Paul has over 20 years’ experience as a commercial property solicitor. He is able to provide advice on the full spectrum of commercial property matters including disposals, acquisitions, option agreements, overage and clawback, voluntary registration schemes, unregistered titles, wayleaves and easements, as well as Landlord and Tenant matters including negotiation of new leases, lease renewals, dilapidations, lease reports, extensions, agreements and surrenders as well as licences to assign, alter, underlet and for occupation. 

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Prior to joining Davitt Jones Bould, Paul practiced both in-house at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council and in private practice as Head of Commercial Property at Harper James as well as working for HBJ Gateley Wareing and Eversheds to name a few. During his career, Paul has advised various retail clients including HSBC retail, Bathstore.com, Goodyear Dunlop Tyres, Leisure Link, Goldsmiths, Watches of Switzerland, Mappin & Webb and BT.

 WORK HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE ​

• As Head of Commercial Property, Paul carried out and supervised a mixed caseload including sales, purchases, landlord and tenant matters, property finance as well as corporate support.

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• At Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council:

  • Provided advice in connection with Building Schools for the Future and Primary Capital, and Major Capital Programmes.

  • Drafted bespoke precedents for use in property transactions across numerous sectors – retail, leisure, industrial, greenbelt (including agricultural land), office and markets.

  • Providing advice for academy conversions.

  • Town and out-of-town redevelopment schemes, including advice and assistance on bypass schemes and the redevelopment of Ashton-under-Lyne town centre; and variation to development agreements to kickstart schemes which have stalled during the recession. This has involved working closely with other teams at the Council and other government agencies often under intense pressure from funding deadlines or in forced situations where the Council has had to progress transactions whilst simultaneously determining whether it is best value/in the interests of the citizens to proceed.

  • Sale of none core assets of the Council as part of a capital programme meeting timetables set centrally.

  • Carrying out general property work including acquisitions and disposals of both freehold and leasehold properties.

  • All ancillary leasehold work such as licences for alterations; change of use; to assign; and to sublet.

  • Giving strategic advice to the Council on central policy which goes beyond transactional work; and assisting with the recruitment of staff to key positions.

  • Reporting to the directorate of the Council and assisting with the governance required to approve and implement transactions.

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• At HBJ Gateley Wareing, Paul was part of the Retail and Occupiers Team, covering all areas of commercial property work with a particular focus on retail property. This also included corporate support work for investor clients such as X-Leisure and Baronsgate.