Overview
Real estate transactions and disputes require legal advisors who combine technical property law expertise with a clear commercial perspective. Poorly structured acquisitions, inadequate due diligence or badly drafted leases can create long-term liabilities that are difficult and expensive to unwind. When disputes arise, they can erode value, disrupt cash flow and stall projects — often requiring strict procedural compliance and a strategic approach to evidence and remedy selection, particularly where possession, forfeiture, tribunal proceedings or urgent relief are in play.
STA Legal advises investors, developers, occupiers, lenders, landlords, tenants, asset managers, housing providers and managing agents on the full range of commercial and residential real estate matters — from straightforward acquisitions to complex development financing and contentious landlord and tenant disputes.
What We Handle
Transactions and structuring
- Acquisition and disposal of commercial property
- Development agreements and pre-sale structures
- Commercial leases — new lettings, renewals, assignments and surrenders
- Real estate finance — security documentation, charges and enforcement
- Planning and infrastructure agreements (s.106 and CIL)
- Title investigation and due diligence
- Joint ventures and co-ownership structures for property assets
Commercial landlord and tenant disputes
- Dilapidations claims, including terminal schedule preparation, expert evaluation and settlement
- Rent arrears recovery, including CRAR, High Court enforcement and possession strategy
- Forfeiture, peaceable re-entry, relief-from-forfeiture applications and contested lease termination
- Breach of covenant (user, repair, alienation, alterations, insurance)
- Renewal disputes under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (contested and uncontested)
- Break clause disputes
Development and strategic land disputes
- Option agreement disputes (exercise rights, valuation, conditions precedent)
- Overage disputes (trigger events, valuation methodology and enforcement)
- Boundary, trespass, adverse possession and title irregularity disputes
- Easement and right-of-way disputes and obstruction claims
- Restrictive covenant disputes, including applications under s.84 LPA 1925
Residential block management and leasehold disputes
- Service charge recovery and challenge strategy (including Section 20B compliance)
- Right to Manage (RTM) claims, challenges and transition of management
- FTT and Upper Tribunal matters (service charges, lease variations, administrative charges)
- Enfranchisement and valuation disputes, with strict statutory timetable management
Our Approach
We work quickly and decisively — property transactions are time-sensitive, and delays cost money. Our due diligence is thorough, but we focus on what matters: title risk, planning position, financial exposure and the practical ability to develop or occupy the property as intended.
For contentious matters, we combine our property expertise with the depth of our disputes practice, giving clients joined-up advice when transactions turn litigious — particularly where strict procedural timetables, tribunal proceedings or urgent relief are involved.
Working with Lenders
We act regularly for lenders taking security over real estate, advising on charge documentation, priority arrangements and enforcement. Our experience of both the finance and property sides of transactions means we understand what lenders need and can move at the pace transactions demand.
