The Legal 500

Work Department

Real estate.

Position

Partner in real estate group, specialising in development and investment work. Clients include UBS Triton Property Fund, UBS South East Recovery Fund, Pramerica UK Ground Lease Fund, Oxford Properties, Rockspring, Tishman Speyer, Minerva, Exemplar Properties, Quintain, Ravenbourne Securities and Wharf Land Investments. He advised UBS Triton on the refurbishment and letting of Milton gate, EC2 in conjunction with Exemplar Properties. In March 2008 he advised UBS Triton on the letting of all but one floor of the building to Addleshaw Goddard LLP and the sale to Evans Randall in 2009. He recently acted for UBS Triton on the sale of One Carter Lane, EC2 to London & Stamford having originally acted on the purchase of the building in 2005. He advised UBS South East Recovery Fund on the redevelopment (in conjunction with City Offices) of Mondial House, EC4 as a 530,000-square-foot office scheme to be known as Watermark Place. He had acted on the purchase of the landmark building on the Thames from BT for in excess of £50m and in 2007 advised on the grant of a rent sharing lease to Oxford Properties who are carrying out the development and, in 2009, acted for Oxford Properties on the letting of this landmark City building to Nomura. He continues to advise Oxford Properties in relation to this asset following their acquisition of UBS’s remaining 50% interest. He advised Pramerica UK Ground Lease Fund (when it was known as UBS Secure Income Property Fund) in August 2008 on the purchase of a head leasehold interest at Vinters’ Place, EC4 and a leaseback to Vinters. In 2011 he subsequently acted for the fund on the acquisition of a further leasehold interest in the development. He continues to advise Minerva on the redevelopment of the historic Ram Brewery in Wandsworth, on the purchase of which he acted in 2006. He also acted fro Minerva Plc on their acquisition of Leinster House Hotel, London W2 in August 2007 for £20m and its recent sale in 2011. He most recently acted for Minerva on the sale of Cockpen House, Buckhold Road SW18 to Mount Anvill. In 2009 he advised Lebanese-based M1 Real Estate on the acquisition of 45 Pall Mall London, SW1 and Rockspring (on behalf of the National Pension service of Korea) on the acquisition of 88 Wood Street E22 for £183m. In 2010 he acted on the sale of the Dickins & Jones store on Regent Street for in excess of £220m. He has during the last year or so acted on the purchase of a number of properties for overseas investors including 33 Soho Square, W1 for in excess of £30m, Aliffe House, E1 for in excess of £30m, 2 Eastbourne Terrace, W2 for in excess of £90m and the former Burberry HQ on Regent Street for in excess of £20m.

Career

Articled clerk Simmons & Simmons 1993-95; assistant solicitor Reynolds Porter Chamberlain 1995-97; assistant solicitor Clifford Chance 1997-2001; partner Nicholson Graham & Jones 2001-03; partner Berwin Leighton Paisner 2003.

Member

The Law Society; City of London Law Society; British Council of Shopping Centres; Investment Property Forum; City of London Solicitors’ Company; Goldsmiths’ Company.

Education

Stowe School, Buckingham; Pembroke College, Oxford (1991 BA Hons; 1994 MA).

Leisure

Real tennis, lawn tennis, squash, skiing, sailing, shooting, bridge, food, wine. Member of Bishopsgate Ward Club, Candlewich Ward Club, Sea View Yacht Club, Queen’s Club, Carlton Club.

Practice Areas

Finance - property; Investment funds; Property - commercial property