Our People

Leo Skinner

Leo Skinner | Partner

leo.skinner@freeths.co.uk

+44 (0) 345 271 6755

View Leo's profile on LinkedIn

Recent deals & projects

  • Recently acted on the real estate side in respect of the restructuring of two national pub companies.
  • Advising leading multiple managed house late night venue and restaurant and pub operators on ongoing leasehold acquisitions.

Leo has also regularly advised on the following:

  • Acquisitions of distressed business assets out of pre-pack administration or sales from Administrators.
  • Acquisition of hotel development sites whether freehold or leasehold (e.g. approximately 25 individual sites over the last 3 years).
  • Disposal or acquisition of tenanted and/or managed pubs, bars, restaurants (both branded and unbranded) and hotels; dealing with all relating issues including the sale and purchase of stock and F&F, employees (including the application of TUPE), VAT (including TOGC considerations), Capital Allowances and warranties.
  • Disposal and Acquisition of Café Bars.
  • Refurbishment and extensions.
  • Property aspects of securitisations/refinancing of managed or tenanted public house estates eg refinancing of 1,000 house estate.
  • Negotiating Section 106 and Section 278 Agreements and other statutory agreements, electricity sub-station leases and deeds of easement relating to servicing.
  • Dealing with relevant aspects of planning and construction law in development/re-development cases.
  • General estate work; licences to assign and for alterations; release of restrictive covenants and advice on general estate management issues.
  • Sale and lease-back and options to take premises in new developments.
  • Rights to light and other impediments to development.
  • Granting tied tenancies for tenanted pub estates.

“Leo expertly handles all of our property legal transactions and has proved to be an expert in this field. Over a number of years he has developed an extensive knowledge of our property portfolio and the wider London market in general. I would not hesitate in recommending Leo and his team for the hospitality industry”

CEO, Novus Leisure

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