What people say about us

Offers knowledge in a vast array of areas, including sizeable development and infrastructure projects for high-profile clients.

Strengths: One client notes: ‘The communication and knowledge across departments is seamless, and they strike a great balance of delivering the highest standards for their clients with a very personable approach.’

Another interviewee comments: ‘They are highly experienced in all property-related matters and are a class outfit.’

An impressed client praises the team for being ‘approachable and hands-on’. The same client highlights that the lawyers are ‘good at spotting issues we didn't anticipate’.

Notable practitioners
Mike Busby: ‘Mike's friendly demeanour and sheer knowledge of his subject gives me, as a client, the confidence that matters are dealt with in a timely fashion, with every avenue explored to ensure the best possible outcome.’

Sarah Coates is ‘great to work with; she is very responsive and professional’.

Sam Davies: ‘Sam works tirelessly to ensure that deadlines are met and is quick to think of elegant solutions on the rare occasion a problem is thrown up by the other side.’

Simon Knott heads the Penningtons Manches Cooper real estate team in Oxford.

Peter McElligott is head of the real estate division and a key contact at the firm.

Chambers UK - 2022 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP’s London property team places a high degree of emphasis on real estate investment work, supporting on a variety of ownership structures, funding arrangements and subsequent leasing negotiations, in addition to forward sales and purchases. Practice head James Nadin demonstrates a tenacity for high-value portfolio transactions and is also active in the development space. The team’s development work includes a number of significant large-scale projects and is supported by the firm’s wider proficiency in construction and planning affairs.

Mike Busby heads the department in Guildford with considerable expertise in high-value asset work and development work, acting for national retailers, hotel operators and large landowners. Timothy Davies handles acquisitions of development land commercially and residentially whilst Tony Burns handles work involving industrial and logistics sites, especially regarding development funding agreements.

Sarah Coates, who is known for her 'great clarity and proactivity', leads the practice [in Cambridge] and is supported by London-based social housing partner Mark Sellers, who frequently works from the Cambridge office. 'Courteous, responsive' senior associate Giorgia Clements frequently advises investors on the sale and purchase of property assets.

Simon Knott leads the Oxford practice, regularly acting for large corporate tenants with fast 'roll out' programmes in the retail and leisure sector, including convenience stores and drive-thrus. Other key members of the team include Justin Winterbottom, who is a specialist in portfolio management issues, and associate Laura Gorman, who leads on high-value transactional work relating to commercial developments, student accommodation and care homes.

‘A great team spirit is clearly evident within this department. Communication and knowledge across colleagues are seamless and they strike a great balance of delivering the highest standards for their clients with a very personable approach.’

‘Penningtons Manches Cooper have a widely respected property team covering all aspects of the law. Regionally the team have become market leaders and are head and shoulders above the competition in terms of response times, quality of advice, communication etc.’

‘Mike Busby’s legal knowledge and expertise is second to none.’

‘Tony Burns is hard working, reliable, responsive and easy to deal with and friendly.’

‘Giorgia Clements operates with an attention to detail that is both thorough and accompanied by a strong instinct towards problem-solving.’

‘Sarah Coates operates with great clarity and proactivity. Sarah is open, accessible and calm, as well as being technically and commercially astute.’

‘Graham Dixon has excelled himself in his advice and assistance working for us, most recently on a complex estate purchase.’

Laura Gorman: ‘Her work for us has been exceptional without fail and I could not recommend her highly enough.’

‘Led by Simon Knott, all of his team are diligent, intelligent, friendly, astute and commercially minded.’

‘Jamie Lynch is highly competent and an excellent communicator.’

Regionally the team have become market leaders and are head and shoulders above the competition in terms of response times, quality of advice, communication etc.’