It's with great sadness we confirm the passing of John Whitfield. John was diagnosed with cancer a little over a year ago and endured various courses of treatment, but very sadly succumbed to the disease.
John joined Taylor Garrett, one of the constituent firms from which Taylor Wessing was formed, in 1986. He was made a partner in what was then Taylor Joynson Garrett in 1987 and headed our real estate group from 1997 to 2003. John retired from the partnership in 2017 but continued to work with us and many of our clients as a consultant.
Having been with the firm for 36 years and recognised as one of the leading real estate lawyers in the City, John contributed a great deal and made a significant impact on everyone who knew and worked with him.
Senior Partner Dominic FitzPatrick said: "John was hugely respected within and outside of the firm, not only for his legal skills but also for his willingness to give his time and energies to support and mentor others. I had the privilege of working alongside him on many transactions. He always got to the root of an issue and found a creative and commercial solution, which is something that our clients and colleagues respected very much. Above all John was a lovely, generous man with a keen sense of humour and will be remembered for his enjoyment of life."
Partner Lauren Fendick said: "In everything he worked on, John's passion for helping our clients and our people succeed shone through. He was incredibly kind, fun and set the bar for creating the kind of environment you want to work in every day. John was instrumental in the development of my career. He was a strong advocate for women in the workplace, an ally for gender equality, and I wouldn't be where I am today without his support and mentorship."
In recognition of John's longstanding contribution to the firm, its clients and the legal industry, we will also be honouring and remembering John by renaming our 9th floor terrace in London, The Whitfield Terrace.
Board member and real estate partner Chris Turley said: "We will miss John enormously. He was a first class lawyer, a wonderful colleague as well as a dear friend and mentor whose kindness, talent and support were unwavering. For our terrace now to bear his name is a fitting tribute that will serve to keep him close in our memories for years to come. On behalf of everyone at the firm, our thoughts and condolences go to his family."
