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Gunduz Misiri

Posted on: November 6th, 2023 by Yvonne Uzoka

I have been a qualified solicitor since 2011, specialising in the fields of residential and commercial property. My practice encompasses representing a diverse clientele, including buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants in the acquisition and disposal of both commercial and residential property.

Notably, I have had the privilege of representing prominent retail clients in the acquisition of multiple retail units in Central London. These transactions predominantly involve leasehold arrangements with properties acquired from landlords in London, including the Crown Estate Commissioners.

My client portfolio extends to various industries, with successful transactions involving the acquisition and disposition of establishments such as restaurants, nightclubs, golf courses, dry cleaners and various high street shops.

In addition, my services extend to the residential property market, covering a wide spectrum of property types, from high-value transactions to shared ownership agreements and remortgages, involving both freehold and leasehold arrangements.

My practice is underpinned by an extensive understanding of the property market and the unique needs of my clients. I take immense pride in delivering clear, commercially astute advice and unwavering support to my clients.

Experience highlights

  • Acting on a £25m refinance of nine supermarkets
  • Acting for a client in the sale of three freehold warehouses for a total purchase price of £43m
  • Acting on the purchase of a well-known nightclub in central London – satisfying the requirements of the landlords prior to the licence to assign being granted and successfully negotiating the return of the rent deposit
  • Acting on the purchase of a £4m freehold warehouse on an industrial estate
  • Acting on the purchase of a £6m leasehold apartment in central London
  • Acting for a high-net-worth client on the acquisition of several well-known high-end male grooming stores in central London

Stephen Messias

Posted on: February 13th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

As a founding partner of Lawrence Stephens with over 30 years’ experience, I bring a wealth of knowledge to the firm in all aspects of commercial and residential real estate, as well as landlord and tenant transactions.

My clients are a sophisticated mix of property companies, individual investors, property traders and trading businesses occupying properties for the purposes of their business as well as individuals.  There’s no such thing as a typical deal.  My transactions can range from the purchase or sale of a commercial investment, the refinancing of property portfolios, commercial lettings whether acting for landlords or tenants, complex acquisitions with lease re-gear and back-to-back sale, as well as residential transactions.

My clients are largely entrepreneurial, running their own businesses and seeking sound, speedy, creative advice and input from us as their solicitor.

Whether transactions are complex, urgent or routine, I like to work with clients in a commercial and pragmatic way to ensure a satisfactory and positive outcome.  Many of my clients have been clients since day one, a testament to the quality of service and advice I strive to provide.

As a result of exceptional work ethic and dedication to my clients, I have been listed as a recommended property lawyer in the prestigious Spear’s 500 list for 2023.

Life is not all about work – I am a keen runner (half –marathons and marathons), having raised funds for various charities and an active Freemason.  I have been married to my wife, Jane, for over 30 years and we have three wonderful children, none of which are following in my footsteps by pursuing a career in law.  Maybe they’ll be clients of mine one day.

Experience highlights

  • Acting for the Epic Group of Companies as landlord on various lettings of commercial premises in various Grade A buildings around the country
  • Acting on a £31m sale of a property previously used as a waste management, recycling and skip hire site, located in North West London. The transaction was a complex and high-value sale
  • Purchase of a £13.5m apartment in Central London for a long standing HNW client
  • Purchase of a freehold investment property let to Santander, subsequent lease surrender, re-letting and refinancing of the property
  • Sale of an office campus investment for £36.7m comprising part of a larger site and the subsequent sale of the remainder of the site in various parcels
  • The purchase of a residential development site and sales of the completed units working with our construction department throughout these transactions
  • The letting of restaurant premises to a high-end restaurant operator as part of a number of lettings in a mixed-use (office, retail and restaurant) city centre development

Craig Mullen

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

With more than 16 years PQE, I have accumulated vast experience in dealing with a full range of Commercial Real Estate and Real Estate Finance transactions. My specialisms include managing commercial landlord and tenant matters and complex, high-value acquisitions and disposals of commercial property.

Naturally approachable, friendly and client-focused, I thoroughly enjoy working with clients – whether that may be an individual or a large private limited company – to enable them to find the best possible solution to their problems and to achieve their business goals.

I have a second full-time job away from the office being the father of twin girls! I am also a keen runner, having completed several 10k and half-marathon races, as well as the 2022 London Marathon.

Experience highlights 

  • Leading a team in relation to the acquisition of a multi-let mixed use site in Hackney for an investor client.  The transaction involved several freehold and leasehold titles over four different buildings and extremely tight timescales
  • Acting for PLC company in relation to three separate asset sales in Milton Keynes of tenanted mixed use properties for a total sale price of in excess of £50m
  • Acting for three individuals forming an accountants’ partnership on their renewal lease of office space in Baker Street, London
  • Acting for a client company who purchased a multi-million-pound site in the North of England which was sublet to Sainsbury’s and other retail tenants

Danny Schwarz

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I qualified in 1998 and joined Lawrence Stephens in 2006, having previously worked in the property department of a leading City firm.  I was made a Partner in 2008 and am now Head of Commercial Real Estate. 

I deal with all aspects of commercial property investment, acquisitions and disposals, development, landlord and tenant work and property management.

I also work closely with the firm’s Corporate department on the property aspects of transactions.

The only BAFTA nominated partner within the firm, I took the scenic route to law.  Following a stint in the army and a degree in Film & Television at Tel Aviv University, I moved to the UK and worked in the film industry before qualifying as a solicitor.

I have three daughters and a son and enjoy tennis, football, music, art and motorbikes despite recently hanging up my helmet.

