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UK

Stuart Darlington

Consultant Solicitor

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

stuart.darlington@keystonelaw.co.uk

“I am sure our paths will cross again in the future, you are the best property lawyer I have worked with and I will be recommending you whenever I have the chance going forwards. ”

- Finance Director, Leading Homeware Retail Chain

Stuart is a property lawyer who has acted for major clients in all commercial real estate areas. He has extensive experience in advising on acquisitions and disposals, investment management, funding, landlord and tenant, lease acquisitions and acting for corporate occupiers, as well as acting on large corporate deals involving multiple properties.

Stuart also specialises in the retail and leisure sector where he has worked for many household-name retail and restaurant companies. His knowledge of the sector has made him influential in his field; his articles and interviews have appeared in Retail Week, Insolvency Today and other industry publications, and his expertise in leasehold acquisitions and management is demonstrated in his highly popular book, ‘‘A Tenant’s Practical Guide to Commercial Leases’.

Expertise

Stuart advises on acquisition, disposal, and subletting of commercial properties, including office premises for hedge funds and corporates. He handles both freehold and leasehold transactions across diverse sectors with precision.

Experience

  • Acquisition, disposal and subletting of leasehold office premises for various corporate occupiers including a number of hedge funds and other companies (including a FTSE 250 company on the acquisition of office space at a rent of £1.2m a year and the acquisition of offices and radio stations for a Plc media company).
  • The acquisition of various radio companies with multiple sites.

Steven advises on acquisitions, lease renewals, and re-gears for major retail and restaurant brands, including a large Middle-Eastern franchise client, delivering expert commercial property solutions across diverse high-street and shopping centre portfolios.

Experience

  • Advised on acquisition of shopping centre and high-street units, including agreements for construction of premises within shopping centres and schemes.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Prezzo Plc.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for ASK.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Pizza Express.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Strada.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Cafe Rouge.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Cote Restaurants.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Bill’s.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Hakkasan.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Ping Pong.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Hawksmoor.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Ignite Group (Bumpkin).
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for La Senza.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Ryman.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for L’Occitane.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Dune.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Tiger Retail.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Firetrap.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for Sonnetti.
  • Advised on lease renewals and re-gears for a large Middle-Eastern retail and restaurant client with over 2,500 units and over 75 brands under franchise.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Commercial: Real Estate 2017

Author of ‘A Tenants’ Practical Guide to Commercial Leases’ (2015) which can be seen here.

Stuart qualified as a solicitor in 2016. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2016, he worked at the following firms:

  • Michael Simkins
  • Davenport Lyons
  • Fox Williams
  • Eversheds