We explore the economic case for regeneration and outline three key areas that can help to get deals done and accelerate progress.
Read moreInstitutional Investors
Our award-winning team is experienced in acting for institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies and real estate investment trusts.
Talk to usAgile and commercial, we call on expertise from our real estate, commercial, corporate, regulatory, pensions, employment and immigration teams to support institutional investors through all their legal needs.
From the ongoing economic uncertainty to ESG criteria, regulatory changes and technology issues, we act as a key strategic partner — identifying problems before they arise and solving them in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
We’re thought leaders with our fingers on the pulse. We share our sector knowledge and market awareness — including through our monthly column in the Estates Gazette — and many members of our team are recognised in leading legal directories and by awards bodies including The Legal 500, Chambers and Partners and the Property Awards.
We build strong relationships and long-term partnerships with our clients, offering sound commercial and legal advice alongside in-depth training and support.
With one of the largest real estate legal teams in the North of England, we’re proud winners of the Legal Team of the Year award at the EG Awards 2024 and Legal/Professional Team of the Year for commercial property at the Property Week Awards 2023.
Experienced, specialist property lawyers for institutional investors
Our institutional investors offering is led by Krista Powell, one of our real estate partners. Recognised as a Recommended Lawyer by The Legal 500 2025, she deals with acquisitions, disposals and property management work and has acted for a wide variety of clients, including some of the UK’s largest property developers, investors, owner-occupiers and fund managers, as well as leading banks and financial institutions.
A member of the LDN Collective, Krista collaborates with a network of built environment experts and creatives, offering a 'one stop shop' for property projects in the UK and beyond. Krista is also a member of the Investment Property Forum, which aims “to enhance the understanding and efficiency of property as an investment” through research, education and networking.
Our real estate team advises a number of institutional landlords on their office portfolios — including Peel Group, @sipp and Merseyside Pension Fund — providing ongoing advice on the uncertainty surrounding office space (including on changing rent arrears processes) as well as ‘green lease’ provisions in standard form leases for buildings, as ESG criteria become ever more important.
Our work involves representing investment funds in relation to lettings and property management, as well as acquisitions and disposals of large estates and property portfolios across all sectors, including acting for the landlords of the Bootle Strand and Clayton Square shopping centres in Liverpool and the Merrion Centre in Leeds.
We believe that it’s essential to have a deep understanding of acting for both landlords and tenants and many of our clients are household-name retailers such as Morrisons, Primark, Beaverbrooks, Arnold Clark and Pavers, who occupy significant real estate portfolios as tenants.
“It’s not just the size of the business, it’s what you do with it. That is what led our judges to select this year’s legal award winner. A firm that is purpose-led, true to its roots and putting its business where its values are.”
EG Awards 2024
“Krista Powell stays involved throughout a transaction to ensure that the team is delivering — not crossing boundaries — and that the strategy stays on track.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500 2025
“Krista Powell has always shown an exemplary understanding of the requirements of our business goals and drivers. Breaking down complex and challenging legal matters in such a way that has allowed the business to navigate its way through some complex legal structures and — in the process — finding manageable and negotiable routes forward.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500 2023
“Brabners' broad real estate offering regularly advises on site acquisitions and disposals, leasehold acquisitions, letting matters and general property management issues. The group often acts for healthcare clients and local authorities and is well-versed in telecommunications matters, with Edwina Hewson often assisting tenants in the logistics and warehousing space.”
The Legal 500 2025
“A proactive and communicative team, once a brief is given they take the lead on ensuring it is delivered. In operating this way they gain a very clear understanding of the whole development strategy from the outset of a project.”
Client feedback, The Legal 500 2025
Property disputes & litigation
Our specialist property litigators possess the expertise and commercial awareness necessary to resolve even the most complex disputes.
We often partner with landlords of large and varied portfolios to provide the full remit of asset management advice — from day-to-day risk management support and maximising the value of the asset to full-blown litigation when the need arises. Our goal is always to achieve swift resolutions that result in positive outcomes for your business.
Our expertise encompasses all aspects of commercial lease work — such as rent arrears, service charge and rent review disputes, forfeiture, break options and dilapidations — as well as renewals or termination pursuant to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. With experience of acting for both landlords and tenants, we’re able to draw on our knowledge to enable clients to achieve their goals using strategy and minimising cost.
Outside of leasehold work, we advise on the full spectrum of commercial property disputes including title concerns (including boundary disputes, easements and restrictive covenants), development-related issues (such as party wall disputes and rights to light), adverse possession claims and the recovery of land and property.
“Brabners' 'first-rate’ property litigation practice is led by the ’incredibly knowledgeable’ Andrew Rogers and ‘vastly experienced’ Helena Davies, who... stands out due to her long-standing expertise in real estate disputes. The team’s expertise sees it acting on disputes for landlord and tenants, developers and local authorities.”
The Legal 500 2025
Our legal services for institutional investors
Insights from our real estate team
There are key charity law requirements and property law considerations to be aware of before a charity purchases land. Our lawyers explore.
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We explore the legal and commercial considerations that underpinned the successful sport-led regeneration scheme for Bramley-Moore Dock and Liverpool Waters.
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Andrius Roos from our housing law team demystifies Mortgagee Protection Clauses and when they should be used.
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The UK Supreme Court's judgment in Brown v Ridley and Another has important implications for adverse possession claims — particularly in boundary disputes.
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The High Court ruled in favour of Iya Patarkatsishvili and Yevhen Hunyak in their case against William Woodward-Fisher on claims of fraudulent misrepresentation concerning a severe moth infestation.
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Our housing team explores proposed changes to the shared ownership scheme and its future.
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The Government has revamped the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to pave the way for the delivery of 1.5m new homes over the next five years.
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As a ‘Client’, you must make suitable arrangements for planning, managing and monitoring your project to ensure compliance with the Building Regulations.
Read moreTalk to us
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