James Needham
UK Guide 2025
Band 2 : Real Estate
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
03700 864 080Share profile
Band 2
About
Provided by James Needham
Practice Areas
James is a real estate lawyer specialising in commercial development, funding and strategic land. James has particular experience acting for developers in forward funded pre-let developments and on the preparation, servicing and phased disposal of strategic mixed use and residential sites.
His recent experience includes advising:
• a national developer on the acquisition, pre-let and forward funding of a £38 million logistics hub in the West Midlands;
• an international logistics company taking a lease of a purpose-built automated warehousing and office facility at a major new logistics park in the East Midlands;
• a private investment company on securing a long-term option and promotion agreement for a 400 acre strategic development site in Staffordshire;
• a major UK lending institution on an £18 million development and investment facility secured against a portfolio of 34 commercial properties; and
• a West Midlands based property investment vehicle on the £70 million refinancing and redevelopment of a flagship office building in central Birmingham.
James joined Shoosmiths from Wragge & Co (now Gowlings) in 2004 and was made a partner in the firm’s real estate practice in 2012.
Chambers Review
UK
James Needham specialises in development work, regularly acting for developers and land promoters. He has extensive experience advising clients on strategic land matters, development management agreements, funding, and collaboration agreements relating to both commercial and residential development projects.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"It is nice to do transactions with James; he is a brilliant lawyer and is very self-assured."
"It is nice to do transactions with James; he is a brilliant lawyer and is very self-assured."