Martin Bennett

Martin is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in commercial leasing law. He is part of our Public Sector Real Estate team, acting for RSLs, local authorities, and other public sector clients, providing advice and assistance in relation to real estate matters.

Martin has been a real estate lawyer for over 20 years and has in that time worked for clients in all parts of the sector, including investment purchases and sales, property finance and development sites, project work, corporate support and cross-border transactions.

Recent work includes:

• Acting on behalf of Inverclyde Council on the property and leasing aspects of the Council’s City Deal-funded Ocean Terminal project in Greenock;
• Acting for Moray Council in the disposal of commercial property assets;
• Acting for South Ayrshire Council in acquisition of town centre sites for redevelopment as part of their town centre regeneration plans;
• Advising The Highland Council on property aspects of their provision of grant funding to individuals and SMEs through, for example, RTIF, RCGF and VDLF Grants;
• Acting for Glasgow City Council in the disposal of two golf courses to the R&A, St Andrews
• Advising City of Edinburgh Council on sale of property to be refurbished and used for social housing purposes.
• Advising Orkney Islands Council on various property aspects in relation to the £200m Scapa Deep Water Quay Project.
• Acting for Scottish Government in the negotiation of leases of office / hearing space for occupation by the Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry, the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and the Eljamel Public Inquiry.
• Acting for West Lothian Council on various commercial lease matters.
• Acting for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service in acquisition of site in Dalkeith, Midlothian for new fire station.
• Advising Zero Waste Scotland on commercial property lease matters.
• Acting for Scottish Forestry in connection with lease renewals of sites in Dingwall and Hamilton

Martin regularly acts for Scottish housing associations in the acquisition of sites throughout Scotland for development of affordable housing.

He has also had extensive experience in landlord and tenant work involving all types of properties including offices, industrial sites, but particularly retail units, where he has acted for UK and international brands such as Menkind, Clinton Cards, Dixons Carphone Warehouse, Money Shop, MKM Building Supplies, Peacocks and Edinburgh Woollen Mill.

Martin’s other particular strength lies in the tourism and hospitality sectors, having acted for a number of owners/occupiers of restaurants, hotels and pubs throughout Scotland.