Commercial Property

Chris Picardo is a partner in the Commercial Property team specialising in transactional property work and property management advice. Chris advises investors, developers, business occupiers and individuals on a variety of commercial property transactions including acquisitions, disposals, property finance, the negotiation of business leases and portfolio management. Chris is regarded by a number of clients as a member of their team. He adds value for those clients by retaining a knowledge of and an interest in their portfolio of investments, and their business needs, so that he can efficiently see ways to get results for them.

Recent projects include:

• acting for the buyer on the purchase of a chemical plant in North London, with involvement from the initial bidding process until occupation of the site, working throughout with the client’s environmental consultants
• leading the commercial property due diligence on the disposal of the shares in a group of investment and development companies owning in excess of £30m of office, retail and industrial property
• the sale of London industrial premises to a global drinks manufacturer
• representing a leading global shipbroker on the relocation of its London headquarters
• acting for a City of London investment management company on its exit strategy from leasehold premises and its acquisition of more than 23,000 sq ft of leasehold premises in Bishopsgate

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Chris graduated in Law from the University of Reading and studied the Legal Practice Course at the College of Law in Guildford.

Chris was admitted as a solicitor in 1999 and joined Carter Lemon working in the Commercial Property team.

In his free time Chris enjoys travel abroad (more recent destinations including Peru, Chile, Argentina, San Francisco and the South of France), reading, running and spending time with his family.

Eleri Jones is a partner in the Commercial Property department at Carter Lemon Camerons, having joined in December 2019 from another City-based law firm.

She specialises in commercial property matters relating to the charity sector in addition to acting for a full range of commercial clients.

Eleri is experienced in acting in the sale and purchase of commercial and residential property, Development Agreements, Commercial Lease renewals and Licences, as well as advising on compliance with the Charities Act, charity governance documentation, the transfer of properties to CIO and the development and disposal of school land.

Amongst her notable cases, she negotiated and drafted a development agreement for a large residential development with leaseback to the freeholder, including provision of development by the purchaser and provision for overage. Eleri also acted on a large-scale financial restructuring of a care home business.

Eleri qualified as a solicitor in 1993.

Fotini joined Carter Lemon Camerons in July 2023 and is a Partner in our Commercial Property team. She acts on behalf of landlords and tenants, and also looks after all aspects of commercial property; from sales and purchases to negotiating Leases and accompanied deeds and discussing strategies with clients to assist them achieve their objective.

Fotini also acts for lenders and bridging companies as their advising solicitor on various lending deals ranging from small loans to multi-million-pound deals and refinancing portfolios.

Using critical thinking as well as a common sense is what distinguishes Fotini’s approach when solving, or avoiding problems for her clients.

Career highlights include

• Completing a bridging finance of over £5 million on behalf of a lender where the borrower was three separate offshore companies, secured over three high-value residential properties in West London
• Overseeing the refinance of a portfolio of 13 properties, acting for both the borrower and the lender
• Completing the purchase of seven commercial properties in South London on a back-to-back contract with a longstop date, which was eventually completed with the aid of bridging finance over the purchased properties.
• Negotiating the lease and contract for a commercial unit in Brunswick Square in Central London for a luxury patisserie company.
• Sold six properties on behalf of a lender where power of sale was exercised

Fotini, who is a member of the SRA, has LLB Hons Degree and an LLM in International Commercial Law and began her career in 2011 as a Paralegal before becoming a Trainee Solicitor in 2015. She started as a Conveyancing Solicitor in 2017 at her previous firm where she was promoted to Partner in 2018.

Born in Cyprus, Fotini moved to the UK to study before settling here, Fotini is fluent in Greek and can also have a basic conversation in Albanian but is getting better at it with the help of her husband and children.

Away from the office, Fotini enjoys spending time with her family and Taco, her chihuahua. She also loves travelling and going swimming.

Ian West is a partner in the Private Client team. He deals with a wide range of matters including commercial and residential conveyancing, will drafting, trusts and probate and powers of attorney.

