Insights & News

Towards Net Zero in London's Bankside Yards

22 September 2023

Overlooking the iconic St Paul's Cathedral and Tate Modern, Lewis Silkin hosted another fantastic ESG focused event “FutuRE Proofing the Office: Journey to Net Zero”. The event, held at the stunning new Lewis Silkin office with its panoramic 360-degree views, brought together Native Land, the Carbon Trust, Lewis Silkin, and a group of invitees from across various business sectors. The purpose? To engage in a conversation about proactive strategies for future-proofing buildings, achieving net-zero emissions, and enhancing landlord’s and tenant’s sustainability credentials.

Hotels: Cleaning the air – green trends in the hotel industry

01 September 2023

Fuelled by the climate crisis, green-minded stakeholders are applying ever-increasing pressure on hotel companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This is not surprising given that, according to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the carbon emissions generated per room per night in UK hotels are as high as 10.4 kg CO2e.

Hotels: Checking out of hotels and into homes

01 September 2023

The Department for Levelling Up in conjunction with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have published yet another consultation proposing changes to planning legislation, specifically amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (“GPDO”).

Hotels: Investing in branded residences

01 September 2023

Branded residences have grown in popularity across the global super-prime real estate market in recent years, especially since the pandemic. Secure and convenient luxury living, managed by the most prestigious of hotel brands, has proved appealing to many high-net-worth individuals. While purchase for personal use is more common across the globe, branded residences are emerging as an attractive investment asset in certain locations, including the Middle East. In this article, we explore the concept of branded residences as an investment and consider the likely commercial and legal challenges that operators and investors alike may face in the UK market.

Exit Series part 4: Navigating lease surrenders

14 August 2023

Exiting an office space can have implications for your business. By being well prepared and understanding your legal position, you can get it right first time and avoid any costly delays. In the final part of this series we explore lease surrenders and the issues surrounding them.

Exit Series part 3: The power of subletting for corporate occupiers

26 July 2023

Exiting an office space can have implications for your business. By being well prepared and understanding your legal position, you can get it right first time and avoid any costly delays. In part three of this series, we discuss subletting, a flexible solution for corporate occupiers.

New space, new opportunities: are you hybrid working ready?

13 July 2023

A move to a new headquarters is the ideal time to instil an improved workplace culture and working patterns. It’s vital not to miss the opportunities a new office can provide and to avoid mistakes of the past. With only a quarter of employees thinking that their company is ‘very prepared’ for a hybrid work future, this article looks into what needs to be considered ahead of the move.

Exit Series part 2: Consolidating satellite offices into one HQ

26 June 2023

Exiting an office space can have implications for your business. By being well prepared and understanding your legal position, you can get it right first time and avoid any costly delays. In part two of this series, we look at the implications of consolidating satellite offices into one HQ.

Does workplace wellbeing need a health check?

21 June 2023

The physical, mental and social wellbeing of employees remains high on corporate agendas, with employers recognising the importance of creating nurturing working environments and supporting their staff in ways which now often transcend what might be seen as a traditional employer/employee relationship.

Exit Series part 1: Moving premises? Consider these key issues

21 June 2023

Exiting an office space can have implications for your business. By being well prepared and understanding your legal position, you can get it right first time and avoid any costly delays. In this series we cover key considerations when exiting your office space to reduce stress and stay on track.

Proptech – once a trend, now a necessity

10 November 2022

The real estate sector has, for a long time, been reluctant to embrace technology. While the rise of property tech start-ups did go some way to open people’s eyes to the possibilities and fuel their imagination, it took something as monumental as a global pandemic to force many, who work within the sector, to move away from traditional (and often outdated) working practices into a more modern way of thinking and working.

Lewis Silkin has advised Daniel J. Edelman Limited on the lease of Francis House, London

Deal

03 November 2022

Lewis Silkin was engaged to act for Daniel J. Edelman Limited in the relocation of its London office, to a newly refurbished building in Victoria.

A case for retro-fitting

21 September 2022

At a time of spiralling inflation and supply-chain issues, UK businesses need to think even more carefully about how they occupy their space, particularly as working habits have shifted post-Covid. One key aspect of this will be to consider whether their current space is fit for purpose, could be made so, or is no longer suitable.

Headquarter moves are not necessarily a headache

04 August 2022

The change in the way that office space is used has been gathering significant momentum since the pandemic hit.

Government unveils scheme for binding arbitration in relation to COVID related rent arrears

17 November 2021

On 9 November 2021 the government published its proposals regarding a new Code of Practice together with draft legislation, known as the Commercial Rent (Coronavirus) Bill, to deal with arrears accumulated during the Covid pandemic period.

Commercial rent — COVID-19 - tenants’ defences fail at first hurdle

09 July 2021

Commercial tenants and landlords alike have been eagerly awaiting the outcome of two landmark cases (Commerz Real Investmentgesellschaft mbH v TFS Stores Limited and Bank of New York Mellon (International) Ltd & Others v Cine-UK Ltd & Others) where a number of tenants challenged their liability to pay the rent and other sums under their respective leases based on arguments related to the effects of Covid-19.

Coronavirus Act 2020 and forfeiture of leases

16 June 2021

The government has protected tenants’ interests, with the Coronavirus Act 2020 coming into force on 26 March 2020.

COVID-19 advice for corporate occupiers

16 June 2021

Commercial tenants – whether occupying offices, retail premises, industrial units or other property - face potentially existential questions arising out of their landlord and tenant relations, how to manage cashflow and outgoings as revenues dry up, premises shut down and uncertainty reigns.

RE: Occupy - Real Estate FAQs for Tenants during Covid-19

Inbrief

16 June 2021

The impact of Covid-19 is constantly changing for the real estate sector: from construction sites and developments being shut down; to new approaches for planning inquiries and a mutable landscape for lease negotiations. Nothing is set in stone. Therefore, we have pulled together a selection of the questions we are being asked by clients and will be updating this regularly.

The catalyst of Covid-19 must bring a positive change to our offices: Clare Reddy writes for Property Week

Press

01 April 2021

Covid-19 has been, and continues to be, a catalyst for change. At some point, life will settle into a new rhythm, which will come with its own challenges. As we grapple with hybrid ways of working, the pandemic has shown that our experiences have not been equal and has emphasised the increased importance of wellbeing.