Commercial property: elsewhere in the North in North
Archers Law LLP
Archers Law LLP's team handles a wide variety of commercial property matters across the Tees Valley region and the North East. Areas of expertise include real estate transactions, development projects, landlord-tenant work and commercial property finance transactions. Clients include banks, developers and freeholders. Promoted to partner in April 2019, Rachel List leads the team, which includes former practice head and development expert Christopher Todd.
Practice head(s):
Rachel List
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Archers have a very passionate team which serves its clients in the Tees valley area very well.‘
‘Rachel List is very hands on and ensures, is able to deliver on client expectations and takes ownership of the issues.‘
‘Archers always provides a quality, timely service.‘
Key clients
Subsea Innovation
Work highlights
- Sale of Subsea Innovation’s entire issued share capital to publicly listed company for c.£2m.
Baines Wilson LLP
In Carlisle, Baines Wilson LLP's key area of expertise is development projects, with wide-ranging experience in hotel development, school extensions, residential developments and other industrial and commercial projects. The team also regularly handles property transactions, as well as landlord and tenant instructions throughout Cumbria. Sean Logue takes the lead and is supported by Duncan Harty, whose expertise includes the agribusiness sector, and development and regeneration expert Laura Barnfield.
Practice head(s):
Sean Logue
Other key lawyers:
Duncan Harty; Elizabeth Sewell; Stephanie Bradley; Lucie Barnes; Sophi Al-Tikriti
Key clients
Genesis Homes (North)
Work highlights
- Advised Genesis Homes (North) Limited in connection with acquisition and financing of a Residential Development Site
- Disposal of a portfolio of care homes.
- Represented Party A in its £1.3m acquisition of a Residential Development Site from Party B
Burnetts
Burnetts, in Carlisle, handles a wide array of commercial property matters, including portfolio management, planning and development, pension fund portfolios and property finance, in addition to regionally specific issues pertaining to mines and minerals. The group is co-led by property finance and development expert Robbie Mather and Helen Hayward, whose robust client roster includes investment portfolio landlords and pension funds.
Practice head(s):
Robbie Mather; Helen Hayward
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Loan; Abigail Clucas
Testimonials
‘Helen Hayward, having first hand experience of the property sector, understands her clients’ needs and objectives and provides clear advice on what they want to do and what they need to do to achieve our goals‘
‘Accessibility, communication and accuracy are three values which come to mind‘
‘One of the leading teams in Cumbria; a progressive go-ahead approach‘
Key clients
H&H Group plc
Eden Housing Association
Investacc Pension Trustees
Cumberland Building Society
Stobart’s Group
Work highlights
- Helen Hayward is continuing to advise H&H Group Plc, a Cumbria-based business with a varied portfolio, including one of the largest livestock sales centres in the UK. She is advising on several ongoing strategic transactions including ongoing aspects of the development of a mixed-use commercial site in Carlisle (adjacent to Junction 43 of the M6)
- Burnetts is one of five advisers (and the only one based in the North West) appointed to the national panel for Investacc Pension Trustees Limited.
- For Thomas Armstrong Group plc, matters have included work on developments throughout the region, such as two current sites with a combined number of 159 plots and a further site in the pipeline of in excess of 100 plots for residential development in West Cumbria.
- Helen Hayward acted for ADR Properties Limited, an offshore client (Channel Islands), on the purchase of a head office in the centre of Woking (Surrey). It was purchased with a sitting commercial tenant, which added complexity to the deal.
- Sole legal adviser for all property matters relating to Eden Housing Association’s property portfolio which now stands at 2,000 units
Swinburne Maddison
Swinburne Maddison's Durham-based team's key areas of expertise are development work for developers and landowners, leasing and commercial property transactions. Clients include small and large developers, the owners of property portfolios and not-for-profit and charitable entities. The team is led by Victoria Walton, whose expertise includes acquisitions, sales, leases of commercial property and finance work.
