Underpinned by its significant national footprint, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP fields one of the largest real estate practices in the West Midlands, working with various blue-chip clients on a formidable volume of high-value projects and redevelopment schemes across a myriad of sectors. Birmingham real estate head David Jones anchors the firm’s commercial development arm, acting for world-renowned investors and developers on major logistics ventures and mixed-use schemes.  National corporate real estate lead Dawn Hilton is a key contact for some of the firm’s most high-profile consumer goods and financial services sector clients, including luxury automotive manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. Global real estate practice chair Gurjit Atwal specialises in multi-jurisdictional commercial development and investment matters, while Philip Medford works with national house builders on residential development schemes. Iftkhar Ahmed focuses on consumer and financial institutions matters, whereas Mark Chester is a driving force behind many of the firm’s data centre projects, working with various owners and operators, both in the UK and internationally. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham. 

‘Commercially astute with a keen eye for detail‘, Gowling WLG‘s eminent real estate practice is consistently sought out by an enviable lineup of developers, investors, and blue-chip corporate occupiers for its capabilities in big-ticket projects. Practice head Richard Bate is a seasoned market presence with decades of experience in residential development matters, helping to deliver numerous consortium developments, planning and infrastructure agreements, and mixed-use schemes. Duncan Murphy acts as the go-to advisor for many of the nation’s top house builders and sports stadiums, advising on big-ticket transactions as well as the full scope of commercial concerns. John Burns is a highly experienced advisor to clients in the industrial developer community, with recent highlights including major regeneration projects in the manufacturing sector. Logistics co-chair Mike Trainer attracts superlative praise for his ‘formidable‘ and ‘incredibly insightful‘ work on developments in the logistics, office, retail, and energy sectors. Helen Emmerson heads up the firm’s energy and utility real estate offering as well as its corporate occupier desk, and is particularly noted for her capabilities in large-scale renewable energy projects. Matthew Walker, who heads up the firm’s student accommodation offering, is also noted for his expertise in industrial and logistics, retail and office sectors. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham. 

Leveraging its strong national network of offices, DLA Piper routinely works with a multitude of high-profile investors, developers, and blue-chip corporate occupiers on big-ticket property transactions and development projects. Monique Sutherland possesses expertise in development and infrastructure matters encompasses brownfield site acquisitions and disposals, promotion agreements, and contractual joint ventures, working with clients across a diverse range of sectors. Katie Jacobson is well-versed in large-scale investment and development transactions, advising known institutional investors, pension funds, and corporate occupiers on the full scope of commercial real estate matters. Senior associate Rachel Williams is noted for her focus on real estate financing work, acting for some of the nation’s leading investment banks. Sophie Murtough is also recommended.

Helmed by newly promoted partner Charlotte Ward, DWF works with an enviable roster of blue-chip corporate clients, REITs, and local authorities across England on the full gamut of transactional and development-based matters. Toby Askin manages a number of the firm’s most high-profile client relationships, assisting various entities with acquisitions and investments. Melanie Williams , who heads up the firm’s hospitality sector offering, is sought out by numerous hotel chains and restaurant companies for property investment and development advice. Legal director Michelle Knight works with local authorities on regeneration projects and development agreements.

Fieldfisher LLP regularly receives instructions from many leading names in real estate investment and development, both at a regional and national level. Practice head Sue Simpson possesses decades of experience in development and planning matters, with recent highlights including major refinancings, redevelopments, and regeneration projects for life sciences companies, residential developers, and REITs. Qualified chartered surveyor Mark Lee maintains a broad practice, working with pension funds, property companies, and corporate occupiers on portfolio transactions, and strategic land promotion and option agreements. Merle Wray works with both developers and occupiers on commercial and residential projects, as well as development finance transactions and forward funding deals.

Drawing on its robust national footprint, Shoosmiths LLP is rated by clients for its active commercial development practice, as well as its burgeoning residential and corporate occupier offerings. Department head Jason Jackson is a central figure within the West Midlands logistics and residential development practice, working with some of the market’s leading entities on transactions and advisory matters. James Needham , another name to note in the logistics development space, chiefly advises major UK institutions and foreign investors on pre-let and forward funded transactions. Birmingham office head Beth McArdle maintains an active corporate occupier practice, often negotiating head office leases for various public companies. Real estate finance team head Tim Flight is especially noted for his experience in the care home, student development and healthcare sectors. Senior associate Sophie Jack is also recommended. 

Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s ‘very knowledgeable‘ team is roundly praised for its willingness to ‘go above and beyond’ for a diverse lineup of house builders, local authorities, and other developers. The practice is jointly chaired by Fiona Thomson, a seasoned property lawyer whose commercial development focus is most pointedly concentrated in the industrial space, and Chris Plumley, who specialises in large scale public sector mandates, including big-ticket town centre regeneration schemes and nationally-significant infrastructure projects. In his capacity as co-lead of the regional public sector practice, Simon Robinson focuses on residential development matters, ranging from strategic land promotion initiatives to land assembly matters. Digby Morgan heads up the firm’s Midlands-based affordable housing offering, advising on RP-led development schemes, portfolio sales, and lease agreements for care facilities. Senior associate Natalie Owen, who runs the real estate finance team in Birmingham, is also recommended.

