Saskia Arthur leads a ‘very professional team’ at Boodle Hatfield LLP that has an ‘excellent level of expertise in all aspects of property transactions which allows it to solve clients’ questions quickly and efficiently’. The team has a wealth of experience in acting for individuals in the purchase, finance and sale of prime residential and ‘trophy’ properties as well as managing the residential property portfolios of major landed estates in London and across the UK. Other core areas of expertise include advising both landlords and tenants on statutory lease extensions and freehold purchases and advising on the construction documentation for the building and refurbishment of listed central London and rural properties. Shaima Jillood  is the joint head of the firm’s Middle East practice and is skilled at handling all aspects of residential property matters. Reem Al-Jumaily is a key member of the Middle East practice too and specialises in the sale and purchase of UK residential property and large London development projects.

The ‘outstanding’ team at Farrer & Co ‘provides a high level of service’ as ‘you have a good hierarchy with the principal having a lot of knowledge and experience with several very capable team workers reporting quickly to the principal if needed’. Laurie Horwood  is a key member of the department that remains focused on complex work across the residential property market in prime Central London and in the countryside. Laura Conduit  predominately advises on buying and selling both leasehold and freehold residential property for her clients with values ranging from £25,000 to in excess of £30m. Newly promoted partner Hugh Wigzell is vastly experienced in high-value conveyancing matters and acts for both banks and borrowers in secured lending transactions. Other areas of expertise include acting on new-build acquisitions and sales in addition to representing purchasers who are based outside of the UK. Edmund Fetherston-Dilke is also recommended. It is a team that ‘works seamlessly together’.

Under the excellent leadership of Lucy Barber the team at Forsters LLP continues to be active in transactions involving super prime and prime properties in London as well as on the sale and purchase of country houses. It has a diverse client base of wealthy clients who are based in the UK and abroad as well as prime residential developers, banks, property funds and investors. Charles Miéville is considered a 'go-to' adviser for particularly complex conveyancing and property financing matters for a client base that consists of a number of high-profile UHNW individuals and landed families. Robert Barham  has been busy advising on various high-value transactions on behalf of international clients. Helen Marsh handles a broad spread of issues from high-value sales and purchases to advising on financing issues and landlord and tenant matters. Anna-Marie Short is now at Galloway Hughes Solicitors.

Keystone Law has ’an in-depth knowledge of the real-estate market, and is therefore best placed to offer relevant and accurate advice in terms of trends and what’s actually happening on the ground’. It has an excellent portfolio of high-net-worth national and international clients and advises buyers and sellers as well as property agents, companies, banks and financiers in addition to development companies, trustees and property acquisition companies. Among the key names in the practice are Ian Cooke  and Sakhjit Randhawa. Cooke has considerable expertise in transactions relating to prime and super-prime London residential property. Randhawa garners praise for her work on high-value residential property acquisitions, sales and new development projects. Hugh Murphy  acts for private clients, landed estates and institutional clients on a whole host of property related matters. Dagmara Selwyn-Kuczera  is also well-regarded.

Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP fields a skilled and nimble team with Sarah Conway at the helm. Key areas of expertise include acting in many high-value residential sales and purchases throughout the UK with particular expertise in listed buildings. It is also adept at handling leasehold enfranchisement and lease extensions in addition to advising on residential financings and the purchase of SPV companies holding residential properties. It is a known name for its work on super prime transactions and Edward Burton is another key figure who has a wealth of experience across the full spectrum of residential property work from listed buildings, country houses to new build super prime apartments.  Other core areas of expertise include providing specialist real estate advice when there is family disharmony and advising on private client and trust related matters with a real estate element (including doing a substantial amount of work on de-enveloping matters).

Mishcon de Reya LLP has substantial experience of working with UNHW individuals from around the globe. Its diverse client base also includes sophisticated and start up developers, investors, banks, corporates in addition to onshore and offshore investment funds. Head of department is James Liffen who is highly regarded for his work on a range of complex deals involving shared ownership, auction sales, portfolio purchases as well as tenancy and planning issues. Sonal Thakrar advises on all aspects of UK residential property and secured lending to banks. Thakrar has built up a dynamic client base ranging from overseas investors to trustees, investment companies, trading companies, banks and HNW individuals. Simon Chadowitz is also skilled at handling a wide range of high-value commercial and residential real estate. Sarah Conibeere is now at Fladgate LLP.

