Michael Lawley Receives Property Personality of the Year

Mike has been working in Wales for over forty years with Cooke & Arkwright, and over that period has become a very well known and respected person on the Welsh property scene. In his long career he has dealt with a wide variety of major private, public and voluntary sector clients and has dealt with properties predominantly in South Wales but also across Wales more widely, and the UK. Much of the focus of his work over the years has been around development and especially on re-generation projects. He had a significant involvement in advising CBDC in the Cardiff Bay development from its formation through to its eventual wind up, and similarly has had a long involvement over 30 years in Barry Waterfront, and other major regeneration schemes on reclaimed land over the years such Nantgarw Colliery.

Mike was Managing Director of Cooke & Arkwright for over twelve years and has now been Chairman for almost ten years. He has also in a voluntary capacity been Vice Chairman of the University of South Wales, sat on the Board of CBI Wales and RICS UK, and various Welsh Government working groups. Mike currently Chairs the Llandaff Diocesan Board of Finance and sits on the Representative Body of the Church in Wales. In recent years the focus of Mike’s work has been on major residential development projects and in particularly as lead advisor to the Plymouth estate on the Plasdŵr development scheme which is now in the process of delivering up to 7,000 much needed houses and associated facilities for Cardiff.

Commenting on the Award (which had been kept secret until announced on the night), Mike said “I am delighted but yet humbled to be given this Insider Award. Working in the Wales property scene and its people over the years has been an exciting time. It was great for my small input to be recognised by this Award, and have the chance to reflect on everything that I have done over the years and the very tangible results that working in the property sector gives you. I couldn’t have done it without Cooke & Arkwright, a proudly independent firm which is prepared to back its people as well as its clients, in what often can be longer shots, but ones which come to fruition in most cases.”