Strategic Land
Strategic Land
About
Hewitsons' team of solicitors have experience in real estate law spanning a wide range of services.- Promotion Agreements and Strategic Site Assembly
- Option Agreements
- Conditional Contracts
- Outright Acquisition of freehold and leasehold interests
- Acquisition of rights and easements
- Release or variation of restrictive covenants
- Construction Procurement
- Development Agreements
- Joint Ventures
- Disposal of developed units
- Infrastructure provision and management company structures
- Investment sale and purchase
- Forward funding
- Development finance.
Site Assembly and Acquisition
Skilful acquisition of a development site will produce a title which allows you to service and develop without any legal impediment. It will also satisfy the most painstaking purchaser's, tenant’s or funder’s solicitor.
This is a specialist area of commercial development far beyond “conveyancing” and demands a deep understanding of your practical needs and concerns.
Whether your proposals involve immediate or strategic land acquisition, we understand that you will want the site under contract as quickly as possible.
We will:-
- Ensure the documentation is appropriately drawn and structured to prevent tax or funding problems hampering the development and disposal programme.
- Undertake a thorough investigation of title including on-site inspection.
- Make comprehensive pre-contract searches and enquiries.
- Appraise your progress throughout the project with tailored reporting systems culminating in a final detailed written report.
Our real estate lawyers understand the importance of keeping the disposal programme on schedule and achieving your half-year and year-end targets for commercial development.
Carefully prepared good quality comprehensive documentation for purchasers or funders or tenants will be despatched immediately we receive instructions.
Sales and lettings are strictly monitored and we will keep you informed of progress. We will account to you promptly for deposits and sale proceeds and provide a detailed financial statement in your preferred format on completion.
Joint Venture and Consortium Agreements
These are complex documents and our real estate law team has a great deal of experience across many years working with a variety of structures. We combine thorough legal and technical skills with commercial savvy and imagination. If a deal is to flourish and deliver profitability, then detailed examination of terms and careful attention to drafting documentation is vital.
Construction Procurement
This is an ever more complex and regulated area and our team of real estate lawyers are well versed in acting for both developer and contractor/professional utilising all of the standard forms of procurement documentation as well as more bespoke, tailored agreements for one-off ventures.
We can advise on all aspects of the procurement process from the initial tender to end of life warranty package delivery.
Planning Team
Our experienced planning team of national lawyers will work with you throughout the project life, advising on each step of the planning process from application to implementation and can advise, should it become necessary, on appeal and judicial review procedures.
Their experience extends to addressing some of the more esoteric aspects of regulatory control that development projects throw up, including highways issues, public and private rights of way and environmental compliance.
Property Funding
With numerous funding arrangements available, and the requirements of funders ever more prescriptive, we have the commercial knowledge and experience to present proposals that secure the most appropriately structured finance. This covers the spectrum from straightforward debt finance from banks or other institutional lenders secured by traditional charge documentation through to more intricate equity-linked and participation arrangements such as mezzanine finance.
Unit Disposal and Other Development Issues
As part of our commercial development service we can advise you on the purchase and sale of freeholds, as well as leases and underleases and are able to assist with all associated transactions such as pre-let agreements, unit disposals and the structuring of management companies and other post-development strategies.
Our specialists in real estate law can also advise on building sustainability, renewable energy technologies, participation in the carbon reduction commitment and on-site power generation and distribution.
We offer a full and comprehensive service for commercial developers from the very start of a project to completion.
Key Contacts
Meet the team
Latest testimonials
"I should like to thank you personally for the attention to detail which you gave to this transaction. I must say that when you said that you would be on holiday for a fortnight or so between exchange of contracts and completion, I did think we might possibly encounter a few problems. That was not to be the case, which confirms that you had tied up any possible loose ends before handing it over to David Wells. This sale has gone well...Thank you."
Mr S
"Most of all thank you for the precious advice, support and patience. Very much appreciated. Keeping it on the right tracks in all these months was certainly a challenge for all."
Mr M
"‘Thank you for your help. I've always been very impressed with the work and service that you have provided."
Ms Kate Thornburrow, Granta Architects
Latest testimonials
"It goes without saying - thank you Trish and David for your excellent work - it is no wonder why you are top of our solicitor list!"
Mr S - Property Acquisition
"Friendly, efficient, pragmatic, sound, cost effective advice."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"A particular pleasure to work with James Simpson and Michael Russell, a steadier and more effective two pairs of hands it would be hard to match. Both have consistently proven their superior experience above their counterparts in acquisitions on our behalf."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
Latest testimonials
"David advised us on various property matters when I was Commercial Director at Ardent Hire Solutions. His straightforward approach, attention to detail and sound commercial knowledge gave us confidence to engage David on all property matters."
Director at Capel Machinery Sales
"During my time as Head of Legal of a leading multinational logistics provider, David was my "go to" lawyer for all commercial real estate needs. He's from that rare breed of strong technical lawyers with great commercial pragmatism ."
Conveyancing Services Director at Connells Group
"I have worked with David on a number of matters. The great thing about working with David is that you feel in safe hands. He keeps you up to date on the transaction and progress's the matter to a successful conclusion".
Director at Smart Business Recovery
Latest testimonials
"Barbara Judkins was very professional, efficient and thorough in acting for us. She took particular care in understanding the detail of our case. Refreshingly these days, she was ready to recommend a course of action to us and to set out all the matters that required our consideration."
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2020
"Barbara Judkins proved invaluable in fighting my corner for me in a very personable and effective style."
Client Testimonial, Legal 500 2020
Latest testimonials
“Hewitsons is an impressive practice – client-focused, efficient and effective. The firm punches well above its weight.”
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
“Great communication, reasonable fees, good value for the money.”
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
“The firm provides excellent partner expertise at highly competitive rates.”
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"They are an efficient, knowledgeable team, which is able to advise and carry out work on a variety of topics."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"Hewitsons provided us with timely legal support adhering to the scope of the service agreed."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
Latest testimonials
“I particularly liked the approach of Hewitsons in that we worked with the same lawyer from initial discussions and quotation through to completion of the sale. This meant there was good continuity throughout the project.”
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"In my experience Hewitsons is top of its class. It has experts in every field."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"Hewitsons is outstanding. It is professional, knowledgeable and efficient."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
Latest testimonials
“The firm provides excellent partner expertise at highly competitive rates.”
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"They are an efficient, knowledgeable team, which is able to advise and carry out work on a variety of topics."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500
"Hewitsons provided us with timely legal support adhering to the scope of the service agreed."
Client Testimonial c/o Legal 500