The London office of BDB Pitmans primarily acts for very wealthy individuals, corporates, investors and trusts that are buying and selling property in prime and super prime central London. It is also recognised for its experience in lease extensions, enfranchisement, refinancing, landlord and tenant matters in addition to advising on block management  issues, the acquisition of property portfolios and SPV asset purchases. Practice head Hema Anand handles a variety of high-profile and high-value residential transactions and is adept at advising on complicated landlord and tenant matters. John Stephenson is another prominent member of the department and Tristan Ward is also a known name for his work on a range of ultra-high-net-worth deals.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has an excellent reputation for its work on complex and high-value transactions in the prime London market as well as the country market and rural estates. Clients include buyers and sellers in addition to financiers, developers, property agents and other very wealthy individuals and families. William Marriott heads the department. Thomas Moran  is well regarded for his work with national and international clients on the purchase and sale of high-value residential property in the prime and super prime London market. Tristam Van Lawick has particular expertise in advising on big estates and farms. There have been changes to the team at a senior level. Christian Massey is now at Michelmores LLP and property consultant Alastair Morrison has recently joined the practice from Burges Salmon LLP.

The ‘knowledgeable and very responsive’ team at Fladgate LLP advises domestic and international clients ranging from HNW individuals to businesses and trusts on acquiring, owning and disposing of all types of residential real estate in the UK. Helen Curtis-Goulding  heads the practice that specialises in prime and super prime properties in central London and surrounding locations. A considerable amount of its work has a cross-border component and it also advises onshore and offshore professional administrators on various key real estate matters. Sarah Conibeere  joined the practice from Mishcon de Reya LLP and is adept at advising on matters with an offshore element such as dealing with trust companies or being involved in de-enveloping tax structures.

The agile team at Kingsley Napley LLP is vastly experienced in advising on the sale and purchase of substantial and high-value central London houses and apartments as well as country houses in the South of England. With Bethan Owen at the helm the majority of its clients are celebrities and U/HNW individuals both nationally and internationally. As well as royalty, politicians, sports and media personalities its key clients also include professionals and business people. Vanessa Rhodes is adept at advising on the acquisition and disposal of complex portfolios with residential assets. Paul Harbour is another name to note for his expertise in this area along with Victoria Lowe who recently joined the group from Memery Crystal LLP.

Emma Copestake  leads the high-end residential property practice at Payne Hicks Beach LLP that frequently acts for international investors. It has a substantial number of Scandinavian, European, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern clients. The group also frequently works with its strong family department on various residential property matters such as  advising on the property elements of financial orders and pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Other key areas of focus include advising its prime residential property clients on leasehold enfranchisement, lease extensions and collective acquisitions as well as working closely with its private client colleagues on a whole host of  property related matters. Among the other names to note are Andrew Berry and Simon Blackburn .

Led by Elaine Dobson the team at Taylor Wessing LLP receives a steady flow of instructions on a variety of high-value and luxury mandates. Dobson is well-known by various advisers across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The team has considerable strength in advising on complex enfranchisement issues. Its clients include UHNW individuals and families, well-known A-list celebrities, founders of household names in the technology sector as well as high-profile sports individuals. The group also has a significant client base of traditional landowners, their heirs and trustees as well as family offices, entrepreneurs and international buyers. Lisa Bevan advises on all aspects of residential property. Luke Callaghan is also recommended.

Wedlake Bell has a broad range of expertise ranging from handling landlord and tenant matters to advising on the purchase and sale of houses, flats, apartments, penthouses, estates and land in prime and super-prime locations in London and the Home Counties. It is also adept at advising on lease extensions as well as individual and collective enfranchisement transactions. Tom Allfree  heads the department and covers all aspects of high-value residential conveyancing. Nick Stone continues to attract high and ultra-high net-worth clients and well-known celebrities and advises on a variety of residential conveyancing matters including the purchase and sale of properties in the prime and super prime markets. Jonathan Achampong also plays a pivotal role in the department.

