• Our experienced commercial property solicitors have the expertise to meet your needs across all areas of commercial real estate.

    Our lawyers can advise you on a wide range of issues, including buying and selling commercial property, finance, leases, licences, rents, landlord and tenant issues, and property development. We can also advise on the property aspects of corporate transactions.

    Why choose our Commercial Property team?

    Our Commercial Property team is one of the largest specialist teams in the region. We pride ourselves on our skilled lawyers and their expertise in commercial property across a range of sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, construction, charities and education.

    First and foremost, we focus on giving you clear advice and delivering projects in a way which is aligned to achieve your commercial objectives.

    We tailor our advice to your needs and ensure we involve you in every step of the decision-making process. We believe that fostering an open relationship with our clients is key to achieving your aims.

    We work collaboratively with other professionals such as lenders, planning specialists, land agents and accountants, to deliver practical and workable solutions.

    Our reputation is built on the wide range of work we do with a variety of clients including landowners, investors, developers, occupiers and lenders.

    Our lawyers understand the issues that our clients face, and are members of a number of organisations which represent our clients’ interests. These include the Primary Care Premises Forum, the Country Land and Business Association, and the Maidstone Economic Business Partnership.

    Recognition of our expertise

    Our Commercial Property team is ranked in the top tier of leading legal directory The Legal 500.

    Head of the team Sarah Gaines was named as a ‘Leading Individual’ in the 2022 directory, while several other members of the team are rated as ‘Recommended Lawyers’.

    The team was also ranked in the Chambers and Partners 2022 directory. Sarah Gaines and Partner Ash Jilani were individually recognised for their expertise in real estate, while Partner Sarah Webster, head of our Agriculture and Rural team, was highly ranked for her expertise in agriculture and rural affairs.

    Several members of the team have particular expertise in working with charity and not-for-profit clients. As a result, in 2014 Brachers was appointed to the Panel of the Charities Aid Foundation Bank, highlighting us an approved supplier to support charities with banking and finance.

    We are also a panel consultant for the Almshouse Association, which provides support to more than 1,600 independent almshouse member charities across the UK.

    Find out more about our awards, accreditations and partnerships.

    How we can help

    Simply expand the sections below for more information on the services and support available to you.

    • Financial advice for commercial property

      Occupiers and tenants

      Property managers, investors and landlords

      Property developers

    • How to contact us

      Our Commercial Property solicitors are based in Maidstone and Canterbury and are ready to help with any legal advice you need.

      You can call us on 01622 690691, email us or use the contact form on this page.

  • Case Studies

     

  • Our team provides property support to the Medway Practices Alliance, a GP Federation of 43 practices in Kent.

    The alliance is currently engaged in program of acquisition of practices. It aims to increase the efficiency of the delivery of primary care to patients and particularly to address the shortage of GP partners who can take on the burden of new property.

    We are advising on and negotiating new leases and assignments of existing leases for GP premises. We are also working closely with our Corporate team where practice mergers are taking place.

  • We acted for Ashford Borough Council in its purchase of the New Quarter, an £18.5 million investment by the council in residential property in the heart of Ashford.

    The site comprises 109 one- and two-bedroom flats, and represents the largest handover of general needs accommodation managed on one site by the Council.

    The purchase was of two wings, each at different stages in the course of construction. We negotiated the form and dovetailing of the two development agreements, ensuring that the council received appropriate protections as the two wings were to be completed at different times.

    We advised on the impact on the council of the supply difficulties experienced by the developer due to coronavirus lockdowns. We also advised on the building contract, and the assignment and novation of a suite of 31 warranties.

  • Our client had entered into an Option Agreement for the sale of property to a developer several years ago. The Option Agreement will soon expire, and we have been dealing with the negotiation of a replacement agreement.

    However, since the old Option Agreement was completed, planning requirements in the local area have demanded significant infrastructure works on the main roads serving the development site.

    As a result, the developer anticipates a planning condition will be included in their planning permission when it is granted. It is expected this will prevent the occupation of any homes built on the land until the road improvement schemes have been completed by the local authority and the Highways Agency, at a date which has not yet been agreed. This uncertainty has had an impact on when the sale of the property will be able to complete.

    We have worked with the developer’s lawyers to agree revised terms which will give the developer flexibility to accommodate unknown and untimed roadworks, but with certainty for our client that the matter will not continue indefinitely without resolution.

Key Contacts - Commercial Property Law:

Meet the Team:

  • Excellent team that has provided a complete commercial and real estate service during the past year when we have sold a substantial site with planning permission, renegotiated leases with tenants and purchased an adjoining land holding all through Covid restrictions and the challenges that has bought to us all.

    The Legal 500 2022

  • They are an excellent team achieving excellent outcomes.

    Chambers & Partners 2022

  • We have used the services of Brachers for a considerable number of years. They have supported us with leases and licences with our tenants and also when we have acquired space in external landlords’ properties.

    Client quote

  • All the team are knowledgeable and as they hold our legal documents for safe keeping, the information is readily available as required.

    Client quote

  • In demand for its expertise in the medical sector and often represents NHS trusts and clinical commissioning groups.

    Chambers & Partners

  • It was a pleasure to work with you and while I was on the periphery of the work on this purchase I was very impressed with the service from you and the company.

    Client quote