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for a developer on the acquisition of commercial premises, redevelopment to 25 residential flats and sale of leases
  • Acting for a retailer in the acquisition and disposal of retail properties comprising a current portfolio of over 40 shops
  • Acting for several pub groups, clubs and restaurateurs on the acquisitions and sales of high value prime location properties
  • Acting for a property investment fund on refinance of mixed-use portfolio in the value of £25m
  • Acting for freeholders of a block of flats in St Johns Wood in relation to the grant of a lease of airspace to a developer and construction agreement for the construction of two penthouse apartments on the roof of the building

David Freedman

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens as a Partner in September 2019 and contribute over 35 years of legal experience to our Real Estate/Secured Lending team.

Over the years, I have established a proactive, can-do attitude to meeting clients’ objectives and offer a level of service which, given my number of repeat clients, has clearly proven attractive.

I act for a range of leading UK specialist bridging finance lenders, providing extensive advice on property finance, landlord and tenant and commercial conveyancing matters. As well as advising on the acquisition, disposal and letting of commercial property, I have a large number of private property investors to whom I provide all types of commercial property management advice.

My clients are predominantly made up of established lenders in the bridging finance or property lending market and long standing private property investors. These range from clients with large Central London holdings to those with portfolios of shops, offices and industrial units. The variety offers a significant volume of work, but also provides the opportunity to establish close personal relationships with individual underwriters.

Lawrence Stephens’ cohort of long-suffering Spurs supporters welcomes me with wide open arms, though I also enjoys tennis, cricket and bridge, and am an avid cinema and theatre-goer.  When I’m not working, I involve myself in charity work to provide holiday opportunities to under-privileged children.

Experience highlights 

  • Acted for the sale of a private property investor in relation to the sale of a portfolio of 18 tenanted properties at a price of £5,162,500
  • Acted for the bank in relation to a loan of £1.25m secured by a mixture of first and second charges over six freehold and leasehold properties
  • Acted for the executors of an estate in relation to the sale of two linked flats in St Johns Wood for £2.65m with enquiries from both buyer’s and lender’s solicitors
  • Acting for borrower and lender in relation to 9 separate loans on a mixture of freehold and leasehold residential properties having a total loan value of £1.7m

Nick Marshall

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I have over 20 years of experience acting for international and domestic clients, helping them achieve their investment and operational targets, as well as managing the life cycle of their real estate portfolios.

Regardless of how complex the matter at hand, I have the required skill sets to enable transactions to be navigated smoothly and efficiently.  I am accessible and communication is always crystal clear.  

I primarily act for corporate occupiers, private investors, property companies and private equity houses and have worked on deal portfolios that have earned me industry-wide recognition.  Typical assets acquired are diverse but include out of town retail parks, office business parks and warehousing sites.  To date, my most notable transaction includes being part of a team that helped a client acquire a Canary Wharf skyscraper, at the time valued at c£500m. 

I regularly advise corporates on the relocation of their office space and work with fledgling companies taking their first steps on to the real estate ladder through to global corporates acquiring their UK headquarters or expanding their UK presence. 

As part of my practice, I aim to provide my clients with everything they need, before they know they need it, and certainly before they ask for it.  I take the time to get to know my clients and, above all, I am approachable, adaptable and always available. 

When I’m not working, I pursue several outdoor pursuits. I have a passion for fly fishing and sit on the committee of two separate fly fishing clubs, and have done in one case for 20 years.  I also enjoy skiing, clay pigeon shooting and mountain biking with my two sons.  They never allow skill level to get in the way of an adrenaline-fuelled day out – as evidenced by scars, bruises, and trips to A&E!

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for a Middle Eastern bank in connection with their acquisition, financing and management of a 362 bed newly constructed student accommodation block in Durham for £40m
  • Acting for a UK property company on the disposal of a single let bonded warehouse in Avonmouth for £62m
  • Acting for an Irish family office on the disposal of a Central London office block, single let to an international law firm, for £75m
  • Acting for a European private investor in connection with the acquisition of a portfolio of investment properties across the City of Westminster and their subsequent refurbishment
  • Acting for an international engineering company in the relocation of its UK headquarters and managing its portfolio of other operational UK sites
  • Acting for a UK importer of fresh food products in taking the lease of a newly constructed 100k+ sqft high tech warehousing facility at the deep-water port, DP World
  • Acting for a UK FX platform in the relocation of its UK HQ to 15,000 sqft of office space in the City of London
  • Acting for UK based private equity firm in the relocation of its UK HQ to 4,000 sqft of office space in the City of Westminster
  • Acting for US based tech / software company in the relocation of its UK HQ to 10,000 sqft of office space in the Silicon Roundabout area of London

Sara Dickie

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I am a bilingual commercial real estate solicitor at Lawrence Stephens with 2 years’ PQE experience.

Fluent in both English and Swedish, I advise on a range of commercial real estate matters including refinancing, landlord and tenant matters, lease renewals and granting of new leases and bridging finance.  I have acted for a wide range of clients including HNWIs, overseas investors and commercial landlords specialising in both hospitality and corporate office space.

Always aiming to be approachable and friendly, I prioritise building long-lasting relationships with my clients while treating each transaction with the same level of attention.

In my spare time, I enjoy singing, playing the cornet and sharing good food with friends. Hailing from Huddinge, near Stockholm, I try to visit my homeland frequently and always make sure to visit the famous Swedish theme park, Liseberg, in Gothenberg, at least once a year.

Experience highlights 

  • Assisted a director acting for the borrower on the re-finance of one of their new build developments
  • Acted for a tenant taking a 15 year lease of a large site in North England subject to both landlord’s works and tenant’s subsequent works
  • Regularly assisting our corporate department on the property side on their client’s company acquisitions
  • Acting on an investment purchase of a freehold building with the assistance of bridging finance and which included splitting the title prior to completion by granting individual leases of the units