Practice head(s):
Victoria Walton
Other key lawyers:
Simon Robinson; Kate Stephenson
Testimonials
‘The team are knowledgeable and friendly and go the extra mile to provide an excellent service‘
‘The firm offers a unique blend of professional legal services coupled with a no-nonsense attitude which has delivered consistent results for clients‘
‘The team’s close relationship with clients and key influencers across the Region is a key factor in them delivering on behalf of clients‘
Key clients
Durham Cathedral
The Esh Group
Atom Bank plc
Theakston Estates
Wynyard Park Land
Work highlights
- Negotiating collaboration agreement regarding promotion and development of c500 hectares of land to the north of Darlington, County Durham for approximately 4500 houses
- Acted on behalf of Hesler Homes Limited in relation to the finance of a development site outside of the North East and subsequent sale of the site
- Acted on behalf of a number of registered providers of social housing in relation to the acquisition of affordable housing elements of various residential development sites.
- Gillian Moir led on four new lease matters, two lease renewals, a surrender of a previous lease and licences to assign in respect of two existing leases in 2018 for Esh Space the Park Limited.
- Represented Gallowgate Developments Limited in its purchase of 2 Cook Way, North West Industrial Estate at a price of £1.5m plus VAT.
Tilly Bailey & Irvine
Headquartered in Wynyard, the team at Tees Valley heavyweight Tilly Bailey & Irvine has particular expertise in advising pension funds on acquisitions, disposal and management of their property portfolios. The group also regularly handles development site transactions in the residential and social housing sector. The group is led by Sara Garnett, who was promoted to partner in 2018.
Practice head(s):
Sara Garnett
Other key lawyers:
Andrew Beattie; Martin Levinson; Rhiannon Melrose
Testimonials
‘Andrew Beattie very conscientious and attentive to detail‘
‘Clients always feel in a good safe pair of efficient hands‘
‘Sara Garnett gives excellent legal advice, responds to call backs quickly‘
Key clients
IPM Personal Pension Trustees
Prism Planning
Landteam Property Investments
Gus Robinson Developments
Swale Valley Construction
Work highlights
- Advised IPM Personal Pension Trustees on the acquisition of an industrial estate comprising 21 separate units on behalf of a SIPP.
- Acted for Prism Planning Limited in the relocation of their business.
- Acting for Landteam Property Investments, the landlord of an office park in Middlesbrough.
- Acted for Gus Robinson Developments Limited in securing a number of sites for residential development.
- Acted in relation to the surrender of a registered lease and subsequent sale of the property with vacant possession with complex issues.
BHP Law
In Darlington, BHP Law's team has developed a niche in advising farmers and landowners on rural diversification issues, including renewable energy projects. The group also handles matters relating to commercial disposals and acquisitions, large-scale land development and agricultural tenancies. The group is led by veteran commercial property lawyer Peter Blackett.
Practice head(s):
Peter Blackett
Other key lawyers:
Kathryn Boyd; Liz Smith; Catherine Booth
Work highlights
- Acquisition of land for development
Endeavour Partnership LLP
Endeavour Partnership LLP in Stockton-on-Tees handles a wide range of property and development transactions, as well as real estate financing, with particular expertise in the leisure and healthcare sectors. The group is led by Simon Wake whose clients include a number of regional developers.
Practice head(s):
Simon Wake
Other key lawyers:
Jamie Brown; Alexandra Ketchley
Latimer Hinks Solicitors
Darlington's Latimer Hinks Solicitors handles the gamut of commercial property-related services, including transactions for sellers and buyers, landlord-tenant issues, real estate finance and trusteeships for regionally-, nationally- and internationally-based clients. Adam Wood leads the team, focusing on acquisitions and disposals, landed estates, mineral leases, secured lending and lease management.
Practice head(s):
Adam Wood
Other key lawyers:
Neil Stevenson; Martin Williamson
Work highlights
- Advised on the sale of a development site to a local housebuilder.
- Advised on the purchase of commercial premises.