Ashfords LLP‘s large team advises on sales and purchases, leases, and easements, acting for numerous leading housebuilders, public sector clients, and a variety of corporates. In addition to residential and social housing developments, the practice has a wide breadth of experience ranging from real estate investments and secured lending matters through to energy and waste issues. Bristol’s Kate Topp leads the team, with Exeter’s Tim Heal, who is head of the real estate services division, being a key name on land and property acquisitions, joint ventures, and development matters. Also in Exeter is public sector lead Robin de Wreede, praised for his ‘sensible, thorough and practical approach’. Plymouth team head James Heath is ‘practical, commercial and very approachable’, and Emma Warren is noted for renewable energy projects, while Simon Bailey handles transactional work. Paul Butterworth departed in July 2024.

Foot Anstey‘s real estate team assists regional and national retailers, housebuilders, energy companies, lenders, developers and landowners with transactions, portfolio management work, and development and infrastructure mandates. With broad sector expertise, the group has seen recent growth into the space and satellite sectors. John Catchpole, who focuses on large development and infrastructure mandates, leads the team from Truro, where Rachel Langley is noted for her affordable housing and residential development work. In Exeter, Philip Brown leads the developer team, and Richard Sutton has experience acting on mixed-use developments, with Philip Parrott advising on acquisitions and disposals. The firm also has an office in Bristol which houses infrastructure, transport, and portfolio management expert Mark Li, renewable property specialist Kutahya Cherry, and Zahir Nayani, who advises on Islamic finance matters. Plymouth’s Kate Dawe is another key name. Paul Butterworth joined from Ashfords LLP in September 2024.

Praised as ‘very approachable and very capable’, Michelmores LLP‘s transactional real estate team advises on investments, residential developments, and strategic land matters, with further expertise in the energy sector. The practice is led out of Exeter, with residential development expert Emma Honey and Lucy Smallwood at the helm. Stephen Newson covers a range of energy real estate matters with corporate occupier and landlord and tenant work, while Richard Walford has a focus on transactions, sustainable projects, and infrastructure mandates. Also noted are Chloe Howard-Smith, who heads the site set up and new homes team, and Elizabeth Newson, who focuses on residential and strategic land matters.

With experience spanning acquisitions and sales, leases, investments and negotiations, Steele Raymond LLP‘s ‘very professional, thorough and personable’ practice advises a diverse set of housebuilders, registered providers, and corporates from its base in Bournemouth. Landowners and strategic land and planning matters also form a key part of the practice, further bolstered by the firm’s SIPP and SSAS pension property investment unit. Experienced real estate experts Chris Twaits and Emma Stainwright spearhead the practice. Patrick Dolan handles developments and land acquisitions; Christine Kessler-Robinson is another key name in these areas in addition to assisting with higher education and refinancing mandates. Senior associates Kayleigh Medland and Rosanna Parker are also noted.

The comprehensive practice at Trowers & Hamlins LLP regularly advises investors, developers, local authorities, and government departments on commercial and residential transactions and developments across the South West and beyond. Strategic land transactions and social housing work are among the practice’s many strengths. Transactions experts Chris Rundle and Georgina Savill‐James, who has residential sector expertise, jointly lead the practice from Exeter. For mixed-use mandates and landlord and tenant related matters, Ben Neary is held in high regard, while transaction lawyers Stephen Moore and Jack Frier are also recommended; the former has expertise in care and supported living issues, and the latter focuses on residential developments. At the associate level, Gail White and Kelly Brown are also active.

Instructed by a mix of lenders, developers, corporates, and public authorities, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP advises on the full gamut of real estate matters regarding commercial and private assets. Practice head Craig Moore is especially skilled in property finance work, including the property aspects of administrations and receiverships. Nicola Jonas regularly advises on tenant and landlord mandates, and Samantha Orluta specialises in the residential housing sector, where she assists local and national developers and housing associations with property transactions. Jason Hobday supports on residential housing matters, with Christopher Stephens focusing on strategic development and land assembly work. Other key names include Krista McCarthy and Sarah Dinshaw.

The real estate team at Lester Aldridge LLP has a strong track record assisting with finance and restructuring matters, investments, and transactions, spanning residential developments, healthcare and senior housing properties, hotels, ports and marinas. Located in Bournemouth, Mark Benham leads the department and acts for landlords and tenants, housebuilders, developers, PLCs, and care home providers. In the same office, real estate finance head Suki Samra is another key contact, also noted for his expertise in enfranchisement work. In Southampton, planning expert Tom Alder leads the development team, and Michelle Musker acts for mortgage lenders, while associate Phoebe Chandler handles transaction work, as well as bridging and secured lending finance matters. Sam Wylie joined from Moore Barlow in October 2023.