Private Client Matters

As well as obtaining grants of probate for UK estates, Ian has assisted personal representatives of foreign estates in resealing foreign grants to administer UK assets held by a deceased domiciled outside the UK. He has dealt with resealing foreign grants in jurisdictions as diverse as Holland and Iran. He has also advised on domicile in respect of deceased’s estates and regularly deals with the UK estates of persons who have died domiciled outside the United Kingdom.

Property Transactions

Recent property transactions include:-

• Acting for clients on a lifetime mortgage as part of an inheritance tax strategy.
• Acting on behalf of a landowner in connection with the grant of an option for a lease for use of the land for battery storage.
• Acting on behalf of a landowner in connection with the sale of land for use as an electricity sub-station in connection with a wind farm project and grant of options for related easements.
• Acting for both landlords and tenants in respect of statutory claims for extension leases of flats.

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Ian was educated at Brentwood School Essex, Manchester University and the College of Law London. He qualified as a solicitor in 1981 and joined Metson Cross in 1982 becoming a partner in 1990.

Ian is married with two children.

As former Honorary Secretary of the Society of Old Brentwoods, Ian takes a keen interest in the affairs of the School and in various events and functions organised by the Society. He is also a keen follower of football and has an interest in classic cars. Ian is a member of the Mini Cooper Register. Ian has also been learning to play the guitar (for over 45 years!).

Julian joined Carter Lemon Camerons LLP after studying at the University of Cape Town and completing Law School in London. He has completed a seat in the Property department and now joins the Litigation team, supporting colleagues in commercial dispute matters

While in the Property department Julian has been involved in commercial and residential conveyances and complex property finances, where he has enjoyed working to find commercial solutions for borrower and lender clients.

Before joining the firm, Julian volunteered at a legal advice centre in West London, where he assisted clients with issues concerning debt, housing, and employment.

He also has a keen interest in International Trade Law, having tutored at undergraduate level on the rules surrounding dispute resolution, investment, technical barriers to trade, and intellectual property.  During his Legal Practice Course, he took electives in Commercial and Intellectual Property, Private Acquisitions, and Advanced Commercial Litigation.

Outside of work Julian balances his hobbies by competing in powerlifting, coaching the men’s squad of a London rowing club and relaxing by painting and exploring London’s museums and galleries.

Lucie did her LLB Law undergraduate degree at the University of Reading and is currently doing the LPC part time at the University of Law.

She is a Team Assistant in the Property department where she assists solicitors and partners with commercial property transactions as well as drafting.

Before joining CLC Lucie gained experience in a client facing role which dealt with investment banking and private equity roles.

She previously acquired work experience at a law firm specialising in criminal law which she found interesting, but found herself drawn more towards family and employment.

She joined CLC in October 2023

Outside of work Lucie really enjoy running and has taken part in a number of races including the London Marathon in support of charity. She also loves singing and discovering new cafes and restaurants.

Rebecca has a wealth of experience in all aspects of Post Completion formalities in Conveyancing transactions and can provide a high level of support. Rebecca has completed the CILEX Level 3 Diploma for Legal Secretaries and has also achieved the CILEX Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice as she was keen to develop her legal knowledge. This has enabled Rebecca to provide a higher level of support within the legal environment and carry out paralegal tasks.

In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys travelling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her family.

Rufus Ballaster is Senior Partner and specialises in secured lending for both lenders and borrowers, within Carter Lemon Camerons LLP’s commercial property team.

Rufus’ team is able to assist lenders with putting in place effective protection for their loans, including advising on the form of security that is needed, arranging reporting systems between lawyer and lender, preparing documents, raising enquiries, examining title and making the appropriate searches.

Rufus is also experienced in assisting borrowers, advising on the risks involved in the transaction and negotiating the best possible terms.

Where appropriate, having carefully looked at professional rules governing conflict of interest, Rufus can act for both the lender and the borrower in a single transaction.

