Property Development

In its life, a commercial property site can present any number of different opportunities to different occupiers. Probably the most intensive time for expert legal advice in property terms is in the preparation for and during the property development phase of a project. 

It is often pointed out that expensive mistakes are made, for example by erecting the wrong building in a location (or the right building in the wrong location, depending upon how you see it). While this is obvious in architectural terms, similar mistakes can be made with legal structures. Development leases frequently prescribe the form of sublease - but will the property be marketable on those terms? Pre-let agreements frequently guarantee the occupiers a finished building in a given time scale; can the contractor be forced effectively to deliver that building in time?

Our team of property, banking, corporate, commercial, employment and public sector lawyers can come together in a variety of combinations to ensure that the most complex of projects is handled effectively. Because our lawyers work together consistently and have access to colleagues used to handling similar disputes, the risk of costly duplication is minimised.

Development, above any other area of commercial property work, usually combines the skills of buying, selling, funding, portfolio management, landlord and tenant services, planning and environment and joint ventures. Our expertise mentioned elsewhere in this website speaks for itself.