Sintons acts for top UK landowner
A Newcastle law firm has completed a series of deals around the country for The Church Commissioners, one of the UK’s biggest landowners.
Sintons has acted for The Church Commissioners – which manages historic assets currently valued at more than £5.2bn – for several years, recently overseeing a number of new transactions for the charitable body.
The Church Commissioners, which dates from 1845, manages a diverse portfolio of properties around the UK, to produce money to support the work of the Church of England.
The charitable body, which recently won an award at the IPD/IPF UK Property Investment Awards for the best 10-year absolute return on its Total Real Estate Fund, also funds all clergy pensions earned before 1998, as one of its numerous other roles to help support the Church and its work.
Sintons, which employs 200 staff including 28 partners and more than 100 lawyers, has completed three leases for office accommodation on a building in Kingsway, London, which is owned by the group.
The deals were overseen by the firm’s commercial property team, led by partner Paul Liddle, which also completed two leases for retail units in Reedswood, Walsall, for another building in the extensive national portfolio owned by the body. Sintons also recently advised on estate management for a multi-million pound property in Covent Garden in London.
Paul Liddle, who has acted for The Church Commissioners since 2003, steered the team which included real estate lawyers Helen Warren and Emma Gilboy.
He said: “The Church Commissioners is one of the most prestigious landowners in the country, and has a vital role in supporting the work of the Church of England.
“We are privileged to act for them, and are delighted to have been able to complete these latest leases.”
“From our base in Newcastle, our real estate team has the capability and expertise to act nationally on major transactions, and is able to fulfil the requirements of a landowner with the magnitude of the Church Commissioners.”
Rosemarie Jones, deputy surveyor at The Church Commissioners, said: “Sintons’ Real Estate team provides the first-class professional service we need combining prompt and commercially-focused advice at a price that is value for money.
“They work effectively as a team with us and our agents Jones Lang LaSalle, Gale Priggen and Monmouth Dean to ensure that deals are completed efficiently and promptly.”
The deal news comes a week after the firm announced success within its healthcare division. The firm’s specialist dental team revealed it has overseen more than £60m of dental practice sales and acquisitions across the UK in the past three years by its specialist dental team.
