Lodders’ property partners unite to launch specialist team

(Left to right) Law firm Lodders has launched a new Business Property and Renewables team - led by partner Alastair Frew (left), the team includes Donna Bates, Anna Turnell, Ian Yarde, Josy Haigh, Steven Baker, and (not pictured) Constantine Berry and Lee Thompson. Photo: Dave Warren/Picture Team.

Responding to growing numbers of businesses seeking specialist legal advice on their property purchases, sales and leases, Midlands law firm Lodders has created a new team including some of the region’s leading commercial property lawyers.

The firm’s new Business Property and Renewables team is spun-out of Lodders’ award-winning and top ranking real estate practice that is one of the largest in the West Midlands with 32 specialist real estate, commercial property, planning, construction, and highways legal experts.

Partner Alastair Frew has been appointed head of the new team. He explains the firm has created the team in response to the current shifting market conditions for all business property owners and occupiers, brought about by the challenges of Covid-19:

“Some businesses make income from letting-out property, while others need relevant and affordable property in order to conduct their operations. All businesses require sound, pragmatic and dependable legal advice to secure the best deals, rates and terms from their contracts.

“Business property matters have always been at the core of Lodders’ property and real estate work, and now is the right time to deliver clarity and focus for the firm’s private business clients, with services dedicated to the buying, selling and leasing of commercial property premises.

“Using a combination of our specialist technical knowledge and commercial appreciation, we provide clients with expert assistance for all their business property needs,” he adds.

“Whether our clients are buying or selling, owners or tenants, or just seeking advice for the future, the Business Property group is set up to handle many different types of work, with our clients ranging from individuals and businesses, to charities and pension schemes. The properties we regularly act and advise on are varied, including shops, offices, industrial premises, nursing homes, restaurants, pubs and hotels.”

The roll-call of business property law specialists in the team also includes Steven Baker (partner), Ian Yarde (senior associate), Constantine Berry (senior associate), Donna Bates (senior associate), Josy Haigh (associate), Anna Turnell (associate) and Lee Thompson (associate).

The new team incorporates Lodders’ renewable energy operation, which was launched in June following a significant increase from property developers, landowners, farmers and rural enterprises, seeking legal advice around renewable energy system installations. The service draws together lawyers from across real estate, agriculture, rural, commercial property and private client practices, and delivers an end-to-end, comprehensive legal advice solution on the legal implications of installing renewable energy solutions such as wind turbines and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

Head of Lodders’ Real Estate practice Mark Miller adds: “The firm has a national reputation for its highly specialist real estate advice, particularly in strategic land work, which continues to represent one of the strongest set of experts in this field and the bedrock of the practice.

“With the current and evolving challenges for all businesses from trade-counter enterprises and logistics firms, to manufacturing units, factories, and e-commerce businesses, now is the right time for Lodders to put its weight behind a team dedicated to and highly experienced in all business property related legal matters. We believe this is the perfect solution for our client base at this time.”