Lisa Raymond

Lisa advises investors, landlords tenants, and occupiers on all aspects of commercial property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, leases, portfolio management, and lease interpretation. Her experience spans lease negotiations, investment work, and property support for businesses in the retail, hospitality, and leisure sectors as well as offices and industrial property.

• Acted for a quick-service Chinese restaurant chain for over 30 years in building its portfolio from 1 to over 150 restaurants including acquisition by buying in new chains (see below) and individual site acquisition by new lease or lease assignment.
• Advised on an acquisition of the Chozen noodle chain by way of share purchase in relation to sites operated by franchise and sites in shopping centres and motorway service stations – some held by lease, some licence, and some with no documentation at all in place to evidence the commercial terms. Supported by a cross-discipline team including corporate and tax and employment colleagues.
• Acted for a nightclub in negotiation of lease arrangements including complexities around easements, fire escapes, and licensing.
• Acted for the owner of an iconic nightclub in the East End of London in the sale of the business including the property.
• Acted for a private members’ club with 4 premises in London over 10 years in restructuring lease arrangements including surrender and regrant and hive downs and reversionary leases.
• Acted for a number of smaller restaurant operators, both new to the market and established, mainly based in London including a Korean fusion restaurant and bar in Soho, a Mexican restaurant in Battersea, and an Italian restaurant opening its 4th outlet in the City of London.
• Acted for a small pub chain opening in London (roots in Ireland) in opening 3 pubs in the City and surrounds.
• Assisted a client on a complex sale of two iconic restaurants selling Middle Eastern foods in London. The complexity arose due to the informal nature of the holding of the restaurants and the need to collapse holding chains to achieve the sale mechanism.
• Advised a property partnership in the buildup of its property portfolio for a landlord investor including acquisition work by auction and private treaty.
• Acted for a portfolio of small and medium-sized property companies, private individuals, and owner occupiers in the acquisition, management, and sale of commercial property and landlord and tenant matters.
• Advised a range of corporate occupiers on office moves and acquisitions of extra space as well as warehousing and factory premises to support their operations. Advice included exits from current lease arrangements, structuring of new lease arrangements and new lease negotiations, as well as purchases of freehold property.

Lisa advises developers, investors, and private clients on residential property matters, including acquisitions, developments, and sales. Her experience includes acting on multi-unit residential projects and managing high-value property portfolios for overseas investors.

• Acted for an overseas investor with several flagship UK properties including lease renewals, management, and sales.
• Acted for two property developers on a residential property development for 15 flats.
• Acted for an overseas company selling a residential portfolio of 10 flats sold over a period of 3 years.
• Acted for the purchaser of a high-end penthouse flat in a new development in London by way of assignment from the original buyer offplan including complexities over the payment premium and NHBC documents as well as development documents.
• Advised buyers of residential property on the infringement of easements granted for access.
• Advised buyers of high-end freehold property funded by family members including consideration of documents necessary and protection of all parties.
• Advised sellers of freehold property following divorce and subsequent onward purchasing of new property.
• Advised property owners on complex residential property issues such as failure to register property and mixed-use properties involving a commercial element.

Lisa advises clients on leasing and contractual arrangements within the social housing sector. Her experience includes drafting and negotiating lease and licence agreements, advising on security of tenure, repair obligations, occupier control, and termination rights to ensure compliant and balanced arrangements for landlords and housing providers.

• Advised a personal executor on a lease of a house to charity Hope in Action under a will. The advice encompassed security of tenure, the right to end the lease, and responsibility for repairs utilities and Council Tax.
• Advised on a client’s first venture to let a building for social housing in London, having previously been let to a company that surrendered the lease to the client on poor terms. Dealt with issues arising from the client’s need to understand and approve which occupiers were in the property as well as rights of termination and repair.
• Advised on the drafting of a contract/licence agreement by a client with a company who contracted with the Home Office to provide housing to asylum seekers, amongst other occupiers. This company entered into further contracts with local authorities to provide the housing, requiring a balance of ensuring sufficient control for the client whilst divesting it of the management obligations in relation to minutiae that the company sought to impose.
• Advised on the setup of arrangements for a house to be let to social housing providers including negotiation of the documents involved and guidance to the client new to the area.

Lisa acts for major hospitality and leisure brands, restaurant groups, and operators on acquisitions, disposals, and portfolio management. She has extensive experience advising national and international clients such as Chopstix on site rollouts, lease structuring, and licensing matters.

• Acted for national brand tenant Chopstix in the rollout of over 90 restaurant acquisitions in Central London and major shopping centres and high-street locations nationwide. Also advised on the purchase of 5 The Wok restaurants, some of which were overseas. Experience includes lease structuring, rent and rent review advice, rights of pre-emption, and break options.
• Acted for a portfolio of other restaurants/cafes/leisure operators including advice on making first acquisition, licensing, service charges, lease acquisitions, lease renewals, and landlord and tenant matters.
• Acted on a lease renewal for a four-floor private members’ club on King’s Road at a rent of £330k per annum.
• Acted on the sale of two nightclubs in Central London – an iconic strip club for £4.5m and a famous club which dates back to the 1950s for £5.3m.
• Advised an adult entertainment client based in the US on the taking of a lease of an iconic hospitality building in Soho which had a long history of adult entertainment use. The lease negotiations were concluded in a short time despite being complicated by extensive dilapidations. Advised on termination rights for the client in various unique circumstances and licensing issues.
• Providing ongoing advice to the Chopstix Group (approx. 150 sites) in relation to acquisitions, disposals, lease interpretation, and management issues.

Lisa advises leading retail landlords, developers, and occupiers on acquisitions, developments, lettings, and management of retail property. Her experience includes acting for major brands such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and Sainsbury’s, as well as advising British Land and Criterion Capital on flagship retail portfolios, retail park developments, and high-value transactions involving complex lease, option, and funding arrangements.

• Acted on nationwide acquisitions by Mark One plc of over 40 shops nationwide, from high-street stores to shopping centres.
• Acted for British Land plc in the purchase, development, and letting of two retail parks including negotiation of purchase, funding and forward letting documents, and detailed implementation and drafting of restrictive and non-competition covenants, option agreements and conditional contracts.
• Acted on purchase, development, and forward leasing of sites for British Land plc to Tesco and J Sainsbury plc.
• Acted for Marks and Spencer plc in lease renewals, management work, and sales.
• Acted for Criterion Capital/Golfrate in landlord and tenant advice on flagship buildings including the Trocadero and sales and lettings.
• Acted for British Land plc in purchases, lettings, and sales of trophy buildings and developments.

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Property 2025

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Property: Corporate Occupiers 2017, 2022–2024

Recognised in Lexology Index for Hospitality 2022–2024