Lisa is a real estate Partner with over 30 years’ experience in all areas of the sector including acquisitions, disposals, auction sales and purchases, leases, licences, assignments and development. Lisa brings her experience to bear for both occupier-tenants and landlords alike, and has a particular tenant focus on the leisure industry where she acts for quick-service restaurants, pubs, bars, private members’ clubs, nightclubs, and fun- and fine-dining chains. She also represents a number of multi-property landlords holding a portfolio of commercial property from industrial to residential buildings, advising on sales and purchases, lettings, lease interpretation, sales and purchases, and management issues.
She has also built up a practice area in advising landlords letting properties to social housing providers with experience in lettings to the Home Office, providers of housing for asylum seekers, social housing, and lettings to charities for public-sector purposes. Alongside her main area of commercial property specialism, Lisa also advises on high-value (outside the assured tenancy framework) residential lettings and residential sales and purchases for high-net-worth individuals.
Chopstix rely heavily on our lawyers to maintain this momentum, specifically Lisa Raymond at Keystone Law, whom we have been working with for the past 20 years; prior to Chopstix and much more so in the last 10 years. Lisa offers invaluable support with her years of experience with large institutions and corporate landlords. She understands our requirements and continues to support and challenge our needs through acquisitions with all our landlords. Her work is always thorough and commercial but she is also able to work to the timescales required and frequently burns the midnight oil when necessary to get us over the line with certain deals. I would highly recommend Lisa Raymond as our lawyer of choice to any restaurant group or retailer in the sector.
Menashe Sadik, Founding Partner & Director
ChopstixI cannot find appropriate words to describe our feelings and appreciation to you. You have got us out of many problems and brought stability and joy to our lives due to your professionalism, enthusiasm and dedication to your job, you are worth your weight in gold.
Michael Hanoun
Experience
Commercial Property
- Acted for property partnership in build up of property portfolio including acquisition work by Auction and private treaty.
- Acted for portfolio of small and medium sized property companies, private individuals and owner occupiers in acquisition, management and sale of commercial property and landlord and tenant matters.
- Acted for Criterion Capital/Golfrate in management, lease renewals and investment work.
- 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.
- Advised on 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 ad 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
- Assisted client on 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
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
- Acted for national brand tenant (Chopstix) in roll out 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 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 4 floor Private Members Club on Kings 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 dilapidation. 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
Residential Property
- Acted for 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.
Retail
- 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 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.
Social Housing
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised by The Legal 500 2025 for Commercial Property
Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial Property: Corporate Occupiers (2022-2024)
“Lisa Raymond has been our dedicated solicitor for over 25 years and during all of her time at Keystone Law. What makes her stand out is her outstanding attention to detail and willingness to stand her ground and always get us the best possible terms on the smallest or largest transactions.” The Legal 500 2024
Recognised by Who’s Who Legal (2022-2024) for Hospitality
Recognised by The Legal 500 2017
Career
Lisa qualified as a solicitor in 1993. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2009, she worked at the following firms:
- Davies Arnold Cooper
- SJ Berwin
- Allen & Overy