Partner

Real Estate Partner

“Net promoter Score (NPS) is a system used to measure the quality of service given to a client from their feedback. The score ranges from -100 to +100, a “positive” score or NPS above 0 is considered “good”, +50 is “Excellent,” and above 70 is considered “world class”.
Accolades

Expertise

Simon is a dual-qualified real estate lawyer with 35 years’ experience in the sector, working on the coordination and delivery of a range of complex property transactions across the UK.

He has been instrumental in establishing a leading practice in Scotland offering UK cross border real estate services. A wide range of deal experience allows him to help clients beyond just legal advice.

Simon is known for the rapid building of trusted relationships with clients and being a driven, innovative deal doer. He is very well connected across the UK property industry.

Simon deals with retail, leisure, office and shopping centre investment and developments, strategic real estate advice to corporates, joint ventures, residential developments, inward investment for overseas clients, all forms of commercial leasing (for landlords and tenants), land option arrangements, large scale transaction management, and business development. He has been involved in the generation and conduct of £5,000m+ of real estate investment and funding deals since 2003.

Simon has been ranked by both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories as a key practitioner in both England and Scotland.

Simon has been recognised as a Best Lawyer UK 2025 by the prestigious ‘Best Lawyers‘ publication.

Simon Advises

  • Investors and Developers
  • Corporates, Small Companies and Business owners
  • Specialist Infrastructure clients
  • Commercial and Industrial clients
  • Retail, Hospitality and Leisure clients
  • Cinema Operators

Experience Highlights

  • Advising on multiplex cinema chain developments across England and Scotland.
  • Advising on a three-way JV development of Pacific Quay Business Park, Glasgow for the Miller Group / Grosvenor / CTP.
  • Advising Scottish Media Group on HQ, printing and television studio developments.
  • Advising Land Securities plc on its purchase of Buchanan Galleries and Overgate Shopping Centres
  • Advising Helical plc on the purchase and sale of multiple shopping centre and industrial assets
  • Advising on the site structuring, development and construction of a £20 million chemical plant.
  • Strategic land value capture agreement advice and support in relation to the re-opening of a modern passenger rail line in England.

Career History

Previous Law Firms

  • Real Estate Partner, Dentons UK and Middle East LLP (2017–21)
  • Real Estate Partner, Maclay Murray and Spens LLP (2013–17)
  • Real Estate Partner, Semple Fraser LLP (1990–2013)
  • Real Estate Assistant Bird Semple Fyfe Ireland WS (1987–90)

Education

  • University of Edinburgh, Law LLB (Hons) (1980–85)

Expertise

Back to top

Simon is a dual-qualified real estate lawyer with 35 years’ experience in the sector, working on the coordination and delivery of a range of complex property transactions across the UK.

He has been instrumental in establishing a leading practice in Scotland offering UK cross border real estate services. A wide range of deal experience allows him to help clients beyond just legal advice.

Simon is known for the rapid building of trusted relationships with clients and being a driven, innovative deal doer. He is very well connected across the UK property industry.

Simon deals with retail, leisure, office and shopping centre investment and developments, strategic real estate advice to corporates, joint ventures, residential developments, inward investment for overseas clients, all forms of commercial leasing (for landlords and tenants), land option arrangements, large scale transaction management, and business development. He has been involved in the generation and conduct of £5,000m+ of real estate investment and funding deals since 2003.

Simon has been ranked by both the Legal 500 and Chambers UK directories as a key practitioner in both England and Scotland.

Simon has been recognised as a Best Lawyer UK 2025 by the prestigious ‘Best Lawyers‘ publication.

Simon Advises

Back to top

  • Investors and Developers
  • Corporates, Small Companies and Business owners
  • Specialist Infrastructure clients
  • Commercial and Industrial clients
  • Retail, Hospitality and Leisure clients
  • Cinema Operators

Experience Highlights

Back to top

  • Advising on multiplex cinema chain developments across England and Scotland.
  • Advising on a three-way JV development of Pacific Quay Business Park, Glasgow for the Miller Group / Grosvenor / CTP.
  • Advising Scottish Media Group on HQ, printing and television studio developments.
  • Advising Land Securities plc on its purchase of Buchanan Galleries and Overgate Shopping Centres
  • Advising Helical plc on the purchase and sale of multiple shopping centre and industrial assets
  • Advising on the site structuring, development and construction of a £20 million chemical plant.
  • Strategic land value capture agreement advice and support in relation to the re-opening of a modern passenger rail line in England.

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law Firms

  • Real Estate Partner, Dentons UK and Middle East LLP (2017–21)
  • Real Estate Partner, Maclay Murray and Spens LLP (2013–17)
  • Real Estate Partner, Semple Fraser LLP (1990–2013)
  • Real Estate Assistant Bird Semple Fyfe Ireland WS (1987–90)

Education

  • University of Edinburgh, Law LLB (Hons) (1980–85)

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