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Simon Ralphs

Partner

Simon Ralphs

Partner

“This is a substantial practice. I cannot rate the firm as a whole, but I can recommend without reservation Simon Ralphs who has provided an excellent and skilled service at reasonable costs.”

The Legal 500

Simon Ralphs is a partner in the commercial real estate team, advising on a broad range of commercial property transactions but with a well regarded specialism in the food and restaurant sector.

Simon acts for institutional investors, large retailers, property funds, developers and landlords and tenants of all types and sizes.

Simon has over 20 years of experience working in commercial property and is well known in both the London and Thames Valley areas.

Simon is also well connected in the restaurant space with a detailed knowledge of restaurant leases and franchise arrangements. His passion for the food and restaurant sector has seen him support a range of clients, many of them, at the forefront of new developments in the sector.

The Cheese Bar and Pick & Cheese: We’ve been very lucky to have Simon work for us on two recent leases and can’t fault his approach. His communication, professionalism and advice has been invaluable.

Chambers: Simon provides reliable and timely advice.

Experience

Acquisitions and disposals

Frequently advises on the sale and purchase of freehold and leasehold properties. On acquisitions this includes co-ordinating title investigation and due diligence in connection with the purchase all types of property investments, including multi-let buildings and sites.

Development

Regularly acts for landlords and tenants in negotiating agreements for lease with development obligations, including agreeing conditions on planning and construction.

Investment and Property Management

Providing clear advice on the terms of any existing leases and supporting documentation. In addition, ongoing management of client’s property assets, including negotiating and agreeing supplemental documents where required.

Franchising

With many years of experience in franchising including acting for a large restaurant operator preparing and agreeing franchise documentation to facilitate their ambitious franchising programme.

Read, listen and watch our latest insights

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  • 20 September 2023
  • Commercial Real Estate

Commercial buyers beware of residential Stamp Duty Land Tax

This article discusses a recent case in which a property buyer calculated the Stamp Duty Land Tax due on the purchase at a lower rate, due to the mixed-use purpose of the property.

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  • 08 August 2023
  • Commercial Real Estate

Non-binding Head of Terms

The Court of Appeal Case of Pretoria Energy Company (Chittering) Ltd v Blankney Estates Ltd found that a lease clause within a Heads of Terms document was not binding.

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  • 11 July 2023
  • Commercial Real Estate

What licences do you need to open a restaurant?

Opening and operating a restaurant can be an exciting venture, but it also involves navigating various legal requirements. One crucial aspect of operating a restaurant is obtaining the necessary licences and permits.

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  • 12 June 2023
  • Commercial Real Estate

Conditionality in Agreements for Lease

It is not always possible or desirable for an agreement for lease to be unconditional.  Often, there is a need for an agreement for lease where the ultimate grant of the lease is conditional upon certain conditions being satisfied. 

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  • 10 May 2023
  • Commercial Real Estate

Good news for landowners – deposit statement introduced to protect against town green registration

For many years it has been possible under Section 31(6) of the Highways Act 1980 to deposit a statement and map with the local highway authority setting out any public rights of way which are registered as crossing a piece of land.

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  • 28 March 2023
  • Commercial Real Estate

Can I have access to a neighbour’s land to carry out works to my property?

We are often asked by landowner clients whether there is any legal right to go on to a neighbour’s land to carry out repair and maintenance works where it is not possible to carry out such works from the landowner’s own property and there is no legal right in place allowing access to the neighbour’s land.