Sam Benfield

Sam advises global insurers, corporates, and government departments on high-value lease transactions, estate management, surplus property disposals, lease acquisitions, disposals, and renewals, and strategic acquisitions across the UK.

• Lead transactional lawyer for global insurer and major plc clients in relation to the ongoing management of corporate occupational and surplus property portfolios. In addition to routine transactional matters in the course of ‘business as usual’, regularly invited to advise at routine estates management meetings.
• Advised on the regearing of occupational leases of a prime office space in London for a global insurance sector client worth in the region of £30 million.
• Acted on the leasehold acquisition of a new South-West hub for a global insurer client comprising prime business park office space, including ancillary parking requirements and the right to carry out works on the landlord’s estate to facilitate a resilient communications supply to the property and additional air conditioning.
• Acted for a major plc in the grant of several underleases of substantial surplus office premises.
• Acted for a telecommunications client in relation to the disposal of decommissioned switch buildings in various locations in England, including in some cases leases back of communications mast sites.
• Advised a government department in securing rights for the strategic acquisition of leasehold property contingent on the outcome of a no-deal EU exit.
• Advised on commercial property matters for one of the world’s largest systems suppliers in the proposed share sale of the company, and its subsidiary environmental consultancy company to a strategic buyer.
• Provided advice on commercial property aspects for LHL in its acquisition of the business and assets of Bristol-based Helastel from its administrators in a pre-pack sale.

Sam has extensive experience within the energy and hydro-electrics, acting in relation to the acquisition, disposal and general management of extensive occupational property portfolios.

• Acted for a technology and engineering plc in the acquisition of new industrial premises and the subsequent variation of the client’s leasehold interest to facilitate a new electricity substation to meet the client’s energy supply requirements.
• Acted for a major UK supplier of hydro-electric power in relation to general estate management and operational property matters.
• Acted for a major UK hydro-electric power supplier in relation to acquisition of land to fulfil environmental and corporate social responsibilities.
• Acted on the acquisition of berthing rights in connection with the transporting of large-scale transformer equipment.
• Acted for a major supplier of hydro-electric power in relation to utilisation of surplus land in the UK.

Sam advises major retailers and charities on lease acquisitions, relocations, and portfolio management across prime UK retail sites, outlet centres, and high streets.

• Senior transactional lawyer for household-name retailers such as Brighthouse, Clarks and EE in relation to the management of their occupational retail property portfolios.
• Advised a major retail client in relation to a pre-let agreement and acquisition of a lease of new retail premises at the Rushden Lakes complex.
• Acted for a retail outlet client in relation to the relocation, renewal and regearing of premises at several well-known UK outlet centres, to include advising on turnover rents and discounting/pricing restrictions.
• Acted for a major charity client in relation to their extensive occupational retail portfolio.
• Acted for retail clients in relation to the grant of new leases of prime locations at London’s Broadway Market and Spitalfields Market.