Real Estate: £150 million and above
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7638 1111About
Provided by Ashurst
Ashurst remains one of the few top tier law firms with market leading capabilities across real estate investment, development, funds, finance, tax, planning, environment, construction, and real estate disputes teams. Whilst other global law firms have exited the real estate market, Ashurst maintains its long heritage in real estate and its priority within the firm. Real estate partners David Jones and Sarah Sivyour are on the firm's global board and global executive management team respectively.
They advise a diverse range of "market making" clients (including funds, investment banks, developers, institutional investors, and sovereign entities), on some of the most complex and innovative deals. These clients include Oxford Properties, the global asset manager with $82 billion of assets, Barings, a leading $347 billion+ global investment manager, Panattoni the leading logistics developer, Tritax, one of only a handful of FTSE100 real estate funds and Intermediate Capital Group, Homes England, Transport for London, Berkeley Group plc, British Land, Lendlease and Deutsche Bank to name but a few.
They are skilled at advising foreign capital, for example acting on 90% of South Korean investment into the UK. Clients remark on what differentiates them from other firms including being adept at running joint ventures, share sales and other complex transactions from within the real estate team and their ability to marshall the firm's strength in the depth across the board.
Chambers Review
The team at Ashurst handles a variety of complex, high-end real estate work. Areas of expertise for the group include urban regeneration projects and development matters, as well as substantial investment and leasing transactions. The team is also recognised for its work with domestic and inward investors on sales and acquisitions, development projects and financing arrangements, with a notable focus on advising investors from South Korea. Practitioners at the firm regularly advise on high-value residential development projects as well as mixed-use and retail sites.
Work Highlights
- Ashurst represented Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield in connection with a redevelopment of over 2,500,000 sq ft in Central Croydon to create a new mixed-use town centre destination.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Ashurst have an incredibly collaborative and responsive team, who all have commercial mindsets and a detailed understanding of the impact of issues."
"Ashurst are very experienced and offer very solid advice to complex situations and non-standard disposals."
"The firm is always responsive, which is a key positive during transactions."
"They provide thorough and thoughtful advice, underpinned by a commercial, pragmatic perspective. When situations are not 'cookie cutter' the firm provides creative solutions to navigate complexity."
"They take a very pragmatic approach, setting out recommendations in a clear and concise manner. They have been responsive and communicate in a way that encourages discussion."
"Ashurst have an incredibly collaborative and responsive team, who all have commercial mindsets and a detailed understanding of the impact of issues."
"Ashurst are very experienced and offer very solid advice to complex situations and non-standard disposals."
"The firm is always responsive, which is a key positive during transactions."
"They provide thorough and thoughtful advice, underpinned by a commercial, pragmatic perspective. When situations are not 'cookie cutter' the firm provides creative solutions to navigate complexity."
"They take a very pragmatic approach, setting out recommendations in a clear and concise manner. They have been responsive and communicate in a way that encourages discussion."
Notable Practitioners
David Jones predominantly advises international investors on major acquisitions and disposals, including related finance and tax elements, with a notable focus on South Korean investment into the UK. He is also head of Ashurst's global real estate capital markets division.
"David is a standout lawyer in the London marketplace. He is the primary reason we go back to Ashurst with such regularity."
"David is someone you want on your team; he is commercially-minded and eminently practical."
Richard Vernon advises property developers and house builders on large-scale commercial and residential development projects, including major urban and transport regeneration schemes. He also handles landlord and tenant work in the retail, office and leisure sectors.
Sarah Sivyour regularly advises on the acquisition and redevelopment of high-value London properties as well as handling large portfolio transactions. She is highly experienced in co-ordinating complex corporate real estate deals involving the need for associated tax, funding and restructuring advice. She also serves as the global co-head for projects and real estate at Ashurst.
"Sarah's advice is commercial and practical. Her ability to negotiate complex situations is also second to none."
Tim Regis is involved in a wide range of real estate matters including large-scale joint ventures for investment and regeneration projects. He has significant expertise in mixed-use residential development schemes and those concerning logistics sites.
"Tim is a brilliant lawyer and I have enjoyed working with him on every project."
"Tim is always on hand to provide input on more complex matters and is able to get to the crux of the matter, acknowledging the commercial context to enable swift and practical decisions."
Henry Moss has extensive experience advising clients on a myriad of real estate matters, with a specific focus and expertise in the build-to-rent and private rental sectors which he leads for the firm. He advises developers, investors and public sector bodies on transactions such as development projects, regeneration schemes and disposal of assets.
"Henry offers balanced pragmatic advice, cuts to the chase and is enjoyable to work with."
"Henry is very bright, an excellent negotiator and a pleasure to work with."
"His wealth of knowledge, experience and creative thinking has allowed us to find solutions to the most daunting problems and is always accompanied by good humour."
Melanie Jordan advises clients, especially in the logistics and build-to-rent sectors, on a wide variety of real estate matters. She is vastly experienced handling acquisitions of large real estate portfolios, advising on the development of data centres across the UK and forward funding as well.
"Melanie's work ethic to see deals across the finish line is incredible. She is always able to provide answers to all of our questions."
Ranked Lawyers at
Ashurst
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Ashurst
Chris Benbow
Henry Moss
Jamie Chapman
Melanie Jordan
Clients
Provided by Ashurst
BP
Balfour Beatty
Greenland Group
Lendlease
Oxford Properties
Samsung
Stanhope
The Berkeley Group
Transport for London
Westfield
Industries
Provided by Ashurst
Banks
Energy
Government
Healthcare
Hotel and Leisure
Mixed-use
Real Estate Finance
Residential
Retail
Senior Living
Student Accommodation
Transportation