Gowling WLG

Partner

Tom Baines is a partner specialising in commercial real estate development and investment across the UK.

He predominantly acts for property companies, developers, occupiers and technology companies, particularly in logistics, office and energy-related development projects. He recognises the value that his clients place on their commercial relationships and that quick, pragmatic advice is crucial to ensuring their real estate transactions are executed on time and on budget.

Tom's wide-ranging experience affords him perspective on parties' commercial drivers and what is "institutional" in the market. This experience includes:

Acting for an international tech company on its pre-let of a 700,000 sq ft manufacturing and distribution centre with an option to purchase. Subsequently acting on the acquisition and financing of the facility, before going on to sell to a listed REIT with a leaseback arrangement. Advising a number of national and regional developers on long term strategic option agreements to bring forward industrial, logistics and mixed-use schemes. Acting for a US-based real estate company on the acquisition and redevelopment of sites for over 240,000 sq ft of urban last-mile logistics in the Greater London area. Advising Peel NRE on bringing forward Protos, a market-leading 134 acre strategic energy and resource estate. Acting for a listed FTSE 250 property company on the acquisition, pre-letting and subsequent forward sale of a mixed use resi-lead retail scheme in East London, and advising the client on their ongoing development management and promotion role.

Tom also leads on the real estate aspects of financing and corporate restructuring projects. Recent highlights include a £200 million development facility for a property company specialising in industrial and logistics, and leading a cross-border team on an international group reorganisation and re-gearing involving over forty assets across four jurisdictions.

By taking a commercial, hands-on approach, Tom cuts through legal issues to deliver an efficient and positive outcome for his clients.