Posted on: March 3rd, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as an Associate in the Real Estate Finance Department in 2025, having previously worked at a busy West End firm. I have gained extensive experience in a broad range of real estate transactions including property acquisitions and disposals, secured lending, refinancing and bridging loans and including new build transactions.
My key priority is to adapt to the individual needs of my clients, by working closely with them and building a strong working relationship.
Experience
- Last minute instructions taken on a time-sensitive acquisition of a property requiring Islamic financing.
- Acted for a lender on a £4 million refinance which included the restructuring of the limited company.
- Urgent instructions acted upon for a commercial premise with the grant of lease for residential elements.
- Represented a landlord on a mixed use building for a simultaneous grant of lease and re-mortgage of flats.
- Acting for a lender on a £5 million refinance on a portfolio of residential properties.
Posted on: February 20th, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I am paralegal in the Real Estate Finance Department having joined Lawrence Stephens from Memery Crystal in 2025.
I have experience acting on a variety of commercial and residential property transactions for prominent UK lenders.
Prior to my work in real estate transactions, I worked for a leading UK firm in its financial services disputes department – representing several Big Four banks in complex litigation.
Outside of my work, I play a variety of sports and enjoy cooking.
Posted on: February 10th, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I am a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Finance department.
I have extensive experience dealing with a broad spectrum of real estate matters, consisting of but not limited to secured lending of residential and commercial real estate having acted for several institutional, second tier and specialist lenders. I have also acted for investors, developers, High-Net-Worth individuals and SMEs assisting them in diversifying their property portfolios across the UK.
Furthermore, I have a strong background in landlord and tenant matters, particularly in the grant, renewal and assignment of leases, as well as dealing with underleases, surrenders and variations. I have acted on transactions involving the letting of highly sought after commercial property in prime London locations and nationwide.
My approach is pragmatic and client-focused. Having acted for a diverse client base, I value the significance of each transaction and how the same aligns with my clients’ needs and objectives. Synonymously, I am committed to delivering a responsive, efficient, and commercially sound service and have garnered relationships with fellow industry professionals.
Outside of work, I am proud father. I have a passion for sports and enjoy football, but bear the heavy burden of being a Manchester United supporter. I have a keen interest for cars and would consider myself an enthusiast. I enjoy travelling and have visited numerous countries experiencing the wonderful cultures, cuisines and people.
Experience highlights
- Acted on behalf of a lender client in relation to the refinancing of a portfolio of properties consisting of mixed use and residential properties for a facility of £6.8m. The security comprised 6 commercial units to the ground floor and 10 residential flats to the upper floors. The second building consisted of 20 residential flats.
- Acted on behalf of a lender client on a transaction that involved the splitting and acquisition of a site consisting of a block of 23 flats and 6 townhouses. The facility was for a net amount of £3.7m.
- Acted on a refinance matter for a lender client which consisted of a portfolio of 13 residential flats all on long leases and some with car parking leases. The facility was for the sum of £4.7m.
- I acted on the acquisition, financing and subsequent sale of a small development. The client acquired two plots, one with an existing property situated on it and the other consisting of land. The plot containing the existing property was acquired first and subsequently refinanced. The value of the facility was for the sum of £2.7m and the funds were then utilized to acquire the plot comprising the land. The plots were both redeveloped to form 2 high-end residential properties. The titles were subsequently amalgamated and then split again respective to the extent of the properties. The newly built properties were then sold for £5m respectively.
- Acted on behalf of a landlord in relation to the asset management of their freehold property in Dover street, Mayfair. We assisted the client with the lettings of their office units to the upper floors and the letting of the Sub-station to the rear. I also assisted with the means of escape issue with the adjoining owner of the property.
Posted on: February 10th, 2025 by Hugh Dineen-Lees
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a solicitor in the Commercial Real Estate department in February 2025. I previously worked with Memery Crystal as a solicitor and a paralegal in their Commercial Real Estate team. I completed my training at a well-regarded regional firm where I completed seats in private client, corporate and commercial, and real estate.
Throughout my time working in the real estate sector, I have gained high quality experience in all aspects of real estate with a focus on landlord and tenant matters and commercial property acquisitions and disposals.
I enjoy getting to know my clients’ business on an in-depth level to ensure that I always come out with the best result for them.