His detailed technical legal knowledge and ability to crunch numbers are great assets both transactionally and as Carter Lemon Camerons LLP’s spreadsheet obsessive.

Transactions

Recent transactions include:

• Secured Lending Portfolio Refinance for a group of clients shifting lending from one international Private Bank to another international Private Bank with full Certification of Title across 7 Central London Properties both commercial residential (or mixed) use – aggregate value £30M approx.
• Phased purchase with development finance of site for over 40 new homes in SW London for a group of clients which has also bought and sold many other units in the region with Rufus and his team acting.
• Short term (2 to 18 month) lending by a Wealth Management company into a variety of development projects taking first or second charge security over those sites or collateral security elsewhere.

Career highlights include:

• Stepping into the panel of speakers at a course for which he was understudy – at only 3 years qualified
• Representing most of the sets of barristers’ chambers at one of the Inns of Court in lease renewals with that Inn
• Drawing down finance to purchase a SW1 development opportunity (offices to flats) by an off shore company at a price exceeding £120M (for a group of clients for whom previous deals were at values ranging from £7M to £220M)
• Drawing down finance to purchase a group of off-shore vehicles which owned of a City office block let to a blue chip investment bank – loan exceeding £300 million, split into senior and junior debt.

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Rufus combines client focused views of legal issues with more holistic ones.  This is clearly visible from his writing (having contributed to many journals and been a co-author of the Landlord and Tenant Factbook and more recently of a Practical Guide to Drone Law) and from his lectures and seminars on banking, commercial property, artificial intelligence and other topics.

Asked what he likes most in his work, Rufus will talk of his role as a “trouble-shooter”.  He enjoys being asked by clients and colleagues what he thinks about something and trying, with them, to work up structures or strategies achieving a desired result at the lowest sensible cost/ tax-hit/ risk.  He travels within Europe and beyond (Arabian Gulf, South East Asia, Southern Africa) to see clients and contacts face to face and says working with people he has met is always preferable to hiding behind email and telephone for client contact!

Rufus was educated at Reading School, Wadham College Oxford and Chester College of Law, qualifying as a solicitor in 1988.

Outside the office Rufus has a full and active life with commitments to two Christian Churches, family (wife and three now adult children), RBS Rugby Football Club (for whom he plays as a second row forward) and RBS Lawn Bowls Club which is more suited to his age.

Seamus Smyth is head of litigation and arbitration. His practice is primarily commercial with an emphasis on arbitration, financial services and work for South African and Italian clients.

Transactions

His reported cases include RH Green & Silley Weir v BR (limitation period against 3rd party), de Bry v Fitzgerald (security for costs), Hartt v Newspaper Publishing (libel concerning a work by Michelangelo), Pearson v Sanders Witherspoon (valuation of loss of chance), Siebe Gorman v Pneupac (status of consent orders), Senate Electrical v NTL (liability of an employee for acquisition warranties) and Bendell v Smith & Others (a successful recovery action by a lender on a shared appreciation mortgage equity release – the only such case to go to trial).

Recently involved in enforcement of foreign arbitration awards, claims arising from the banking upheavals since 2007, a successful claim against a high street bank resulting from a banking error and a successful claim against estate administrators and their solicitors for wasting the estate funds on irresponsible litigation.

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Educated (BA, LLB, Wits) and first qualified as an attorney in South Africa, he requalified in England in 1977, took an LLM at UCL and a Diploma in International Arbitration at QM, and became an FCIArb. He is chairman of the British South African Law Association (for the second time), chairman of Michaelhouse UK Trust, chairman of Global Leadership Foundation (UK), a former President of the London Solicitors Litigation Association and Trustee and President of Town Malling Cricket Club (established in 1827!).  He was until 2012 a Visiting Senior Lecturer in International Commercial Arbitration at London Metropolitan University.  When work and domesticity permit he plays some cricket and more golf (but – which is immediately obvious – not nearly enough).

Stuart Brennan is a former partner and is currently a consultant, non-practising solicitor.