Commercial property - Newcastle
DICKINSON DEES LLP
EVERSHEDS LLP
MUCKLE LLP
WARD HADAWAY
WATSON BURTON LLP
Crutes Law Firm
Hay & Kilner
Mincoff Jacksons LLP
Sintons LLP
Hunt Kidd Law Firm LLP
Optima Legal
Short Richardson & Forth LLP
NEWCASTLE: Offering ‘excellent client relationship management combined with in-depth understanding of the market sector’, Dickinson Dees LLP has benefited from the diversity of its client base and ‘spread and depth of team knowledge’ in an area so heavily affected by the economic downturn. Recent instructions include advising the London Borough of Croydon on two new mixed-use town centre projects. John Ralph has taken over as practice head, and Ian Ward is recommended for his ‘understanding of client requirements and first-rate service’. The team acted for Nike in its reorganisation of UK real estate, and was also instructed by Buccleuch Property Fund on the acquisition of Princess Park, Team Valley, Tyne & Wear.
The team at Eversheds LLP had a busy 2008, with deals including advising PD Teesport Limited on the disposal and development of a 1.2m square foot distribution centre by Tesco. Adrian Stanley is noted for his ongoing advice to South Tyneside Council and One NorthEast, while practice head Adam Heather has specialist knowledge in private sector development and public sector regeneration projects.
Recommended partner Jonathan Combe heads the team at Muckle LLP, which acted for McAleer & Rushe Limited on the development and pre-letting of a major transformational site in central Bradford. New client wins for the practice include Ashley House plc (involved in the construction of primary care infrastructure for the NHS) and Gentoo. Public sector clients include the University of Northumbria at Newcastle and Alnwick District Council. Jason Wainwright is noted for his work with retail clients.
Acting exclusively for Aldi in the North, Ward Hadaway has seen instructions from the supermarket client on site purchases and land acquisitions to expand existing stores. Simon Priestley leads the healthcare property offering, which was instructed by North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust on the creation of a new hospital in Hartlepool. New client wins include Tees, Esk & Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust. Practice head Malcolm Lloyd is also recommended.
Watson Burton LLP acted for developer Bellway on the sale of its ground rent portfolio to The Brandeaux Fund. The deal was valued at circa £11m and consisted of over 90 estates comprised of 3,500 individual properties. New clients included Highbridge Business Park Limited and Marick Developments Limited. Richard Freeman-Wallace heads the team and Barney Frith is recommended.
Crutes Law Firm boasts a diverse spread of public, private and third sector clients including local councils and housing associations. The team was instructed by Tynedale District Council on a town centre redevelopment scheme and by Castle Morpeth Borough Council on regeneration schemes. Recent panel appointments include Cumberland Building Society. Paul Bell has taken over as practice head following Stuart Palmer’s retirement.
Clients state that advice given by Hay & Kilner ‘has always been second to none’; ‘the partners have in-depth knowledge and are supported by an excellent team’. The practice continues to receive instructions on significant sales and purchases from clients in the care sector. Paul Taylor leads the team and is recommended along with ‘leading property lawyer’ Nicola Tiffen.
New client The Works instructed Mincoff Jacksons LLP on the acquisition, renewals and release of its national leasehold portfolio. The team also advised clients in the leisure sector on portfolio management. Henry Cave and Howard Gold are names to note, and Phil Dean is recommended for his advice to FTSE 100 companies.
Joint practice head Andrew Walker at Sintons LLP is recommended for high-value portfolio purchases; he recently advised on three such deals involving portfolios of residential properties comprising over 90 units, valued at over £21m. Client wins include Home Group Limited and two healthcare consortia led by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Also recommended are: Richard Brown at Hunt Kidd Law Firm LLP; Alexandra Cook and the team at Optima Legal, which provides ‘an excellent all-round service’; and Short Richardson & Forth LLP’s David Richardson for his advice on investment property.
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