Browne Jacobson LLP is at the forefront of the commercial property market, continuing to be sought out by private, public, and third sector clients on high-value and complex projects within the area, with names such as Sanctuary Housing, Frasers Group, and LVMH Group among its client roster.  Helming the practice is Sarah Parkinson, a seasoned real estate advisor who specialises in retail and property development projects. Barry Sully lends his development disposals and acquisition expertise to landowners, developers, local authorities, and housing association clients, while property development and strategic land transactions are a common feature of Robert Wofinden ‘s caseload. Suki Tonks chiefly focuses her practice on the retail and leisure industries, where she advises on lease negotiations, acquisitions, disposals, and property management.

Freeths LLP is well-positioned in the market to advise a diverse client base, spanning from the care sector to housebuilding, on an impressive range of transactions and projects within the area. As the national head of real estate, Darren Williamson combines institutional fund management and portfolio transactions knowledge with comprehensive commercial development expertise. A pillar of the firm’s work is within the care sector, where Jon Smart is a key name in care home development; Smart also offers experience in property finance and retail development. Acting for housebuilders, developers, and housing associations, amongst others, Patrick Adie takes on large residential-led schemes, mixed-use developments, and investment transactions. Elsewhere in the team, James Hart is sought out for his complex development scheme expertise, Guy Winfield heads the Nottingham office, and Atiyya Khaliq handles a varied stream of general commercial property matters, with a specialism in corporate real estate portfolio acquisitions and disposals.

Clients seek the ‘depth of knowledge and experience’ that Gateley Legal offers across the full range of property matters in the region. The practice is highly regarded for handling residential developments, commercial investments, and asset management work, with particular expertise in the healthcare and pensions sectors. At the helm of the practice, Adam Youatt specialises in real investment and development, while the residential development offering is spearheaded by Steven Plummer, who engages closely with housebuilders and developers on land acquisitions, land disposals, and funding arrangements. Simon Taylor takes the lead on real estate development management and funding matters, while Colin Gittus chiefly focuses on finance and investment transactions.

The Geldards LLP real estate team’s key work streams arise from residential and commercial developments in the industrial and logistics, public sector, education, utilities, and motor retail sectors. Graham Banks leads the practice out of the Derby office, where he is a specialist in operational property, project finance, and property investment and development. Heather Dixon is a stand-out name for the delivery of complex property transactions, while Neil Walker chiefly focuses on major project work. Other key names in the team are Paul Hilsdon, who engages closely with universities, FE colleges, and multi-academy trusts, and Jay Atubra, who has a growing caseload from independent electricity and fibre optic network operators and gas transporters.

With a notable energy sector specialism, Shakespeare Martineau LLP is trusted by a roster of energy developers and infrastructure investors on major projects, with a recent work highlight of advising Statera Energy on its development of a 680MW battery energy storage system. Team head Peter Dilks has a growing portfolio of real estate energy and utilities sector work, where he is a key contact for large-scale transactions. John Buckley focuses his practice on grid-connected and private wire projects, while Aller Dawlat is a renewable energy specialist. Another core stream of work for the practice is real estate financing, where Victoria Bovington is a key contact for investment and development finance work. Daniel Clarke and Matthew Harris joined the team in March 2024, strengthening the team’s energy development offering.

Shoosmiths LLP is well-positioned in the market to advise a diverse client base on a variety of investment, occupier, and development matters both regionally and nationally. Team head Matthew Kenwood has demonstrable experience in an array of commercial real estate transactions, while Su Kemp has a far-reaching non-contentious practice spanning complex sale agreements, refinancing, and landlord and tenant matters. Helen Parrott‘s client roster is particularly comprised of investment funds, retailers, and leisure operators, whom she readily assists across a broad practice, and Matthew Kemp fields a comprehensive real estate transaction practice, where he takes on acquisitions, disposals, funding, and asset management. Deborah Gordon Brown retired from the practice in June 2024, and Ellis Gardener-Browne departed in September 2024.

The Flint Bishop team is trusted by a diverse range of clients, including sellers, buyers, developers, investors, landlords, and tenants, for services spanning real estate portfolio management, lease negotiations, and acquisitions. Practice head Janet Rhodes is known for her work with pub companies on leased and tenanted management services. Sam Shepherd specialises in commercial development, particularly brownfield urban sites, while Ben Pickup handles complex property transactions. Simon Griffith, who joined in June 2024, focuses on development agreements and acquisitions. Sanveer Sandhu departed in January 2025, and Ian Wilson left in August 2024.

Underpinned by a ‘good network of solicitors’, gunnercooke LLP‘s practice has a notable presence in the logistics, strategic residential, student development, and out-of-town retail spaces. Brendan Walsh engages closely with national and regional developers, banks, and international investors, where he is a key advisor on major residential and urban settlements, town centre redevelopments, and property finance, whereas Matthew Grocock lends his residential and commercial development expertise to landed estates, promoters, and agricultural landowners, amongst others. Sarah Gunton is recommended for her residential, commercial, and mixed-use development expertise.

With a sole focus on property, Landsmiths Solicitors has a broad client base that instructs the boutique practice on a variety of complex transactions, with property refinancing, acquisitions, and developments a frequent feature of its caseload. Co-head Rachael Briggs has notable experience handling property portfolios of both occupiers and landlords within the retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors, while fellow head of the team Vik Moothia‘s wide-ranging practice encompasses acquisition and disposals, leasehold matters, funding, development, and management matters. Alongside her refinancing expertise, Alison James-Moore  receives instructions from purchasers and sellers on matters pertaining to freehold and leasehold properties and development sites.

Austin Moore & Partners LLP underpins commercial property expertise with key corporate transaction know-how and is positioned as a trusted advisor to developers, investors, owners, and occupiers. Practice head Lucy Carter is the key figure on commercial property issues within the education and agricultural sector, as well as being active on development work, handling conditional sale agreements, options, and site assembly matters. Freya Bradley handles a variety of acquisitions, sales, and development matters, while Chloe Summers is particularly experienced on leasehold matters.

Nelsons Solicitors Limited is an established advisor to pension scheme trustees, charities, and retailers, demonstrating expertise across residential development, landlord and tenant, pension scheme-related property transactions, and property finance. At the helm of the practice is Riaz Dudhia, who is recommended for his land acquisition, disposal, and commercial landlord and tenant expertise. Paul Hinchliffe is very active on high-value transactions, where he is well-placed to advise industrial and office property owners. Sanveer Sandhu joined from Flint Bishop in February 2025.

The commercial property team at Smith Partnership provides a comprehensive service, spanning acquisitions, dispositions, refinancing, and easements, and is especially geared towards the industrial and charity sectors. Team lead Jason Wood chiefly focuses on development schemes and property finance mandates. Danielle Upton handles a varied caseload and is particularly well-versed in matters in the industrial sector, including the sale and purchase of warehouses and distribution centres.