Commercial Real Estate

A property transaction is often one of the largest investments a business or individual makes. Whether you’re acquiring development land, buying or selling commercial premises, managing an investment portfolio, negotiating a lease or securing project finance, our team can guide you through the transaction, negotiations, disputes, or any regulatory issues whilst protecting your interests and providing you with clear and practical commercial advice.

We act for developers, landlords, investors, businesses and private individuals, on transactions of every size and complexity. Our lawyers in the Business Services team work closely with the Commercial Real Estate team, so business clients have the corporate and property sides handled together, across every property matter or every business matter that encompasses property-related services.

What we advise on

Our work is organised around each client group: helping developers unlock sites and complete schemes, supporting landlords and investors in protecting asset value, guiding businesses through decisions about premises, working alongside lenders, borrowers and investors to facilitate transactions, helping businesses navigate every stage of the property lifecycle with confidence.

Our commercial real estate team advises on residential, commercial, development, investment and property matters, including:

• residential property sales and purchases
• commercial property sales and purchases
• development site acquisitions and disposals
• single-asset and portfolio acquisitions
• due diligence investigations
• land promotion and option agreements
• lease negotiations and renewals
• landlord and tenant matters
• easements, rights of way and covenant issues
• property refinancing and secured lending
• portfolio management and investment transactions
• property due diligence and title investigations

Acting for property developers

We work with developers across the life of a project, at every stage between the first site acquisition and completion.

Our work includes:

• site acquisition and disposal
• development agreements
• conditional contracts and option agreements
• promotion agreements
• infrastructure and utility arrangements
• joint ventures
• lending and facility agreements
• construction-related matters
• Residents’ Management Company incorporations and handover
• plot sales and disposal programmes

We know the commercial pressure developers work under, and we deal with title and infrastructure issues early to keep the scheme moving and viable.

Supporting commercial landlords and investors

For landlords and investors, the legal work is what protects the asset and holds its value over time.

We regularly advise on:

• commercial leases
• office leases
• lease renewals and variations
• licences and ancillary occupation agreements
• acquisition and disposal of investment properties
• property portfolio transactions

We make the arrangements legally robust while keeping the commercial goal in view: protecting rental income, reducing void risk, maintaining asset value, enabling finance and managing lease events.

Supporting businesses

For businesses that occupy premises, we advise on the property side of running and growing a business: taking on new premises, negotiating lease terms, handling exit arrangements and dealing with the issues that affect trading continuity.

We can assist businesses requiring finance, and we regularly work with lenders, borrowers and investors to facilitate transactions.

Our expertise includes:

• refinancing arrangements
• development finance
• secured lending
• portfolio financing

Advising buyers and sellers

Whether you’re buying a property, expanding a premises portfolio, acquiring an investment asset or selling land for development, we identify the issues early and guide you through the process.

We assist buyers and sellers with:

• contract negotiation
• title review and due diligence
• property enquiries
• exchange and completion
• registration and post-completion requirements

We keep communication clear throughout, so you always know where the transaction stands.

In property, value is found in the detail: title issues caught early, lease events handled on time and detailed advice and guidance throughout the transaction.