Ranking tables

Real Estate | UK

Thames Valley

This section covers all aspects of non-contentious real estate work relating to both commercial and residential property, including investment transactions, development, corporate structuring, acquisitions, portfolio management, and landlord and tenant matters. We consider work done on behalf of institutional landlords, property companies, developers and commercial tenants, as well as private landlords and tenants.  We also subdivide certain regional sections into two tables for firms handling work up to £10 million and those where work is more commonly £10 million and above. Contentious property work is covered separately by our Real Estate Litigation sections, as are matters that exclusively concern planning law or construction.  Please note we also have a UK-wide Real Estate Finance table.

Rankings overview for Lawyers

All Lawyers profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Dean Bickford
    1
    Dean Bickford
    Field Seymour Parkes
    Field Seymour Parkes | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    Dean Bickford is deputy head of the firm's real estate department and advises investment groups and developers on real estate acquisitions. He regularly works on both commercial and residential property matters.
  2. 1
    Katja Wigham
    Blandy & Blandy
    Blandy & Blandy | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 1 | 13 Years Ranked
    Katja Wigham leads the firm's commercial real estate offering. She advises corporate groups, charities and education sector clients on property sales and acquisitions, as well as landlord and tenant matters.
  3. Marcus Francis
    1
    Marcus Francis
    Field Seymour Parkes
    Field Seymour Parkes | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 1 | 16 Years Ranked
    Marcus Francis leads the firm's property team and is acknowledged for his experience in a wide range of matters. His work includes complex and large-scale acquisitions and lease work.
  4. Ruth Boulton
    1
    Ruth Boulton
    Debenhams Ottaway
    Debenhams Ottaway | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 1 | 15 Years Ranked
    Ruth Boulton is a pre-eminent commercial property lawyer who handles a full spectrum of matters within the space. Her work includes sales and acquisitions, portfolio management, and landlord and tenant work. She is co-head of the firm's commercial property practice.
2

