- People
- Expertise
Our expertise
We are a team of more than 500 professionals, with the depth of experience which makes us genuine experts in our fields. Together, gunnercooke’s people have strength across just about every corporate discipline and sector. We provide legal, commercial and strategic advice that delivers real value to the clients we work with, which span from multinational enterprises through to unicorns and non-for-profit organisations. Our breadth of expertise covers some of the most interesting and important emerging disciplines, from ESG and charity law, to blockchain and competition.
Search by practice areaDispute ResolutionDispute Resolution OverviewMeet the Dispute Resolution TeamIntellectual Property DisputesFinancial Services & FinTech OverviewProceeds of CrimeEmployment TribunalTax InvestigationProperty Dispute ResolutionInsolvency DisputesMediationCivil Fraud & Asset TracingHealth & SafetyBusiness Crime & InvestigationsLitigation & ArbitrationInternational Arbitration - International
International Offices
The gunnercooke group has 15 main offices globally including the UK, Scotland, US, Germany and Austria, with further plans for growth in the coming years. These offices enhance the existing in-house capability of our dedicated international teams and dual-qualified experts that cover China and Hong Kong, Spain, France, Italy, Brazil and Portugal. Our team has experience working across 101 different countries, speaking 30 languages and are dual-qualified in 15 jurisdictions. Our expertise means we can offer large teams to carry out complex cross-border matters for major international clients.
- Our story
Our story
gunnercooke is the fastest growing corporate law firm in the UK, now making its mark globally. We comprise a rapidly growing number of experts spanning legal and other disciplines. Clients benefit from flexible options on fees to suit their needs, access to a wider network of senior experts throughout the relationship, and legal advice which is complemented by an understanding of the commercial aspects of running a business.
- Reading Room
- News & Insights
Brendan Walsh
Expertise
Brendan has been ranked amongst the leading 2 or 3 Real Estate lawyers in the East Midlands over the last 20 years in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. He specialises in both residential and commercial development including residential acquisitions, strategic, land, student accommodation, build to rent, carehomes, logistics, light industrial, offices, town centre regeneration and major urban settlements.
He has particular expertise in project managing multi-disciplinary legal teams and acting as an interface between clients and their professional advisors to enable clients to focus on the fundamentals of the deal as opposed to due diligence.
Brendan has been recognised as a Best Lawyer UK 2025 by the prestigious ‘Best Lawyers‘ publication.
Brendan Advises
- Developers
- UK and international investors
- Land promotors
- Local authorities
- Landowners
Experience Highlights
- Advising on the acquisition and completion on a phased basis of 10 warehouse / industrial units comprising 372,000 sq ft over 4 development sites at Willow Farm and Optimus Point Leicestershire, Blenheim park Nottingham and Kingsway Business Park Rochdale.
- Advising Wilson Bowden on an option and promotion agreement for (subject to planning) a strategic commercial (warehouse, distribution, manufacturing) and residential site comprising over 436 acres on a site at Royston, Hertfordshire.
- Advising on the procurement of development finance for the redevelopment of the former Debenhams department store known as the Drapery Building Northampton to comprise a mixed-use student / retail scheme.
- Advising Garner Holdings in respect of the acquisition (subject to planning) of a manufacturing and warehouse site comprising approximately 65 acres adjacent to the M1 at Annesley Nottinghamshire.
- Advising William Davis on an acquisition, subject to planning via options, on more than 90 acres of prime residential land at sites in prime East Midlands locations comprising Matlock Derbyshire, Barrowby Grantham, and Wellingborough Northamptonshire.
- Acting for Bedford Estates on a number of estate management transactions including deeds of surrender, letting advice and licences.
- Acting on the promotion and option agreement in respect of over 130 acres of land adjacent to the A5 in the East Midlands which, subject to planning, is proposed to be developed by Wilson Bowden to comprise in excess of 1.5 m sq feet of warehouse, distribution and manufacturing space.
- Advising on residential development sites earmarked for more than 1m houses / apartments
- Advising on development sites earmarked for more than 8m sq ft of logistics / light industrial development
- Advising on more than 6m sq ft of town centre retail and leisure development
Career History
- Shakespeare Martineau, East Midlands, Head of Real Estate
- Eversheds, East Midlands, Head of Real Estate
Expertise
Back to top
Brendan has been ranked amongst the leading 2 or 3 Real Estate lawyers in the East Midlands over the last 20 years in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. He specialises in both residential and commercial development including residential acquisitions, strategic, land, student accommodation, build to rent, carehomes, logistics, light industrial, offices, town centre regeneration and major urban settlements.
He has particular expertise in project managing multi-disciplinary legal teams and acting as an interface between clients and their professional advisors to enable clients to focus on the fundamentals of the deal as opposed to due diligence.
Brendan has been recognised as a Best Lawyer UK 2025 by the prestigious ‘Best Lawyers‘ publication.
Brendan Advises
Back to top
- Developers
- UK and international investors
- Land promotors
- Local authorities
- Landowners
Experience Highlights
Back to top
- Advising on the acquisition and completion on a phased basis of 10 warehouse / industrial units comprising 372,000 sq ft over 4 development sites at Willow Farm and Optimus Point Leicestershire, Blenheim park Nottingham and Kingsway Business Park Rochdale.
- Advising Wilson Bowden on an option and promotion agreement for (subject to planning) a strategic commercial (warehouse, distribution, manufacturing) and residential site comprising over 436 acres on a site at Royston, Hertfordshire.
- Advising on the procurement of development finance for the redevelopment of the former Debenhams department store known as the Drapery Building Northampton to comprise a mixed-use student / retail scheme.
- Advising Garner Holdings in respect of the acquisition (subject to planning) of a manufacturing and warehouse site comprising approximately 65 acres adjacent to the M1 at Annesley Nottinghamshire.
- Advising William Davis on an acquisition, subject to planning via options, on more than 90 acres of prime residential land at sites in prime East Midlands locations comprising Matlock Derbyshire, Barrowby Grantham, and Wellingborough Northamptonshire.
- Acting for Bedford Estates on a number of estate management transactions including deeds of surrender, letting advice and licences.
- Acting on the promotion and option agreement in respect of over 130 acres of land adjacent to the A5 in the East Midlands which, subject to planning, is proposed to be developed by Wilson Bowden to comprise in excess of 1.5 m sq feet of warehouse, distribution and manufacturing space.
- Advising on residential development sites earmarked for more than 1m houses / apartments
- Advising on development sites earmarked for more than 8m sq ft of logistics / light industrial development
- Advising on more than 6m sq ft of town centre retail and leisure development
Career History
Back to top
- Shakespeare Martineau, East Midlands, Head of Real Estate
- Eversheds, East Midlands, Head of Real Estate
Testimonials
"A very skilled and accomplished lawyer."
Chambers and Partners
"Very experienced and commercial."
Legal 500