Johnny Drysdale

Johnny advises on high-value residential property, lease extensions, conveyancing and mortgages. He has acted on complex London purchases, option agreements, tenant works consents, and leasehold enfranchisement claims.

• Advised the directors of a freehold company, the owner of a block of ultra-high-value residential flats in Chelsea, in connection with a tenant’s application to excavate a basement, including negotiating an agreement for works, agreement for lease, escrow agreement, company and personal guarantees and Wellcome Trust licence for alterations.
• Acted for an ultra-high-net-worth entrepreneur purchasing a £6.25 million family home in Chelsea from receivers, where multiple charges were registered against the title, including an equitable charge in favour of the seller’s ex-wife.
• Advised on the purchase of Forbes House, Belgravia, and connected freehold and leasehold properties for overseas investors.
• Acted for an overseas client on the grant of an option to purchase 50% of their beneficial interest in an estate in Ascot in exchange for a business loan of £8 million, including advice on co-ownership and declarations of trust.
• Advised Derwent London Plc and Derwent Central Cross Limited on leasehold extension claims under the Leasehold Reform Housing and Urban Development Act 1993.

Johnny advises on investment acquisitions, disposals, portfolio management and corporate occupier matters, including office lease re-gearing, international real estate due diligence on $1bn+ transactions, and landlord consent negotiations.

• Acted for a private equity portfolio client on the lease re-gearing of their Central London office headquarters by negotiating five deeds of surrender and new leases with average rents of £500,000 per annum.
• Acted for Avast Software on its $1.3 billion share acquisition of AVG Technologies N.V. by coordinating real estate due diligence of office leases in multiple jurisdictions, including Germany, Norway, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Israel and Serbia and reporting to the client on indirect change of control clauses and obtaining consents from landlords to the sale where required.
• Assisting Scotts Miracle-Gro Company on the £215 million asset and share sale of its European and Australian operations to Exponent Private Equity LLP, including managing the real estate Q&A process, dealing with pre-emption rights under French law, negotiation asset transfer provisions and indemnity protection for remediation liability in the SPA.
• Acting for an international bank on an underletting of office space in Broadgate Tower.

Johnny advises high-net-worth individuals and family offices on the purchase, sale, and financing of high-value residential property, particularly in London.

• Advised on the sale and purchase of prime and ultra-prime residential properties with individual values up to £52 million.
• Acted for a high-net-worth couple purchasing a £26 million family home in Holland Park.
• Acted on the sale of luxury new-build apartments at 20 Grosvenor Square in Mayfair to high-net-worth individuals.
• Completed a high-value remortgage of a family trust’s One Hyde Park Apartment in Knightsbridge in ten working days.
• Advised a family office client on the acquisition of 101 Wigmore Street, including title review, due diligence reporting and transaction document negotiation.

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Residential Property 2021–2023