Real estate

Our real estate experts provide pragmatic and strategic advice with all your property needs. Our lawyers support clients over the entire life cycle of an asset from structuring and acquisition, through development and management to disposal. You can be confident in our knowledge of the sector, helping clients navigate new changes and developments and complex, multi-portfolio transactions. With the benefit of combined decades of experience, advising leading participants across the sector, we work with our clients to find them the best solution in an efficient manner.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Our bench strength in the real estate team is deep, with a team of over 60 lawyers in London and Hong Kong, we can draw on our wider global network to provide you with support on any transaction.

Our team of specialists can support you on a full range of real estate related topics, providing services including joint venture and corporate structuring, fund formation, financing, acquisitions and disposals, leasing and asset management, construction, planning & environment, tax, and disputes.

We have specialist knowledge across all real estate sectors, supporting clients in offices, retail, hotels, logistics, industrials, residential, healthcare and life sciences and act for a wide variety of clients throughout the full spectrum of the real estate sector, including landlords, tenants, developers, investors, and financiers.

"Highly commercial outlook and responsive. Able to establish rapport with opposition legal team, making transactions smooth."

The Legal 500 UK 2022

Schroder UK Real Estate Fund

We advised on the letting of the Department W building to Queen Mary University, a comprehensively and sensitively redeveloped office on Mile End Road in Tower Hamlets.

Echelon Data Centres

We advised on the acquisition of mixed data centre and office space site in Greenwich involving extensive due diligence on the suitability of the site for the intended proposals.

Schroder Real Estate Fund

We advised on a pre-let agreement to a government department of a new 10 storey building at Ruskin Square, Croydon. The building will form part of Schroder’s mixed used development at Croydon.

Thornsett Homes Limited

We advised on a Development Agreement for a new YMCA hostel and a new residential development of 135 new homes with two commercial units to enhance the local area.

Schroders Real Estate Investment Trust

We advised on the purchase of and are assisting on the ongoing development of an old industrial site to be developed into a new multi let indusial park to form part of an adjacent industrial park.

Stephenson Harwood provided advice on real estate, tax, construction and environment and planning matters. The firm is now providing on-going advice on both the Trading Estate and the proposed development.

London Metric

Stephenson Harwood acted for the purchaser of a portfolio of five Waitrose stores in various locations in England for £60m.

The firm provided advice on real estate, tax, construction and environment and planning matters relating to the acquisition of the five properties and the subsequent leaseback arrangements (by which the stores were leased to Waitrose Limited on 20-year terms for a combined rent of £3,400,00 per annum).
Lawyer

Catriona Berman Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2568
M:  Email Catriona | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Simon Brading Partner and head of real estate

T:  +44 20 7809 2525
M:  +44 7557 284 641 Email Simon | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

Stephen Laud Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2514
M:  +44 7717 341 733 Email Stephen | Vcard Office:  London

Lawyer

David Sinclair Partner

T:  +44 20 7809 2025
M:  +44 7767 646 614 Email David Office:  London

Latest news & insights

03 Oct 2023

From Insights

Building Safety Act 2022 – twelve things to check when buying a mixed use building

You're an investor looking to buy a mixed use property. The property is a large high street block in London, built in the early 2000's.

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21 Sep 2023

From Insights

Current spotlight - Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete ("RAAC")

The current spotlight on the use of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete ("RAAC") started with concerns raised in relation to schools and the subsequent guidance on ..

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01 Feb 2023

From Insights

Service charges – pay now, argue later?

How conclusive is a service charge certificate?

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02 Aug 2022

From Insights

Subject to contract … or not? Don't rely on the label….

You're a property investor and interior designer. A developer approaches you with a good project and you agree to set up a joint venture company to implement it. You b..

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17 Mar 2022

From Insights

Answers to 10 key questions about how the new Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 affects property ownership

The new Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act ("the ECA") provides for a register of overseas entities and their beneficial owners.

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11 Mar 2022

From Insights

Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles in real estate finance and real estate development finance transactions

The LMA has recently launched new guidance on the application of the LMA's Sustainability-Linked Loan Principles ("SLLPs") in Real Estate Finance and Real Estate Devel..

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07 Feb 2022

From Insights

Must try harder – "endeavours" obligations have teeth…

You're a property promoter. You've identified a large site with development potential, and you've secured options from the various landowners to acquire it.

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24 Aug 2021

From Insights

The Building Safety Bill and liability for defects

On 5 July 2021, the Government published the draft Building Safety Bill, following much consultation. The draft bill contains three changes that will have a significan..

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05 Aug 2021

From Insights

Latest Government announcement on liability for rent arrears

Yesterday (4 August 2021), the Government released their policy statement on supporting commercial tenants who are in arrears as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. In ..

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01 Jul 2021

From Insights

Losing the right to forfeit – DON’T take the money!

You’re the landlord of a good quality office block. The various floors of the block are let to several different tenants, and your relationship with the tenants is goo..

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12 May 2021

From Insights

Landlords feel the pinch… again! Virgin Active Restructuring Plan sanctioned by High Court

The Part 26A Restructuring Plans proposed by each of Virgin Active Holdings, Virgin Active Limited and Virgin Active Health Clubs Limited have been sanctioned by the c..

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02 Mar 2021

From Insights

Break clauses – the importance of giving vacant possession… and what we can learn from Goldilocks

You’re the landlord of a property in a location where re-lettings are proving difficult at the moment. Rents have fallen and there are several similar properties near ..

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05 Feb 2021

From Insights

Real estate structures 2020-2021

Change and uncertainty are key challenges this year for real estate deal structures. Investors, developers and finance providers will need to understand the implicatio..

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09 Dec 2020

From Insights

Moratorium on forfeiture for non-payment of rent and winding-up petitions extended until 31 March 2021

The Government has today announced that it will extend, yet again, until 31 March 2021 the moratoria on: forfeiture on grounds of non-payment of rent or other sums due..

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07 Dec 2020

From Insights

Important – Imminent deadline for serving s.17 notices

There is a deadline fast approaching for the service of a notice to retain your right to claim June quarter arrears from a former tenant or former guarantor.

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02 Nov 2020

From Insights

Unfair restraint?

You’re an investor and you’re keen to buy a competitively priced shopping centre. With the difficult trading environment for retail, exacerbated by Covid, you find one..

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© Stephenson Harwood LLP 2016. Any reference to Stephenson Harwood in this document means Stephenson Harwood LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. Any reference to a partner is used to refer to a member of Stephenson Harwood LLP.