Real Estate

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Our real estate team employs deep market insight, genuine innovation and commercial focus to deliver end-to-end support on significant schemes that shape our cities and communities.

We are acutely aware that for developers, whether housebuilder, commercial, leisure or mixed-uses, the disposal of the site – to another owner, or as finished housing plots or commercial units – is the key moment. Throughout the process, realisation of the investment and handover is our objective and our approach to land acquisition and secured finance for developers is based on preparing for eventual disposal.

We are fluent in the language of “housebuilder”. Our teams feature senior practitioners with decades of experience in this specialist sector, using our cutting-edge technology to produce a smooth and efficient plot sales service. Our aim is to ensure that reaching the point of completion and realisation is as uncomplicated as possible and we are currently generating bespoke software to further enhance this area of services for developers.

By understanding your objectives at the outset, we proactively steer real estate transactions and projects from feasibility to profitability. With our comprehensive understanding of investment risks and rewards, we provide valuable input and direction on project structures and development strategies.

We handle the full range of real estate transactions and projects, including site set-ups, acquisitions and disposals, development and regeneration, joint ventures, leasing, construction and engineering, as well as the planning and environmental aspects.

Whether you are a developer, landowner, landlord, tenant or investor, our multi-award-winning real estate specialists have an unparalleled reputation for realising opportunities, navigating the intricacies and getting deals done efficiently and effectively.

  • Advising Rightacres Property Co Limited in connection with the former Brain’s Brewery site Cardiff known as Central Quay. There are several development plots within the site, with an overall development value, and the transaction for the waterfront residential scheme comprising the £120 million development of Plots 1 and 2 Central Quay to create approximately 700 new residential units, which vary from studios to three-bedroom penthouse apartments, has now been completed by long leasehold disposal to L&G
  • Advising Principality Building Society in connection with its involvement in funding the development of the Mill, Cardiff, an ambitious £100 million residential-led urban regeneration project on the site of an old paper mill
  • Acting for a UK wide marina operator Boatfolk Marinas Limited in various acquisitions of commercial interests and management of its property portfolio
  • Acting for Private Energy Partners (a Quinbrook affiliate) in its securing of exclusive development rights from renewable energy firm SIMEC Atlantis Energy to develop one of the largest battery storage systems in the UK. Acuity advised on the option agreement, lease, and associated documentation to locate the development on the former Uskmouth coal-fired power station site
  • Acuity has worked closely with Eden Living, backed by Warwick Capital Partners on the launch of an innovative private rented sector business focusing on the acquisition and subsequent letting of newly built housing in South Wales and the South West of England
  • Acting for BVI-based funder Marshal European Investment Co I Sarl in connection with its funding of development sites in the UK
  • Acting for Rightacres regarding development of the Brew House, Central Quay, Cardiff. We are advising on the funding to develop the Victorian brewery buildings into office and leisure use, having acted on the purchase of the wider site and advised Rightacres in the funding, leasing and eventual sale of the development
  • Acting for Royale Life/Time GB group in the £750 million acquisition of assets
  • Advising the Pasture restaurant group on several projects, including the extension of its existing Cardiff and Bristol restaurants and a new concept butchers and burger restaurant in Bristol City Centre
  • Acting for Greenhill Investments (Vale) Limited, the owner and developer of a 50-acre industrial site, in its development of an industrial park, involving the sale of parcels of land to various developers and managing the funding structures and securities.
  • Acting for Facilities by ADF in its acquisition of Location One Ltd, the UK’s largest supplier of location supplies to the Film & TV industry, involving the acquisition of the operating sites at Barking, Woking, Manchester, Bristol, Newport and Newcastle
  • Acting for Premier Forest in its acquisition of Decorpanel, a specialised panel processing business, dealing with the acquisition of the operating site, a four-acre property comprising 76,000 square feet of warehouse and factory space

Accolades

  • The Real Estate Team is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners
  • The Commercial Property Team is ranked Tier 2 in The Legal 500
  • The Construction Team is ranked Band 2 by Chambers and Partners
  • The Construction Team is ranked Tier 3 in The Legal 500

Testimonials

“Acuity Law is superb and provides an all-round professional service.”

“The team is very knowledgeable about our business. They are highly skilled, proactive and supportive. Always contactable, flexible and commercially driven.”

