The core pillars of Michelmores LLP‘s practice are commercial real estate and investment, residential development, energy, and the sustainable economy; the team’s recent advice regarding a UK-wide roll of habitat bank credits is testament to their capabilities in the latter. ’Stand-out property lawyer' Lucy Smallwood leads the South West transactional practice, while Emma Honey, who has significant experience of advising on residential development work, heads the overall real estate department. Other key figures include Stephen Newson, whose expertise extends to corporate occupier mandates, and Richard Walford, who advises on a broad array of commercial property matters. Richard Honey and Chloe Howard-Smith are also noted.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The team have an ability to quickly understand the client position, and consequently their experience of the market allows them to tailor a service that meets the client's need.’
‘Lucy Smallwood is a stand-out property lawyer, experienced, knowledgeable but firm in her advice and negotiations which are inevitably successful. Lucy is also a kind lady, whose manner builds relationships and trust and always makes time to support the client when needed.’
‘The team - from top to bottom - provide excellent customer service and a drive to be commercial in their advice on complex commercial property transactions, all led by a senior management team that demonstrates this.’
‘Commercial, available and experienced.’
‘Michelmores are one of the best legal practices I have worked with.’
‘Richard Honey is a pleasure to work with. He also has in-depth expertise and is always prepared to acknowledge the limitations of his personal knowledge and call upon others to support, who have not let me down.
‘Jo Damerell stands alone. A brilliant lawyer who knows her discipline inside out and is fantastically tenacious in her dealings. ’

Key clients

Residential Development
BDW Trading Limited (Barratt Homes)
Persimmon Homes Limited
C G Fry & Son Limited
Wain Homes (South West) Limited
Cavanna Homes Limited
Vistry Homes Limited
Waddeton Park Limited (land promoter)
Commercial Real Estate
Holland & Barrett Retail Limited
St Austell Brewery Company Limited
Brandpath Limited
Polar Capital Partners Limited
Crux Asset Management
LGAM Asset Management
Galilei Investment
IQVIA Limited
Peter Jones Group
Ashby Capital
Mole Valley Farms Limited
Oxygen House
La Prairie (part of the Beiersdorf Group)
Eagle One Investments Limited
Haven Investments Limited
Escapade Silverstone Limited
Rowe Estates
Exeter Golf and Country Club
UK Agricultural Lending
Skypark Development Partnership LLP
Charity
Dartington Hall Trust
Energy
Zestec Asset Management
Octopus
Powen
Downing LLP
Armstrong Energy
Triplepoint
Marubeni
Other
Cambridge Biomedical Campus Limited
The Environment Bank Limited
Education
Aberystwyth University
University of Exeter
Weston College of FE
Public Sector
Torbay Council
Treveth Holdings LLP (development subsidiary of Cornwall Council)
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Work highlights

Assisted Holland & Barrett on its UK property telecoms project.
Advising Environment Bank on its rollout of a UK-wide scheme of land acquisitions for the creation and maintenance of habitat credits.
Advised longstanding client Persimmon Homes Limited on a series of land acquisition and strategic land instructions.