England - Yorkshire And The Humber • Real estate
Schofield Sweeney
Schofield Sweeney delivers strong advice on development and real estate finance matters to clients in the banking, development, investment and energy sectors. The team has particular experience handling portfolio financing and development funding work, and it frequently advises on such matters in connection with residential development projects and renewable energy schemes. The team is led by the Bradford-based duo of development expert Darren Birkinshaw and property finance lawyer Manjit Virdee. Bradford is also home to Farooq Zar, whose experience with Islamic property finance expands the firm’s international offering. Leeds-based lawyers Richard Innes, Adam Hastie and Rob Hayes are also recommended.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Farooq Zar is a hard-working member of the team, he is diligent, has a keen attention for detail and deals constructively and politely with the other side's solicitors. We are copied into correspondence, so we are aware how Farooq has handled contentious issues diplomatically, fairly and with respect to all involved in the commercial property transactions we have so far completed and are in the process of completing.’
‘The team are attentive to detail and very proactive.’
‘We deal with several people from Schofield Sweeney, and they all have the same ethos of putting the client first and delivering the right advice at the right time.’
‘The team is very much customer-driven and holds the client at the heart of what they do in delivering their legal services and products. An excellent firm across all their departments.’
‘Manjit Virdee is an exceptional Partner at the firm. He delivers excellent service at all times, communicates clearly, and I hold him in a very high regard. He goes the "extra mile" for his clients and always delivers on transactions/tight deadlines. He personifies the values of his firm and leads by example. It is evident that he works hard on ensuring the culture of the firm is very positive and always client centric. He's an asset to the legal profession.’
Key clients
- Barclay Firth Limited
- Company Shop Ltd
- Countrylarge
- Cubico (UK) Limited
- Evri
- Fenwood Estates Limited
- Frank Marshall Group of Companies
- GT3
- Greenhaus Group
- HSBC Bank PLC
- Mayfair Group of Companies
- Oak North Bank PLC
- One Medical Group
- Park Lane Group of Companies
- Recognise Bank
- Regal Food Ltd
- Santander UK PLC
- Shearings Group
- Sulzer Electro Mechanical Services (UK) Limited
- The Trafford Centre Limited
- YPP Lettings & Management Co Ltd
Work highlights
- Acted for United Trust Bank plc on its provision of significant development funding to a borrower for part of a site formerly belonging to Leeds Girls Grammar School.
- Acted for High Point Estates Limited and associated companies in connection with a portfolio refinancing of the company’s existing circa £58m facility with NatWest.
- Acted for Lambert’s Yard Estates Limited in connection with a development finance transaction, negotiating and finalising a complex facility agreement along with the associated security documentation for a high-value mixed use scheme.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Darren Birkinshaw, Manjit Virdee