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At Dickinson Dees LLP, Duncan Fisher specialises in private housebuilding matters, and practice head John Ralph is a property finance expert. The team secured new instructions from North Lincolnshire Homes and Homes for Heroes in 2010, and acted for Bellway in several multimillion-pound residential developments. Clients are quick to highlight its SIPP expertise.

Eversheds LLP is currently advising Newcastle upon Tyne City Council in the pre-ballot stage of the housing stock transfer of a Grade II-listed estate in Byker, and One North East and Northumberland County Council on a development agreement for the redevelopment of Blyth Town Center. Adam Heather leads the real estate team, which has a particular focus on ports. Key clients include Greggs, The Northumberland Estates and University of Newcastle.

The team at Muckle LLP ‘consistently meets and exceeds clients’ requirements with exceptional depth and breadth of experience’. New client gains include Persimmon plc, South Tyneside Council and University of Sunderland. The 20-fee-earner team includes newly promoted partners Jason Wainwright and Will McKay; and ‘rising star’ James Armstrong. Clients praise Jonathan Combe for his ‘incredibly astute and knowledgeable approach’.

Ward Hadaway is advising Nexus on complex agreements relating to the £20m development of Haymarket Metro Station, and Ebac on the sale of its former manufacturing plant and office premises to Tesco. Simon Priestley’s public sector team continues to advise a large number of NHS trusts and local authorities on property matters, with Simon Errington a specialist in this area. Key clients include Barratt, Persimmon and Ben Bailey Homes.

The team at Watson Burton LLP continued to provide specialist advice on two major projects in the North in 2010, namely Silverlink Property Development plc’s £200m mixed-use project, and SAS Trust’s mixed-use development project at Durham Gate. Simon Scougall left to join Bellway plc’s in-house team.

Paul Earnshaw’s team at Crutes Law Firm advised longstanding client Wordie Properties on the purchase of the 18,000 sq ft Manor View House, and acted for St Oswald’s Hospice in lease negotiations for several new shops. It continues to provide advice on property investment and development, landlord and tenant issues and secured lending, particularly in the healthcare and leisure sectors.

Paul Taylor leads the ‘excellent’ team at Hay & Kilner, which recently utilised its care home expertise in several transactions for a number of major players in the sector. The ‘extremely swift and thorough’ Gail Marshall is currently advising Dene Films on its relocation to new Ouseburn Valley headquarters. Clients value Nicola Tiffen’s expertise.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s commercial property department is the largest in the firm, and includes Howard Gold and five associates. It continues to build on its extensive leisure sector expertise, and is currently advising the Factory Shop on several national retail leases in light of its plans to expand.

The ‘incredibly knowledgeable and efficient’ Alexandra Westwood leads the team at Optima Legal, which includes the ‘excellent’ Philip Dine. The firm continues to handle ART Properties’ residential and commercial property portfolio, and recently acted for Bluedene on the expansion of the Players bar chain.

Short Richardson & Forth LLP’s David Richardson focuses on investment property and commercial property development, and Timothy Luckhurst-Matthews advises mainly on commercial lease transactions.

The ‘exceptional’ Andrew Walker and Hilary Parker jointly head the real estate department at Sintons LLP. The team provides asset management services to the Church Commissioners for England and several high-net-worth individuals, and recently advised Northern Developments Group on a redevelopment project that included a £12m student village.

The Newcastle office of Jacksons Law recently advised a national property investment company on the sale of a prime asset in Newcastle to a pension fund for £3.8m.

Samuel Phillips Law Firm advises businesses and families on property acquisitions and disposals, commercial contracts, and landlord and tenant arrangements.

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