Band 2

  1. Alan Corcoran
    2
    Alan Corcoran
    Shoosmiths LLP
    Shoosmiths LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 18 Years Ranked
    Alan Corcoran offers a wealth of experience in real estate transactions and is noted for his work for property investors on sales and lets. He is head of the firm's Southern real estate team.
  2. Alison Taylor
    2
    Alison Taylor
    B P Collins LLP
    B P Collins LLP | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 5 Years Ranked
    Alison Taylor has a vast breadth of knowledge. She was able to deal with several aspects of the matter, which you would normally have to go to multiple people for.
  3. Derek Ching
    2
    Derek Ching
    Boyes Turner
    Boyes Turner | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 17 Years Ranked
    Derek Ching has a development-focused practice, and is known for his work for both landowners and developers on commercial and residential projects.
  4. James Burgess
    2
    James Burgess
    Field Seymour Parkes
    Field Seymour Parkes | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 27 Years Ranked
    James Burgess has extensive experience across the full spectrum of commercial property matters, notably advising property owners on sales. He also has standout expertise when it comes to agricultural land.
  5. 2
    Jane Gunnell
    Blandy & Blandy
    Blandy & Blandy | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 19 Years Ranked
    Jane Gunnell is a consultant to the firm's commercial property team. She is recognised for her work advising developers and landowners on acquisitions and sales.
  6. Jonathan Foy
    2
    Jonathan Foy
    Debenhams Ottaway
    Debenhams Ottaway | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 11 Years Ranked
    Jonathan Foy is co-head of the commercial property department at Debenhams Ottaway. He handles a variety of commercial property matters, including leasing work, sales and acquisitions, and secured lending.
  7. Mark Appleton
    2
    Mark Appleton
    Boyes Turner
    Boyes Turner | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 21 Years Ranked
    Mark Appleton is noted for his advice to clients on land purchases for the purpose of development. He has an all-encompassing commercial property practice and also assists with leases.
  8. Nick Carter
    2
    Nick Carter
    Boyes Turner
    Boyes Turner | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 17 Years Ranked
    Nick Carter is head of Boyes Turner's property team and advises national and international clients on commercial property transactions. He is recognised for his advice to owners of multiple properties on the management of their portfolios.
  9. Patrick Whetter
    2
    Patrick Whetter
    Freeths LLP
    Freeths LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 12 Years Ranked
    Patrick Whetter is an experienced property lawyer who advises on a broad spectrum of commercial real estate law. His recent work includes advice to clients on acquisitions of development sites, landlord and tenant matters, and property portfolio management.
  10. Simon Ralphs
    2
    Simon Ralphs
    Clarkslegal LLP
    Clarkslegal LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 2 Years Ranked
    Simon Ralphs is head of the Clarkslegal real estate team and splits his time between the firm's London and Reading offices. His practice sees him acting for clients within the retail and hospitality sectors, and he has significant experience in development and investment work.
  11. William Nassau-Lake
    2
    William Nassau-Lake
    Boyes Turner
    Boyes Turner | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2 | 13 Years Ranked
    William Nassau-Lake is highly diligent and leaves no stone unturned. We highly value his ability to make complex matters simple and trust that he will always act in our best interests.
  12. Philip Marsh
    Knights plc | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. Bonnie Twiggs
    3
    Bonnie Twiggs
    Crane & Staples
    Crane & Staples | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 2 Years Ranked
    Bonnie Twiggs is head of the commercial property group at Crane & Staples. She is highly adept at handling a range of real estate matters, including commercial property acquisitions and disposals. She also has expertise in leasehold enfranchisement.
  2. 3
    David Marsden
    VWV
    VWV | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 19 Years Ranked
    David Marsden is a partner in the firm's Watford commercial property team and excels in property development matters. He often acts on complex residential and mixed-use projects.
  3. 3
    Gemma Coles
    IBB Law
    IBB Law | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 3 Years Ranked
    Gemma is very supportive, and everything I have passed to her has been dealt with timely and professionally. She is very knowledgeable and a great support to our organisation.
  4. Maria Mowberry
    3
    Maria Mowberry
    B P Collins LLP
    B P Collins LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 4 Years Ranked
    Maria Mowberry regularly advises both landlords and tenants on commercial and residential property-related work. Other areas of expertise include property acquisitions and development-related matters.
  5. Michael Higgin
    3
    Michael Higgin
    Field Seymour Parkes
    Field Seymour Parkes | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 9 Years Ranked
    Michael Higgin regularly advises on a variety of work within the property space, including commercial real estate transactions, portfolio management and lease negotiations.
  6. 3
    Robert Lynch
    Blake Morgan
    Blake Morgan | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 11 Years Ranked
    Robert Lynch advises clients such as developers, landowners and corporate and industrial occupiers on a broad range of real estate matters. His practice sees him work on landlord and tenant issues as well as property investment and development-related deals.
  7. Terry Fendt
    3
    Terry Fendt
    Sherrards Solicitors | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3 | 14 Years Ranked
    Terry Fendt is the head of the Sherrards commercial property team and has considerable experience advising on a broad range of real estate matters, including acquisitions and leases. He has a particular focus on working with clients from the retail sector.
  8. Julia Ferguson
    Moorcrofts LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3
  9. Rosie Gibb
    Knights plc | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3
  10. Stephen Kay
    EMW Law LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. Chris Brewis
    4
    Chris Brewis
    Crane & Staples
    Crane & Staples | Head of Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Chris Brewis advises on commercial leases as well as developments for residential and commercial purposes.
  2. Gary Dunger
    4
    Gary Dunger
    SA Law
    SA Law | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4 | 10 Years Ranked
    Gary Dunger co-leads SA Law's real estate practice. He handles a broad range of real estate matters, including site acquisitions for residential developments, and also fields niche expertise in leasehold enfranchisement.
  3. 4
    John Dingle
    Blandy & Blandy
    Blandy & Blandy | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4 | 5 Years Ranked
    John Dingle is praised for his vast expertise in property law. He often advises clients on land acquisitions, leases, and sales and purchases of both freehold and leasehold property.
  4. Neil Mercer
    4
    Neil Mercer
    Debenhams Ottaway
    Debenhams Ottaway | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4 | 1 Years Ranked
    Neil always provides clear and understandable information for all matters. He is extremely approachable, which means, as a client, I feel at ease asking any question, no matter how simple or complex.
  5. Rebecca Tuffs
    4
    Rebecca Tuffs
    Osborne Clarke LLP
    Osborne Clarke LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4 | 6 Years Ranked
    Rebecca Tuffs garners recognition for her expertise in commercial property transactions. She advises on the acquisition and disposal of investment property as well as on development, including significant regeneration schemes.
  6. 4
    Simon Knott
    Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
    Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4 | 3 Years Ranked
    Simon Knott has considerable development expertise, including transactions relating to retail, industrial and mixed-use schemes.
  7. Stephen Stratton
    plainlaw llp | Real Estate
    2025 | Band 4
U

Up and Coming

  1. Laura Gorman
    U
    Laura Gorman
    Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
    Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Up and Coming | 1 Years Ranked
    Laura is a senior associate at Penningtons Manches Cooper. She regularly acts on transactional work involved with housing, commercial and care home developments, overage and land options and promotion agreements.
  2. U
    Lorna Rogers
    Dentons
    Dentons | Real Estate
    2025 | Up and Coming | 3 Years Ranked
    Lorna Rogers is a counsel in the Dentons real estate group. She works with occupiers and investors on leasings, sales and acquisitions, among other areas.

Star Associates

  1. Emily Stocker
    Emily Stocker
    Shoosmiths LLP
    Shoosmiths LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Star Associates | 4 Years Ranked
    Emily Stockeris highly adept at acting for clients from a range of sectors and has notable experience advising retail, rail and corporate clients. Her practice includes landlord and tenant matters as well as refinancings, among other matters.

Associates to watch

  1. Emily Halley
    Emily Halley
    B P Collins LLP
    B P Collins LLP | Real Estate
    2025 | Associates to watch | 4 Years Ranked
    Emily Halley is an associate in the firm's property team. She advises on a wide range of matters including sales, acquisitions and commercial leasing.
  2. Lauren Walker
    Lauren Walker
    Field Seymour Parkes
    Field Seymour Parkes | Real Estate
    2025 | Associates to watch | 1 Years Ranked
    Lauren Walker is a senior associate at Field Seymour Parkes. She has experience in a range of areas including property finance, sales and purchases, commercial lettings and renewable energy projects.
  3. Rachel Sales
    Blake Morgan
    Blake Morgan | Real Estate
    2025 | Associates to watch | 3 Years Ranked
    Rachel has demonstrated excellent knowledge, energy and enthusiasm. She has excellent communication skills both orally and in writing, and frequently went the extra mile to resolve problems.