Commercial property: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx in South East

The Milton Keynes team at Shoosmiths LLP advises clients on a broad range of commercial property matters, including acquisitions and strategic work for major PLCs, sales and purchases for investors, care home and retirement village issues, corporate occupancy transactions, and mix-use retail and leisure developments. Practice leader Steve Wiltshire has experience in dealing with strategic developments under promotion, option and hybrid agreements. Catherine Williams is a commercial and mixed-use development expert acting for developers, operators and corporate occupiers, while Lisa Williams advises landowners on the sale and development of land. Principal associates Chris George and Kirsty Chalkley are additional names to note.

Based in Gerrards Cross, B P Collins LLP handles commercial and development property work including acquisitions, re-gears, lettings, financings, management issues and sales. The property team regularly collaborates with the environment team, acting for clients in the mining and minerals sector on complex transactions including mineral extraction leases. The practice also has expertise in the leisure and retail sectors, as well as acting for developers and landowners. Practice leader Alison Taylor has experience in handling multiple property transactions and acts on high-value corporate transactions. Maria Mowberry focuses on real estate finance work for institutional lenders, while Martina Razaq handles complex property transactions and leads the residential sub-team.

Debenhams Ottaway advises both local and national clients, including hospitality companies, charities, corporates and local councils, on a range of matters including sales and purchases of owner occupied and investment property, property developments and secured lending matters. Based in St Albans, the team also provides specialist advice on diocese-related property and trust matters. Practice co-head Ruth Boulton deals with a range of property transactions, including high-value disposals and purchases, and residential matters. Fellow co-head Jonathan Foy handles complex lease work, while newly promoted partner Neil Mercer has expertise in matters concerning the occupation, development, purchase and sale of commercial property.

Freeths LLP is known for its expertise in the hospitality and leisure sectors, and also advises regional airports, banks and healthcare companies on high-value commercial property matters. Based in Milton Keynes, the team handles construction and development work, property litigation and environmental matters. Practice co-leader Valerie Warman acts on high-value transactions for corporate occupiers and landlords, while fellow co-leader Leo Skinner handles property portfolio acquisitions and disposals and general estate management work. Other key members of the team include Shashi Chambers and consultant David Danskin. Lucy Bradban joined from EMW Law LLP in April 2020.

HCR Hewitsons acts on behalf of commercial clients, landlords, tenants and residential developers, regularly negotiating complex conditional contracts, development agreements and promotion agreements. The commercial property team also assists with the disposal of large mixed-use development projects comprising commercial offices, residential plots, schools and community facilities. Head of real estate for Northampton and Milton Keynes David Wells has experience in investment sales and acquisitions of offices as well as commercial landlord and tenant matters, and acts for clients in the light industrial sectors. Yvette Morgan specialises in large-scale housing and mixed-use development projects. Lewis Djemal joined the firm's Reading office from Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors in June 2021.

Based in St Albans, SA Law LLP advises clients in the charity, retail, healthcare and hospitality sectors on a range of commercial property matters including investment acquisitions and disposals, option agreements, and landlord and tenant work. The department also leverages the firm's in-house team of real estate litigation experts. Practice co-head Steve Kenneford specialises in residential conveyancing work, while co-head Gary Dunger advises on future income generation through the retention of overage rights on disposals, and investment acquisitions. Other key members of the team include Steve Ryan and John Moore.

Based in St Albans, Sherrards Solicitors LLP has experience in the retail and hospitality, franchising, leisure and healthcare sectors, advising clients on commercial property matters including acquisitions, planning work and construction mandates, as well as sales and lettings. The team frequently draws on the expertise of the firm’s property litigators on contentious matters. Practice leader Terry Fendt has experience in the retail industry and acts for well-known high street retailers. Stephanie Kierans also deals with transactions in the retail sector, including acquisitions and disposals, while managing partner Alasdair McMillin remains a key contact for commercial property work.

Located in Amersham, Blaser Mills Law advises clients in the office, industrial, hotel and leisure sectors on commercial property issues ranging from sales, acquisitions and financings to general commercial leases, development work and securitisation matters. Head of the real estate and development team Louise Benning specialises in real estate developments, while David Michaels has experience in complex property transactions.

Based in Hertford, the property team at Longmores Solicitors LLP is split into two departments dealing with commercial and residential property matters. Practice leader Rachael Spalton advises both developer and landowner clients on development and strategic land transactions, as well as handling promotion, option and overage agreements. Victoria Sandberg specialises in rural land mandates and deals with estate disposals and property management work. The practice benefits from the support of John Wagstaffe, who heads up the property disputes team.

Taylor Walton LLP advises clients on a range of commercial property matters, including site assembly issues, overage arrangements, mezzanine finance work and landlord and tenant mandates. Practice leader Angela Thomas has experience in real estate acquisitions and disposals, portfolio management issues and commercial development matters. Managing partner Dermot Carey specialises in the retail, industrial and office park sectors. Other key members of the team include James Cottrell and James Khakpour-Smith.

Tees Law provides a range of services to clients, including handling renewable energy issues, infrastructure projects, agricultural property work and mineral exploitation matters. Based in Bishop’s Stortford, the commercial property team handles residential portfolio acquisitions and disposals, sales of high-value development land, and commercial and residential management work. Practice leader Kay Piper deals with a range of complex work including leasehold enfranchisement, development and finance mandates, as well as general sales and purchases, while David Miller handles diversification projects and senior associate John Buckley is also recommended.

Crane & Staples LLP is known for assisting local families and individuals with conveyancing issues, as well as acting for local property developers, landowners and care homes on real estate and property development matters. Led by Bonnie Twiggs, the team has experience in commercial refinancings, acquisitions and disposals, as well as the sale and purchase of residential property and agriculture land. Christopher Brewis specialises in high-value property matters, while Manish Patel handles care home transactions and commercial office work and leases.

Based in Milton Keynes, Howes Percival LLP’s commercial property team regularly advises clients on a range of matters, including the acquisition and disposal of residential and commercial development land and built out sites. Headed up by Marcus Carter, who joined from EMW Law LLP in June 2021, the practice has also seen a growth in banking and property finance work.

Based in Chesham, Lennons Solicitors handles a broad range of commercial property work including landlord and tenant matters, acquisitions and disposals of investment properties, secured lending issues and development work. Managing director Andy Coyle advises on complex acquisitions and sub-sales of development sites, as well as investment work. Senior associate Serdar Mehmet joined from IBB Law in December 2020, and solicitor Da-Hae Kwon is recommended by clients.

Machins Solicitors LLP advises property and corporate investors, charities and banks on a range of commercial property matters including freehold and leasehold acquisitions, estate development work and auction transactions. Based in Luton, practice co-head Simeon Clipstone specialises in property asset-based business sales and purchases, as well as landlord and tenant matters. Fellow co-head Santokh Singh focuses on acquisitions of sites for mixed-use developments. Nick Ginger is also a key contact.

Located in Bishop’s Stortford, Nockolds Solicitors advises clients on complex purchase and sales transactions regarding sites for residential and commercial development, as well as handling matters including option agreements, conditional contracts and Section 106 agreements. Practice leader Michael Talbot advises local and regional property developers on the acquisition and development of sites, including planning and infrastructure agreements, while James Griffiths, who joined from Ashtons Legal in May 2020, specialises in property portfolio investment management work; and principal associate Lucy Riley handles leasehold enfranchisement mandates.