Clifford Chance acted for German fund Credit Suisse Asset Management Kapitalanlagesellschaft on the acquisition of the Prince’s Exchange office scheme in central Leeds, in a £32m deal that is the first major German office purchase in the city. Property partner Gabrielle Abbott led the team. Denton Hall, led by property partner Richard Budge, advised the vendor, Teesland,
CMS Cameron McKenna acted for J Sainsbury plc in connection with its proposed scheme at Walton-on- Thames, Surrey. Conditional contracts have been exchanged for J Sainsbury to acquire a long leasehold interest in the development from Frogmore. Property partner Jon Vivian led the team. Clyde & Co, led by property partner Paul Berry, acted for Frogmore. Dibb Lupton Alsop acted for site developers Chapel Wharf, on the £30m deal to build Manchester’s first five-star hotel. The Lowry Hotel is part of Sir Rocco Forte’s RF Hotels Group. Roy Beckett, regional managing partner at Dibbs in Manchester, led the team. Withers, led by property partner Penny Elliott, advised Forte.
Macfarlanes acted for South Quay Estates on the letting of a key Docklands site, which will be the new headquarters of The Financial Services Ombudsman Scheme. The value of the deal was not disclosed. Property partner Steven Pitchford led the deal, assisted by Rachel Booth. Stephenson Harwood, led by property partner Marcel Haniff, advised the purchaser.
