Addleshaw Goddard fields a ‘capable team across all levels of seniority’ and ‘offers the full spectrum of services’, with notable expertise in student accommodation and senior living mandates, as well as infrastructure projects and regeneration schemes. Nancy McGuire oversees the team with the support of Anna Heaton, who has experience in real estate joint ventures. Ian Smith acts for local authorities and handles acquisitions, development projects and disposals, while Bruce Lightbody advises on retail sector matters and Lucy Sturrock focuses on hotel and leisure property work. Other key members of the team include Andrew Williamson and Peter Mason, who focus on commercial, residential and mixed-use development and regeneration projects.

Praised for delivering a ‘first-class service’, Walker Morris LLP ‘provides excellent support on commercial property matters’ and is noted for its capability in real estate transactions and financing mandates. Austin Judson advises on commercial and mixed-use developments, as well as acting for property developers, investors and high-street banks on real estate portfolio work. The Leeds-based team, which is led by Jeremy Moore, also includes Will Cousins, who handles development projects, sales and purchases and refinancing transactions. George Bacon advises national retailers, developers and property investors on development mandates. Adam Reed and Judith Pike are also key members of the group.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP acts for blue-chip institutions, pension funds and property companies in investment mandates, and has demonstrable expertise in the acquisition, disposal and management of shopping centres. Following the departure of George Bacon to Walker Morris LLP in July 2021, Simon Harris, who advises key clients such as Legal & General, Harworth Group and NewRiver Retail on development mandates, jointly leads the team alongside Steve Felstead, who specialises in investment, fund structuring and asset management work. Ian Barker focuses on development and regeneration projects, and Sue Buckworth recently retired.

Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP’s ‘breadth of disciplines and wider resource pool provides a one stop shop’, offering clients demonstrable experience in regeneration projects and real estate transactions. Claire Wilkinson acts for clients in the retail, logistics and hotel and leisure sectors.

The commercial property team at Bevan Brittan LLP advises private investors and local authorities on investment acquisitions, sales, refinancing and estate management mandates. Deborah Powell jointly leads the practice alongside Lyndon Campbell, who handles portfolio acquisitions of residential properties, while James Atkins focuses on health-related development projects. Richard Stirk and Julie Cowan-Clark act for registered providers and local authorities and are key contacts for social housing matters.

Noted for its expertise in the holiday and home park sector, Blacks Solicitors LLP’s capability in residential development projects has been bolstered by the arrival of Andrew Pedley, who joined the firm from Eaton Smith Solicitors in May 2021, where he previously led the commercial property team. Matthew Hutchinson provides a ‘quality service and is proactive in seeking to conclude transactions’ on behalf of lenders, landowners, property investment companies and residential developers. Nick Dyson leads the practice, as well as the firm’s specialist holiday and home parks team.

DWF acts for clients across the financial services and real estate sectors on investment transactions and property development mandates, and is well-placed to leverage the expertise of other teams across the firm. Jim Speed leads the practice and advises institutional investors on portfolio management, while Guy Rusling handles development projects. Helen Balliger, who heads the firm’s asset management group, is another key member of the team.

Freeths LLP’s ‘commercial and forward-thinking’ team in Leeds acts for leisure operators and retailers on a range of property transactions, from acquisitions and new site developments to portfolio management and disposals. Liz Banks handles commercial development projects, fund management and investment work, while John Flathers acts for corporate occupiers on landlord and tenant issues and Jonathan Crew advises on property portfolio management for national retailers, in addition to investment acquisitions and disposals. All named partners collectively lead the practice.

The ‘capable, competent and experienced commercial property team’ at Gateley Legal is noted for its expertise in residential development mandates and counts national housebuilders, regional developers and promoters among its client base. John Kiff focuses on residential acquisitions and disposals as well as policy issues relating to leasehold reform and jointly leads the practice alongside Philip Gregory, who advises on retail development projects and regeneration schemes.

