Rising Stars

Commercial property: Nottingham and Derby in East Midlands

Browne Jacobson LLP

The real estate team at Browne Jacobson LLP works across the full spectrum of commercial property matters. Development and regeneration projects are particular areas of expertise, especially within the retail, leisure and logistics sectors. Property matters within the healthcare and education sectors are also focus areas. National real estate head Sarah Parkinson has particular experience in the effects of omni-channel retailing on lease agreements. Deputy head Barry Sully specialises in development land disposals and acquisitions. Suki Tonks is another key name, advising clients on complex development agreements and the acquisition of freehold and leasehold properties.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Parkinson; Barry Sully


Other key lawyers:

Dominic Swift; Roland Gray; Robert Wofinden; Gabor Taller; Suki Tonks


Testimonials

‘Client focused people with a positive attitude to take opportunities forward and get contracts agreed whilst providing good advice to clients’

‘Proactive problem solving approach to deal making.’

‘Can do attitude and always happy to debate solutions to challenges’

‘The team really care about the client and act quickly and efficiently.’

Key clients

LVMH – Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton group of companies


Walgreen Boots Alliance (Boots)


DPD


Wilko


PureGym


Canal and River Trust


Platform Homes


Paperchase


Deliveroo


Chesterfield Borough Council


Freeths LLP

The ‘professional, efficient and knowledgeable’ real estate team at Freeths LLP covers the entire spectrum of the industry, with a particular specialism in housebuilding and strategic land matters. Commercial and industrial development is another area of expertise, alongside property work within the care sector. Darren Williamson acts on all forms of commercial development for occupiers, developers and funds, particularly in the food and retail sectors. Jon Smart is an expert in care home development and residential land sales, while Guy Winfield focuses on acquisitions, disposals and complex development schemes.

Practice head(s):

Darren Williamson; Guy Winfield; Simon Abbott; Janet Rhodes; James Hart; Patrick Adie


Other key lawyers:

Jon Smart; Atiyya Khaliq; Heather Davies; James Clamp


Testimonials

‘The team is large enough to deal with the work that we put into them, but also small enough that the partner gets involved in most of our projects fairly closely.’

‘Professional, efficient and knowledgeable and well resourced team.’

Key clients

Barratt Developments Plc (Barratt David Wilson Homes)


Bellway Homes


Persimmon Homes


Davidsons Homes


Keepmoat Homes


Halfords


William Davis Homes


Harworth Group Plc


Aldi


Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company


EG Group (Euro Garages)


Tarmac


LNT


Chancerygate


Travis Perkins


Maria Mallaband Care Group


Waterfield Group (including Scotch Corner Designer Village)


Eddie Stobart


Nottingham Trent University


Toolstation Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising the Harworth Group on their ‘Thoresby Vale’ scheme, within Sherwood Forest, which is being developed as 800+ dwellings (ranging from apartments and starter homes, through to five-bedroom houses and a retirement village) together with a 350-acre country park, commercial units and a link to the new ‘Robin Hood’ community centre.
  • Advising Toolstation on all matters relating to the development and letting of their new 493,098 square foot regional distribution centre at Prologis Park, Pineham.

Gateley Legal

Handling all aspects of work in the real estate market, Gateley Legal has considerable expertise in investment and development matters, as well as asset management, real estate finance and distressed property. Additionally, the firm is particularly experienced in the healthcare, residential development and pensions sectors. Adam Youatt leads the team, specialising in property investment and development work. Simon Taylor is an expert in development matters, including strategic land, logistics and urban regeneration. Steven Plummer acts for house builders, developers and land promoters dealing with residential development sites.

Practice head(s):

Adam Youatt; Steven Plummer


Other key lawyers:

Simon Taylor; Colin Gittus; Alex Parkes


Testimonials

Team which is client focused and brings refreshing commerciality and momentum to deals they are involved in.’

