What We Do
When commercial property disputes arise, you need more than legal expertise. You need advisers who understand the commercial realities, communicate clearly and become a trusted extension of your team.
Estate Legal is a boutique firm dedicated exclusively to commercial property litigation. We advise landlords, tenants, investors, developers and operators on everything from lease renewals and rent reviews to dilapidations, break options and complex development disputes, combining specialist knowledge with a genuinely personal service that puts your business first.
Business Lease Renewals & Termination
Expert guidance on opposed and unopposed lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954, including reviewing and serving notices, dealing with Court applications for termination and renewal, interim rent applications and lease termination strategies to ensure you achieve commercially viable outcomes.
Break Clauses
Expert insight on the interpretation of break clauses, challenging the validity of break notices, exercising break options and complying with any conditions.
Forfeiture & Possession
Strategic advice and robust representation in forfeiture proceedings, rent arrears enforcement, and possession claims, protecting your rights as a landlord or defending your occupation as tenant.
Vacant Possession Strategy & Site Clearance
Strategic advice on securing vacant possession of large sites for development, including pre-acquisition advice in relation to redevelopment prospects in view of tenants in situ, developing strategies and commercial solutions for securing vacant possession of sites purchased with existing tenants and securing possession from trespassers through the Court.
Dilapidations
Comprehensive dilapidations advice for landlords and tenants, from ongoing repairing obligations during the term to repairing and reinstatement obligations in terminal schedules at the end of a lease term, strategic advice regarding diminution in value assessments (Section 18), ensuring claims are properly quantified and commercial settlements achieved.
Rights of Light & Development
Specialist expertise in rights of light disputes, restrictive covenants, easements (including rights of way), options, overage and conditional contracts, and development-related property issues, including Tribunal applications.
Rent Review
Technical advice on rent review mechanisms, trigger notices, tactics and third-party referrals, providing legal opinions to independent experts and arbitrators, combining interpretation expertise with commercial negotiation to achieve fair outcomes.
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
Experienced representation in mediation, arbitration, expert determination and all forms of ADR, helping you resolve property disputes cost-effectively while preserving important business relationships.
Pubs Code
Strategic advice in relation to the Pubs Code, exercising the market rent only (MRO) option and giving notice within the prescribed time limits, referring matters to the Pubs Code Adjudicator and dealing with the arbitration process.
Further Services
All aspects of service charge liability
Landlord / Tenant insolvency
Land registration issues and adverse possession
Rating of commercial premises
Utilities, services and wayleaves
Advice to riparian owners relating to navigation rights on rivers and canals