Stephen is a commercial property solicitor with a particular interest in Town & Country Planning matters as well as environment and climate change issues. He also undertakes residential property transactions.
Stephen’s commercial property expertise spans the full spectrum of property legal work and he has advised on all aspects of the acquisition and disposal of both freehold and leasehold property on behalf of a number of major retail companies, nursing home operators, and a Russell Group university. He has also acted on behalf of several telecommunications operators, having been responsible for the acquisition of over 4,000 radio base stations. Stephen has conducted a number of major planning inquiries, acting on behalf of both retail and telecommunications clients.
Stephen has acted in the sale and purchase of a wide range of residential property, both freehold and leasehold, urban and rural.
Expertise
Stephen supports clients in commercial property transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, and joint ventures. His expertise covers options, clawback and overage agreements, landlord and tenant relations, secured lending, and handling collateral and environmental warranties to protect client investments.
Experience
Acted on the development of an £115m research facility for a major UK university.
Acted in the acquisition and disposal of trading premises for a UK clothing chain.
Acted on the acquisition of premises for a major UK business school.
Successfully conducted a series of planning appeals for a major supermarket chain.
Successfully conducted a series of planning appeals for a major telecommunications operator.
Acted in the acquisition of over 4,000 telecommunications base station sites.
Acted for the owner of a portfolio of 100+ care homes operated by a variety of care home companies.
Acted on the acquisition of premises in London and Manchester for a coffee shop chain.
Acted for various healthcare providers in the acquisition of medical premises.
Stephen advises on a broad range of residential property matters, including freehold and leasehold transactions, acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant issues, and residential conveyancing. He also has experience with property investment, estate management, and secured lending.
Experience
Acted on the £4.25M purchase of a listed terraced house in Islington. The property comprised the main house and a separate basement flat. In conjunction with one of the firm’s tax lawyers, obtained a substantial reduction in Stamp Duty Land Tax by claiming multiple dwelling relief.
Acted on the £3.4M purchase of a modern house in Berkshire.
Acted on the £3.8M disposal of a penthouse flat in Southwark.
Acted on the £1.4M purchase of a complex of redundant farm buildings for conversion into a residential property.
Acted on the £900k sale of a flat in Clerkenwell.
Acted on the £1m purchase of a terraced house in Islington.
Acted on the sale of a £3.45M listed manor house in Wiltshire.
Acted on the £1.8M purchase of a detached house in a gated development in Surrey.
Acted on the £2M sale of a modern riverside house in Essex.
Acted on the £1.73M purchase of a terraced house in Clapham.
Acted for landlord in the grant of three new leases of flats in a purpose-built block of flats in an Essex seaside town.
Acted on the £700k purchase of a house in Epping.
Acted on the £1.5M sale of a house in Islington converted from a former dairy.
Acted on the sale of a £6.96M terraced house in South Kensington.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Stephen qualified as a solicitor in 1978. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2018, he worked at the following firms:
