Bio
Simon is a Commercial Real Estate Partner.
Simon has worked in the social housing sector for more than 30 years, acting for more than twenty different housing associations – ranging from small co-operatives to medium-sized regionals and large nationals.
Simon assists on the acquisition, disposal or transfer of property ownership within family trusts and personal pensions funds (SIPP or SSAS). This includes any associated property issues such as ensuring clear title, negotiating options, easements or cross-rights, compliance with trust or pension rules, and associated leases. Simon has a particular interest in leasehold ownership matters such as lease extensions, collective enfranchisement, right of first refusal and right to manage.
Simon also provides legal support during property acquisitions, supporting with tight deadlines to meet grant funding requirements.
Examples of Simon’s work include:
- Acting for a developer/contractor (working in the Affordable Housing Sector) on acquiring a site for £5 million with planning permission for the construction of 80 houses. This included simultaneously selling it back-to-back to a Registered Provider, using a Development Agreement with a build value of more than £18 million.
- Acting for a commercial developer in connection with the purchase of a Retail Park for £5 million, subject to numerous lettings.
- Acting for an investor in connection with the freehold sale of land for £2million, subject to a lease in favour of a well-known national advertising company of a substantial advertising hoarding, and an office lease.
- Acting for an investor in connection with the sale of vacant office units for more than £500,000.
- acting for a fund developer in connection with the acquisition of an Office Business Park in Dudley for £15 million.