Get to know the Longmores Property team
Downton Abbey or a Disney castle – can you guess who in the Longmores Property team would pick these as their dream homes?
The property market has been riding the wave caused by the pandemic with commercial clients and residential property owners needing professional advice more than ever. The Longmores Property team have been in demand for advice about everything from large scale commercial property transactions to the surge in house moves during the stamp duty holiday – and all the disputes that occur along the way regarding leases, landlords and tenants. So, it is a great time to get to know our property team better. Find out who they are across Commercial Property, Residential Conveyancing and Property Litigation, what they do in a typical week and their favourite buildings and dream homes.
Chris Pease, Joint Senior Partner and Head of Property
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
I deal with the more complicated and higher value residential sales and purchases, perhaps where part of a property is being sold and land retained or the title is unregistered or more complicated.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Becoming Senior Partner at Longmores and getting more involved in the management of the firm and our plans for the future whilst still overseeing the conveyancing team.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
My mind goes immediately to the great classical concert halls of the world that I have been lucky enough to visit, Carnegie Hall in New York and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. There is a small cottage right on the edge of the beach at Runswick Bay in Yorkshire which since I was a child I have always imagined would be my dream home. I picture myself with huge glass doors facing out to sea with a loudspeaker on either side and classical music blaring from them.
Karen Fletcher, Senior Solicitor specialising in Residential Property
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
A variety of styles and prices of property, but my cases are usually freehold or leasehold (or leasehold with a share of freehold) sales and purchases. Typical weekly work is going over title documents, search results, questionnaires and mortgage offers to try to find the holes, and then find the answers.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
A highlight is always clients getting back in touch as they remembered me and want to work with me again.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
My dream home has changed a bit as I’ve grown up, from the stylist American loft apartment, to the barn conversion, to the all singing all dancing new build. Perhaps I’ll wait for my lottery win then I can design and build my own!
Rachael Spalton, Partner and Head of Commercial Property
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
I deal with transactions involving commercial property or land with an emphasis on land for development. That might be acquiring a site for a developer or acting for the land owner looking to realise development potential on their land. I regularly advise on option agreements, overage (clawback) arrangements, deals subject to planning permission being granted and promotion agreements.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I recently acted for a landowner that owns the majority of a development site which is earmarked for over 1,300 homes. There were three other land owners within the proposed scheme and two national developers involved in the transaction. It was interesting and challenging working with all the parties to reach agreement on a complex transaction which involved some conflicting interests.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
I love the Chrysler Building in New York. The art deco architecture, the connection to the car industry and the history of the 1930s “race to the sky” construction frenzy. And to do it without today’s technology is a bit mind-boggling.
Helen Bunting, Associate Solicitor specialising in Commercial Property
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
A lot of my time is spent advising owners and occupants on the buying and selling of their freehold and leasehold properties either by traditional sale and purchase agreements or the assignment and grant of leases which includes turnover rents and surrenders. I also draft and negotiate overage provisions, option agreements, and advise lenders on financing property.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
A personal high was being invited to 10 Downing Street as a result of pro-bono work I did for a charity called Special Olympics. I have also advised a large national shopping centre on the letting of a new flagship shopping centre – the centre was under construction during a recession and I drew on this experience during the Covid crisis when landlords needed advice about their tenants becoming insolvent.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
My favourite building is St Brides Church on Fleet Street, designed by Christopher Wren. Its wedding cake spire is always a welcome sight among the modern buildings of the City of London skyline. My dream house (or the Bunting Estate!) would include a walled garden and outdoor pool.
Agata Marosz, Solicitor specialising in Commercial Property
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
On a typical week, I deal with various commercial property transactions ranging from commercial leasing to property acquisitions and disposals. My clients include businesses, charities and private individuals.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
It has been a highlight and a privilege to have acted for some well-known UK and European companies in the retail sector.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
I could say my favourite building is Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, but if we are talking dream homes, then I’ll choose the building it inspired and move into Sleeping Beauty’s Castle in Disneyland.
John Wagstaffe, Partner and Head of Property Litigation
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
I typically spend my weeks advising management companies and landlords on lease matters, litigating co-ownership disputes, breach of covenant disputes, service charge disputes, boundary disputes, nuisance claims and possession claims.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
Sad to say, but it was coming out of court, having succeeded in obtaining an injunction at trial, to a substantial gathering of photographers, press and protesters who had hired a “battle bus” – an old red Routemaster – adorned with banners (unfortunately supporting the other side, but you can’t have everything), and then going on to win that case on appeal before the Chancellor of the High Court and have the case go into the law reports.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
Highclere Castle, AKA Downton Abbey. I do like a bit of space to run around in.
Polja Atkins, Associate of CILEX in the Property Litigation team
What cases are you involved in on a typical week?
Most often I am helping homeowners extend their leases or helping a group of tenants with collective enfranchisement – that is when leaseholders buy the freehold to their properties. Typically I am involved in court claims for possession or nuisance as well.
What has been the highlight of your career so far?
I am currently involved in a collective enfranchisement claim where the difference between the tenants’ offer and the landlord’s desired premium is in excess of £1,500,000. Negotiations continue so watch this space.
Do you have a favourite building or dream home?
It is almost impossible to choose one favourite building, but if I had to I would say the Alhambra Palace – it is full of beauty and history.
Speak to a property solicitor
Our Longmores Property team are experts in a wide range of commercial and residential property matters. They are seen as the go-to firm for many commercial property owners, rural land owners, investors, developers, management companies and home owners.
To discuss your requirements, please get in touch and we will direct you to one of our experts.
