Richard Symonds
Shoosmiths LLPShoosmiths LLP's broad expertise covers building safety matters, insolvency cases and advice on disputes arising out of residential development projects, including rights of light, easements and covenants. In this regard, the firm works with a plethora of commercial developer and investor clients, hotels and retailers. Richard Symonds heads up the Leeds-based team and works extensively with clients in the living and hotels sectors, while also specialising in the Building Safety Act 2022. Matthew Lonergan manages corporate occupiers’ property portfolios and handles any related contentious matters. Recent team changes include the departure of Michael Gaughan in August 2023, as well as the arrival of Thomas Freeman from Irwin Mitchell in January 2024.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Proactive on the client's behalf. Exploring all possible angles. Very good at drawing the relevant strands and supporting evidence together.’
‘Richard Symonds - sound and commercial analysis of multi-issue disputes and skilled in advocating the client's position to secure the best possible results.’
Key clients
- Asda
- Bensons for Beds
- Buccleuch Property
- Canal & River Trust
- Conegate Limited
- Currys/Dixons
- Doncaster Borough Council
- Empire Property Group
- Euro Garages
- Extra MSA
- Feldberg Capital
- Halfords Limited
- Highwood Developments
- Hill Partnership Limited
- Holland & Barrett
- Invesco
- Kloeckner Metals/ASD
- Mercedes Benz
- Moorfield Group
- Muse Developments Limited
- Packaged Living
- Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
- Roomzzz Limited
- Sports.Direct.com
- Stay City UK Ltd
- The Restaurant Group
- Total Energies Marketing UK Limited
- Travelodge Hotels Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Travelodge Hotels Limited on a dispute with a landlord/neighbouring owner who was conducting works to their retained parts in an unsafe manner that was prejudicing the hotel and its guests.
- Advising on a wide range of disputes arising out of Extra MSA Group’s investment and development portfolio and out of the sale of the business, including contractual disputes and issues relating to adverse possession and prescription, plus asset management issues concerning restrictive covenants on letting, insolvency issues and breach of user provisions.
- Advising The Moorfield Group on a number of development constraints and risk management matters.
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Richard Symonds