Steven Plummer is an outstanding residential development lawyer. He’s extremely commercial and innovative in how he approaches the legal aspects of residential property transactions. Service levels are outstanding and he’s extremely approachable.

Key clients

Custodian REIT plc


Southampton City Council


Concierge II Limited


Clowes Developments (UK) Limited


Avant Homes (England) Limited


McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd


Peter James Homes Limited


Southernwood Investments


Bildurn (Properties) Limited


Sygnature Discovery Limited


Work highlights


  • Acted for Avant Homes in the purchase of land at Birchwood Lane, Somercotes for immediate residential development and successfully secured an interest on neighbouring land for Avant Homes for future residential development of the wider area by way of an Option.
  • Acted for Custodian Property Income REIT plc on the purchase of a retail park in the Midlands for £15,000,000.
  • Advised Southampton City Council in relation to a detailed Development Agreement with Packaged Living for the comprehensive redevelopment of the former Toys R Us site, Weston Esplanade, Southampton

Geldards LLP

The commercial property team at Geldards LLP specialises in residential and commercial development work, where they handle large and complex deals for some of the biggest clients in the market. Other key work streams are industrial and logistics matters, as well as work in the public, education, utilities and motor retail sectors. Managing partner Graham Banks leads the Derby team and specialises in operational property, property investment and planning and environment law. David Watson leads the Nottingham team with experience in in transactional commercial real estate work. Jamie Gordon is particularly active in the utilities sector, while ‘knowledgeable and committed’ Heather Dixon leads the team’s industrial and logistics work.

Practice head(s):

Graham Banks; David Watson; Jamie Gordon


Other key lawyers:

Heather Dixon; Paul Hilsdon


Testimonials

‘Heather Dixon is the most knowledgeable and committed lawyer I’ve ever worked with. Her dedication to a deal is unbelievable, and her ability to juggle highly complex transactions whilst also working on several other deals at the same time is staggering’

‘All staff share the same philosophy of client first.’

Key clients

Cedar House Investments Limited


Trent Motor Traction Company Ltd


Nottingham City Council


Sleekmade Property Co Limited


Cenex Consulting Services limited


Bowmer & Kirkland and Peveril Homes Limited


Walgreens Boots Alliance


Clowes Developments (UK) Limited and Dove Valley Park Limited


DPK Management


BioCity Group Limited


Connections Legal Management


Derby City Council


Sheffield City Council


Nottinghamshire County Council


Electricity North West


Western Power Distribution


Omya UK Limited


Wacker Neuson Limited


UK Power Networks


Easement Solutions


ESP Utilities


Carlisle City Council


Connections Legal Management


Dwr Cymru Welsh Water


SMB Group (Brooksby Melton College and Stephenson College)


DCG (Derby College)


Vattenfall Networks


Milton Keynes Council


South Staffordshire District Council


Isle of Wight Council


Tees Valley Combined Authority


Leeds City Council


Eurocell plc


Foundry Top Co LLP


Redrow Homes Limited


Derbyshire County Council


Burnley Borough Council


Burnley Borough Council


Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council


Greater Manchester Pension Fund (Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council as administering authority)


Warrington Borough Council


Redditch Borough Council


GF Tomlinson Limited


South Staffordshire College


Work highlights


  • Advised Clowes Developments (UK) Limited on a group record breaking multi-million pound deal with international investor, Hines, for the development of 1.15million square feet of high-quality logistics space in the East Midlands.
  • Advised a motor retail group in the refinancing of their freehold and long leasehold properties in the region of £300 million.
  • Advising Warrington Borough Council on the acquisition of a solar farm at Doncaster, building on previous acquisitions of solar farms at Hull, York and Cirencester.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Shakespeare Martineau LLP are particularly experienced in the energy sector, where they act for energy developers and infrastructure investors on a variety of market-first projects. The later living and healthcare sector is another focus area, where the team acts for care home operators and investors on all level of their projects. Practice head Peter Dilks focuses on real estate matters in the energy and utilites sector while also handling large scale transactions. Victoria Bovington leads on the firm’s work for healthcare providers, while also specialising in development finance for banks and venture capitalists.

