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Tenants and corporate occupiers

Offering tailored legal expertise for tenants and corporate occupiers across all major industries, with particular expertise in office headquarter moves.

Corporate occupiers receiving expert legal advice on lease agreements and strategic office relocations.

Overview Services Our work Our team What others say

Almost every business will occupy and use land or buildings. Many business-critical legal and technical issues can arise when occupying real estate, whether relating to ongoing asset management or strategic office or portfolio changes.

The rise of flexible working environments, sustainable building practices, and the emphasis on employee wellness are reshaping the office landscape, making it essential for tenants to stay ahead of industry shifts.

We are recognised as one of the UK’s leading teams for tenant and corporate occupational work. Our experience spans advising global and UK banks, international corporates, law firms, and global tech and communication companies. We have successfully advised on numerous major office HQ projects in both the public and private sectors.

We assist with identifying and moving into new premises, dealing with issues during the term of a lease, to end-of-lease events such as lease breaks, assignment, dilapidations, reinstatement and relocation.

Our deep experience enables us to manage any challenges or obstacles our clients’ businesses might face in relation to office occupation with ease. By focusing on each client’s key drivers, we ensure that our advice is relevant, consistent, and guarantees a smooth transition throughout the lifecycle of our client’s occupation.

Services

Lease and sub-lease negotiations

Securing advantageous terms tailored to our clients’ needs to support long-term occupational strategies.

Lease renewals

Strategic management of lease renewal processes.

Procuring and delivering office
fit-out

Managing office fit-out processes.

Non-contentious asset management

Ongoing support for the effective management of property assets.

Landlord and tenant disputes

Including disputes over breach of covenants, terminal dilapidations, rating appeals, rent arrears and forfeiture.

Strategic advice on space planning and use

Optimising workspaces to align with business objectives and ensure operational efficiency.

Exercising termination options

Including guidance on dilapidations, vacant possession and break clauses.

Rent reviews

Negotiating new rent and managing rent review disputes.

Rating appeals

Managing business rates disputes and providing practical guidance on mitigation schemes, reliefs and exemptions.

Examples of our work

Competition & Markets Authority

Advised on the acquisition of 113,000 sq ft at 25 Cabot Square, including fit-out licences, collateral warranties, and the CMA’s strategic exit from its previous Holborn HQ, highlighting our expertise in large-scale relocations.

King & Wood Mallesons

Advising on the lease of the 11th floor of 20 Fenchurch Street (the ‘Walkie Talkie’), covering fit-out licences, construction advice, and wayleave agreements.

Virgin Group

Advising in relation to Virgin’s UK property portfolio, including the company’s exit from previous premises and subsequent move and fit out of a new HQ at Whitfield Studios, Fitzrovia.

St James’s Place Wealth Management

Advising in relation to the occupation and management of their UK-wide office portfolio, including strategic asset management advice on exit from and acquisition of multiple leases.

Historic England

Advising on new office premises in Finzels Reach, Bristol, including due diligence, negotiation of conditional agreement for lease, new 14-year lease, fit out licence and collateral warranty pack.

Beauty Pie

Advising on the real estate and construction aspects of its acquisition of new HQ office space in London. Beauty Pie, the first luxury beauty buyers’ club, took its new office space by way of an underlease from Gamesys Group.