Hall Of Fame

Leading Associates

Commercial property: Norwich in East Anglia

Birketts LLP

Birketts LLP in Norwich has a deep bench of talent, which is praised for being ‘extremely personable, responsive and offering solution-focused advice’. Practice head Melissa Loucas has a notable practice in acquisitions, disposals, and portfolio asset management, and Chris Hoxley leads the residential development group, in which Nicola Curle is a standout partner. Cameron Barlow leads on real estate investment matters, Elizabeth Lee is a real estate finance specialist, and Bhargav Trivedi advises landowners and developers on strategic land matters. Other key names include Andrew Ridout, who has in-depth knowledge of the banking and finance sectors, and Thomas Maxey, who is ‘invaluable in difficult lease negotiations’.

Responsables de la pratique:

Melissa Loucas


Autres avocats clés:

Nicola Curle; Cameron Barlow; Chris Hoxley; Bhargav Trivedi; Elizabeth Lee; Andrew Ridout; Thomas Maxey; Rebecca Bond; Kristian Nelson


Les références

‘Birketts has provided guidance and explanations on complexed property matters in layman’s terms without making us feel inferior. They have been flexible in their approach and advised us when to speak to the other parties direct and when to approach the issue more formerly. There are no surprises.’

‘Tom Maxey has been a breath of fresh air when it comes to legal representation. He offered guidance without becoming too engulfed in legal jargon. If I call him and discuss issues, he says leave it with me and the next I know, it is sorted and I have a clear explanation and all issues are agreed and sorted.’

‘Chris Hoxley assisted me with a very unique problem and improved my position considerably. He was very concise and targeted the issues that arose and was collaborative in approach to possible solutions.’

Principaux clients

Interbay Funding Ltd


LendInvest


Colcap Financial UK Limited trading as ‘Molo’


Lendco Limited


Norfolk Homes Ltd


Denbury Homes Ltd


Norfolk Land Ltd


Beauly Homes Ltd


Vello Ltd


John Innes Centre


Holkham Estate


The Cotswold Company (UK) Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Holkham Estate on property matters, particularly as it grows its portfolio throughout Norfolk.
  • Acting for Norfolk Homes on a range of residential development work.

Howes Percival LLP

The Norwich office of Howes Percival LLP remains the central hub of its firm-wide property practice, which ‘goes above and beyond to help deliver workable solutions’. The practice excels in many specialist areas, notably residential developments, strategic land acquisitions, commercial developments, investment portfolio management, and property finance issues; it also has in-depth expertise in the leisure and tourism, energy, healthcare, and education sectors. Tessa Haskey maintains a substantial portfolio of institutional clients and companies in the financial industry sector, while Christopher Cubitt leads the development group, and Joanna Nicholls is head of the occupier and investment team. James Henderson leverages his extensive property investment expertise to expand the firm’s development offering.

Responsables de la pratique:

Christopher Cubitt; Joanna Nicholls; Tessa Haskey


Autres avocats clés:

James Henderson


Les références

‘They have a wide range of skill sets that they can apply, as relevant, to any matter they deal with. Over the course of time they have acted for me there have inevitably been changes in personnel, without exception, the standard of service and advice has remained high.’

‘I principally deal with Tessa Haskey on property issues. She is very clear in her advice and the identification of relevant issues to be considered.’

‘Worked well together and provided timely responses.’

