Retail

The revolution of the retail sector continues at pace driven by online shopping but with a much greater focus on the customer and brand experience. Where and how we shop, and how the physical shape of our towns and cities keeps up continues to provide challenges and opportunities. We are on hand to accompany our clients through this ever-changing landscape.

Working with a broad array of clients within the retail and leisure sectors, we advise on investment, development, long-term strategic planning and on day-to-day asset management. We pride ourselves on our pragmatic and intelligent legal solutions to enable our clients to be agile and respond to shifting trends in consumer behaviour.

Through active asset management we are committed to ensuring that our clients are able to maximise the value and profitability of their retail portfolios. Indeed, rather than viewing retail asset management as a sub-sector within our real estate practice, we view it as its own core service, requiring a particular set of skills and specialist knowledge.

We understand the importance of obtaining an intricate understanding of the assets under our management and we strive to develop long-term relationships with our clients to facilitate this. We act on the investment acquisition and management of retail assets for a number of institutional clients, including pension funds, private investors, local authorities and retailers.

In addition to traditional city centres, malls and retail parks, we have also helped our clients embrace the opportunities offered by alternative retail spaces. The traditional view of the high street is changing and the retail experience is shifting increasingly towards creating destinations that consumers want to experience, with a heavier focus on events, pop-ups and mixed use communities.

Our multi-disciplinary team can assist with all facets of retail property, including the acquisition and disposal of retail assets, asset and portfolio management, planning, construction and development, strategic land, property tax and financing. Our specialist property litigation lawyers form an integral part of our retail offering and our experts advise clients throughout the sector on risk management and dispute resolution issues, notably those arising out of the recent spate of well-publicised retail collapses, including advice on company voluntary arrangements (CVAs).

In brief

• Extensive experience of working on transactions involving all aspects of retail property, including listed historic city centre retail spaces, shopping malls, retail parks, high street and luxury retail
• A trusted advisor, committed to implementing of our clients' asset management strategies Special expertise in acting for clients investing in and managing hotel and leisure portfolios
• Attuned to the changing face of retail and on hand to help clients navigate the challenges posed
• Embracing new opportunities offered by pop-ups, event spaces and mixed-use developments