Lawyers

Gemma Merry

Gemma Merry

Work Department

Commercial Property

Position

Associate Director

Before joining DJB, Gemma worked at Capsticks for 10 years. She specialises in commercial property matters, including acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold land for both small and large scale sites, handling overage and clawback and general estates management. Gemma has particular experience in the healthcare and retail sectors, and has advised a number of NHS bodies and major retail brands.

Gemma's experience includes:

Portfolio Management for a High Street Retailer:  Acting for a national high street retailer, advising on their leasehold estate across various locations, including Canary Wharf.

£25 Million Disposal of a Hospital Site:  Acting on the £25 million disposal of a hospital site to a developer. This transaction involved the negotiation of complex overage and clawback provisions and short term leasebacks following completion of the transfer.

Landlord and Tenant Advice to an Energy Company:  Advising an energy provider on the simultaneous surrender of existing premises and grant of a new lease for new premises.

Development Advice for an NHS Organisation:  Acting for an NHS organisation on a third party development involving a transfer of land to the GP developers, a complex Development Agreement, land swaps with the Local Authority and leasebacks to the NHS organisation, with short term leases to the NHS organisation for decant accommodation during the build.

Career

Gemma specialises in commercial property matters, including acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold land for both small and large scale sites, handling overage and clawback and general estates management.  Gemma has particular experience of acting for clients in Central and Local Government and organisations in the healthcare and retail sectors.  Before joining DJB, Gemma worked at Capsticks for 10 years.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Commercial Property

Development / Regeneration

Landlord and Tenant

Highways

WORK HIGHLIGHTS

Highlights include advising:

TM Lewin in relation to their estate, which included advising on an assignment of a lease, grants of leases, lease renewals and surrenders in various locations across London, including Canary Wharf.

The NHS on a £25million disposal of a hospital site to a developer.

Government departmental and non-departmental bodies on their estates management requirements.  This includes advising Highways England on the acquisition of land and properties via CPO so that they could develop new road schemes across the UK

An NHS organisation on a third party development, which involved a transfer of land to the GP developers,  a complex Development Agreement, land swaps with the Local Authority and leasebacks to the NHS organisation, with short term leases to the NHS organisation for decant accommodation during the build.

The Met Office on complex estates management  issues relating to unique real estate such as weather stations.

Date admitted:  2005

Previous roles / firms: Capsticks Solicitors;  Mundays Solicitors

Languages

English

Memberships

SRA number: 356349