Property litigation

Shoosmiths LLP

Consistently acting on big ticket litigation relating to dilapidations, contested breaks and rent arrears, the Birmingham-based Shoosmiths LLP team is hailed for its ‘speed of work and coordination’. Representing a diverse array of clients from across the property investment, retail and automotive spheres, the Midlands offering is headed by Kate McCall, who specialises in claims arising in the Appeal Courts and Upper Tribunals. Nick Shepherd leads the national practice, concentrating predominantly on rent reviews and development disputes, whilst Paul Knight frequently advises commercial developers and investors. Elinor Sandbach is an expert on landlord and tenant disputes, and Natalie Aldread is also highlighted as key.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘Kate McCall is very knowledgeable, helpful, eloquent and able to articulate effectively. Laurence Matthews is also very friendly and helpful, and the communication is effective.’
‘Elinor Sandbach and Amy Beaumont are an excellent team. They deliver sensible and timely commercial advice to property litigation problems.'
‘Elinor Sandbach is an excellent property litigation partner. Elinor's strength is providing cost efficient sensible advice in a timely manner.’
‘Very impressed with the speed of work and coordination with other departments.’
‘Kate McCall and Amy Beaumont are very nice to deal with and provide well-thought-out advice in a prompt manner. They are calm and focused.’

Key clients

British Car Auctions
Calthorpe Estates
Central Midlands Co-op
Crown Paints Limited
Equation Properties Limited
GXO Logistics
INGKA Centres (Ikea)
Krispy Kreme
McArthurGlen Group / McArthurGlen UK Retail Limited
Mountain Warehouse
Next
Northwood Investors
Nurton Developments Limited
One Stop Stores
Persimmon Plc
Pizza Hut (UK) Limited
Poundland
Regional REIT plc
Safestore Properties Limited
SpaMedica
Telefonica / O2
TFG (Whistles, Phase Eight, Hobbs)
Third Space Gyms
Topps Tiles
Dignity Funerals
Feldberg Capital
SAV Group
Telereal Trillium
UKRO Property
Union Investments GmbH

Work highlights

Retained by McArthurGlen UK to formulate and implement tenant management and vacant possession strategies to pave the way for extensions to existing McArthurGlen centres in the West Midlands, East Midlands and Bridgend.
Managing Poundland Limited’s property portfolio (204 ongoing matters), ranging from contested matters, disputes regarding the rent to be paid on renewal of a lease and high value dilapidations claims to ensure that Poundland and group companies property portfolios are run efficiently, and disputes resolved in a cost-effective and timely way.
Providing cross-portfolio asset management and litigation support to UKRO Property Holdings and its fund and asset managers, ADAPT Real Estate, across UKRO’s entire UK office portfolio, including: representing UKRO in one of only a handful of arbitrations which progressed to conclusion under the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Act 2022, in relation to relief from pandemic rent payments.