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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.
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The gunnercooke group has 15 main global offices across England, Scotland, the 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 Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, China, India, Poland and Hungary. Our team have clients across 123 jurisdictions, speak 46 languages and are dual-qualified in 21 jurisdictions. Our expertise means we can offer large teams to carry out complex cross-border matters for major international clients.
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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.
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Simon Etchells
Partner
Real Estate Partner
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)
Testimonials
‘Excellent responsiveness and great to deal with. Simon is diligent and commercial.’
Duncan Walker
ex-Helical Plc‘Simon has always offered honest, straightforward and direct advice that as a growing business we found thoroughly enabling. Proactive and cutting to the points that matter, Simon has always risen to the many challenges and provided workable solutions. He has also always been generous with his network to the real benefit of our business.’
Nick Robinson
Director, Expresso Property Limited‘Simon has the most fantastic innate intelligence that inspires confidence in his work and his recommendations. He has that unique ability to distil complex legal arguments into succinct advice. Add to that a warm, personable demeanour and you have a wonderful all-round package that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone seeking expert legal advice in the field of UK property.’
Michael Moran
COO, 2020 Developments‘Simon helped us throughout our journey, since start up in 2004, and backed us to succeed during the GFC and even brokered our first deal in Romania and gave us commercial and legal advice on many of our UK deals. He combines being an excellent commercial lawyer with strong use of his UK property network to our advantage. Most of all he has always been there when we have needed him to help us succeed.’
Keith Pullinger
MD, The Light Cinema