Bevan Brittan LLP‘s Birmingham-based real estate practice is routinely sought out by city councils, registered providers (RPs), universities, and healthcare operators for assistance in delivering high-profile projects. Rebecca Pendlebury works with a multitude of local authorities, both within the West Midlands and beyond, on various development and regeneration schemes, ranging from new stadiums to infrastructure overhauls. Alongside Pendlebury, senior associate Emma Holmes is a central figure within the firm’s housing team who works with local authorities and national RPs on affordable residential developments and tenanted stock disposals. Senior associate Claire Hamlin, who joined from Higgs LLP in September 2021, is also recommended. 

Browne Jacobson LLP‘s diverse public and private sector clientele regularly seek out the team for assistance in a range of development and regeneration matters. Practice co-chair Dominic Swift , who splits his time between Birmingham and Nottingham, is a highly experienced commercial property lawyer who regularly advises some of the firm’s leading public sector and higher education clients. Thomas Howard specialises in local authority investment matters, working on a range of site acquisitions and projects involving healthcare operators. Zo Hoida focuses on public sector regeneration schemes with international stakeholders, including civic and residential redevelopments. Senior associate Philip Gray is noted for his capabilities in mixed-use projects. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham unless stated otherwise.

Freeths LLP‘s Birmingham real estate practice is headed by Mitchell Ball , whose practice covers both commercial property and planning matters. The team advises across the spectrum of real estate work including real estate sales and acquisitions, property financing, planning and construction. The practice also advises on property management matters, and regularly works on retail acquisitions and with local authorities on town centre development schemes.

Irwin Mitchell is a strong choice for a mix of residential and commercial developers, institutional lenders, and corporate occupiers, ranging from national retail chains to real estate consultancies. Practice chair Ben Acheson, who also serves as national head of the strategic land team, has a wide-ranging practice that encompasses refinancings, site acquisitions, and development joint ventures. Senior associate Gurpreet Hayer notably advises investor clients on a spectrum of real estate assets and financing transactions across the office, industrial, and retail sectors. Stuart McDonald is also recommended.

Mills & Reeve LLP is routinely sought out for their capabilities in education and healthcare sector projects, working with a stellar lineup of universities, colleges, and trusts on big-ticket acquisitions, sales, and development deals. The practice is jointly chaired by Michael Whatley , a health and automotive sector specialist, and Christian Bull , who primarily handles education sector matters. Senior associate Charlotte Morris is also noted. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham.

Fielding an expanding team of ‘dedicated experienced professionals‘, Roythornes Solicitors is especially active in the residential development sector, advising a number of national house builders, care home providers, and other development specialists on the full gamut of transactional and project-based mandates. National practice head Bhavesh Amlani ‘s recent engagements include big-ticket mixed-use site acquisitions and land promotion agreements. Benjamin Smith  is noted for his expertise in leases and licences, and joint venture development agreements. Emily Danson is a key port of call for many of the firm’s house builder clients, who turn to her for her expertise in complex regenerations.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP is rated by clients for its capabilities in the full scope of commercial property matters, ranging from development site and land parcel acquisitions to asset disposals, promotions, and collaboration agreements. Practice chair Adrian Bland is a key contact for a number of regional and national players in the real estate investment and regeneration space. Debbie Irwin is a highly experienced residential development specialist who works with a number of national and regional house-builders on strategic land acquisitions and consortium developments. Andrew Mellor ‘s diverse development expertise encompasses industrial and logistics schemes, city centre regeneration projects, and student accommodation sites. James Gooch is praised by clients for his ‘depth of knowledge and ability to think outside the box‘ in development transactions. Clive Read , who joined the practice from an in-house role in May 2021, is widely regarded for his extensive experience in the higher education sector.

Working closely with its offices in London and the US, Squire Patton Boggs‘ interdisciplinary real estate practice is regularly engaged by clients from the worlds of hospitality, retail, and healthcare. Practice head Nick Green is recommended for his expertise in commercial relationships and portfolio advisory work, most notably in the hospitality, retail, and healthcare sectors. Neil Taylor handles both residential and commercial development matters, acting for national house builders, regeneration specialists, and investors. Residential development specialist Kevin Nagle acts for both developers and landowners on national housing projects, and possesses particular experience in later-living and logistics matters. Senior associate James Thorman focuses on residential land acquisitions, and landlord and tenant matters for logistics sector operators.

Clarke Willmott LLP is especially noted for its capabilities in the retail sector, handling a range of refinancings, leasings, and site acquisitions for renowned names in the market. The practice is jointly led by Fiona Rendell, a seasoned commercial property lawyer; Iain Harrison , who anchors the team’s retail offering; and Jonathan Morton , who specialises in site acquisitions and portfolio secured lending.

‘Extremely professional, reliable and attentive to our every need‘, The Wilkes Partnership draws praise for its capabilities in the full gamut of commercial and residential development matters. Solihull-based practice co-chair Tim Coplestone‘s broad capabilities encompass site assemblies, portfolio restructurings, and real estate financing matters. Practice co-chair Mark Hodgson is instructed by owner-managed businesses operating in the leisure, motor trade, and retail sectors, while Solihull-based Andrew Watts focuses on investment portfolio management, working with a number of institutional lenders. The ‘excellent’ Bryan Poultney specialises in investment acquisitions in the retail, industrial and leisure sectors. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham unless stated otherwise.