Buildings Land Environment
Daringly Different...
Why us? Daringly different, Sandstone Law provides property developers, land owners, corporate occupiers, investors and entrepreneurs with a holistic legal service.
Definitively boutique We specialise in every aspect of commercial property and have decades of experience in environmental law, which gives us deep insider knowledge and valuable contacts across the spectrum. Our expertise helps you maximise asset value and minimise risks and liabilities.
Partner level advice You get a partner level adviser - every time, all the time. You benefit from our commercial insight and professional judgment; this gives you better quality results, a quicker turn-around and greater value for money.
Been there…done that Our 30 years’ property experience means there’s nothing we haven’t come across before. The result? An early identification of the legal issues, and quick thinking, leading to pragmatic solutions.
Laser focused We’re deliberately niche so that we can focus precisely on our clients and their issues. Being supported by a larger management services group who handle all our business and admin issues lets us do just that.
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About us Sandstone Law is deliberately niche, definitively boutique, daringly different. We advise exclusively on property development, environment, real estate and planning law. Each of our lawyers have decades’ experience of providing legal advice at the highest level, acting as heads of department and managing partners in large, top tier firms for most of their careers. We have a network of close associates who can advise on areas such as construction, tax, corporate structure and disputes. We have worked with them all and trust them to deliver the same high quality service alongside us. Our approach is modern, flexible and collaborative. Our clients benefit from a highly personal service and unrivalled quality of support. We understand the issues at the heart of our clients’ business decisions and excel at finding creative solutions to add value and make a real difference.
Helping our clients build towards a net zero carbon economy
Property development We focus on helping clients build towards a net zero carbon economy. Our starting point is to understand your commercial objectives and identify possible impediments or risks to achieving them.
Services • site acquisition • promotion agreements • brownfield site redevelopment • conditional planning contracts • development agreements
We will work to resolve title issues, risks from historic uses, advise on enforceability of land rights or covenants and on regulatory compliance. Crucially, we use our extensive environmental law expertise to help our clients build towards a sustainable future. We have significant experience in all aspects of residential, commercial and mixed-use property development and can provide advice on planning, infrastructure, environmental law, real estate tax, possession issues, agriculture and construction.
• option agreements • overage agreements • forward funding agreements • estate set-up • housing land development • collaboration and joint venture arrangements • professional appointments • warranties • unit disposals and lettings
Sectors • industrial and logistics schemes
Above all, we can help you ensure quality of construction, timescales and cost, thereby achieving value for money, a pragmatic balance of risk and reward, and a share in future development value.
• renewable energy • student accommodation • care homes • science and technology facilities • housebuilding • private schemes by high-net-worth individuals
Environmental law Climate change, Brexit and increasing concerns about air and water quality have pushed environmental protection higher up the political and social agenda. With far-reaching legal and policy changes on the horizon, environmental law and sustainability issues present both opportunities and challenges for businesses and individuals. To keep us at the leading edge of developments, we are active members of the UK Environmental Law Association, the Environmental Law Foundation, the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management and The Chancery Lane Project’s Real Estate: Built Environment section. We have over 30 years’ experience of advising a wide range of clients on UK and European environmental law and we specialise in finding novel solutions to complex issues. Our pragmatic advice comes with a strong commercial focus, enabling us to draft innovative contract clauses to help the property industry with the transition to a carbon neutral society.
Services • waste management and water pollution • climate change law • contaminated land liabilities • challenging Environment Agency prosecutions • environmental warranties and indemnities • EU environmental law, post Brexit • ecological restoration and habitat conservation • Biodiversity Net Gain • landfills, landfill tax and recycling obligations • corporate legal compliance • air pollution • renewable energy projects • asbestos regulations
Sectors • manufacturing businesses • waste management companies • commercial property developers • energy generators • higher education • industrial operators • life sciences and technology companies
“Richard Smith has a wealth of knowledge in a variety of environmental subjects.” Chambers & Partners Guide to the UK Legal Profession
“[Richard’s] attention to detail and client care mark him out.” Higher education client The Legal 500 UK
Commercial real estate The UK’s built environment is constantly evolving to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world, meaning it is more important than ever to have creative and responsive legal advice.
Services • acquisitions and disposals • leases of commercial space • licences and business tenancies • portfolio management
Our experience and excellent working relationships with the leading property agents means we focus on issues such as location, size of space and specification. This helps to ensure that the project runs on time, within budget and with minimal disruption to the client’s day-to-day business. We have a clear understanding of the relationship between the different interests of all parties involved and always seek to work collaboratively, to drive projects forward. Whether you have a large-scale project, need help with a difficult landlord or a new occupational lease, we can help maximise your property assets.
• sale and leasebacks • sub-lettings and surrenders • dilapidation claims • commercial lease renewals • corporate relocations • easements, covenants and boundary issues • land occupied under nuclear installations regulations
Sectors • industrial • laboratories and research facilities • landowners • occupiers • property companies • finance • developers • higher education • fund managers • high tech manufacturing
Planning law The planning process can be confusing, but we have a wealth of experience in supporting clients on all aspects of planning law and navigating a complex system of policy and law.
Services • planning applications and appeals • planning policy • section 106 planning agreements • change of use • development control
Whether it is general planning advice, the drafting of infrastructure agreements, Section 106 agreements, or more strategic planning advice to facilitate the delivery of development projects, we have the knowledge and expertise to help our clients get the deal done. Our approach is always to anticipate potential planning policy and procedural pitfalls, and to assist in the interpretation of existing policy, such as those in the National Planning Policy Framework. We also help with understanding Local Plans and the creation of Neighbourhood Plans.
• environment and energy matters • habitat regulations • highways agreements and orders • listed building and conservation area matters • the Community Infrastructure Levy
Sectors • commercial developers • corporate occupiers • investors • higher education • residential developers • retail and leisure operators
Leading Individual: Richard Smith Real Estate/Environment & Planning The Legal 500 UK
Hugh Blaza Senior Consultant
Richard has been a trusted legal adviser to large and small businesses for over 30 years. He has been ranked in the top tier for commercial real estate and environmental law advice in The Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners legal directories for more than 15 years.
Hugh is an accomplished property lawyer with decades of experience at the top of his profession, including as Managing Partner of one of the UK’s most highly regarded commercial property law firms.
r.smith@sandstonelaw.co.uk
h.blaza@sandstonelaw.co.uk
Daringly Different…
Richard Smith Partner
Tel: 0333 0237740 3 Kings Meadow, Ferry Hinksey Road, Oxford, OX2 0DP
www.sandstonelaw.co.uk
Sandstone Law LLP is registered in England and Wales at Companies House under registration number OC416293 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under registration number 810292.