Commercial Property Leases

Experienced commercial property lease solicitors

Property leases are often lengthy, complex documents which can govern the contract between the landlord and tenant for the whole of the lease term. It is therefore important they are drafted by a commercial lease specialist. Our commercial property lease agreement solicitors are experienced in drafting leases. We will ensure, whether you are a landlord or tenant, the lease is suitable for your needs providing clear, swift advice. As experienced commercial property lease solicitors, we understand that paperwork can often be overwhelming and complex. Acting on your behalf, our professional team will help you navigate the process ensuring you make informed decisions at every stage.

Our commercial lease specialists act for you in acquiring a new leasehold property or advise you on the contents of your current lease. If you are in dispute with your landlord, we will work with our dispute resolution team to assist you as quickly and cost-effectively as possible.

We regularly deal with business leases in respect of a wide range of properties including shops, offices, restaurants, pubs, factories, warehouses, industrial units, and retail outlets, acting for both commercial landlords and tenants. Our commercial solicitors also have expertise in dealing with leases for land, franchises, telecommunications and minerals.

Our team of professional commercial lease solicitors can assist with property management work such as rent reviews, licences to assign, sublet or alter, variation of leases, and dilapidations.

Landlord and Tenant Solicitors 

We work closely with other teams here at Hart Brown, providing you with a fully comprehensive service. Commercial litigation experts in our dispute resolution department deal with a broad range of business disputes including those involving commercial property. Our experienced commercial landlord and tenant solicitors also provide a wide range of other commercial property services, please view below:

To speak to a commercial property lease solicitor about your business lease or any other commercial property issue, call us on 01483 887766, email us, or alternatively get in touch via live chat.

Who to contact

Roderick Campbell- Head of Commercial Property

Roderick Campbell

Partner, Head of Commercial Property

Roderick Campbell- Head of Commercial Property

Partner, Head of Commercial Property

Roderick Campbell

Roderick has specialised in property law for 30 years. He trained with Hart Brown, qualifying in 1985 and became a Partner in 1990.

He specialises in all aspects of non-contentious commercial property work including freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals; residential development work; options; conditional contracts, development agreements and land promotion agreements. He acts for a broad range of clients including property companies, developers, owner/occupiers and SMEs.

Hart Brown is recognised in the Legal 500 2024 edition for real estate work in the South East and the entry states “Practice head Roderick Campbell is experienced in handling all aspects of non-contentious commercial property work for a broad range of clients, recently specialising in acting for large residents’ associations that manage freehold estates."

In 2008 he published a book on “Methods of Securing Development Land Overage”. He also holds an LLM Masters Degree in Advanced Commercial Property Law with distinction.

He is a member of the Law Society Property Group and LawNet Commercial Property Group.

His most memorable case was acting for a landowner on the grant of an Option Agreement concerning an M25 service area which lasted for some 12 years between exchange and completion!

    Tamzin Mandelli

    Partner, Commercial Property

    Partner, Commercial Property

    Tamzin Mandelli

    Prior to joining Hart Brown, Tamzin had worked for a local authority and for both regional and national firms.

    Tamzin is a Partner with over 23 years' experience and she is based at our Woking office. Tamzin specialises in all aspects of commercial property including the sale and purchase of shops, offices and restaurants, landlord and tenant matters (from granting the new lease, through to the various licences for works, transfers and so on) and dealing with the eventual termination of a lease. She is also experienced at dealing with development work including option agreements and acquisitions.

    Hart Brown is recognised in the Legal 500 2024 edition for real estate work in the South East and the entry states “With substantial experience in sales and purchases of properties, landlord and tenant matters and development agreements, Tamzin Mandelli 'provides a high level of service’ and ‘is able to deliver what is needed’.”

    What do Tamzin's clients say about her?

    "We have just worked on a commercial transaction together, which was by far the most challenging case I have dealt with (for a variety of reasons). Tamzin was extremely efficient and salvaged the transaction multiple times... I highly recommend her!"

    “Thank you very much for all of your help and support. It has been an absolute pleasure working with you and hope to do so again in the future!”

    "...thank you for your support with X, it's been good fun. Wish you were handling a commercial purchase for me! … lesson learnt, will place with you next time!"

    “The service I received was efficient, professional and the members I dealt with both past and present have been helpful…and very personable.”

