News & Events | News

Tuesday 15th July 2008

European law firm SJ Berwin LLP’s real estate division has advised Gazeley UK Ltd on the development of around 900,000 square feet in Sittingbourne, Kent, which has been pre-let to Wm Morrisons Supermarkets plc.  Gazeley will be carrying out the development of what will be one of the biggest distribution facilities in the South East and which should be operational by the end of 2009.

This is the first of four phases planned for development at the Sittingbourne site.  The deal is funded by site owner Standard Life.

Joanne Footitt, real estate partner acted for Gazeley, Shelagh Mckibbin of Herbert Smith acted for Standard Life and Paul Ayre of Gordons acted for Morrisons.

This is the latest deal, upon which SJ Berwin has advised Gazeley.  In April it advised on an 800,000 (£65 million) joint venture with Metlife to develop Axis Business Park in Liverpool.

For further information please contact:

Joanne Footitt, Partner on +44 (0)20 7111 2543, email joanne.footitt@sjberwin.com or

Karen Roberts, PR Consultant for Real Estate on +44 (0)20 7111 2578, email karen.roberts@sjberwin.com            

Notes to Editors:

S J Berwin LLP

• SJ Berwin was created and thrives as a leading-edge legal services business, focusing on the European and international market place.  Our clients are sophisticated buyers of legal services, principally entrepreneurial companies and financial institutions, whom we advise on a comprehensive range of services including Corporate, Commercial, Real Estate, Finance, Reconstruction & Insolvency, Financial Services, Litigation, Employment and Pensions, EU Competition and Tax.
• SJ Berwin LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Turin.
• SJ Berwin LLP was named ‘UK Firm of the Year’ at the Global Chambers Awards 2007 and Private Equity Team of the Year at the Financial News Legal Awards 2007. 
• SJ Berwin's Real Estate Division totals 150 staff  in London of which 25 are partners (3 of which are tax partners), and around 70 associates, encompassing the disciplines of Commercial Real Estate, Construction, Planning & Environment, Property Litigation, Real Estate Funds and Tax.  In addition, there are 4 partners specialising in real estate in our Continental European offices.  There is an increasing emphasis on cross departmental activity with related areas of Banking and Corporate and also cross border / pan European real estate work, with our European offices.  The division acts for blue chip clients including British Land, Royal Bank of Scotland, the Hilton Group, Brixton plc, AXA, The Crown Estate, Marks & Spencer and Gazeley.
• The Real Estate Team was short listed Real Estate team of the Year in this year’s British Legal awards.
• Revenue from Real Estate represents over 20 % of the firm's total revenue in London.