Profile
Work Department
Position
Philip specialises exclusively in commercial real estate matters and has a wide range of experience of all areas of non-contentious commercial property work. He has worked extensively for both landlords and tenants on all leasehold matters (particularly for offices; retail & industrial/warehouse units); handles complex investment sales & purchases; real estate finance; and has considerable experience in advising on the property elements of corporate acquisitions and disposals.
As an example of Philip’s experience in the acquisition of business property and its subsequent management, over the past 10 years Philip has acted for a particular business in growing its property portfolio from approximately 30 sites to 200 (comprising retail, warehouse and offices) across the UK. This has included leading the property team on individual and multi-site acquisitions; the leasehold management of those sites (work which involved the grant & taking assignments of leases; lease-re-gears; statutory lease renewals; property disputes; alterations and dilapidations); and their disposal.
Clients say that Philip is “consistently available and responsive to all and any advice or solutions that are required either of a technical or commercial nature” and that Philip makes “it his purpose to be totally conversant with every detail of his client’s portfolio and consequently the advice he gives is bespoke to its’ business; not merely generic”
Career
Qualified 2001 – 2007 Penningtons LLP
2007 – 2020 Thomas Eggar LLP / Irwin Mitchell LLP (Partner from 2014)
2020 – date Freeths LLP (Partner)
Memberships
Education
University of Wales, Aberystwyth (LLB Law & French 2:1)
Content supplied by Freeths LLP
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Freeths LLP turn things around quickly,’
- ‘Kelly Sawyer has attention to detail and speed, which are key within the acquisition process. Philip Gray is approachable and easy to do business with.’
- ‘Philip Gray and Kelly Sawyer are a fantastic team. They understand proportionality, give clear and helpful advice. They are my go-to lawyers for all commercial property matters and always will be. They are simply the best.'
- ‘They are exemplary.’
- ‘The property team at Freeths is responsive and supportive, knows our industry and business well and appreciates the challenges we face as an organisation.'
- ‘Philip Gray and Kelly Sawyer are both outstanding - their understanding of our portfolio and industry sector is very valuable to our organisation. They are always responsive and supportive, explaining legal terms in everyday language well, and it is fantastic to work with them.’
Key clients
- Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Limited
- Mercedes-Benz Financial Services UK Limited
- Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains Limited
- Micheldever Tyre Services Limited t/a Protyre
- Oxford University Press
- Perspectum
- Dogs Trust
- Clasado Research Services Limited
- Feefo Holdings Limited
- First Touch Games Limited
- Idverde Limited
- Stine Goya