Advising a varied range of clients on regenerations, developments and investment transactions, the team at Mills & Reeve LLP is well-equipped to handle landlord, tenant and asset management matters for its client portfolio, which includes Salford City Council and Bruntwood. Caroline Hanratty is praised for her ‘fantastic knowledge, drive and enthusiasm’, and Rachel Pitman is noted for her distinctive focus on the life sciences and logistics sectors. Planning expert Melanie Grimshaw regularly advises on regeneration schemes. Mike Edge heads the practice, in which Jennifer Lewis, who leads on noteworthy acquisition and development matters, and Hannah Cheminais, who advises on investment and development transactions, are key names.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Good real estate expertise at partner and associate level. Accessible, responsive and pragmatic. The team has a good understanding of the client business, its culture and drivers and is always engaged.’

  • ‘Mike Edge, Rachel Pitman and Hannah Cheminais have demonstrated their commitment to the client business over many years but are never complacent. Always innovative. Good team players. ’

  • 'Mills & Reeve have are the best commercial lawyers in our opinion. They are so proactive and actually chase me to make sure that I have done my work so as not to hold them back. I work with some very important national clients and once they have dealt with Mills & Reeve they are hooked.'

  • 'The Manchester office does everything I need and the staff work seamlessly together.'

  • 'Caroline Hanratty is probably the best commercial lawyer I have ever had the pleasure of working with. She has fantastic knowledge, drive and enthusiasm. She is a pleasure to work with  I get her to work on nearly all of my sites now.'

  • 'The team has excellent breadth and depth of resource, meaning that we get appropriately qualified lawyers working on matters needing the relevant level of experience and expertise.'

Key clients

  • Bruntwood
  • Langtree
  • Salford City Council
  • Wain Land
  • Sky House
  • Worldwide Foods
  • Urban & Civic
  • Tritax Symmetry
  • Homes England
  • Metropolitan Borough of Stockport
  • Rowlands
  • University of Salford
  • One Heritage
  • Robertson Group
  • Vegetarian Society
  • Capital & Centric
  • Hassett Homes

Work highlights

  • Acting for Bruntwood on the property aspects of its transfer of assets valued in excess of £600m to Bruntwood SciTech and £500m of equity investment from the Greater Manchester Pension Fund.
  • Advising Trafford Bruntwood LLP on the disposal of two connected development sites at the former Kelloggs’ site on Talbot Road, Old Trafford, Manchester.
  • Advising Urban & Civic Waterbeach Limited on its purchase of Waterbeach Barracks from the Ministry of Defence.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Richard Hanson, Mike Edge

Other key lawyers

Hannah Cheminais, Rachel Pitman, Caroline Hanratty, Jennifer Lewis, Fiona Barker, Lindsey Clark