James Cleveland

James qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and specialises in commercial and residential property transactions. He advises developers, investors, lenders and owner-occupiers on a wide range of property matters, from straightforward acquisitions to complex, multi-asset transactions. James has extensive experience acting on sales and purchases, refinancing, development sites, overage arrangements, options, conditional contracts and secured lending. He is known for providing pragmatic, commercially focused advice and for managing transactions efficiently, even where timescales are tight or structures are complex.

More about James

James regularly acts for property developers and investor clients, including those using SPV, group and pension-fund structures. His work frequently involves liaising closely with lenders, surveyors, accountants and planning consultants to ensure transactions proceed smoothly from instruction through to completion. He is particularly experienced in dealing with lender requirements, title risk, development documentation and negotiated contractual protections. Clients value his clear communication style and his ability to anticipate issues before they become problems.

Recent work

• Acting for a developer on the acquisition and refinancing of a multi-use development site.
• Advising on the sale and purchase of commercial investment properties subject to occupational leases.
• Acting for borrowers on secured lending transactions, including development and bridging finance.
• Drafting and negotiating overage, option and conditional sale agreements.
• Advising on complex residential transactions involving unregistered land and title defects.