“They provide clear, concise and knowledgeable advice over a range of property matters.”

“The commercial property team is very approachable and interested in our business. They are willing to work outside of normal hours and have always met our deadlines.”

“It’s the best all-round law firm I have dealt with outside London.”

“The practice is user-friendly, very knowledgeable on a wide range of commercial development proposals and provides timely service on all matters, from initial appraisals to final detailed agreements.”

“The one thing that separates Acuity Law from the other legal firms that we do business with is their open and proactive approach to contract drafting and the resolution of any issues that arise that require multi-party agreement.”

“The team has good availability and is always able to find suitable solutions for our business.”

“All individuals we have worked with have been very competent and diligent.”

Aled Griffiths

Consultant Partner
 

Alexandra Chater

Consultant Partner
 
Anisha Patel, Real Estate Associate at Acuity Law

Anisha Patel

Legal Director
 
Ben Honour, Senior Associate at Acuity Law

Ben Honour

Partner
 

Christopher Agius

Partner
 
Damien Cann

Damien Cann

Partner
 
Gareth Baker, Partner at Acuity Law

Gareth Baker

Partner
 

Harriet Butterfield

Consultant Barrister
 
James Kilgour, Partner at Acuity Law

James Kilgour

Consultant Partner
 
James Williams, Partner at Acuity Law

James Williams

Partner
 
Jim Ryan, Partner at Acuity Law

Jim Ryan

Consultant Partner
 

Jonny Beck

CONSULTANT PARTNER
 
Karen Halsey, Partner at Acuity Law

Karen Halsey

Consultant Partner
 

Mike Taplin

Consultant Partner
 
Robert Morgan, Partner at Acuity Law

Robert Morgan

Consultant Partner
 

Simon Morgan

Consultant Partner
 

Stephen McColgan

Consultant Partner
 
Steve Morris, Construction Partner at Acuity Law

Steve Morris

Partner
 
Edward Finley, Partner at Acuity Law

Edward Finley

Consultant
 

Rupert Thomas

Consultant
 

Lizzie Elliott

Senior Associate
 

Sian Reynolds

Senior Associate
 

Zara Goh

Senior Associate
 
chelsey bishop

Chelsey Bishop

Associate
 
Emma Hutchings, Solicitor at Acuity Law

Emma Hutchings

Associate
 

Jordan Martin

Associate
 
sean chapman james

Sean Chapman James

Associate
 

Shawnee Evans

Solicitor
 

Alistair Slack

Trainee Solicitor
 
lareab-mahmood

Lareab Mahmood

Trainee Solicitor
 

Richard Aston

Trainee Solicitor
 

Alexander Cater

Paralegal
 

Joshua Prior

Paralegal
 

Residential Conveyancing

No property is exactly the same and our fees will reflect the particular requirements of your sale or purchase. For example, dealing with a leasehold listed building may, because of the added complexities, cost more than dealing with a recently constructed freehold property.

Because of this, we can’t give you a reliable estimate of the cost of us acting on your behalf until we have details of your intended transaction but there does tend to be a correlation between the value of the property and the level of our fees.

Taking account of these variables our average fee for a residential transaction is £1,250 exclusive of VAT and disbursements. This will include:

  • Reviewing title dealing with enquiries agreeing the form of the transaction documentation
  • Reporting to you on the key terms
  • Effecting exchange and completion.

Note that as residential conveyancing is not a core part of our business we are not appointed to many of residential banking panels which means we would be unable to represent them jointly with you on a purchase. The disbursements incurred should be minimal on a sale but on a purchase will include search costs of between £250 and £500 together with SDLT/LTT (depending on whether the property is situated in England or Wales) and Land Registration fees in addition.

Both SDLT/LTT are based on the value of the property and also take account of existing property ownership and the purchasing entity. Land Registry fees are similarly linked to the value of the Property currently capped at £910 for purchases over one million pounds. We typically undertake 25 residential transactions a year excluding bulk sales and purchases undertaken on behalf of our commercial clients.

We have a range of highly experienced lawyers with in excess of ten years post qualification experience used to dealing with high-value commercial residential schemes who offer all necessary and appropriate to the junior lawyers who will typically manage the residential conveyancing file. Whilst a small percentage of Acuity’s legal services we are committed to providing the same high standards to which our commercial clients have become accustomed over many years.

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