What can I do for you?
I’m a specialist in real estate work, mainly within the higher education sector. My work includes the full range of real estate work, but with an emphasis on development projects and strategic advice to my university clients which assists them to formulate and realise their estates strategies.
Supporting my clients’ objectives
A real highlight for me was the work we did for the University of Essex on a £36 million project relating to the acquisition and phased construction of around 560 student bedrooms to serve its expanding Southend campus. I led on the project and had to co-ordinate the advice and support of tax, planning and construction colleagues in order to conclude the transaction on a tight timescale. This deal was the next key phase for the university in the overall Southend campus development project on which I have advised at all stages on the property side.
What do others say?
My strengths lie in my tenacity to see a challenging project through to a successful conclusion, while remaining committed to high standards of client care. This was best put by one HE client who said, after I had concluded the advice for them in relation to a strategically and operationally important, but also very politically sensitive, lease arrangement with another linked HE institution: “You have absolutely discharged your responsibilities as our adviser in relation to the risks that remain and which we don’t expect the lease to tie down. I should add that, without your detailed and consistent advice, we would not have made the progress that we have.”
What else should you know?
I was editor of Real Estate Newsbites, the firm’s electronic real estate newsletter (now Hot Property), and have assisted colleagues in putting together a number of HE sector-specific articles and seminars. (To download the latest copy of this or any of our other publications, see the "Publications and updates" section on the right of this page.)
I have also played a key role in the setting up and running of the Free Legal Advice Group (FLAG), which brings together Cambridge lawyers to provide free legal advice twice a month in conjunction with the local Citizens Advice Bureau.