England - South East • Real estate

Shoosmiths LLP

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Fielding a group of ‘great communicators’, the Shoosmiths LLP real estate team has ’lots of practical experience’ of handling complex regeneration projects, large-scale financing schemes, and land development services. The group covers a wide breadth of issues, which includes advising on the interplay between property law and the electronic communications code, as well as assisting with nitrate mitigation initiatives. Joanne McGuinness leads the department, specialising in rail infrastructure and regeneration-related projects. Sara Hampson is noted as an expert on acquisitions and strategic aspects for residential and mixed-use development sites. Mehar Patel is ‘first class’, routinely handling property finance and portfolio management matters. Legal director Jess Ready has infrastructure expertise and is a trusted advisor to the national air traffic services. Katrina Spolander rounds out the roster of recommended practitioners.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Little churn, most of the team has been there a long time - there is a good balance between senior and junior members of the team.’

  • ‘Great communicators, with lots of practical experience. Jess Ready and Katrina Spolander are stand out for their efficiency and knowledge.’

  • ‘Fantastic partner-lead service; feels like an extension of our team when using them.’

  • ‘Mehar Patel is first class. Always available and extremely commercial in his approach.’

  • ‘The team work closely together and support our portfolio collectively and seamlessly. Trasnactions are completed successfully and collaboratively.'

  • 'It is a real pleasure working with the extended team in all locations.’
  • ‘They are all unique.’

Key clients

  • Cavendish Education Group
  • National Air Traffic Services (NATS) Limited
  • Roke Manor Limited
  • BDW Trading Limited trading as Barratt David Wilson Homes Limited (Southern Counties)
  • William Lacey Group Limited
  • Telefonica UK Limited
  • Seaward Properties Limited
  • Hitachi Rail Limited
  • The Hamleys Group
  • McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles Limited
  • Wolverhampton City Council
  • Thurrock Borough Council
  • Almacantar Limited
  • Marsh Corporate Services Limited
  • Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited
  • IKEA Properties Investments Limited
  • South Somerset District Council
  • Hitachi Europe Limited
  • Lifeways Care Group
  • Civil Nuclear Police Authority
  • London EV Company Limited
  • Drew Smith Homes Limited
  • Taylor Wimpey UK Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Dukes Group on the acquisition of land in Notting Hill for development into a new school site, followed by an immediate sale and leaseback transaction.
  • Advised Roke Manor on the purchase of land in Romsey to create a new nitrate mitigation scheme to deliver off-site nitrate credits, including negotiating a nitrate profit sharing agreement with the seller.
  • Advising a notable lender on a £130m refinancing of a development portfolio.

Lawyers

Rising stars

Jess Ready

Jess Ready

Shoosmiths LLP

Jess acts for developers, institutional landlords, corporate investors and occupiers on disposals, acquisitions and lettings, as well as providing property assistance in corporate transactions. Jess’s recent experience includes advising: • an air navigation service provider in relation to its day to day occupational requirements including acquisitions and leases of radar and navigation sites and disposals of non-operational sites, with specialist input in relation to its requirements as a Code Operator; • the UK’s leading rolling stock financier and asset management company on its acquisition of the freehold interest in the largest specialist rolling stock storage site in the country; • on the acquisition of warehouse/logistics premises for a multinational electronics client with a deal value of £23m; • on the asset management of a London based investor with a large national property portfolio as well as its acquisition and disposal programmes; • a property investment company on the £220m property refinance, redevelopment and letting of restaurants and retail units at a landmark asset in Central London; and • landowner and developer clients on the grant of wayleave agreements relating to back haul provision as well as rooftop and greenfield sites.

Next Generation Partners

Mehar Patel

Mehar Patel

Shoosmiths LLP

Mehar Patel is a Partner in Shoosmiths’ Real Estate team, specialising in property finance, development, landlord and tenant work, and portfolio management. He has a wide experience of dealing with large-scale property financing across multiple property portfolios acting for banks, non-bank lenders, mezzanine lenders, funds, and borrowers. Mehar also has a range of experience across a broad spectrum of property types, acting for developers, local authorities, landlords and tenants, and investment acquisitions and disposals of real estate assets for funds. In addition, he is well versed in providing corporate support in company and business acquisitions, equity injections/withdrawals and sales.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Joanne McGuinness

Other key lawyers

Sara Hampson, Mehar Patel, Katrina Spolander, Jess Ready