Commercial Property
Leading advisers on land, property and building
We have one of the country’s largest Commercial Property & Construction teams, advising clients across all industries and sectors – private, public and third sector – in Scotland, across the UK and beyond on their requirements.
Our team has close working relationships with the leading operators in Scotland's property and construction industry, including Scottish Government, investors, developers and their funders, main contractors, specialist subcontractors, purchasers and tenants.
We use our business-focused approach, knowledge and relationships throughout the industry to efficiently deal with all aspects of the property and construction process, developing innovative structures and solutions to complex matters where required.
In a competitive industry, not everything goes to plan. If you find yourself in the middle of a dispute which is holding your project up we offer mediation and other alternative dispute resolutions. We also conduct litigation, bringing the swiftest, most cost-effective resolution to disputes.
On top of the core team in our offices in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Inverness we can call upon the support of other specialist leading lawyers from other disciplines including property litigation, banking & finance, corporate, restructuring and planning.
Who we work with
We advise contractors, developers, funders, investors, office and retail tenants on a variety of property and construction matters. We also work with property professionals including engineers, surveyors, architects and accountants to achieve their aims and objectives.
Our advice is also sought out by clients and law firms based in jurisdictions outside of Scotland, who require our knowledge of the Scottish legal system and the property and construction sector in general.
Both our Commercial Property Group and Construction & Engineering teams are ranked by the leading legal directories, Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession and The Legal 500.
Key contacts - get in touch
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Key services
- Construction & engineering
- Development
- Investment and property finance
- Large-scale purchase and sale
- Landlord and tenant
- Mediation and alternative dispute resolution
- Property litigation
- Property structures and distressed property
- Planning
- Retail
Real estate & construction work
We also carry out bespoke real estate & construction work in the following areas:
Infrastructure & projects
Our team leads the market in major NPD and PPP projects, with extensive experience in construction, project finance and facilities management.
Public sector
Our award-winning team acts for a wide range of public sector organisations including Scotland’s National Park Authorities and also many of Scotland’s leading Registered Social Landlords.
Energy & natural resources
Our award-winning team advises on every aspect of the energy supply chain, from planning permission and property and construction advice for projects through to advice on negotiating community benefits.
Rural
We provide property management services to Scotland’s regulators in the agricultural sector, including the country’s largest landowner, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. We also advise crofters, farmers, estates and communities on all matters affecting the rural sector.
Retail & franchising
We advise on planning, construction and real estate issues for a wide range of High Street retailers and franchisors/franchisees.
Work examples
Large-scale sale and purchase
We have extensive experience of acting in acquiring and disposing of high-value investment properties. Recent examples include: £100m sale of shopping centre in Glasgow; £23 million purchase of an office building in Edinburgh; £50m office development in Aberdeen; £30m purchase of industrial estate in Aberdeen; £6m sale of hotel in Glasgow.
Restructuring and refinance
We specialise in refinancing and tax-efficient restructuring of property groups. Recent transactions have included: Scottish aspects of £650m debt restructure; £40m property group refinancing and corporate restructure; refinance of group comprising in excess of 30 commercial properties within a mixed portfolio throughout Scotland with value of £30m.
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
We advised Glasgow 2014 Limited on all contracts for the delivery of overlay for the Games venues for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Our construction team prepared a variety of template supply contracts for the multitude of necessary contracts for the design, supply and installation of all components and for temporary as well as permanent legacy works. We acted in the drafting and negotiation of the build contract for the conversion of Hampden Park from a football stadium to the athletics venue for the Commonwealth Games, one of the most innovative construction projects ever undertaken in Scotland.
Chambers UK 2021Notable practice advising on the full range of property transactions. Frequently sought to advise on development schemes and investment purchases, often in the healthcare and retail sectors. Continues to be active in the housebuilding field. Also advises a number of public sector organisations. Additional expertise in assisting clients with the management of property portfolios.
A client says: "They have deep knowledge of our needs as a business and a sharp commercial focus."
External recognition
Our team is ranked in Band 3 for Real Estate by Chambers UK 2021 and is also ranked in The Legal 500 for Commercial Property. Client testimonials from these publications state that the Team is "responsive - they work quickly, and are good at boiling down our advice so that things do not get lengthy and are easy to bring back to stakeholders" and that the Team provides "strong guidance and advice."
External recognition
Head of department John Meehan is well respected by peers for his significant property finance, insolvency and corporate restructuring expertise. Sources quoted by Chambers UK describe him as “well-regarded in the market” and "a very efficient, very clever lawyer". Clients note that he "very energetic, very hard-working and diligent. He's got a good strategic mind and he's corporately aware, commercial and responsive" and was singled out for “exceptional performance”.
External recognition
Our Construction & Engineering team is ranked by both of the leading legal directories, Chambers UK and The Legal 500. Head of Construction & Engineering Michael Conroy is listed as a Leader in the Field in Chambers UK where he is recognised as having "the essential abilities of being able to articulate to a client the processes involved in the matter in hand, and to give the client confidence and reassurance".
Meet the team
Contact us
Call us for free on 0330 159 5555 or complete our online form below for legal advice or to arrange a call back.