Shoosmiths takes top prize at Estates Gazette Awards 

Simon Boss

The firm was shortlisted for the award alongside other nominees; Clifford Chance, Hogan Lovells,  Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Addleshaw Goddard, CMS, Davitt Jones Bould and Landsec.

Shoosmiths came top when its approach to deals and the scale and impact of its projects “stood out”. 

Key deals highlighted include: 

• Allied London’s No 1 Spinningfields development in Manchester, which sold for in excess of £200m – advising on every aspect including acquisition, development and pre-letting.
• Acting for IM Properties on the redevelopment of the historic 55 Colmore Row, Birmingham, and £98m sale to Henderson. Instructed by Henderson to manage the assetafter impressing them on the other side.
• Acting on the purchase, planning and development by Formal Investments Limited of an innovative 2m sq ft “mega-basement” of underground warehouse storage of a greenfield site near Heathrow.

The award also underlines the quality of work being undertaken by Shoosmiths real estate team in Scotland that’s led by real estate partner, Steve Dougherty.

In addition to staff working with their UK-wide colleagues on a large national DWP project, the Edinburgh based office recently advised on a planned new Premier Inn hotel development on Howard Street in Glasgow and negotiated the lease deal to secure office space in Livingston for Bellway Homes’ expansion into the east of Scotland. 

Shoosmiths’ real estate divisional head, Simon Boss, said: “It is a delight to have won such a prestigious award for our real estate team, which has enjoyed a stellar year of growth, winning new mandates and investing in new, agile locations across the UK.”