John Aynsley

Posted on: January 31st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am a Director in the Commercial Real Estate team, where I specialise in the acquisition, disposal, development, regeneration, financing, and management of high-value assets in commercial real estate, John acts for clients ranging from international real estate funds and listed house builders to private investors.

I joined Lawrence Stephens in 2025, having spent four years at Memery Crystal and seven years at sister brand Rosenblatt.

Experience

  • Acting for a listed house builder on numerous strategic land acquisitions and serviced land parcel sales.
  • Acting for a UK real estate investment group with a motor-trade focus on the disposal of a portfolio of 16 car dealerships.
  • Acting for a private overseas investor on the acquisition of a Mayfair property for a luxury mixed-use development.
  • Advising a Fortune 500 payment technology company on the letting and fit-out of their UK headquarters.
  • Acting on the pre-let, development and subsequent investment sales of numerous retail, industrial and office sites.
  • Advising a corporate finance advisory on the office acquisition and fit-out of an office floor in the Shard.
  • Acting on the acquisition of a portfolio of 40 mixed tenure petrol filling stations for a roadside retail operator.
  • Acting for various impact investors on multi-million pound rolling programmes of portfolio acquisitions of residential multi let properties to be leased to charities who specialise in rehousing ex offender, ex-military personal, the homeless and other vulnerable groups to be sub-sold and held by a fund to ensure the continued and long term use of the properties for social housing purposes.

Chris Cagney

Posted on: January 31st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am a Director in the Commercial Real Estate team, having joined Lawrence Stephens from Memery Crystal in January 2025. 

I have extensive experience in a range of commercial real estate matters including acquisitions and disposals and landlord and tenant matters, as well as advising on development projects and property finance transactions. I also have many years of experience assisting residential real estate clients, specialising in the London prime central market.

Experience

  • Acted on the purchase of a mixed use, occupied (serviced offices and hostel) building in Kensington.
  • Acted for a buyer on the purchase of a Grade II Listed building in Belgravia, a development site to be converted into luxury apartments.
  • Acted for a tenant being granted a 10-year lease of three-level office space in a prestigious, newly renovated Mayfair building.
  • Assisted a corporate client on the sale of a care home site in Walthamstow.
  • Acted for a corporate client, advising on property matters, in respect of a castle purchase in Shropshire.
  • Advises the owners of a London based organic produce store with multiple sites across London.

Sam Silverman

Posted on: January 31st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am a director in the Commercial Real Estate team, having joined Lawrence Stephens from Memery Crystal in January 2025.

I have gained extensive commercial property experience across a wide range of areas including development, pre-lettings, acquisitions and disposals, international project management, joint ventures and landlord and tenant matters.

Throughout my career, I have acted for major international and domestic clients including developers, funds, corporate occupiers and supermarkets within the office, industrial and retail sectors.

Krysha Hunt

Posted on: August 14th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

I am a Senior Associate in the Commercial Real Estate team, having joined the firm in 2024.

I have extensive experience working on behalf of both landlord and tenants, acquisitions and disposals and property management. I also have experience working with hospitality clients in relation to the acquisition or disposal of hotels, restaurants and pubs and work closely alongside other departments to provide a comprehensive service.

I enjoy building relationships with clients and getting to know their focus to ensure a collaborative and commercial approach to transactions.

Outside of work I enjoy anything fitness related and ran the Paris half marathon in March 2024. I also enjoy travelling and have been fortunate to experience living in Singapore and Dubai.

Experience highlights:

  • Acting on behalf of a technology tenant to agree a lease of at a high-profile Central London building with a rent exceeding £1.5m per annum.
  • Acting on behalf of a hospitality client to acquire and subsequently refinance target properties across the UK for an initial portfolio value of circa £15m.
  • Acting for a landlord in respect of a lease of a serviced office block to an internet giant.