Henry Stuart  heads the department at Withers LLP. Stuart focuses on residential real estate transactions for UK and international individuals and institutions and is also adept at providing related tax and structuring advice on these transactions. Bertie Hoskyns-Abrahall advises landowners and estates on a wide variety of management and succession issues. In addition Hoskyns-Abrahall has a wealth of experience at advising on agricultural matters and on the commercial aspects of these deals. Nicholas Vaughan is recommended for his work on the sale and acquisition of real property while Edward Jarron deals with a broad range of complex property matters with a particular concentration on the landed estates sector. It was pleased to add Pervaze Ahmed to its ranks from Howard Kennedy LLP. The team is also skilled at assisting in the purchase of commercial property which is then converted into residential property.

Cripps fields a highly respected residential property team that acts for wealthy individuals when they are buying or selling high-value private residences and land. It is also well-regarded for its advice to these clients when they are buying or selling farms, rural and landed estates. The team has been busy too advising private investors who have substantial residential portfolios as well as house builders and developers. Under the joint leadership of Kerry Glanville and Fiona McIntosh the practice has developed an excellent reputation for its enfranchisement advice. Amy Jackson has recently been promoted to the partnership.

At Druces LLP, the head of department, Suzanne Middleton Lindsley  has a wealth of experience in high-value residential property transactions and is also adept at dealing with Sharia compliant financing issues. Gemma Wright  is recommended for her work on a range of issues surrounding the sale, purchase and financing of prime residential property and off-plan developments.

Stephen Brower leads the residential property team at Edwin Coe LLP that has extensive central London experience in all aspects of real estate ownership. It frequently advises on the acquisition and sale of property, property development and other areas such as real estate financing and the resolution of real estate and construction disputes. The group has particular expertise in advising on transactions that involve an enfranchisement claim with Rosie McCormick Paice and Katherine Simpson  having considerable strength in this area.

With Melanie Benson at the helm at Harbottle & Lewis LLP it had another busy year acting for various wealthy clients on a range of sales, purchases, leasehold management and enfranchisement matters. The group predominantly concentrates on the London prime and ultra-prime markets but also handles matters involving country estates and rural properties. There have been some changes to the team at a senior level as Lee Greaves is now at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP and Caroline Roberjot joined the department from Adams & Remers.

Amalie Raben-Levetzau now heads the department at Howard Kennedy LLP. The team typically handles the financing, acquisition and tax structuring of some key property matters in addition to advising on the sale and management of prime residential property on behalf of domestic and international high-net-worth clients, their families and other prominent real estate investors. The group routinely handles transactions in the £15-£50m range supporting buyers from within the UK and overseas. Pervaze Ahmed who was the former head of department has left the firm and is now at Withers LLP.

Under the leadership of Clare Breeze  the team at Macfarlanes LLP  is well-placed to advise private clients in connection with all their property needs ranging from the sale, purchase and refurbishment of prime central London houses to the forward purchase of bespoke luxury houses. Other core areas of expertise include advising on all issues relating to the enlargement and restoration of prestigious country estates. Senior associate Helen Simmons and associate Penny Cox are also recommended. Senior counsel Helen Sculthorpe joined the practice from Farrer & Co.

Nicola Kravitz leads the practice at Memery Crystal (part of RBG Legal Services) that handles the full range of real estate issues for its clients that include high-net-worth individuals and family offices as well as developers, banks, retailers, property owners and asset managers. Victoria Lowe has recently left the group and is now at Kingsley Napley LLP.

Weightmans LLP handles the full array of high-end residential property matters for owner-occupation, investment and development by UK and offshore clients with particular expertise in leasehold enfranchisement.  Practice head Karen Mayne is well-regarded for her work in this area. Clients include landed estates, high-net-worth owners, occupiers, investors and property companies.

James Bunker at Vardags ‘is awesome. He shows outstanding client care, is proactive and always responsive. He genuinely cares for his clients and this shows in his work’.