Consisting of the ‘highest calibre professionals’, Gowling WLG’s real estate practice has key expertise in the development and logistics, energy, investment and residential development sectors. Practice head Christopher Hunt is considerably experienced in advising corporate occupiers across retail, leisure, office, manufacturing and distribution premises. Richard Bate strengthens the practice with his expertise in residential development, while Richard Beckingsale leads the firm’s regeneration team. Helen Emmerson specialises in the energy and utility sector, handling an array of renewables and alternative energy projects, while Matthew Walker heads the firm’s student accommodation team. John Burns has a wealth of experience in large-scale transactions; and legal director Arminder Dhillon is another name of note, joining the team from Pinsent Masons LLP in September 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team have excellent client management etiquette and are able to mobilise and assemble the highest calibre professionals to work on an outcome-driven pathway and are agile and expedient in their response to client requests.’
‘The Gowling team of experts has a unique style and can quickly grasp the nub of the problems to find expert solutions in a manner that is collaborative and seamlessly become integrated as part of our wider professional team.'
'Advice is not tailored to what the client wants to hear but formulated in a timely and pragmatic and insightful way which is reassuring and provides the legal back-up to support the project despite the uncertainties of the landscape and shifting sands of delivery.'
'Gowling WLG have a likeability factor that has not been remarked on by elected Councillors and Council Senior officers alike on any legal team before. Their commitment to maximising the public purse for the greater good means they are efficient and carry out their legal services effectively.’
‘The team is hugely experienced in the housebuilding sector, with individuals specialising in all aspects of the process from land acquisition and planning through to plot conveyancing.'
'They offer bespoke training to clients, which is always well received.’
‘A well-resourced team made up of sufficiently knowledgeable senior partners to ensure work is conducted efficiently and effectively.’
'A particularly commercial group of lawyers, unafraid to provide advice on complex and unclear issues.'
Key clients
- Bellway Homes
- Blackstone
- Bloor Holdings Limited
- Cadent
- Diageo Pension Trust
- Government Property Agency
- Harbert
- Harworth
- Highways England (National Highways)
- Land Securities
- SEGRO PLC
- St Modwen Plc
- The Hut Group
- The Mid Counties Co-operative
- Triple Point Investment Management
- UK Power Networks
Work highlights
- Advising Bloor Homes on the acquisition of three major golf courses to build nearly 3,000 new homes.
- Acting for IM Properties on the acquisition and development of Peddimore in the Midlands.
- Advising Cadent project acquiring land rights for 120km of onshore high pressure hydrogen pipeline for the HyNet North West Project.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading associates
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Leading partners
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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.
Christopher Hunt