Principaux clients

Norwich University of the Arts


International Aviation Academy – Norwich


North Hertfordshire College


Norse Group


South Norfolk Council


Broadland District Council


Braintree District Council


Handelsbanken Plc


Bank of Scotland Plc


National Westminster Bank Plc


RQ Capital Ltd


HSBC Asset Finance (UK) Ltd


Santander UK Plc


Persimmon Homes Limited


Abel Homes Limited


Bennett Plc


Bayfield Homes Ltd


Big Sky Developments Limited


Norfolk Homes Limited


Crocus Homes Limited


Lovell Partnerships Ltd


Flagship Housing Developments Limited


Axis Land Partnerships Limited


Pigeon Capital Management / Holdings


Esco Developments Ltd


Building Partnerships Limited


Lothbury Property Trust


Ben Burgess Holdings Ltd


Anglia Maltings Holdings Limited


Peter Colby Commercial Limited


Hughes Electrical Limited


East of England Co-operative Society Limited


Anglia Restaurants Limited


Richardsons Leisure Limited


Norfolk Broads Direct Limited


Craft Leisure Limited


Anglia Leisure Limited


Greene King Limited


Abacus Hotels Limited


Norse Care


Norfolk and Norwich Association for the Blind


Bidwells LLP


Future Biogas Limited


Mills & Reeve LLP

Mills & Reeve LLP acts for regional, national and international clients from its Norwich office, where it has a deep bench of specialists handling multimillion-pound development projects. Carina Davis has a national reputation for development and regeneration work, for which she leads the firm-wide team, while Caroline Dean is the standout partner for development projects and strategic land matters. David Siddall handles high-value corporate real estate matters including complex and M&A mandates involving significant property assets, and large-scale procurement projects. Portfolio acquisition and landlord and tenant specialist Lisa-Marie Kennedy, residential development and affordable housing adviser Zoe Cooke, and Anna Aldous, whose development work includes large-scale mixed-use schemes, are also recommended.

Responsables de la pratique:

Carina Davis; Caroline Dean; David Siddall


Autres avocats clés:

Lisa-Marie Kennedy; Anna Aldous; Zoe Cooke


Les références

‘Good skills and wide experience.’

‘Experience and good communication generally.’

Principaux clients

Anglia Innovation Partners LLP (Norwich Research Park)


Breck Farm Trustees


Brown Family (Holt)


CEMEX UK Operations Limited


Central Trust


City College Norwich


Clifford Estate Company Limited


Colman Family Trust


Countrywide Legal Indemnities Limited


Diocese of East Anglia


East Anglian Air Ambulance


Easton College


Fitzmaurice Holdings Limited


Flagship Group


Homes England


Holden & Holden


J Alston & Sons


Jarrold & Sons


John Innes Centre


Kilverstone Trust


KLM UK Engineering Limited


Land Registry


LendLease


Midwich Limited


Norwich City Football Club plc


Norwich Preservation Trust


Norwich School


Nurse Plus & Carer Plus (UK) Limited


Oasis Dental Care Limited


Ortona Group


Peabody Developments Limited


Repton Developments Limited


Serruys Property Company Limited


Solus (London) Limited


Southwold Town Council


Spurstow Properties Limited


St Martins Housing Trust


SUE GP LLP


Timewell Properties Limited


The Forum Trust


The Wellcome Trust


University of East Anglia


University of Suffolk


Upton Trust (Red Lodge, Suffolk)


Urban&Civic Group


VetPartners Limited/VetPartners Practices Limited


WR & PJ Tann


Principaux dossiers


  • Representing the landowner trustees of Breck Farm in connection with the proposed sale of a key area of strategic development land in Norwich.
  • Acting on behalf of seven different coach operator companies based around England & Wales on the sale of the shares in their business to a Newly Incorporated Company which was funded through private equity and the shareholders of the selling companies.
  • Advised University of East Anglia and John Innes Foundation on a long-term investment deal with real estate investment manager Vengrove.

Ashtons Legal

Clients praise Ashtons Legal as ‘a great company to work with, providing quick and efficient responses to all matters’. Magnus McManus leads the firm-wide practice from Cambridge, and the Norwich office calls upon the development and secured lending expertise of Greg McCurday, the residential development skills of Sarah Fish, and Ruth Burrell‘s broad experience in commercial landlord and tenant work and commercial conveyancing.

Responsables de la pratique:

Magnus McManus


Autres avocats clés:

Greg McCurday; Sarah Fish; Ruth Burrell


Les références

‘Great company to work with, quick efficient responses to all matters.’

‘Greg McCurdy. The most efficient solicitor we have ever worked with.’

Principaux clients

Surplus Property Solutions Limited


NIAB


Abel Homes Limited


Savills


Clare College


MH Star UK Ltd


LS Plant Breeding Limited


M Scott Properties Limited


Ridley Godfrey (Holdings) Limited


Natwest Bank


Whitings LLP


HSBC


Handelsbanken


Stir Cambridge Limited


East Coast College (ECC)


The Chartered Institute of Public Finance


Thompson Estate


Stetchworth Estate Farms (a Partnership)


Wolfson College


Christ’s College


Neway International Limited


House Group Developments Limited


Stowmarket Cricket Club


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Surplus Property Solutions (SPS) which manages the surplus property porfolios of a number of major UK companies including Santander, Morrisons, Whitbread, B&Q and others and is currently engaged on a major surplus property disposal project for Natwest.
  • Advising Abel Homes Limited on a range of projects across Norfolk.
  • Acting for a major local property investor with commercial properties across East Anglia.

Fosters

Fosters in Norwich has a ‘friendly but efficient approach to clients’, and maintains a large and expanding client base across Norfolk. James Allen, who is ‘great at problem-solving and giving solid clear advice’, frequently acts for specialist SMEs as well as small local developers. Katy Dickinson, who is deputy head of the practice, is ‘personable, clear and knowledgeable’, and clients remark that she is ‘very clear on risks’.

