Real estate investment

Our real estate investment lawyers advise on acquisitions and disposals including portfolio sales and purchases, joint ventures, forward commitments and refinancing.

As one of the leading real estate practices in London, ranked second in Chambers 2009 mid-market practices, we advise institutions, property companies, overseas investors as well as owner/occupiers on their acquisitions and disposals whether in joint ventures, offshore trusts or straightforward property acquisitions.

We work closely with specialists in corporate, tax and finance within the Real Estate Group drawing in our construction, planning and disputes teams where necessary.

On an acquisition we inspect the property wherever possible in order to identify any issues at an early stage. On a sale we like to be involved as soon as marketing begins so that we are able to send out a contract and full title pack as soon as heads of terms are agreed.

Our lawyers are pro-active and pragmatic offering practical solutions and commercial advice. We work to tight deadlines. We aim to understand our clients' business needs and identify the issues most important to them.

We act for clients after acquisition on the management of the property and its eventual disposal, In this way, we are able to offer a fully integrated service with continuity for our clients from start to finish.

Our experience

We advised a consortium of Irish investors on the £220m acquisition of the Whitgift Shopping Centre in Croydon.

Recently we advised BAE Systems Pension Funds on a sale and leaseback to Sainsburys and we act on its real estate investments generally.

We advised Land Securities on the £76.5m sale of its leisure development at The Gate Newcastle.

We acted for an investment consortium sponsored by Arab Investments on its £ 200m acquisition of the proposed Pinnacle development in Bishopsgate and we act on the £1bn property portfolio managed by Arab Investments.

We recently acted for Warner Estate on its £39m sale of a retail and residential parade on St Johns Wood High Street.