Irwin Mitchell’s Leeds and Sheffield team advises on regeneration and mixed-use development projects for clients including Henry Boot, Rula and Artisan Real Estate. Elsewhere, the team handles strategic land and site assembly mandates, and has demonstrable experience across the leisure and retail, education and care sectors. Noted for his experience in development projects, practice leader James Knowles advises on corporate and retail lettings, property financing and investment acquisitions and disposals. National head of the firm’s housing sector team, Michelle Beaumont, is praised as one of ‘the best in the business’ and focuses on education, housing and student accommodation developments.

Mills & Reeve LLP’s Leeds-based team is led by ‘client-focused’ Simon Sherwood, who advises on primary healthcare development projects, as well as acting for institutional funds and private offices on investment mandates. The practice is noted for its capability across all real estate investment asset classes and has a strong focus in the student accommodation, higher education and senior living sectors. Associate Andrea Newman advises national museums and charities on development matters.

Schofield Sweeney has demonstrable experience in residential development projects and property finance mandates, and acts for a range of clients across the renewable energy, healthcare, logistics and warehousing sectors. Based in Bradford, practice leader Darren Birkinshaw handles residential acquisitions and developments, regeneration schemes and property joint ventures, while Manjit Virdee focuses on secured property finance matters. In Leeds, other key members of the team include energy expert Adam Hastie, Farooq Zar and Tom Jackson, who joined from Walker Morris LLP in January 2022. Simon Hellewell joined the firm in May 2022 from Ward Hadaway LLP.

Shoosmiths LLP advises on development mandates arising out of the living sector, including build-to-rents, student accommodation and later living, and has demonstrable experience acting for retail clients on property transactions. National head of the firm’s build-to-rent group, Simon Meek, leads the practice and handles residential investment work and strategic land matters, while Judy Fawcett is praised for her ‘excellent knowledge in property finance’. Richard Outhwaite departed to Hill Dickinson LLP in April 2022.

Ward Hadaway LLP advises national housebuilders, regional developers and local authorities on residential development matters, as well as acting for land owning charities on portfolio management, acquisitions and disposals, redevelopments, and landlord and tenant issues. Andrew Pliener jointly leads the team alongside Kevin Weston, who focuses on charity-related property mandates, while Jonathan Dickson handles residential development acquisitions and disposals. Simon Hellewell departed the firm in April 2022.

Raworths’ commercial property practice handles all aspects of residential developments, from site acquisitions to planning and plot sales. Praised as ‘technically excellent’, the Harrogate-based team is led by Alasdair Inglis, who frequently acts for residential developers, while associate John Carter advises landlords and tenants on sale and purchase matters.

Tyr advises landlords, corporate occupiers, developers, landowners and investors across the manufacturing, wholesale and retail, leisure and healthcare sectors and is well-placed to leverage the expertise of other teams within the firm, such as planning, tax, construction and property litigation. Practice leader Dean Jowett, who is noted for his expertise in residential property developments, is frequently supported by senior associate Marcus Watson.

Based in Leeds, Capsticks LLP stands out for its expertise in the health, social care and housing sectors, and counts hospital developments, portfolio management, acquisitions and landlord and tenant matters in its workload. Practice leader Lisa Geary is noted for her experience in primary care matters, such as advising on sale and leasebacks, leases, as well as the property aspects of GP practice mergers.

McCormicks counts property developers and portfolio investors, as well as landed estates and charities, among its list of key clients, and continues to build its roster of commercial property and residential investors. Heather Roberts leads the team and advises on residential development schemes, in addition to sales, purchases and tenant issues arising out of the retail sector.

Weightmans advises a varied client base including landlords, tenants, developers and property owners across the licensed and leisure and healthcare sectors. Practice leader Mark Crabtree notably acts for pub companies, such as Punch Taverns, Greene King and Admiral Taverns, and advises on estate management, lease work and issues involving landlords and tenants.