SUMMER 2006  

Welcome to the 2006 edition of Property Matters! – our annual review of property views and news.

It is hard to believe that we have now been in Summit House for four years, a period of enormous change and consolidation for us. It has been a good year for Mishcon de Reya and in particular for the property services group. As represented by our cover illustration, we have seen a period of further growth, with the property team recruiting six out of the 35 new lawyers who have joined the Firm in the last year – see Mishcon People – including our new property partner Daniel Levy who joins us this summer to head our enlarged property litigation team. This enables us to offer an enhanced partner-led service to our property clients, whilst still retaining our special brand of personal service and continuing our key role as facilitators. A feature of the last year has been the way our property, corporate and tax teams have worked seamlessly together in structuring some complex property acquisitions and have collaborated on a series of opco/propco deals. We have also continued our work to bring the private and public sectors together and are therefore delighted to have been appointed to the panel of A2 Housing Group. A highlight of the last year has been our joint initiative with Central London Partnership to explore the funding of public realm improvements. In the most recent session, thought provoking presentations given by Sir Terry Farrell, Peter Hendy of TfL and Grosvenor director Peter Vernon prompted a useful debate and further groups are planned (here). And we once again hosted our annual Summit House property party, but this year gave it an international ‘Mishcontinental’ theme as an appropriate warm up for MIPIM!
Susan Freeman