Real Estate

Overview

Our focus is always on the wider commercial context of real estate for our clients in the day-to-day operation of their business

Our client focus is primarily business occupiers and equity investors, and we also act for investor landlords and undertake lease management work which gives us an in-depth understanding from both sides of the landlord/tenant relationship.

We provide day-to-day support to colleagues in our Legal Counsel Service and Transaction Services teams ranging from investigations on freehold or leasehold title to other property due diligence, either on an ongoing basis or at the time of a transaction. Our focus is always the wider commercial context of real estate for our clients in the day-to-day operation of their business.

We also work closely with other law firms providing real estate services support, either as a standalone transaction or as part of a larger cross-border or portfolio deal.

We have extensive experience whether buying property as an investment, for development or for operational use, including the purchase or sale of trading businesses. If any such deal involves the transfer of employees our Navigator team is available to assist with the TUPE and pensions aspects.

We also assist clients executing sale and leaseback transactions to release capital for business expansion or operational purposes.

Leasing

Whether landlord or tenant, we are able to assist in negotiating lease terms which will reflect  the needs of our client and the respective strengths and weaknesses of the parties.

Our national exposure provides insight to market trends throughout the country.

Site Acquisition for Property Development

We work with clients on development acquisitions and are able to quickly identify any material concerns which could adversely affect the commercial viability of a project.

Corporate and Business Acquisitions, Disposals, and Equity Funding

We work closely with our colleagues on share and asset purchase/sale transactions, and debt and equity funding deals, providing support on the property diligence and warranty negotiation.

Acquisition Finance

Property funding can take many forms, including the building of a residential or commercial development of any shape or size. Our debt funding team can help clients to negotiate the most favourable funding package and our real estate team works alongside in dealing with property due diligence and property-specific security.

Real Estate & Pensions

Trustees of pension schemes frequently invest in commercial property; this is especially the case for specialised pension schemes such as Small Self-Administered Schemes and Self-Invested Personal Pensions.

Employers participating in occupational defined benefit schemes may also wish to grant a legal charge or standard security over commercial property they own in favour of the trustees of their scheme, either to provide the trustees with additional security or to mitigate the costs of the annual PPF levy.

Our pensions team works with us to ensure that the documentation for the sale or purchase of commercial property, leases, and for any associated borrowing, meets the specific requirements of pensions, trust, and tax law.