Search and find what you need faster.

Matthew Hind

Posted on: January 31st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am a Partner 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.

Roberto Francis

Posted on: December 6th, 2024 by Natasha Cox

I am a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Disputes Department having joined Lawrence Stephens in December 2024.

I join the firm with extensive experience acting for bridging and alternative lenders with a primary focus on secured and unsecured recoveries, which includes but is not limited to possession claims, receivership, insolvency and professional negligence.

I like to take a down to earth approach and develop strong relationships with clients, thereby ensuring that their needs and expectations are at the forefront of my mind when progressing any given matter.

Outside of work, I am a fitness enthusiast and enjoy going to the gym and running.  Over recent years I have taken part in a number of runs. When I am not training I love all things food related and like eating out with friends and family.

Experience highlights

  • Successfully obtaining a vesting order in favour of a lender
  • Acting for a lender in the settlement of a professional negligence claim prior to the issue of proceedings

Lawrence Kelly

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I qualified in 1990 and, after partnership in a major West End firm of solicitors, formed Lawrence Stephens with Steven Bernstein and Stephen Messias in 1997.

I am a Solicitor Advocate and am qualified to appear in all UK courts. I have a wide range of expertise in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, acting for a diverse range of clients including high profile entrepreneurs, international clients in the fields of sport and entertainment and their agents, company directors, shareholders and corporate entities of all sizes.

I am recommended in the 2024 edition of the Spear’s 500 guide in their corporate, litigation and dispute resolution section.

Examples of my areas of practice include:

  • Breach of contract claims
  • Professional negligence
  • Individual and corporate insolvency (including IVA, CVA and business restructuring)
  • Breach of directors’ duties
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Partnership disputes
  • Civil fraud and asset tracing/recovery (including cryptoassets)
  • Intellectual property (including copyright, trademarks and passing off)
  • Regulatory and compliance (including Financial Conduct Authority/PIA)
  • Spread betting/CFDs and other gambling disputes
  • Sports tribunal matters (including Rule K arbitrations representing players and Registered Intermediaries)
  • Contentious probate
  • HMRC enquiries
  • Criminal investigations, including fraud and private prosecutions

I have acted as an accredited supervisor within the Legal Services Commission Specialist Fraud Panel and am a former member of the VHCC Appeals Panel.

I have two children and live in London and Kent.  My non-legal interests include skiing, hiking, sailing, cookery and art.