Practice head(s):

Peter Dilks


Other key lawyers:

Victoria Bovington; Sat Ubhi; John Buckley


Testimonials

‘Team is commercially savvy and always thinking what might be best for the client commercially rather than just legally. Pre-empt issues and consider things in the wider context.’

‘Very easy to work with, hard working and knowledgeable.’

‘I have dealt with John Buckley for many years now and always found his advice to be sound and helpful.’

Key clients

Statera Energy Limited


FPC Electric Land Limited


Electricity North West Limited


Western Power Distribution (now National Grid Electricity Distribution)


First Provincial Properties Limited


Asfordby Haulage & Storage


Last Mile Asset Management


Kona Energy Ltd


Johal Pension Fund


Shoby Properties Ltd


Work highlights


  • Acting for Asfordby Storage & Haulage Limited on the sale of over 600,000 sq. ft. industrial and logistics centre in Leicestershire to Urban Logistics REIT for over £40m.
  • Acting for Last Mile Asset Management on over 700 instructions in 2022, including innovating to project manage their transactions.

Shoosmiths LLP

Shoosmiths LLP handles some of the biggest real estate mandates in the East Midlands and nationally across the firm’s core areas. This includes real estate investment matters, as well as partnering transactions development work and strategic occupancy issues. The team is led by investment occupier and airport specialist Matthew Kenwood, who handles a range of complex transactional matters. Deborah Gordon Brown in portfolio acquisitions and disposals on behalf of property funds and and corporate occupiers. Su Kemp was promoted to partner in May 2022, specialising in occupier, airport and investment matters.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Kenwood


Other key lawyers:

Deborah Gordon Brown; Ellis Gardner-Browne; Su Kemp; Matthew Kemp


Testimonials

‘Very diligent and thorough, excellent to work with.’

‘Su Kemp – The star everyone needs in their team. An exceptional technical lawyer who knows our business – regularly feels like she is an addition to my in-house team (despite being external) and that in itself is testament as to how valuable she is.’

Key clients

AEW Europe


Arkley Commercial Property


Brunswick Property Partners


Crosstown Concerts Limited


Eel Power Limited


Estee Lauder Cosmetics Limited


Floral Street Fragrances Limited


GPS (Great Britain) Limited (“GAP”)


GRIDServe UK OMM Ltd (trading as GRIDServe)


HSBC UK Bank plc (Petroleum Finance)


IKEA Group of Companies


John Deere Limited


Mountain Warehouse Limited


Ollie Quinn Limited


Pizza Hut (UK) Limited


Rutland Cycles


Safestore Group


Starbridge Limited


Walgreen Boots Alliance Group of Companies


Whitman Laboratories Limited


White & Case


Yianis Group


Work highlights


  • Advised a South African fund manager on £230 million portfolio disposal to listed US investment giant Kennedy Wilson.
  • Acted for Brunswick Property Partners in acquisition of central Twickenham office property for £52m, building out the Akoya workplace brand. The counterparty was Aviva
  • Advised an investment manager on forward purchase of 608,000 square foot last mile logistics portfolio from a JV partners Chancerygate.

Flint Bishop LLP

Flint Bishop LLP is experienced in advising investor, housebuilders and landowners on a range of matters in the market. In particular, the firm’s development sub-team provides support to some of the UK’s largest developers on their flagship development projects. The firm also features a growing real estate finance practice. Ian Beardmore leads the team with extensive experience working in the retail, leisure, industrial and residential property sectors, while Ben Pickup specialises in complex property transactions. Ian Wilson and Sanveer Sandhu both joined the team in 2022, handling a broad spectrum of commercial property work.

