Gavin Whitney

I have always loved property! From my first property law lecture, I was hooked! And so it was no surprise to me when I also found I loved commercial real estate in practice. One of the main reasons for this is that there is such an obvious "end product" that you can go and see at the end of any transaction or inspect as part of due diligence. But I also really like people and my aim is always to be someone with whom people enjoy dealing, whether they are my client or another party.

My aim with every client is to focus on what they want and to find a way to achieve that for them, efficiently, cost-effectively and always with a smile. To do this, I use my knowledge of our clients, the firm’s breadth and depth of expertise and couple this with clever and inventive thinking to reach solutions and pre-empt problems.

I act for a number of UK and overseas investors and developers in relation to their property portfolios and provide advice on asset management and development matters. This includes complex pre-let development deals where I have acted for both landlords and tenants (and so understand the concerns and drivers of both parties which aids in getting the deals over the line) in the following sectors: leisure (restaurants, cinemas, hotels), retail, healthcare and office. I also have wide experience of acting on investment deals in those same sectors.

I also act for GPs, retailers/restaurant operators and corporate occupiers on their acquisitions of leasehold and freehold properties.

Away from the law, I am a father and husband with two teenage children, Sam and Emily. My wife, Lucy, runs a local pre-school. In my spare time I enjoy going to the rugby (in particular when my son is playing!), watching my daughter perform in her theatre group, travelling and food.

• Advising healthcare investor Stonehealth on multiple portfolio acquisitions of properties across England, Wales and Scotland and dealing with their ongoing asset management work.
• Dealing with all of Yo! Sushi’s property work in England and Wales including advising on the recent CVA as well as on COVID 19 related matters.
• Advising a London GP practice on the sale, leaseback and development of their property including tax advice and structuring of the transaction.
• Advising a developer client on a complex scheme involving landlord and tenant structure, a building lease, complicated related tax issues and the need to be sensitive to the landlord’s concerns as a charity.
• Advising The Argyll Club on several acquisitions of new central London sites and dealing with ongoing property management matters, in particular during the COVID 19 pandemic.