The real estate team at Stephens Scown LLP advises on a range of acquisitions and sales across the region with mandates covering strategic land, mining, farming, and commercial property matters. Practice head Michael Beadel has experience in development mandates including urban extensions and the opening of mining and waste disposal facilities; he is based in Truro with Ben Wheeler, who handles land transactions and secured lending work, and Tim Walmsley, who focuses on social housing, charity land, and compulsory purchase matters. In the Exeter office, Aimee Barrable acts for occupiers and investors, particularly in the retail and leisure sectors, while Charles Hodder handles a range of commercial property matters. At the associate level, Truro’s Tom Graham has rural land transaction experience.

Offering ‘superb industry knowledge and practical, clear advice’, Blanchards Bailey LLP‘s agricultural and commercial property team excels in advising farming, landed estate, and high-net-worth clients. Having recently taken over the reins in April 2023, Sarah Dunlop leads the team and is well-versed across a breadth of agricultural property law including rural land transactions, farm tenancies, farm partnerships, and land matters. Consultant and former group head Robin Cole is highly experienced across the commercial real estate, finance, and property development spaces. The team is split between the firm’s Blandford, Dorchester, and Weymouth offices.

Praised for its ‘genuinely friendly, refreshingly down to earth, approachable and talented staff’, Plymouth-based firm Bright Solicitors is well-versed on a wide range of commercial, residential, and mixed-use matters spanning purchase, sales, and refinancings, as well as property portfolio work. The practice is divided into the investment and commercial property teams, with Andy Price leading the former, and Georgia Jones spearheading the latter.

Often approached for its experience in landlord and tenant matters, Frettens LLP regularly assists with acquisitions and disposals, in addition to a growing stream of leasehold and social housing mandates. Co-head Oonagh McKinney is ‘friendly, available and is able to get to the centre of an issue quickly’, with fellow co-head Ben Cobb being described as ‘a safe pair of hands’. In September 2023, the firm welcomed Sarah Heath who adds experience in commercial and agricultural transactions as well as redevelopments. At the associate level, Hannah Martin is active in the social housing space, and Patsy Whitford is noted for her experience in development, leasing, and tenant and landlord matters. The team is split between Christchurch and Ringwood.

Praised for its ‘outstanding’ service and legal knowledge, GA Solicitors provides transactional advice across the property space, with experience covering residential developments, ports and the healthcare and energy sectors. Team leader David Stone, housed in the firm’s Plymouth office, is particularly experienced in landlord and tenant matters in addition to investments, acquisitions, and disposals. Site acquisitions and development work are also key focuses for the team, where Tony Dupreez has considerable experience. Secured lending head Lucy Foster is active on the finance side. Hannah Madders is also of note.

Operating out of Truro, Murrell Associates LLP advises on a range of transactions spanning acquisitions, disposals, investments and reorganisations. The practice advises across a diverse set of sectors, with key areas covering the hospitality, leisure and energy sectors, where the firm regularly advises landowners and developers on renewable projects, private wire connections, and energy storage matters. The ‘outstanding, responsive, approachable and friendly’ hospitality expert David Williams leads the team. Also key are Jenny Harbord, noted for her experience in renewable energy matters, and Caroline Daly, who has transactional expertise across a range of asset classes.

Acting for SMEs, regional housebuilders, trusts, and developers, Wolferstans‘ Plymouth-based practice assists with site acquisitions, land assembly work, and plot transactions, with core areas of expertise covering the housebuilding, education, social, and charity sectors. Praised for his ‘very practical and down to earth’ approach, transaction and development expert Arash Dinari leads the team, which also includes Paul Bramall. Pippa Tanner-Wood leads the new homes team and advises developers on development site acquisitions and commercial lease mandates. Deborah Black is another key name.

With offices across Devon, Wollens‘ ‘professional and personable’ practice is particularly prominent in advising hospitality, leisure, and charity sector clients. Leading the team out of Torquay is Ashley Bevans, who is ‘very knowledgeable on any subject matter and will always consider the best solution for the client’. In the same office, Dominic Hollingsworth and Simon Wilson cover all aspects of commercial property work, with the latter also advising on tenancies involving agricultural and equine land and business transactions. In Exeter, Emma Reed has experience encompassing business sales, shareholder agreements, and joint ventures; she is also noted for her growing workload in the energy and renewables spaces.