About Commercial Property
Our partner-led Commercial Department is a well-established, dynamic team with clear and ambitious plans for further growth.
We provide specialist legal advice three core areas:
(click on each sector to explore our services, see examples of our work, and meet the team members dedicated to that area)
Commercial Property
We handle all aspects of commercial property work, from high-value business transactions to smaller transactions across England and Wales.
Our expertise includes:
- Acquisitions and disposals of freehold and leasehold buy-to-let properties, HMOs, commercial units, shops, warehouses and other types of commercial properties
- Commercial leases, negotiation, forfeiture and lease extensions
- Business acquisitions and disposals
- Property finance and secured lending
- Private loans between parties
- Bridging loans and portfolio re-financing
- Equity releases
- Investment acquisitions and portfolio management
- Development site acquisitions, option agreements
- Overage clauses and restrictions
- Title investigations and due diligence reporting
Clients we act for: businesses, investors, developers, companies, housing associations and private individuals.
Meet our team:
Robert Paul Dudden – Managing Director
Robert qualified as a solicitor in 2008 and founded the Firm in 2019, and has been integral to its growth since. Robert has extensive experience in complex property matters, specialising in residential and commercial property transactions, and commercial landlord and tenant litigation. Robert is passionate about delivering transformational projects and providing outstanding legal services to clients.
John Richard Andrews – Director
John qualified as a solicitor in 2006 and played a key role in establishing the firm alongside Robert in 2019. John has extensive experience in commercial transactions, including joint ventures, acquisitions and disposals of businesses and shares, together with other commercial arrangements. John takes a commercial and pragmatic approach to ensure transactions are concluded efficiently while protecting clients’ interests.
Yasmin Dakher – Head of Commercial Department
Yasmin qualified in 2022, specialises in acquisitions and disposals of commercial property, variety of commercial leases, secured and private lending, equity transfers and other commercial transactions. Yasmin has extensive experience in working with housing associations, local authorities, and the education, healthcare and social housing sectors. Yasmin is committed to delivering high quality legal work and exceptional client service.
Dean Francis – Commercial Paralegal
Dean joined the Firm in 2023 and specialises in Landlord and Tenant disputes, including both residential and commercial proceedings, including tenancy deposit disputes and adverse possession matters. Dean also has experience in commercial transactions involving leases and commercial property. Dean is anticipating taking his Solicitor Qualifying Exams shortly with the aim of qualifying as a solicitor and specialising in both contentious and non-contentious commercial matters. Dean is know for providing outstanding client service.
Landlord & Tenant
We provide comprehensive advice to both landlord and tenants, covering contentious and non-contentious matters:
- Possession proceedings for residential and commercial properties in England and Wales
- Advice in relation to residential deposits and any associated claims
- Squatters/trespassers
- Encroachment/adverse possession
- Boundary disputes
- Right of way and adverse possession
Who does the Act apply to?
The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 applies to any leases which are granted to tenants for the purposes of renting out business premises, and where the tenant is in occupation of the premises. The Act does not apply to contracted out tenancies or tenancies with a term of under 6 months, nor does it apply to tenancies at Will, licences or agricultural tenancies.
What is the purpose of the Act?
The purpose of the Act is to protect business tenants and provide some level of long term security to business owners operating in rented premises. For further advice and information about the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and how it affects you, please get in touch with us.
Contracting out of the Act
One important note is that not all tenancies are covered by the Act due to the simple fact that it is possible to contract out of the Act. In order to do this, landlords must give tenants notice that the proposed lease will not be covered by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, and the tenant too must confirm that they agree and understand the right that they are giving up.
Further to this, if the landlord only gives notice to the tenant within 14 days of the lease being granted, then the tenant’s confirmation must come in the form of a statutory declaration. The lease must also include reference to the fact that relevant sections of the 1954 Act have been excluded from the contract.