Real estate law
We offer a highly capable team of specialists who will “get it”. With the latest industry know-how at our fingertips and a spread of experts across all real estate types, our team takes a commercially-minded approach to get your real estate deal done for less.
What is involved within real estate?
Bricks and mortar influence all businesses. With a web of ever-changing rules and regulations in the real estate industry, staying ahead of the game is essential. You could be looking for anything from selling a portfolio of properties, to advice about a development or what to do about a distressed property. Whatever the requirement, you need market-savvy people, with a wide range of expertise to match your unique situation who just “get it”.
No matter what sort of real estate you are dealing with or what you want to do with it, Freeths offer a highly capable team of specialists who will understand. With the latest industry know-how at our fingertips and a spread of experts across all real estate types, we take a commercially-minded approach to get your real estate deal done for less.
Whatever area you are looking for assistance with, we offer a complete, practical and solutions-based service. Because we advise both public and private sector clients, as well as investors and end-users, we are able to see things from all sides. You can rely on our experience to help avoid potential issues arising. We are well established within the UK real estate market and provide more than just legal advice.
Our specialisms include:
- Asset Management & Investment
- Commercial Development
- Commercial Occupiers
- Estate Management
- Housebuilding & Strategic Land
- Planning & Environmental Law
- Public Sector Property
- Real Estate Finance
- Regeneration Projects
- Social Housing
We’re widely respected in the field, with many of our partners independently recognised as real estate experts, but we aim to think around your needs to ensure we become your trusted business advisers, not just your lawyers.
Key contact
Darren Williamson
Partner & National Head of Real Estate
Contact our real estate team
Why choose our Real Estate team?
- A powerful team of over 150 real estate lawyers, combining our knowledge to achieve success
- We’re renowned for our clear explanations, quick responses and first-class personal service
- We take a commercial (not confrontational) perspective to save you time and money
- Our combined experience and extensive skills prepare us for tackling the most exacting projects
- We’re consistently ranked as market leaders by independent guides to the legal profession.
Call our experienced Real Estate team now to find out how we can help you.
Notable work
- Eddie Stobart’s purpose-built 420,000 square foot rail-connected distribution centre at the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT) and 300,000 new build facility at Carlisle Airport, and leasehold acquisition of their large Widnes Multimodal Port site with rail facility
- Acting for Aldi on its acquisition programme in the South East of England. This includes the acquisition of existing retail space and developer-led retail park sites with a significant number of sites secured over the past three years.
- Registering several landmark university buildings in Nottingham city centre, including the Newton, Arkwright, Waverley, Maudslay and Bonnington buildings
- Acting on the acquisition of a site for £10 million comprising two office blocks let to tenants and, post-acquisition, advising the client on redevelopment of the site for student accommodation
- Acting for Chancerygate, an industrial developer, on various industrial purchases, sales and forward fundings
- Led a number of large/complex real estate projects to include the acquisition and development of large residential led sites, representing developers and landowners in large scale promotion agreements, to include town centre extensions and the acquisition of shopping centres on behalf of institutional investors and local authorities.
- Advising Bellway Homes Limited in relation to the sales of new-build residential properties as part of the major 15 year, £1.8 billion regeneration of North Solihull
- Acting for Henry Davidson Developments Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of Development Securities Plc) in relation to the development of a district centre involving the HCA and three national residential developers and a national food store operator negotiating the structure in relation to the timing of carrying out of the development and managing the associated risks identified
- The purchase of a site at Heathrow Airport for development of a Travelodge hotel
- Advising a prestigious national chocolate retailer for over 10 years managing all of their retail property requirements across high streets, shopping centres and train stations including their first restaurant at Borough Market
- The acquisition of the Kiddington Estate for a sum in excess of £23 million. Including 1,500 acres of agricultural land, some 35 estate houses and cottages (including the majority of the village of Kiddington), commercial business premises totalling over 6,000 square feet, as well as an in hand farming enterprise, tenanted farm and woodland.
- Advising global manufacturer of healthcare devices on phased relocation from existing office and warehouse distribution facilities to three new-build sites.
- Acting for European funds on the purchase of investment properties in Oxford Street and Bond Street in the West End of London for values of circa £160 million
- Advising on the acquisition of an office building in London. The client was a special purchaser as it owned the adjoining building. Negotiations were protracted as there were a number of issues with the building and it took over a year to complete the deal.
Our accreditations
We are celebrating another year of excellent rankings in the Legal 500 and Chambers legal guides. We are also proud winners of the Outstanding Law Firm of the Year award at Property Week's Property Awards 2025.
Testimonials
"Freeths are easy to deal with and always provide pragmatic advice. They continue to be one of the pioneering firms on Proptech"
The Legal 500, 2025
"One aspect that sets Freeths LLP apart is its team's deep industry knowledge and experience, allowing them to provide tailored solutions to client...
The Legal 500, 2025
"In comparison to other firms, Freeths LLP stands out for its client-centric approach, dedication to innovation, and commitment to diversity and co...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Very good company structure from top to bottom and always available when required; very knowledgeable and if they can't answer a specific and uniq...
The Legal 500, 2025
"One standout quality I have observed in them is their deep industry knowledge coupled with a proactive mindset. They possess a thorough understand...
The Legal 500, 2025
"In my experience to date, there isn't anything that can come up in a transaction that someone in this team hasn't dealt with before, no matter its...
The Legal 500, 2025
"Freeths has dealt with a wide range of complicated transactions on our behalf, finding pragmatic solutions to problems and clearly advising on the...
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"Their commercial awareness is exceptional, helped by working on a broad range of matters with a broad range of clients."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"It's a fantastic and commercially-minded legal team that works all hours to achieve the goals and timescales set out, however tight they are."
Chambers & Partners, 2025
"The service level from Freeths is consistently high and the responsiveness of staff is second-to-none in keeping you up to date with how a particu...
Chambers & Partners, 2025
Related news & articles
Meet the team
Richard Beverley
Birmingham Office Managing Partner
Andrew Nichol
Liverpool Office Managing Partner
Patrick Adie
National Head of Housebuilding & Strategic Land
Christopher Ainsworth
Partner
James Hart
Regional Lead for Real Estate in the Midlands – Partner in the Housebuilding & Strategic Land Team
Leo Skinner
Partner, Head of Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure
Emna Sfar-Gandoura
Partner
Paul Tomkins
Partner & Head of Real Estate Litigation
Darren Williamson
Partner & National Head of Real Estate
Emma Medina-Wallace
Director
Rebecca Beecroft
Managing Associate
Allison Campbell
Managing Associate
Kerrie Deakin
Managing Associate, Knowledge Management Lawyer
Andrew Dashwood-Begg
Managing Associate
Hannah Greatbatch
Managing Associate
Heloise Horton
Managing Associate, Knowledge Management Lawyer
Lucy Johnson
Managing Associate, Knowledge Management Lawyer
Sophie Komisarczuk
Managing Associate
Frances McKinnon
Managing Associate
Rosalyn Shephard
Managing Associate
Danielle Sinclair
Managing Associate
Samuel De La Bertauche
Senior Associate
Ksenia Kavtaskin
Senior Associate
Lucinda Mulholland
Senior Associate
Georgia Mitchell
Senior Associate
Sarah McGuinness
Senior Associate
Sophie Moonshine
Senior Associate
Elizabeth Wildhaber
Senior Associate
Contact us today
Whatever your legal needs, our wide ranging expertise is here to support you and your business, so let’s start your legal journey today and get you in touch with the right lawyer to get you started.
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