Davitt Jones Bould

Davitt Jones Bould is the largest specialist real estate law firm in the UK.  We advise on the full spectrum of real estate matters including commercial property, property litigation, property finance, planning, construction, environment and other niche areas.   All our lawyers are at least 10 years qualified and have come from senior in-house roles or leading city, international or national firms.  We are renowned for our experience and expertise in real estate.

Our focus on experience and expertise has meant that we have not only been able to build long term relationships with our direct clients but also with other law firms and professional service firms, ensuring commercial viability and client satisfaction – always.

Our advice is also sought after for complex and often high-profile work on landmark buildings.  For example, we have advised on cases relating to 10 Downing Street, Admiralty Arch, St James’s Park, Horseguards Parade, the Old Admiralty Building, the Bomber Command Memorial, Hyde Park, House of Lords, the Mall, Lancaster House and St Stephen’s Tavern.  We have a history of advising on high-profile cases from the London 2012 Olympic Games to the UK Health Security Agency’s estates response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our clients include central government departmental and non-departmental bodies, national institutions, investors, corporate occupiers, local government and developers. Among them are The Royal Parks, Defra, National Highways, Fujifilm, Integral, TV celebrity chef Rick Stein’s restaurant group and Surrey County Council.

Davitt Jones Bould was established in 1999 by a team of Government Property Lawyers: an executive agency to of Treasury Solicitors. We established ourselves as the market leader for real estate law services in the public sector, before establishing itself as a key provider to the private sector.

Our services
Commercial property: we deal with of the full spectrum commercial property work including large property estate management, development work, joint ventures, investments and occupier acquisitions and disposals, and landlord and tenant matters.

Real estate support to other firms: we assist other law firms with advice on highly complex and specialist matters, investigations of title, certificates on title, warranties, clause drafting and more. The firm’s law firm clients include numerous UK Top 30 firms, leading international firms and Big Four accountancy firms.

Property litigation: we secure results for clients in litigious matters including lease breaks, dilapidations claims, site clearance and vacant possession issues, rent review disputes, debt recovery, judicial reviews and professional negligence cases.

Construction law: we assist with contentious and non-contentious construction matters, including a range of bespoke construction contracts, third party rights and collateral warranties, as well as other areas of construction law.

Procurement law: we advise on all procurement law issues relating to regeneration projects, acquisition or property and services and negotiations between the public and private sectors.

Agricultural and forestry law:  we have expertise in farm business tenancies, agricultural holdings, management agreements, advice relating to the Countryside Acts and Forestry Commission Acts and all other agricultural matters.

Public law: we advise on judicial review, human rights, European law, legal position of the Crown, Crichel Down Rules, the interrelationship of law and policy, and intra/ultra vires issues.

Environmental law: we advise on a range of environmental law issues including liability for contaminated land, flood defence schemes, sites of special scientific interest, national parks and nature reserve issues, management agreements, public access agreements and European environmental law.

Investment and capital markets: we advise on acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold property in connection with investment, development, and owner occupation.

Estate management:  we advise on commercial leases, renewals, and terminations; dilapidations; clawback and overage.

Landlord and tenant: we advise on lease negotiations, business tenancies, lease renewals, rent reviews, break options, dilapidations, as well as agricultural tenancies.

Development: we advise on commercial and residential developments, covering matters such as planning permissions, Section 106 Agreements, Rights to Light, establishment of scheme and structure, site assembly, development and construction contracts, warranties, as well as funding.

Regeneration projects: we advise on compulsory purchases and appropriations, Joint Venture Agreements, procurement, housing and mixed-use schemes, planning, highways, public consultations, public inquiries, staid aid, PFY / PPP, as well as asset backed vehicles.

Planning: our planning specialists advise on regeneration projects, compulsory purchase and appropriation, Legal advice on strategic planning policy, planning appeals and inquiries, judicial review, affordable housing, highway agreements, as well as building regulations.

Real estate finance and tax UK: we advise on taxation, corporate taxation and finance, foreign taxation, VAT advice, SDLT advice, TOGC advice, loan agreements, mortgages and legal charges, funding agreements, capital raising and listings, forward funding agreements, Islamic finance, property finance, deposit deeds, bond security.