With South West offices in Cheltenham and Guildford, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP advises corporates, governmental groups, private clients, investors and developers on the full spectrum of real estate mandates. Practice head Ian Brothwood leads the strategic land team where he is known for his expertise in residential schemes. Naomi Nettleton has extensive experience in real estate investment and finance work and knowledge of the hotel sector. For mixed-use developments and investment mandates, Nigel Morton is a key name, while Phil Webb ‘provides practical advice’ across a blend of residential developments, renewable matters, and urban estate deals. Also recommended is senior associate Charlotte Mee, noted for landlord and tenant portfolio management issues, transactions, and financings.

Fielding a ‘professional and commercially minded team that always delivers’, BPE Solicitors LLP regularly acts on sizeable acquisitions, sales and leases across a range of sectors. In particular, the firm specialises in healthcare property work, an area in which practice head Jo Bewley stands out. Antonia Shield is a key contact for retail and leisure sector clients, and Paul Engelbrecht brings further breadth through his experience advising private individuals, farmers and landowners, alongside corporates. Douglas Armstrong advises on acquisitions and disposals, and Georgiana Applegate is also noted. The practice is based in Cheltenham.

Acting for retailers, housebuilders, landowners, and investors, Clarke Willmott LLP‘s Taunton team advises on a range of investments, sales, and acquisitions. The group is led by Sarah Manley, who has expertise in landlord and tenant matters as well as estate management work. Andrea Livingstone, who joined the team in 2023 from DAC Beachcroft LLP, has further strengthened these areas, particularly in relation to corporate occupier issues, commercial tenant and landlord work, and matters in the retail and office sectors. Development finance expert Robert Hill, who divides his time between Cardiff, Southampton and Taunton, has additional depth in redevelopment and transaction mandates.

Led by Ben Thomas, the Cheltenham real estate team at Harrison Clark Rickerbys has a focus on real estate finance and education sector mandates, advising independent schools, academies, and further education providers. This forms a cornerstone of the firm’s broader practice that covers commercial property transactions, such as leases, acquisitions and sales, and development work. Thomas specialises in a range of asset management and landlord and tenant issues, particularly in the retail sector, while Mark Carter handles development, finance, and refinancing mandates, and Morgan West is central to the practice’s education and charity sector offering.

Stone King LLP‘s real estate offering stands out for its expertise in the charity, education, and faith sectors, where the team acts for education providers, dioceses, and landowners on a range of portfolio management matters, acquisitions and disposals, and leases. Based in Bath, the group is led by Caroline Taylor, who has experience advising a range of companies and non-faith charities on developments and joint ventures. Hugh Pearce leads on faith-based charity mandates, while education expert Joanne Burton advises on transactions and estates management for schools and colleges. Also noted are Christopher D Jones, a specialist in ecclesiastical property matters, and Chris Emm, who is active on academy conversions and transfers.

Assisting tenants and landlords across the region from its base in Cheltenham, Willans LLP regularly advises on a diverse set of transactions, financings, leases and renewals, and portfolio management issues . The team stands out for its experience assisting charities and corporates, with a number of retailers and manufacturers among its client roster. Alasdair Garbutt leads the team, regularly covering sales and acquisitions, development transactions, and property management work. He works alongside Nigel Whittaker, who has extensive experience advising national charities on property portfolio matters. Charlotte Cowdell and Emma Thompson are key names at the associate level, as is associate solicitor Nancy Battell.

Described as ‘switched on and commercially astute’, Goughs Solicitors covers the full array of property transactions, refinancings, and landlord and tenant work in addition to development land mandates, and counts SME’s, lending institutions, landowners and housebuilders on its client roster. Practice head Andrew Given is ‘very professional and approachable’, with Gemma Sumsion also being a key name with broad expertise. Having rejoined the firm in 2023, Dan Shaw further strengthens the team's expertise in strategic land and housebuilding deals. Other key names include Aimee Glover and Olivia Holden in Chippenham.

Maitland Walker LLP‘s varied real estate practice is praised for its ‘diverse range of skills and capabilities’ combined with its ‘polite, patient, respectful and accommodating’ team. Benjamin Slade co-heads the team from Taunton and is well versed in transaction and property portfolio management matters, particularly in the leisure industry. Fellow co-head Hilary Coles has expertise in rural and agricultural properties in addition to experience handling transactions for residential developers.

Porter Dodson LLP is regularly instructed by landowners, developers, and SMEs on a wide range of commercial property matters spanning acquisitions and disposals of leasehold and freehold properties, complex lease arrangements and refinancings. The team is also noted for its wide sector expertise, with particular strengths in the residential, GP and medical spaces together with a growing case load in renewable work. Practice head Ben Hingley has a strong track record advising landowners on option agreements and overage agreements, while Victoria Walker is a key name for landlord and tenant matters. Transaction and lease expert Louise Sanders is ‘extremely personable, highly qualified and knowledgeable’, and Steve Farnham assists with site acquisitions and strategic land work.

RWK Goodman has broad sector experience with key strength in the health, social care sector, hotel and leisure sectors. The team also counts transactions involving office, education, energy, and residential assets among their areas of expertise. Situated in Bath, co-head Richard Roth is especially knowledgeable in handling development work for pension funds and property investors, while Paul Daniels has transaction and finance expertise. The firm’s Swindon office houses co-head Peter Foskett, who is noted for his proficiency in strategic land issues and joint ventures, acting for developers and landowners. Rob Walton is another key name.

Led by land development expert Neil Patterson, Wansbroughs’ commercial property team counts the healthcare and renewable sectors and acting for landed estates among its areas of expertise. Based in Devizes, the practice advises developers, corporations, landowners, and high-net-worth individuals. Alongside Patterson, agriculture and landed estate expert Jonathan Bruton and Christopher Ware, who specialises in acquisitions, disposals and development mandates, are also key names.