Howes Percival LLP
howespercival.com howespercival.comLawyers
Elizabeth is a commercial property specialist with a focus on working with property investors, corporate occupiers, charities and clients in the public sector. She has in-depth experience across a range of commercial property matters, including conditional sales and purchases, option agreements, agreements for lease and property management matters. She has over eight years of experience in advising education bodies (including Universities, Cambridge colleges, FE institutions and private providers) in respect of their portfolios and is used to working to tight timescales in order to achieve the desired result by the necessary deadline. Elizabeth’s practice also includes buying and selling student accommodation and she has acted for a number of overseas property investors in this sector, steering them through the complexities of the UK market. Following one such acquisition, Elizabeth was described by the client as “responsive, focussed, hardworking, punctual, cool as a cucumber and just an all-round pleasure to deal with”.
Gordon has over 20 years experience of handling contentious disputes. He has the technical expertise to handle complicated and high value commercial claims through to trial, but combines this with a flexible approach to look for practical and cost effective solutions. After several years working in Manchester, Gordon was head of a litigation team in Norfolk before joining our commercial litigation team in Norwich. Gordon likes to develop strong business relationships with clients, to help them through the litigation process and identify ways to avoid litigation in the future.
Guy qualified into the Commercial Property team in March 2013 having previously spent six months in the department during his training contract. His case-load includes a wide variety of commercial property work acting for landlords, tenants and lenders on acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold land. Guy also assists senior fee earners on large or complex transactions.
Jamie is a partner and advises on contentious property issues encompassing residential, commercial and agricultural land. He has detailed experience in relation to asset management concerns such as rent review and dilapidations, development and joint venture disputes, and the impact of insolvency. Jamie has a particular interest in overage, rights of light, rights of way, adverse possession and enfranchisement. Jamie has enjoyed success before the LVT, the HMLR Adjudicator, the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Jamie contributes to the Property Law Journal and is a member of the Property Litigation Association.
Jamie is a specialist planning solicitor at Howes Percival, with a particular focus on securing legally robust and deliverable planning permissions for clients. Described as a “rising star” in the Legal 500 (2022), Jamie’s experience includes advising on a number of significant, high profile and contentious residential development projects. Jamie also regularly advises on a wide range of commercial, energy and retail projects. Jamie is regularly instructed by national and regional housebuilders, land promoters, investors, landowners and local planning authorities. Jamie has a proven track record of negotiating complex planning agreements on some of the largest development projects in the region. Jamie also has substantial experience in judicial review matters and in providing specialist advice on Environmental Impact Assessment, permitted development rights, highways matters, rights of way, assets of community value and town and village greens. Jamie’s experience also covers advising on a range of licensing law matters. Jamie has particular experience in advising clients on applications for new or varied premises licenses. Jamie’s combined expertise in both planning and licensing matters means he often provides valuable practical and strategic advice to developers, owners and operators of licensed premises.
Partner Jay is a specialist planning solicitor at Howes Percival. He is experienced in all areas of planning law and supports his clients with the delivery of strategic residential development including large urban extensions and allocations, in addition to commercial, agricultural and renewable energy projects. Recommended in the Legal 500, Jay’s clients include national house builders, promoters and local planning authorities who describe him as having “excellent judgement and very good attention to detail”. Over the years, Jay has accrued significant experience in judicial review and planning appeals. He has defended countless developers and local planning authorities against challenges to planning permissions, with continued success in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Many of these cases are now considered to be leading authorities on matters such as Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. Jay is therefore relied on by many applicants and local planning authorities to guide them through the application process to ensure planning permissions may be secured robustly and the development may proceed without delay. Jay also has considerable experience in drafting complex section 106 agreements and highways agreements for schemes across the country, and provides regular advice on other matters such as enforcement, certificates of lawfulness, compulsory purchase, town and village greens, listed buildings consent and permitted development rights.
Joanna has significant experience of all types of commercial property work, specialising mainly in real estate development, but also dealing with acquisitions and disposals; landlord and tenant matters for clients’ property portfolios; and acting for investors in high value commercial properties. Joanna has significant commercial property experience and has progressed her career with the firm since qualifying as a solicitor, establishing a strong loyalty with both her clients and the business.
Matthew has a wealth of experience in all areas of employment law both litigation and advisory. Matthew provides commercial solutions for employers with particular experience of large scale TUPE transfers in both the private and public sectors; restructures; employment tribunal litigation and High Court injunctions. Matthew writes and presents frequently on employment law issues providing updates and training to clients. He recognised by both Chambers and Legal 500 as a leader in his field. Matthew joined Howes Percival in 2017 as a Partner having previous headed teams in the Eastern Region. In addition to his employment practice, he is also a school governor and trustee of an independent school and a member of the advisory board to a regional theatre company.
Michael specialises in large complex commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on company/shareholder disputes, partnership advice, restraint of trade, technology disputes, professional negligence claims, contract disputes, agency disputes, contentious trusts & probate and insolvency. His clients include BDO, Mazars, RSM, Bens Cookies, many in the automotive industry and Cambridge tech companies. Michael is a Member of the Association for British Recovery Professionals (R3) and the Association of Contentious Probate Specialists (ACTAPS). He has extensive experience of litigating in the higher courts and is ranked Tier One in legal directories (Chambers & Partners and Legal 500) being described as “commercially minded, astute and a leading individual in litigation and insolvency”. Michael is a Solicitor-Advocate and is dual qualified as a barrister.
