Commercial property & Land development

Our focus

We believe that the right legal advice, given in a commercially minded way, can be the difference between a deal happening or not, particularly when acting in difficult and challenging market conditions.

We pride ourselves on being able to deal with the most complex of projects yet give advice in a clear, commercial and concise manner.

Our team has an excellent understanding and knowledge of property law and associated matters. We also have a complete understanding of the property market as a whole, acting for clients on a national basis.

Whatever transaction you are contemplating, we understand that there are numerous factors which come into play. Those could be a combination of timing, different commercial aims as well as finance related issues. We aim to help steer your transaction so that all issues are harmonised and deadlines are met. Our focus is working with you early on to map out the legal route from start to end and to build with you time and cost frames against that for each stage of the work.

Our expertise

Our clients stem from all different sectors including:

  • ‘blue chip’ businesses

  • investment property companies

  • manufacturers and retailers

  • local government

  • land owners

  • developers

  • house builders

  • charities

  • schools

  • pension funds

  • landlords, tenants and occupiers across

We regularly deal in transactions concerning offices, investment properties, business and retail parks (including estate management), shopping centres, industrial/factory sites all in the following service areas:

    • Freehold and Leasehold acquisitions and disposals including new office headquarters or relocations

    • Options and overage agreements

    • Secured lending finance on single assets and portfolios

    • SIPP/SSAS pension acquisitions and disposals

    • New leases;

    • Agreement for lease;

    • Business lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954;

    • Assignments;

    • Underlettings;

    • Sales and leasebacks;

    • SIPP/SSAS occupier leases;

    • Licences (such as for works, assignment, occupancy);

    • Portfolio management services;

    • Rent Reviews;

    • Dispute Resolution services (working alongside our Property Litigation department):

    • Service Charge issues;

    • Lease terminations/Surrenders;

    • Dilapidations

    • Voluntary business lease renewals

    • Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 statutory lease renewals

    • Rent review issues (interim and final)

    • Section 25 notices – landlord’s statutory renewal and determination notices

    • Section 26 notices – tenant’s statutory request for renewal notice;

    • Section 27 notices – tenant’s notice to end a lease

    • Contested renewals

    • Court proceedings (working alongside our Property Litigation department)

    • Collaboration agreements

    • Commercial, Residential and Mixed use sites

    • Conditional contracts subject to planning

    • Development agreements

    • Equalisation agreements

    • Finance related matters (including staged drawdown finance and structured finance)

    • Initial consultations on early site analysis, including title reviews/viability studies with third party advisers etc.

    • Land purchase agreements and negotiations

    • Land promotion agreements

    • Joint venture developments

    • Ransom strips Overage

    • Oversailing and other requisite licences

    • Site assembly matters

    • Statutory planning agreements and conditions (including s106/CIL and subsequent variations, s38 and s104 agreements)

    • Substation transfers and leases

    • Wayleave agreements/deeds of easements

    • Post-completion site matters including residential plots sales

Our solicitors work closely with our clients and their other external advisers, including project management and design teams to ensure that transactions are concluded effectively, within agreed timescales and most importantly in line with expectations.

For more information, please contact Christopher Dodd on 0333 577 2250.