Real Estate Development
Our Real Estate Development practice remains at the heart of the Real Estate group and handles complex residential and mixed use development sites, from acquisition through to disposals of completed units, and affordable housing disposals.
We act for a diverse range of domestic and international clients and have a very broad spread of clients in many different sectors. We work extensively with other specialists within the firm in related practice areas such as construction, planning and environmental, disputes, banking, corporate and tax.
Experience
- Acquisition and disposal advice (including dispoal strategy) on schemes with development values exceeding £300m in some cases.
- Advising developers and landowners on joint ventures and collaboration agreeements.
- Advising on land sale agreements and development agreements on numerous affordable housing transactions.
- Acquisition of a 22 acre former brewery site in London for a mixed use development.
- Acquisiton of former film studios in West London for residential redevelopment for over 200 units.
- Advising on the residential aspects of a £600m mixed use development.
- Advising promoters and landowners on land promotion agreements.
News
GEAR CHANGE FOR THE GOVERNMENT, AND FOR DEVELOPERS.
WHAT IS IT? In May the government announced that £2 billion of new funding would be set aside for cycling and walking, representing a six fold increase in dedicated funding… Read more →
News
WHAT DOES NEW RICS LEASING CODE MEAN FOR DEVELOPERS?
The new RICS “Code for leasing business premises 2020” has a good amount of publicity aimed at landlords and tenants. But what does it mean for developers? The first thing… Read more →
News
LOGISTICALLY SPEAKING
The logistics sector has boomed in recent years, no more so than during the pandemic which has fast-tracked the shift from “bricks to clicks”. Real Estate partners David Roberts and… Read more →
News
PLANNING CHANGES IN THE ERA OF COVID 19.
Joanna Averley the Government’s new Chief Planner in waiting (who will be replacing Steve Quartermain in September this year) has said “We have many challenges to address over the coming… Read more →
News
QIA Summer 2020
Welcome to the QIA Summer 2020 edition. • Dear Claire – during lockdown a takeaway has opened next to my clothing boutique. The social distancing queue which forms in front… Read more →
Legal Podcast
Episode 1: Coworking – Phenomenon or Flash in the Pan?
Key legal issues for landlords and tenants from the biggest market disrupter for decades discussed by Wedlake Bell commercial property partners Suzanne Gill and Claire Nelson.
Bulletins
Overage – the devil is in the detail
What is overage? Overage is the term used to describe a situation, in the context of a property transaction, where the seller may be entitled to receive additional consideration from… Read more →
Bulletins
Making London Affordable
Hot on the heels of issuing new planning policy guidance for affordable housing in London the Mayor refused a revised application on 5 September relating to the New Scotland Yard… Read more →
Brexit
Bitesize Brexit
Brexit impacts – lifecycle of a property development Brexit is going to impact on our laws. It is too early to know what the impacts will be but it is… Read more →
Wedlake Bell LLP, which recently merged with fellow City firm Moon Beever, has a strong commercial property department which covers a range of specialisms including high-value investments, a front on which David Roberts is exceedingly active, leveraging his expertise in logistics and retail assets. The department is also reputed for its full-service development service, which has a focus on mixed-use, business park and heritage building schemes with Kim Lalli particularly busy in the residential project space. Justin Lewis-Vivas helms the practice, which also includes Sarah Blunn, a lawyer integral to the firm's corporate occupier practice which caters to companies from the luxury brand, hospitality and leisure, co-working, sciences and professional services sectors.
— Legal 500, 2022
Wedlake Bell combine professionalism, knowledge, pragmatism and a personal relationship that makes interactions quick and easy. With reasonable charging rates and quality of personnel, they are my default practice of choice.
— Legal 500, 2022
"Their experience and balanced approach, allied with their attitude to meeting the objectives we set, all provides us with confidence."
— Chambers UK, 2021
Sarah Blunn is an exceptional real estate lawyer, commercial and dedicated to her clients'.
— Legal 500, 2020
'Suzanne Gill is an excellent legal adviser, transactional lawyer and highly personable individual. She brings a refreshing prospective to the law. Suzanne has immense gravitas and a razor sharp legal mind.'
— Legal 500, 2020
'Wedlake Bell provide high quality legal work, with strong communications and a sense of personal ownership of issues and work flow by the respective partners. In an increasingly complex and confusing world in the post brexit era Wedlake Bell provide clarity and strong counsel.'
— Legal 500, 2020
"We're very happy with the service and support we receive – we can rely on the team and they feel like part of our business. They're highly responsive and always looking to improve the service and their value for money."
— Chambers UK, 2018
"They are fantastic. They are commercial, pragmatic and concise. They are 'to the point' but they still comprehensively go through strategy and are on the ball tactically."
— Chambers UK, 2018
"Wedlake Bell LLP demonstrates ‘superb knowledge and excellent delivery of advice and information’, and the practice is well-versed in advising international investors on a range of deals."
— Legal 500, 2017
Malcolm Macfarlane and Justin Lewis-Vivas are the main contacts.
— Legal 500, 2017
Senior partner Kim Lalli focuses on the healthcare and residential sub-sectors, and in one highlight, is acting for CALA Management on the acquisition and redevelopment of an industrial site at Imber Court, Surrey.
— Legal 500, 2017