Michaela’s specialisms are land development and promotion, commercial development and site assembly, property investment, landlord and tenant negotiations and advising on commercial property issues for investors, operational businesses, technology companies and charities nationwide. Michaela started her career at a West End law firm before returning to Cambridge in 1998
Morris Peacock is a partner and is an experienced litigation solicitor with expertise in insolvency and directors disqualification. Morris joined Howes Percival in 1999 after having previously acted for directors in respect of directors disqualification matters and for insolvency practitioners on recovery actions. He has acted for the Insolvency Service for over 12 years, has been the partner responsible for investigation matters since 2004 and the client partner for all Insolvency Service matters since 2008, which also includes public interest winding up work and costs recovery work and conducts advocacy in the County Courts. He is an advisory editor to ‘Mithani on Disqualification’ and a member of the R3 Eastern Region Committee. He has dealt with a number of high profile and reported cases including Crystal Palace FC (1986) Limited, SOSTI v Aaron & others, Wrapit and UKLI.
A former City solicitor, Patrick is a member of Howes Percival's Insolvency Service team. Having joined the firm in 2005, he advises on and is responsible for the conduct of directors disqualification proceedings on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). He has trial experience both in the High Court and county courts as well as wide experience of negotiated settlements in defended claims. Patrick also undertakes investigations on behalf of BIS in relation to directors misconduct. Patrick trained and qualified with City of London firms, working for a number of years post-qualification in litigated insurance claims for UK and international insurers and reinsurers.
Richard specialises in advising on corporate transactions and has been involved in numerous acquisitions, mergers, MBO's and disposals acting for vendors, buyers and other institutions. Richard also regularly works on a wide variety of other complex corporate matters, including shareholder arrangements, joint ventures, reorganisations and partnerships. Richard is also well experienced in guiding clients through complex contractual matters and assists clients in finding practical commercial solutions to their requirements. Richard has deep experience in drafting and negotiating a spectrum of contractual arrangements including: - Business-to-business supply contracts; - Sponsorship agreements; - Reseller, manufacturing and distribution agreements; and - General terms and conditions of sale.
Simon advises on contentious property issues encompassing residential, commercial and agricultural land. Simon spends most of his time advising on asset management issues including possession claims, the forfeiture of leases, dilapidations, service charge disputes and lease interpretation. He also advises on trespass, overage, rights of light, rights of way, adverse possession and enfranchisement. Simon is based in the Cambridge office. Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 have consistently recognised Simon as a leader in his field commenting he ” is best known for commercial landlord/tenant work for retailers, leisure clients and landed estates”. Simon is a member of the Property Litigation Association.
Simon specialises in all aspects of non-contentious construction law from strategic procurement advice to dispute avoidance. The backbone of Simon’s practice is the preparation and negotiation of construction documentation, including building contracts, professional appointments, collateral warranties as well as security documents such as bonds and guarantees. Having previously worked in both London and Manchester Simon has considerable experience of working with a number of developers and housebuilders on a wide variety of projects (student accommodation, hospitals, mixed use commercial/retail developments, boutique hotels, urban regeneration schemes and residential refurbishments). Simon also spent a number of years advising national housing associations on the procurement, delivery and maintenance of their affordable housing stock.
Steven has over 30 years experience in dealing with a wide range of commercial property transactions. He particularly specialises in acting on commercial investment property transactions and also in the main acting for landowners in relation to potential commercial and residential development schemes including substantial experience in dealing with Collaboration Agreements, Promotion Agreements and Options.
Stuart is a partner in the property and estates team at Howes Percival, dealing with landed estates, high-net-worth individuals and business owners. After training as a barrister he spent many years providing tax advice via accountancy firms before returning to the law once more. Stuart has 15 years’ experience in devising bespoke taxation solutions for his clients. He presents lectures and seminars regularly on topical tax issues and is CTA qualified. Stuart has particular expertise in estate planning and minimising inheritance and capital gains tax, both onshore and offshore.
Susanne specialises in investment property, and commercial landlord and tenant matters covering the leisure, retail, office and life sciences sectors. Susanne has extensive experience in working with a variety of clients including businesses on the Cambridge Business Weekly “Killer 50” List, Cambridge colleges, pension funds, charities, not for profit organisations as well as family-owned businesses. Clients say that Susanne is pragmatic and approachable, and is good at understanding their business needs. Susanne started her career in Nottingham where she qualified as a solicitor in commercial property.
Tessa is a partner and her specialisms include landlord and tenant, sales and purchases of commercial property and banking work. She negotiates leases, mainly for owners of commercial property portfolios, and advises on landlord and tenant legislation. Tessa acts for banks and private lenders in relation to their property work. She deals with sales and purchases of commercial land and buildings; including advising on overage and clawback and Stamp Duty Land Tax issues. Having worked in industry herself, Tessa has a good understanding of how businesses operate, and is aware of the commercial pressures on business clients.
Victoria is a Director in the Dispute Resolution team, based in our Cambridge office. Victoria was listed under 'Rising stars’ by the Legal 500 2021. She has a wide range of experience advising on all aspects of complex commercial disputes including contractual disputes, company/shareholder disputes, negligence claims against professionals, fraud (including cyber fraud), judicial review claims and insolvency matters and proceedings. In addition she is also experienced in advising on contentious trusts and probate matters. Victoria takes a keen interest in her clients’ businesses and strives to find a practical solution for them. She works closely with her clients to factor in commercial and other external pressures that impact on decision making. As well as County Court and High Court litigation, Victoria also has considerable experience effectively using Alternative Dispute Resolution procedures. Victoria has close attention to detail and is able to provide legal advice on complex matters in a pragmatic way.