Real Estate

Overview

The global real estate market is dynamic and complex, and our international real estate legal practice focuses on our clients, local markets and their industries. Our real estate lawyers have an outstanding track record of working on matters spanning all aspects of this multi-faceted sector.

Alongside the current demand for more traditional assets, there is an ongoing change in the use of some real estate, with growing online retail and logistics facilities and the need for more flexible office space. Combined with the introduction of technological advances and the importance of Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) initiatives, you need trusted advisers to help you navigate this fast-moving industry.

We provide integrated legal solutions to the most complex transactions, as well as on-going advice on day-to-day issues relating to property investments and developments. We are able to advise you through all stages of a project's lifecycle, offering a wide range of services across our real estate practice. Our full service offering across commercial, residential and public sector real estate is here to support you as you navigate the potential opportunities and risks of decision-making in this fast-paced sector.

Meet our international team

Our global network is home to around 460 real estate lawyers across our offices in Canada, London, Birmingham, Frankfurt and Paris, advising some of the biggest organisations in the international real estate market. We also have a well-established best friend network of law firms that allows us to support you across all jurisdictions, delivering a global service with local expertise.

Canada

Home to an integrated network of real estate lawyers with extensive market knowledge, we deliver practical legal advice, customized business solutions, and rapid results to give our clients an edge in Canada's commercial real estate market.

Featured Insights

Articles
Expropriation Law: 2021 a year in review

Our national Expropriation Law Group summarizes several complex and compelling expropriation cases from across Canada in 2021. The team highlights a number of important issues and key takeaways for those parties involved in the expropriation process. The court decisions are not listed in rank order.

By combining a deep understanding of domestic and foreign real estate markets with an eye to related global trends, our clients benefit from our forward-thinking solutions to help build their businesses.

At every juncture, members of our Canadian Real Estate Group work with clients to develop creative solutions, implement efficient fee strategies, and maximize investments. As a result, our real estate lawyers are able to optimize a client's legal spend and help further their commercial objectives in a timely and efficient manner.

Understanding the market

The Canadian commercial real estate market is fast-paced and constantly evolving. This is in no small part due to rapid digital transformation, emerging trends in the logistics, retail and office sectors and the widespread impact of an ongoing global pandemic.

The real estate industry's leading players, who are driving growth in Canada's largest urban areas, turn to our team. With offices in major economic centres in Canada and across our global platform, our team is well-positioned to offer guidance in a range of settings, on a variety of real estate matters.

How we can help

From conception to completion, we offer a full suite of real estate services that cover the life cycle of any real estate project keeping our clients' business objectives, challenges, and opportunities at the forefront.

Whether refinancing a loan, acquiring an asset, developing a large scale commercial project, negotiating a lease or completing a sale, industry leaders turn to us for our breadth of knowledge and decades of experience as well as timely and trusted advice paired with a distinctive client experience.

Real Estate Services in Canada

Client Work

Recognition in Canada

Our real estate team is continuously recognized by a host of legal directories. These include Chambers Canada, the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory and Best Lawyers in Canada. We were recognized as a 'Leading Real Estate Firm' by The Legal 500 Canada.

Meet the Canadian team

Your strategic business objectives are important, no matter how simple or complex the transaction. Let's take the next step together.

Joel Camley
Partner, Real Estate Practice Group Leader (Canada)

France

When navigating the complexities of the real estate market, you need advice from real estate lawyers who understand both local markets and international matters. Our team in Paris offers a combination on in-depth market knowledge and agile expertise to advise clients across the real estate market.

We regularly work with private and institutional investors, developers, investment funds, asset managers and service providers on their investments and related services in France and overseas. If you operate globally, you will benefit from our excellent reputation for complex cross-border transactions. Whatever the project, we deliver quality that enables you to derive maximum value from your deals and resolve your transactions quickly and efficiently.

Real Estate Services in France

Recognition in France

A host of legal awards and directories have recognised or team for its work in real estate. In Paris, The Legal 500 has recognised Sylvain Canard-Volland as a 'Rising Star'.

Meet the team in France

Sylvain Canard-Volland
Partner

UK

With some of the best technical real estate lawyers in the UK, we focus on the legal complexities and risk mitigation on any project, and work seamlessly as a single cross-sector team.

Our team can work with you across all stages of an asset's life cycle and can support you throughout a project, from inception and planning, funding, development and investments, structuring and regulatory advice, to leasing, asset management and ultimate disposal.

Our real estate solicitors are dedicated to providing exceptional client service, and thrive on teamwork, working hard to understand your priorities and help you to achieve your objectives. We provide clear, concise and pragmatic advice alongside fresh ideas and innovative solutions to legal and commercial challenges.

Real Estate Services in the UK

Asset classes

Client work

Recognition in the UK

They are the best team we work with…they are professional and customer-oriented." Chambers & Partners

We are consistently ranked as a top tier real estate law firm by Chambers UK 2022 and The Legal 500 2022. Our team has also been recognised by a host of industry awards including The Times Best Law Firms, The British Legal Awards and The Lawyer Awards. In 2021, for example, the team achieved 'Commended' status at The Lawyer Awards for its work with Thakeham Homes to bring a new town in South Cambridgeshire to life – the UK's first zero-carbon community. The team was named 'Property Law Firm of the Year' at the Insider West Midlands Property Awards 2022.

Meet the UK team

Clive Chalkley
Partner, Real Estate Sector Head

Chris Hunt
Partner, Head of Real Estate

Sally Pinkerton
Partner, Head of International Real Estate

Anuj Johar
Senior Associate (Dubai Office)