Real estate

Pragmatic, commercially focused legal advice makes a powerful difference when you’re making major property decisions. Our skilled team of real estate lawyers handles all commercial property projects from the more complex developments, investments and financings to routine asset management tasks.

Our extensive knowledge of the UK property market means we provide valuable advice to clients on legal and commercial changes impact their real estate decisions, helping them navigate challenges and maximize performance.
  • Profile
  • Experience
  • Key contacts

Stephenson Harwood's real estate team undertakes high quality, complex, big-ticket work, using a variety of structures. Our clients get legal advice that is based on a profound understanding of their business, and support in navigating the challenges of the property market. We advise clients across the real estate industry including major property companies, institutional investors, banks and financial institutions, hotel groups, private clients, family offices, and occupiers.

Whether it’s a major investment acquisition or disposal, or a routine landlord and tenant matter, clients have a highly knowledgeable and committed team on your side. We provide support to our clients throughout the full life cycle of their assets, including:

  • investment acquisitions and disposals;
  • financings and refinancings;
  • development projects including planning and environmental advice;
  • sale and leasebacks and other structures; and
  • management matters.

Our clients benefit from the specialist knowledge of our real estate sector teams including construction, projects, planning and environment, real estate finance, real estate funds, corporate, tax and litigation.

"Focused team who look to understand our detailed needs and requirements"
The Legal 500 UK 2022

Schroder UK Real Estate Fund

Advising on a £45 million purchase and forward funding agreement for One Cambridge Square, a development site in Cambridge.

Advising our client in its role on securing a major pre-let agreement with the Government Property Agency on a 25-year lease at Two Ruskin Square, London.

Advising on the sale to Unite Students of a 36-storey building in Stratford for £73 million which is to be converted into a 716-bed purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) development.

Reef Group

Advising on the development of a town centre regeneration project, focussing around a major residential-led development incorporating residential and commercial elements with up to 242 apartments for build-to-rent purposes over 3 blocks from 3 to 10 storeys, street works, car park and associated infrastructure. 

Rynda

Advising on its acquisition of five care homes from Hamberley Group for over £100 million.

The Hill Group

Advising this leading privately-owned housebuilder on its £220 million Sustainability - Linked Loan. This was the first ever Sustainability-Linked Loan in the housebuilding sector.

Bentall GreenOak

Advising funds of Bentall GreenOak (advised by Mission Street) in relation to the programmatic acquisition of properties to be developed as science and innovation/R&D hubs in major university towns (Cambridge, Oxford, and Bristol, to date).

Aver Property

Advising on the acquisition, development, letting/pre-letting and disposal of a portfolio of logistics sites. To date, we have advised on 9 sites.

M&G Real Estate

Advising M&G Real Estate on its acquisition of nine multi-let industrial assets from Patrizia for £165 million.

Immobel Capital Partners

Advising on the establishment of its first Green Office Impact Fund, its joint venture with Munroe K and on the acquisition of the fund's first UK 'office park' real estate asset, valued at £110 million.

Savills

Sale of a leasehold interest in Golden Square Shopping Centre, Warrington for £22.5 million, subject to 120 lettings on both rack and turnover rents.

Macquerie Infrastructure and Real Assets

Advising on the acquisition of 8 -10 old jewry- a multi let office and restaurant building in the heart of the city of London.

The Langham Estate

Advising on the management of this client’s mixed-use portfolio which comprises over 100 properties, many multi-let, situated in the West End of London, including the areas of Great Portland Street and Oxford Street.

Magnetar Capital, a US-headquartered hedge fund, and Northdale Asset Management, a real estate investment advisory and asset management firm

Advising on the acquisition of Corby Town Centre (circa 700,000 sq ft of mixed retail use space covering 25 acres), and One Stop Shopping Centre (spanning 380,000 sq ft of retail park/shopping centre),

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

Janice Yau Garton Partner

T:  +852 2533 2806
M:  +852 6086 0070 Email Janice Yau | Vcard Office:  Hong Kong

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

16 Oct 2023

From Insights

The Building Safety Act 2022 – financing existing buildings

The Building Safety Act 2022 ("BSA 2022") has been described as the biggest change in building safety in a generation.

More

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.

More

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 ..

More

13 Sep 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood retains 83% of September qualifying trainees

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has announced that it is retaining 83% of trainees who qualify under English and Welsh law in September 2023. 10 of the 12 qualifying t..

More

06 Sep 2023

From Insights

Building Safety Act

High-Risk Buildings: The registration countdown

More

24 Aug 2023

From Insights

Demystifying decarbonisation: green leases

Decarbonisation and the drive to net zero affects every person and every business.

More

01 Aug 2023

From Insights

Economic Crime – Register of Overseas Entities – Don't forget to update!

You're a fund manager. Your fund vehicle is an overseas entity and you're looking to buy a property from another overseas entity in the coming weeks.

More

11 May 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood acts as lead legal advisor to LXi REIT on £773 million refinancing

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has acted as the lead legal advisor to LXi REIT plc on its recent £773 million debt refinancing.

More

03 May 2023

From Insights

Nuisance – you can overlook it…

Considerations for unusual developments

More

11 Apr 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises SCREF on £268 million sale

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised Schroders Capital Real Estate Fund (SCREF) on the £268 million sale of Two Ruskin Square, Croydon to Pension Insurance Corp..

More

15 Mar 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood retains 82% of March qualifying trainees

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has announced that it is retaining 82% of its trainees who qualify in March 2023. Nine of the 11 qualifying trainees were offered posit..

More

27 Feb 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance advises on Thai proptech disposal

Stephenson Harwood (Singapore) Alliance has advised FazWaz, a Southeast Asian proptech company, on the sale of Fazwaz Thailand Co., Ltd. (FazWaz TH) to Lifull Connect'..

More

13 Feb 2023

From News

Stephenson Harwood advises on two award-winning deals

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has advised on two separate deals which have been recognised at the China Business Law Journal (CBLJ) Deals of the Year Awards 2022. Bo..

More

01 Feb 2023

From Insights

Service charges – pay now, argue later?

How conclusive is a service charge certificate?

More

31 Jan 2023

From Insights

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee: is your floating charge valid?

In the current times of financial stress, a borrower seeking to renegotiate or refinance existing financing arrangements may be asked by its lender to enhance or refre..

More

04 Jan 2023

From News

David Sinclair joins Stephenson Harwood as partner

Law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP has strengthened its real estate practice with the arrival of David Sinclair as a partner. He joins the firm in London.

More

print-footer
logo
© 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.