It's that simple.
banking & finance
If you are looking to buy a commercial property, or to get a development or construction project off the ground, then you may need to secure finance from a commercial lender or from a private or corporate investor. You may also be reliant on obtaining third party finance where you would like to restructure an existing real estate portfolio, or where you want to use residential or commercial property as collateral for a business loan.
Whatever the reason you need banking and finance advice, our commercial property lawyers are here to provide you with the guidance and support that you need to negotiate the provision of funds on the best possible terms, and to ensure that once this has been done the underlying property transaction proceeds quickly and smoothly.
Our service is fast and efficient, and is used by businesses, private individuals, house builders, property developers and construction companies throughout England and Wales.
We also offer a lender and investor focused service, where our clients include high street banks and main stream lenders, specialist financial institutions, private investors, equity investors and pension funds.
Property finance support
We can assist with any type of property finance, including:
- property acquisitions;
- property refinancing;
- loans secured against a property portfolio;
- development finance;
- construction project finance;
- business finance where property is offered as security; and
- security subordination arrangements between multiple funders.
Why we act for borrowers and lenders
By acting for borrowers and lenders in equal measure, we are able to approach property transactions in the unique position of being able to see things from both sides perspective. This means that we can anticipate the potential issues that may arise on any given deal, and act quickly to find sensible solutions that we know will meet the borrower’s requirements and yet also ensure that a lender has appropriate security.
Our expertise in this area also means that we can usually tell fairly early on if a deal is not workable, or does not make good commercial or business sense, and by flagging this up to you at the beginning of a matter we can help to save you valuable time and money.
Borrower services
When you come to us for advice and support as a borrower, our priority will be to ensure that the financial arrangement you are proposing to enter makes sense for you given your needs and wants, and based on your financial health and the strength of your bargaining position. Beyond that, our aim will be to ensure that you secure the release of funds on the best possible terms and that where any personal guarantees or other collateral is required you only offer up what is absolutely necessary and that you fully understand (and where feasible, take appropriate steps to mitigate) all and any risks involved.
Lender and investor services
For lenders and investors, our focus will be on assessing the commercial attractiveness of the particular acquisition or project proposed, and also the adequacy of the security offered. We will then move on to advise on appropriate finance terms, draft the necessary security documentation and ensure that your interests are fully protected through the registration of your rights at the Land Registry, and at Companies House where relevant.
Development and construction finance
Where finance is needed for a development or construction project, extra care will need to be taken to ensure that the arrangement works for everyone involved. Very often there will be multiple lenders and investors who are contributing to provided syndicated funding in order to get a project off the ground and thereafter to enable it to proceed to completion.
Why choose Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors?
Our commercial property team have a proven track record in supporting borrowers, lenders and investors to successfully complete finance-dependent real estate transactions, including those which experience unexpected bumps in the road.
The expertise of our lawyers means that we can handle an extensive range of transactions, irrespective of their scale or complexity, and because we are well-resourced we can usually deliver an impressively quick turnaround to enable us to meet even the tightest of timescales. We know that this is something that is particularly valued by those clients who are dependent on bridging finance to enable them to get a deal done.
As a firm, it is also reassuring to know that we are listed in the respected Legal 500 law directory as a top tier practice and that our property team is noted to be well-versed in commercial property matters. We are also a full service legal business which means that where you require advise on related matters, like company or commercial law or the resolution of property related disputes, we can give also provide this to you.
To make an appointment to see one of our Property Solicitors, Darren Millis or Richard Willis, please call on 01908 689314 or contact us.
And to keep up with developments in the law affecting property finance, and commercial real estate more generally, please sign up to receive our newsletter or visit our resource hub. You may also want to read some of our recent client testimonials.
What our clients say:
“You made what could have been a complicated and daunting process for us, very smooth and stress free.”
KDK Archaeology Ltd
For more information about how we can help, you can read testimonials from our commercial property clients
Accreditations
The Legal 500: “Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors LLP’s commercial property team is well versed in the areas of construction, property investments, planning and property disputes. Its clients include housing associations and occupiers (landlords and tenants). The practice is headed up by Darren Millis and Richard Willis.”
The Commercial Property Team
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Darren Millis Partner
Commercial Property 01908 689319Darren has over 25 years’ experience in dealing with commercial property work. Darren has concentrated in the last few years on the more complicated land acquisition and development work including: -
Richard Willis Consultant Solicitor
Commercial Property 01908 689315Richard specialises in Property Law, representing clients from small family businesses to large PLC’s’ He also acts for local Councils, Parish Councils, landowners, investors, developers, lenders, Housing Associations and Charities. -
David Barton Consultant
Commercial Property 01908 689395David Barton joined Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors in 2014 along with his planning and property development team from Williams & Company in Ampthill. David is widely known for his expertise in helping farmers, landowners and property developers grow houses on their land. David now assists the team as a Consultant. -
Georgina Page Solicitor
Commercial Property 01908 689361Georgina joined Geoffrey Leaver Solicitors in October 2014 from Williams & Company in Ampthill. Georgina completed the Legal Practice Course at Sheffield University after graduating from Sheffield Hallam University with a 2:1 in Law (LLB) and qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives in 2020. -
Kerr Clement Consultant Solicitor
Commercial Property 01908 689371Kerr has over 30 years of property law experience, and has spent the last 22 years specialising in Commercial Property. He has a broad range of experience in most aspects of land law and Landlord & Tenant matters from High Street leases to large commercial premises. -
Simon Parrott Consultant Solicitor
Commercial Property 01908 689374Simon deals with Commercial Property and Business transactions and has many years’ experience in dealing with complex or unusual transactions. In addition, he has dealt with property and commercial disputes for over 35 years and brings that dispute resolution experience to the table when advising clients on their property or commercial transactions.