Practice head(s):

Ian Beardmore


Other key lawyers:

Ben Pickup; Stephen McCarthy; Paul Sabin; Ian Wilson; Sanveer Sandhu


Testimonials

‘They go out of their way to understand clients requirements’

‘The practice always deals with any matters at speed. The attention to detail is far better than any other firm I have used. They also look at any issue in a creative way and come up with solutions.’

‘Sanveer Sandhu has always dealt with my affairs in a diligent way. He listens very carefully to my needs, questions my thinking and comes up with feasable solutions. I have not dealt with a better lawyer.’

Key clients

Bowmer + Kirkland Group of Companies


Clowes Developments Group of Companies


Ivygrove Developments Limited


MHA (Methodist Homes)


Donald Ward Limited


PM Wrigley & Co Limited


TMD Friction UK Limited


PKF Smith Cooper


Carrelli Homes Ltd


Work highlights


  • Acting for the developer of a large distribution centre built for a global online retailer.
  • Acting on the acquisition, development, financing, letting and sale of a town centre (including mixed use retail units, children’s day nursery and national large supermarket) for a new town currently being built near Exeter.
  • Acting on the freehold sale and associated leasehold new-build relocation of a regional distribution centre for a national tile distributor.

gunnercooke LLP

The primary areas of focus for gunnercooke LLP‘s real estate team are commercial and residential development, infrastructure, renewable energy and investments. Specifically, the firm is active in matters surrounding logistics, student development and minerals and waste. Brendan Walsh has over great experience in commercial and residential development and real estate investment. Matthew Grocock is experienced in residential and commercial development on behalf of landed estates and agricultural landowners. Bev Simms and Sarah Gunton are other key names.

Other key lawyers:

Brendan Walsh; Matthew Grocock; Bev Simms; Sarah Gunton


Testimonials

‘Brendan Walsh – Brendan is available and it gives me great comfort that he is always on top on the matter.’

‘The people that work for Gunnercooke are extremely knowledgeable. There are many different departments within Gunnercooke so you can use just one firm for most of your real estate matters.’

‘Sarah Gunton & Brendan Walsh, provide my company with outstanding service. The quality of work is exceptional. They are my go to lawyers for all my real estate matters. They provide me with advice when I need it.’

‘Forethought and an ability to understand issues before they have cropped up.’

Key clients

Brookland Group


Bedford Estate


Urban Logistics REIT


Wilson Bowden Developments Ltd (part of Barratts Group PLC)


Garner Holdings


William Davies Limited


Rolta Infotech


Harpur Crewe LLC


Zone Student Developments


BSP Capital


Oregon Timber Frame (England) Limited


Tune Developments Limited


Flexistay


Millhouse Developments


Unibar Restaurants limited


LG Capital Limited


R & S Properties


Work highlights


  • Advised Wilson Bowden on an option and promotion agreement for a strategic commercial and residential site comprising over 436 acres in Hertfordshire.
  • Advising Urban Logistics REIT on the letting of a portfolio of logistics warehouses across the East Midlands and North comprising over 370,000 sq ft.

Landsmiths Solicitors

A boutique property firm, Landsmiths Solicitors is split across commercial property and residential conveyancing teams, which often collaborate on complex issues including option and overage agreements. The teams handle a complex and high value work on behalf of a broad client base comprised of occupiers, developers, lenders and investors. Rachael Briggs and Vik Moothia lead the team.

Practice head(s):

Rachael Briggs; Vik Moothia


Testimonials

‘They are approachable, friendly, professional and flexible as they try to fit in with different client’s requirements.’

‘Everyone works as a team and there are certainly no egos, which makes it a pleasurable experience to instruct and work with them.’

‘All the staff at Landsmiths are professional, personable, approachable, very friendly and go out of their way to address any problem no matter how large or small.’