Outside of my work, I enjoy travelling as much as I can as well as being a keen football fan.
Experience highlights
- Advising multiple large garden centre operators on all aspects of their commercial property portfolio management including the roll out of electric vehicle charging points.
- Acted for an international fast food business on their new franchise locations.
- Advised on the real estate aspects of the sale of a leading economic think tank based in London.
- Acted on the real estate elements of an £18 million refinancing of a student accommodation in London.
- Advised a well known beauty retailer on the re gear and renewals of their property leases following an administration process.
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 2025.
I act for a wide variety of clients ranging from retail landlords and tenants, to institutional lenders and property developers. I have a particular experience in industrial properties acting for both buyers and sellers. I pride myself on my ability to understand a client’s motivations and priorities within a transaction.
Outside work, I am a a sports fan and play football, tennis and cricket. I also enjoy cooking and travelling (sometimes at the same time).
Experience
- Assisted on the purchase of a property in Liverpool for £68million.
- Led the refinancing of 9 properties in Central London with a loan amount of £15million.
- Part of a small team that acted on the purchase of a commercial site in Oxford for £13million.
- Acted on the sale of a Science Retail Park for £45million.
- Led on the purchase of numerous industrial properties ranging from £500,000 – £8million
- Acted on behalf of a well-known money exchange company on numerous leases throughout central London with rents ranging from £75,000 per annum to £1.2million per annum.
Posted on: January 31st, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I am a Director in the Commercial Real Estate team, specialising in general commercial real estate with a mixture of investment, development, finance, occupier, and management work.
I also have considerable experience dealing with distressed real estate on behalf of banks and insolvency practitioners.
Experience
- Acting on the acquisition of a portfolio of 15 mixed tenure petrol filling stations for a roadside retail operator.
- Acting on the acquisition and development of numerous new to industry petrol filling station sites 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 personnel, 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.
- Acting on the pre-let and forward sale of a Travelodge hotel.
- Acting on the pre-let, development and subsequent investment sales of numerous retail, industrial and office sites.
- Acting for a manufacturer on its land acquisition and subsequent development and financing of a bespoke distribution warehouse facility.
- Acting for liquidators on the disposal of a portfolio of over 140 freehold and leasehold pubs.
- Acting for administrators on the disposal of 5 mixed tenure business parks and associated management company structure.
- Acting for a hedge fund relocating to newly built office accommodation in the city and exiting them from their existing lease arrangements.
- Acting on numerous institutional office lettings for a leading developer and investor.
Posted on: December 12th, 2024 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a Real Estate Finance Solicitor in 2024, following my qualification at a West End firm in 2022. I advise clients on a wide range of real estate transactions, including property acquisitions and disposals, refinancing and restructuring, secured lending, and commercial and residential mortgages. My approach centres on building strong relationships by working closely with clients to understand their unique needs and long-term objectives.
Outside of work, I enjoy playing tennis, taking Reformer Pilates classes, and exploring new restaurants.
Experience highlights
- Acting for a lender in providing a £9 million facility to a BVI Company that was acquiring nine off plan residential units in Central London.
- Acting for a borrower in the acquisition of a mixed-use property using bridging finance for a sum of £1.2 million.
- Acting for a landlord in granting a new lease for a retail unit outside of the 1954 Act and completing within a week.
- Acting on behalf of a borrower and lender in a limited company’s restructure.
- Acting on behalf of a landlord in granting a lease to a care home.
Posted on: December 6th, 2024 by Natasha Cox
I am a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Finance Department at Lawrence Stephens.
I have a wealth of experience in both commercial property and real estate finance and have acted for landlords and tenants, investors, developers and lenders on a variety of property related transactions.
My understanding of the London property market and my commitment to delivering tailored solutions for my clients have earned me a strong reputation in the legal sector.
I am recognised for my experience with complex and time sensitive transactions and my clients appreciate my practical and commercial based approach and trust in my ability to get the transaction completed swiftly and efficiently.
Experience highlights
- Acting for a borrower on a complex £7 million purchase of a commercial site with bridging finance.
- Acting for a borrower on the re-finance of a large portfolio of residential and mixed use properties with a value of £5 million.
- Acting for a borrower in connection with the purchase of a residential development site for £3 million with development finance
- Acting for a borrower in connection with the purchase of a residential development site with finance and the subsequent sale of each unit
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