Responsables de la pratique:

James Allen; Katy Dickinson


Autres avocats clés:

Ashley Roe


Les références

‘Friendly but efficient approach to clients. Work as a team so there are no delays if one member is unavailable.’

‘Katy Dickinson – Katy is personable, clear and knowledgeable. She responds swiftly and if unable to do so gives a timeline for response or passes the matter to a member of the team. I trust Katy’s judgment and feel safe in her hands. She has empathy as well as a clear head.’

‘Katy Dickinson was very helpful and explained everything in detail.’

Principaux clients

Tingdene Holiday Parks Limited


Sowerby Estate Agents Limited


Woodforde’s Brewery Limited


Leeway Domestic Violence and Abuse Services


Crusader Holdings Limited


Martin Francis Limited


Equal Lives


CCS Developments Limited


Peerless Properties Limited


PN Property Management Limited


Wymondham Community Bookshop CIC (t/a Ketts Books)


Framlingham Homes


Emu Properties


Minors and Brady Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for Vargas Group in arranging a land swap with a local authority to rectify an error on the part of the local authority where part of the public highway had been constructed on the client’s (private) land.
  • Acting on behalf of a specialist health charity, Chedgrave Oxygen Therapy Centre Limited, which wished to take on a commercial lease of a property in which it wanted to install an oxygen barochamber.
  • Acting for a landlord who wished to dispose of a commercial property and, simultaneously, enter into a new lease in order to bring clarification for both parties in relation to the position of the occupier.

Spire Solicitors LLP

Spire Solicitors LLP has an extensive office network across Norfolk, in which its Norwich office is the key hub. The commercial property group, led by development finance and secured lending specialist Protima Sikdar-Wood, is ‘very committed to providing the best possible service’. The practice benefits from the vast experience of Attleborough-based development expert Howard Bailey, while Annette Collen has decades of experience in advising corporate clients, investors, pension fund trustees, landlords, tenants, and individuals with significant property portfolios.

Responsables de la pratique:

Protima Sikdar-Wood


Autres avocats clés:

Howard Bailey; Annette Collen; Charlotte Wright


Les références

‘I have used a number of solicitor firms over the last 30 years and Spire Solicitors stands out for the good service and advice they provide us.’

‘Each individual that takes on to act for us on any matter, give his or her best attention to our case and are fast and always on top of the matters.’

‘The team is approachable and personable, willing to help and practical in their approach to advising clients.’

Principaux clients

Norwich Housing Society


Handelsbanken


Clapham & Collinge Solicitors

Clapham & Collinge Solicitors in Norwich has continued to build up its commercial property team. Paul Kenrick leads the practice, which focuses on buying and selling business premises, commercial leases, landlord and tenant matters, property finance issues and development work. The group frequently acts for local authorities and national charities.

Responsables de la pratique:

Paul Kenrick


Principaux clients

Marsham Equi Holdings Ltd


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Marsham Equi Holdings Ltd on the acquisition of commercial premises in Marsham.

Isadores

Isadores is frequently involved in complex acquisitions and disposals, including by way of option agreements and contracts conditional upon planning. Practice head Robert Pyke is a key adviser to residential and commercial property developers, and continues to expand the firm’s roster of housebuilder clients. Lauren Ward handles a broad portfolio of work including commercial leases, and overage agreements. The lawyers frequently support the firm’s highly regarded insolvency practice.

Responsables de la pratique:

Robert Pyke


Autres avocats clés:

Lauren Ward


Les références

‘Lauren Coleman is always available and is a friend now as as well as a solicitor for me.’

Principaux clients

Fairfax and Favor Limited


New Buckenham Property Limited


Jadelink UK Limited


Norfolk Racing Holdings Limited


Lohan Property Limited


Norfolk Homes Limited


Strand Development Limited


RSLC Developments Limited


T Blanchflower Carpentry Limited


Handelsbanken PLC


Grant Thornton


Breadsource Limited


J O Sims Holdings Limited


Purnells Insolvency Practitioners


Blanchard Fields Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Fairfax and Favor Limited in respect of three further occupational leases for its latest retail stores (Bawtry, Shaftesbury and Southwold).
  • Advising Strand Properties (Ellingham) Limited on the acquisition of its 8 plot development in Norfolk and then subsequently setting the site up for sales and then dealing with the disposals of those plots.
  • Advising Strand Development Limited on the acquisition of its 24 plot development site in Norfolk and subsequently setting the site up for sales including necessary utility deeds of easement.