Key clients

200 Degrees Coffee Shops Limited


Artistic Spaces Limited


NOAP Properties Limited


Rush Hair & associated companies


The RH Group Ltd


Monk Estates Limited


Kennelpak Limited


Birds (Derby) Limited


Actons

Actons works across a broad range of matters concerning commercial transactions, including the sale and acquisition of freehold and leasehold premises, refinancing and development work. Caroline Pearson leads the team with deep experience working on large projects for residential and commercial sites. Associate Kerry Elliott joined the team in December 2022, specialising in freehold and leasehold acquisitions.

Practice head(s):

Caroline Pearson


Other key lawyers:

Kerry Elliott


Testimonials

‘Extremely competent team of legal advisors with a vast experience of knowledge, a super friendly and responsive team who went above and beyond in advising and assisting with my case.’

‘Actons are a highly experienced, dedicated and knowledgeable team providing an exceptional service. Their approach to problem solving is to be commended, always putting their client’s objectives first and in doing so, ensuring they achieve the best possible outcome for their clients. They are very friendly and approachable, tackling issues head on – nothing is too much for them. They are very responsive in situations and there are always clear lines of communication so, as a client, I always know exactly where I stand.’

‘Knowledge and experience of the partners and their ability to provide the best solution for the individual company’s requirements.’

Key clients

Chevin Homes (Derby) Limited


Framework Housing Association


Gainsborough Business Space Limited


John Cawley Developments Limited


Kings Crescent Limited


Lanterna Property Company Limited


Mansfield Sand Company Limited


Melton Mowbray Building Society


Nexa Finance Limited


Wynbrook Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised John Cawley Developments Limited on the £1m sale of a long leasehold office development in Nottingham.
  • Advised Lanterna Property Company Limited on the purchase of a block of serviced apartments in Nottingham for £1m and the associated leaseback to the apartment operator.
  • Advised Nexa Finance Limited on a loan facility to a developer for a proposed conversion of a site in Birmingham to residential apartments.

Nelsons Solicitors Limited

The commercial property team at Nelsons Solicitors Limited is active across a number of specialist areas, including residential development, commercial development, landlord and tenant and property transactions related to pension schemes. Riaz Dudhia leads the team with a specialism in commercial landlord and tenant matters, as well as land acquisition and disposal. Paul Hinchliffe has a particular expertise in acting for industrial and office commercial property owners.

Practice head(s):

Riaz Dudhia


Other key lawyers:

Paul Hinchliffe


Testimonials

‘The key attribute of Nelson’s commercial property team is the quality and accessibility of the team.’

‘Riaz Dudhia is one of the best out there.’

Key clients

Radford Holdings Limited


RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP


Universal Works Limited


Intelligent Money Limited


DCLC Limited and CVLC Limited


Anima Victoria Limited


Hydro Systems UK Limited


Westminster Developments (Leicester) Limited


Great Northern Bars Limited


Barrowcliffe Properties


National Justice Museum


T M Trustees Limited


W Westerman Limited


Giant UK Limited


Rolls-Royce plc


Hyperama plc


Smith Partnership

Smith Partnership advises on a broad range of commercial property matters, including landlord and tenant issues, developments and property finance work, particularly within the hospitality and healthcare sectors. Practice head Jason Wood is experienced in property development matters, as well as complex landlord and tenant issues. Danielle Upton advises on freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposal. Zoe Romain joined the team from Actons in 2022 and was promoted to partner in February 2023.

Practice head(s):

Jason Wood


Other key lawyers:

Danielle Upton; Zoe Romain


Testimonials

‘Smith Partnership really care. They give incredible personal service to our business.’

‘It is the caring side of the people we deal with at Smith Partnership that makes the difference from the other solicitors we have dealt with in the past.’

Key clients

Garibaldi Limited


Sovereign Crest Limited


Comex 2000 Limited


Rushden Enterprises Limited


Littler Investments Limited


HGV Direct


Metanodic Engineers Limited


Spirit Medical Limited


Development and Estate Limited