REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE

  • JDP Furniture Group: Advised on a number of significant acquisitions for JDP Furniture Group, a leading national furniture business. These transactions were a core element of the restructuring of the group’s production and sales capabilities as part of its development plan. A number of significant technical difficulties were overcome in the course of all transactions.

  • Majesticare: Disposal of 7 of its care homes to Four Seasons Group. This was a very high value transaction involving the negotiation and preparation of Certificates of Title and the negotiation of property terms in a complex Sale and Purchase Agreement. The project took eight months to come to completion and engaged 7 lawyers across the team.

  • GameCity: Played a key role in bringing a £2.5m video game centre to Nottingham’s Creative Quarter. The National Videogame Arcade (NVA) will be the world’s first cultural centre for video games with over five floors featuring more than 12,000 objects on display, a gallery, exhibition space and educational facilities for children. Geldards acted for GameCity Ltd on the legal aspects of its lease of the building on Carlton Street in Hockley. The deal for the NVA is the latest of a number of projects the firm has been involved with relating to Nottingham’s Creative Quarter.

  • Lichfield Diocesan Board of Education: Advising on the creation of two Multi-Academy Trusts and the subsequent conversation to Academy Status of many church schools within the Diocese.

  • The Trustees of Plymouth No.3 Trust: We jointly negotiated a Tripartite Hybrid Promotion/Development Agreement with Plymouth No.1 & 2 Trust (the other Landowner) and Redrow Homes Limited (Promoter/Developer) for the promotion/development of circa 7,000 houses; 15,500 sq m of employment use; 3 primary and 1 secondary school; a 12,000 sq m District Centre; 7,900 sq m of local centres (3); healthcare and community facilities; parkland etc. The development is a core part of the delivery of Cardiff’s proposed Local Development Plan.

  • The Chubb Common Investment Fund: We acted ion the sale of a Toyota distribution warehouse at Magna Park, Lutterworth to Aviva Investors for £17.45m. The property is Toyota’s sole distribution hub for car parts within the UK, located in the ‘golden triangle’ for distribution occupiers.

  • Julian Hodge Bank Limited: Over the past 12 months, we have acted for Julian Hodge Bank Limited on a number of wind turbine finance transactions involving the provision of refinance or (in the case of new turbines) development finance for single wind turbine projects in a number of locations in the UK. Sterling House Limited: Acted on the grant of a Lease of a single office building, Sterling House, Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff and which comprises 48,500 sq ft, to International Baccalaureate. This is considered to be the largest single office letting to take place in Cardiff in 2014 and we were delighted to be able to advise Sterling House Limited on what is such a prestigious and important transaction not only for our client but for the Cardiff letting market.

  • Ludlow Street Investment Corp: The transaction involved the disposal, by a British Virgin Islands Registered Company, of Tremains Business Park which is based in Bridgend, South Wales. We acted for the Seller on the disposal which was a significant purchase investment for the Purchaser, an Isle of Man Registered Company. The Freehold investment has a number of blue chip government department occupational tenants and is in a prime location in Bridgend.

  • First Choice Housing Association Limited: The transaction involved a refinance of part of the Housing Association’s residential property portfolio to a Dutch registered bank. We acted for the Housing Association in advising on the loan finance documentation and the security required by the Bank to bring the transaction to a conclusion.

  • Pembrokeshire Housing Association Limited: The transaction involved a partial refinance of the Housing Association’s residential housing portfolio to a major UK institutional lender. We acted for Pembrokeshire Housing Association Limited in advising upon the loan facility and security documentation required by the Lender prior to draw down.

  • Gryphon Invest AG Swiss registered company part of the Astra Gaming Group: Acted in the purchase of an office block in Boston Manor Road Brentford. The block had never been occupied from the date of construction. The original owner was the State of Kuwait and Gryphon Invest AG acquired from the party that purchased from SoK. It was a strategically important acquisition for our client as intends to convert into its national head office and needed to ensure fit for its purposes.

  • PMH Western Limited: The development to shell finish of a public house at Cribbs Causeway for Greene King Brewing and Retailing Ltd., under their “cloverleaf” brand; with a 25 year lease granted following practical completion sale of the completed development as an investment to a pension fund. We have acted throughout in relation to the original site acquisition; negotiation of the agreement for lease; lease and all relevant construction documentation; and also on all aspects of the disposal.

  • Boots UK Limited: Boots were tenant of a large distribution warehouse in Wellingborough. The lease of the premises expired on 24th September 2012. The landlord sought significant damages for dilapidations. Once they focused their claim, the value reduced to circa £250,000-£300,000 in 2014. The case settled earlier this year with a very favourable settlement for Boots. The principles of s.18 were engaged to reduce the value of the claim significantly and result in a very favourable outcome.

  • Advised Principality Building Society: to forfeit the Lease of premises on the basis of arrears of rent. The lease was forfeited in accordance with the lease and a schedule of dilapidations was served. The Principality agreed a favourable settlement with the ex-tenant in respect of dilapidations and no application for relief from forfeiture was made.

  • Successfully defended Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water: Barratt Homes Limited (“BHL”) sued Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water (“DCC”) for alleged losses. The claim arose from DCC's decision to refuse connection to its public sewer at BHL’s preferred point of connection following service of a notice under s.106 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (“the 1991 Act”). The Court of Appeal concluded that it was not the policy of the 1991 Act to confer a right to compensation for breach of s.106.

  • Advising the Welsh Government: in securing the exit from various leases as part of its estate rationalisation programme. We have also acted for other occupiers of leasehold premises in achieving successful breaks from their leases.

  • Advising Newydd: on a four party dispute arising out of a Design and Build contract for residential development. This has involved an Appeal to the County Court of a Party Wall Award.

  • Advised Chevron Texaco: A number of issues arose from Chevron’s occupation of a substantial office building (“the premises”) on Wigmore Street, London under various headleases. Advised in relation to the head landlord’s termination of Chevron’s tenancy under s.25 of the Landlord & Tenant Act 1954 based on ground (f) of s.30(1) of the 1954 Act.

  • Successfully defended a claim: brought against Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water for damages for internal flooding. The claim was brought against Dwr Cymru in its capacity as the statutory sewerage undertaker pursuant to the Water Industry Act 1991. The Claim settled at court and prior to trial with the claimant withdrawing his claim.

  • Advised Boots: on a number of service charge disputes including one arising from a long lease of one of their concerning a large stores. Freehold title to part of the store is owned by Boots with the remainder occupied pursuant to a Lease. We advised concerning the interpretation of the lease and in respect of various overpayments that had been made over a number of years.

  • Advised Celsa Manufacturing (UK) Limited: relating to premises at Tremorfa Steel Works and Castle Works Cardiff. Celsa appealed the South Wales Valuation Tribunal’s decision to dismiss its appeal relating to the compiled List entries for the two properties which had assessments of £1,250,000 and £915,000 respectively.

  • Celestia Management Company Limited: We have been instructed by Celestia in relation to a number of issues that have arisen with regard to the construction and leasing of the 457 apartments at the Celestia Development generally.

  • Cadarn Housing Group: We acted for Newydd Housing Association (1974) Limited ( part of the Cadarn Group) to establish a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) Dyffryn Trust CIO to be independent of the Group but a vehicle for their community outreach work in conjunction with outside funders and local community residents.

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David Watson

DAVID WATSON

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GRAHAM BANKS

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+44 (0)1332 378 306
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Susanne Bradley

SUSANNE BRADLEY

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+44 (0)29 2039 1705
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