      John Guthrie Associate, Commercial Property

      John Guthrie

      Senior Associate, Commercial Property

      John Guthrie Associate, Commercial Property

      Senior Associate, Commercial Property

      John Guthrie

      John started his career at Hart Brown in 2016. He is a Commercial Property Senior Associate with 21 years post qualification experience in property.

      He is a member of the Law Society and has written articles for the local press in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.

      John's specialisms:

      The full cycle of business leases, buying and selling businesses as a going concern, specific expertise in the leasing and disposal of licensed premises, development work and residential leasehold extensions.

      His most memorable case:

      Handling the property aspects of a £20 million company acquisition and restructuring the leaseback arrangements to achieve a substantial SDLT saving.

        Celia Watts- Consultant, Commercial Property

        Celia Watts

        Consultant, Commercial Property

        Celia Watts- Consultant, Commercial Property

        Consultant, Commercial Property

        Celia Watts

        Celia has a wealth of experience in commercial property and in particular in acquisition of developments sites, acting for both landlord and tenants on commercial leases of industrial units and offices and acting for landowners on the granting of options. Two of her most memorable cases have been the negotiating of sale of land at Battersea Power Station and acting on the acquisition and disposal of a major development site which included negotiation with the office of the Mayor of London.

        Celia joined Hart Brown in 2007 and she became a consultant in 2015.

        Celia’s clients provide excellent feedback: “From the start of this project to the end you have dealt with everything that has been thrown at you and given me impeccable advice on all matters from buying the sites to obtaining the planning permission through to completing a section 106 on such a massive development and working tirelessly ….. thank you once again for your sound advice”

          Emma R

          Emma-Rose Reynolds

          Solicitor, Commercial Property

          Emma R

          Solicitor, Commercial Property

          Emma-Rose Reynolds

          Emma-Rose qualified as a solicitor in September 2023, although she has been with Hart Brown since graduating with her first-class honours Bachelor of Law Degree in 2019. Emma-Rose completed her Master of Law in Professional Legal Practice and obtained a distinction whilst working full-time as a paralegal at Hart Brown.

          Emma-Rose has trained in the Commercial and Corporate, Leasehold Enfranchisement, Residential Property and Commercial Property departments and is now working full-time as a solicitor in her chosen field, Commercial Property.

          Emma–Rose advises clients in relation to the acquisition and disposal of commercial property, granting and taking new leases, lease renewals, assignments of existing leases, grants of easements and deeds of covenant.

          Emma-Rose prides herself in providing a straightforward, efficient and pragmatic approach to her matters so that she can deliver the best possible level of service to her clients.

          Some client testimonials:

          “I would like to thank you Lewis and Emma for your help, support, and advice in this matter, it did seem a bit daunting at first but you made it easy and I really appreciate what you have done for me so thank you again”

          “Emma was a breath of fresh air always nice to speak to very helpful in me understanding the process.”

          “Thank you so much for putting this together and sending it on to me. I am really very thankful. I have been so impressed with the communication from your firm throughout this whole process and have found you to be so easy and friendly to work with. I would have no hesitations in using Hart Brown in the future and would highly recommend you to others.”

          “I just wanted to say thanks so much for doing this so quickly and efficiently… this is a great help.”

          “It was an absolute joy and a pleasure working with you, where it's a small world and so if there are other times of my requiring excellent Solicitors, then I shall of course contact you.”

          “Our interaction with you throughout was professional and efficient and we particularly appreciated your responsiveness/keeping us informed as matters progressed.”

          “A huge thank you to Debbie and Emma for their absolutely incredible service during our house purchase. They were fantastic from start to finish, very thorough, regularly updated us and were always available by phone and email and answered all of our questions. We felt very well looked after and would highly recommend them!”

            "Hart Brown advises clients throughout the South East on matters including transactions involving leaseholds and freeholds, as well as development work. Its clients include SMEs and investment LLPs, and it has also developed a specialism in acting for residents' associations. The practice is led by Roderick Campbell; Tamzin Mandelli and John Guthrie are also recommended."

            Legal 500 (2021 edition), Commercial Property: Kent, Surrey, Sussex,

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            "This is the 12th property transaction that Roderick has undertaken for us since 1992 - We must be satisfied!"

            Commercial Property Client 1,

            "The service I received was efficient, professional and the members I dealt with both past and present have been helpful, compassionate and very personable."

            Commercial Property Client 2,

            "Thank you so much for your time this afternoon, so invaluable. People like you are what make life so much easier, please keep up the good work!!"

            Commercial Property Client 3,

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