirsten Hewson, who is a partner in Shoosmiths' planning law group, said: "It was a fantastic evening, and a really good opportunity for people to network and meet contacts face-to-face whom they might usually only get to speak to on the telephone.

"I'm sure that deals will be done as a result, and it just goes to prove that doing business doesn't have to be all work and no play.

"There were people at the event that came from as far afield as Poole, Brighton, even Nottingham and twice as many attended as last year - so all in all it was a huge hit."

The event was spearheaded by lawyers from two of Shoosmiths' specialist property teams - planning partner Kirsten and associate Alistair Walton and partner Simon Knott, from the firm's commercial property team.

As a result, it was attended by representatives from all the main property organisations on the south coast, including Chesterton, Hughes Ellard, Bond Pearce and Barclays Bank to name a few.

Surveyor Zoe Harris, of Hughes Ellard in Fareham, added: "The evening was an absolute success, everybody had a great time, and we were able to form good relationships with new contacts because it was more relaxing than a formal get-together.

"I definitely found it extremely useful."