Real Estate Investment
Our Investment Team has a wealth of experience in acting on every aspect of investment activity including the purchase, ownership, management, rental and sale of commercial real estate.
We take the time to get to know our client’s business. We are renowned for our commerciality and pragmatism. We ensure deals are structured in the most effective way so that clients can react quickly to seize opportunities. We are problem solvers and understand that clients need their lawyers to take a strategic proactive approach that takes into account and understands the underlying business objectives.
On asset management we believe that it is of real benefit to our clients to provide a lawyer or a team that builds up experience of the asset over a period of time. This helps to develop an efficient close working relationship so that our clients are confident that their business needs will be met and the asset is protected.
With support from banking, tax, planning, construction and real estate dispute specialists, we have the capability to act quickly and effectively on complex, high-value and time critical deals.
Our clients are both UK-based and offshore and include listed companies, private companies, LLPs, family offices, individuals, trusts, funds, general partnerships and other investment vehicles.
Webinar
Commercial Landlord and Tenant Updates Event
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
CAN TENANTS DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?
Is it time for landlords to think the unthinkable and consider upward and downward rent reviews? Ben Dunbar looks into his crystal ball to consider the possible impact of Coronavirus… Read more →
News
Snail’s pace searches. Your local search result won’t be back for weeks. What do you do?
What is a local land charge and what does a local land charges search show? A local land charge is a financial charge or restriction placed on a piece of… Read more →
News
COVID-19 – Is your commercial property currently vacant? Considerations for landlords and tenants
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt almost every industry. Consequently, many commercial properties are currently left vacant as bars, restaurants and retail units are closed and most office workers have… Read more →
News
COVID-19 – LEASES AND THE LAW OF FRUSTRATION AND FORCE MAJEURE
As the COVID pandemic intensifies and the economic ramifications loom large, it is virtually certain that all businesses will experience significant disruption bringing with it the strong possibility of increased… Read more →
News
Coronavirus Act 2020
Real estate update – The new landlord moratorium on forfeiture and re-entry. How does it work? On 25 March 2020 government put in place emergency legislation, known as the Coronavirus… Read more →
News
Sign of the times?
Beware that you don’t accidentally give away, or get more than you bargained for! An automatically generated email footer signature might be enough to create a legally binding contract for… Read more →
News
Bringing the next generation into the family business.
This article by Matt Braithwaite, a Partner in the Private Client team at Wedlake Bell was originally commissioned for and published by CampdenFB.com. The issues Matt explores are relevant to… Read more →
News
Buyers beware of the leap year! What buyers should consider when calculating rent apportionments
Whilst the calendar contains 365 days, the time it takes for the Earth to orbit the sun is slightly longer. Therefore every four years we add an additional day to… Read more →
Bulletins
Telecoms masts and a landowner’s right to redevelop
While the new Electronic Communications Code (introduced by the Digital Economy Act 2017) is intended to ensure that telecommunications operators are able to provide the public with “a choice of… Read more →
Bulletins
Planned departure or emergency exit?
Paul Corren, Corporate Partner in our Business Advisory Team looks at WeWork’s recent experience and gives some useful advice for property entrepreneurs looking to exit… The recent revelation that WeWork’s… Read more →
Bulletins
Breaking up is hard to do. How to get it right first time
A break clause in a commercial lease offers flexibility to the party with the benefit of the right to terminate. This can be either the landlord or the tenant, or… Read more →
News
Dear Claire- Autumn 2019
DEAR CLAIRE Perplexed by property law? Relax, Solicitor Claire Haynes is here to answer your most pressing questions… Q. I am the owner of a commercial office building. It is… Read more →
News
Introducing the BCO guide to Specification 2019 – Best practice for offices
Following the launch of the BCO Guide to office Specification 2019 at the BCO Conference in Copenhagen and the introduction of the new, interactive digital platform, Wedlake Bell was delighted… Read more →
News
Turnover rents – are they the answer to the high street’s woes?
In a world where we are seeing an increasing number of company voluntary arrangements – arrangements that allow retailers to renegotiate rent and speed up shop closure plans – and… Read more →
News
Dear Claire – Summer 2019
Perplexed by property law? Relax, Professional Support Lawyer Claire Haynes is here to answer your most pressing questions… Q: My company has taken a 10 year lease of newly constructed… 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
No-nonsense advice which gets to the heart of the matter but more importantly, identifies practical and effective solutions to drive transactions over the line.
— Legal 500, 2021
Decent, ethical people, delivering excellent advice and without hubris. The team has strong depth and robust abilities across the whole sector of real estate.
— Legal 500, 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
"Claire Nelson acted for an offshore private property company on the £40m purchase of a central London multi-let mixed-use property"
— Legal 500, 2017