REAL ESTATE SUPPORTSUPPORTING CITY REAL ESTATE LAWYERS

SUPPORTING FULL SERVICE AND SPECIALIST LEGAL TEAMS ON THE FULL RANGE OF REAL ESTATE LEGAL MATTERS

Davitt Jones Bould is one of the largest specialist real estate solicitor firms in the country. From commercial property through to planning, our team of experienced solicitors support in-house legal departments and law firms.

Davitt Jones Bould has an established, experienced team ideally equipped to provide support to other legal teams, helping to address issues of cost, capacity or capability.

DAVITT JONES BOULD - REAL ESTATE SUPPORT

THE CHALLENGE FOR CITY FIRMS

Profitable real estate work for City firms is increasingly found in high value transactions and specialist areas such as structured financing. Significant pressure on fees continues for routine elements such as standard due diligence and lower value portfolio management. The pursuit of more profitable work has led to some major law firms turning down pitches for significant real estate projects. The adverse effect on realisation rates that routine real estate legal work can have is a real challenge for many City firms.

That is where DJB comes in. Based in a low cost area and with dramatically reduced overheads we are perfectly positioned to help you improve profitability whilst maintaining quality of service to your clients.

As your supporting partner we provide a legal service outsourcing solution that not only helps maximise your profit but gives you total confidence that your high standards will not be compromised.

In short, you can now carry out and pitch for real estate work knowing that you can pick and choose the more lucrative parts and we will seamlessly do the rest with the exceptional quality which you and your clients demand.

THEOPTIONS

Hire more Trainees Y ? N Y N N

Employ in-house Paralegals Y ? Y Y N N

Set up an Out of Town Office N ? Y Y N Y

Send the Work Offshore Y N ? N N N

Employ Locums Y ? N Y N N

DJB Real Estate Support Y Y Y Y Y Y

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Sole focus on Property and Planning Law matters

At DJB we are absolute specialists – this focus means we are able to undertake the full range of Real Estate matters, from asset management and estates rationalisation, from planning and CPO through to complex property litigation.

25+ Property Lawyers (not paralegals) with 20yrs+ average PQE

Broad, highly experienced team providing capability and capacity to undertake significant projects, as well as to provide ad-hoc support. We will not use paralegals to support you.

Ranked as top tier firm for Commercial Property

Rankings in the leading Legal Directories Chambers and Partners and the Legal 500 have the firm as a top tier provider of Commercial Property legal services.

Award Winning

• Winner of the Lawyer Awards - Boutique firm of the year 2013

• Runner up of the Lawyer Awards - Real Estate Team of the Year 2013

Only act for corporate bodies, not the general public

We do not act for individuals or small businesses, focusing all our efforts on supplying high quality legal services to large organisations, or in support of other legal teams.

Focus on supporting in-house lawyers and estates professionals

Over 40% of our instructions come from other lawyers with the majority of the rest coming from senior property professionals. This experience enables us to provide supporting services to a variety of law firm client types, from real estate departments to corporate teams, from full service heavyweights through to specialist sole practitioners.

Operate from low-cost regional base, less than 2 hours from London

Our location allows us to offer our services at significantly lower rates than the majority of our competitors with quality lawyers attracted by the work life balance and quality of work we offer.

Not a full service law firm

We do not provide the full range of legal services and have no ambition to ever grow into a full service law firm. Our ambition is to be the largest and best renowned supplier of commercial Real Estate Legal Services in the UK.

WHY CHOOSE DJB TO SUPPORT YOU?

SpecificationAgree Process and Service Levels

PortalStorage of Precedents and Instruction Management

New InstructionsPosted on portal and relevant parties notified

Rapid Acknowledgement Within four hours case allocated and costs estimated

Quality Review Monthly performance reports against agreed indicators

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Quality Assurance

Each Real Estate Support client has a dedicated single point of contact who will be responsible for processing instructions, dealing with any service delivery queries and ensuring that the standards expected are being achieved. Your single point of contact will be available out of hours and will be fully supported to ensure standards are achieved and deadlines met.

Ways to Instruct

We are happy to provide support in either of two ways:

1/ Instruct Directly – we become your client – ideal for incidental support on a case where you have care and conduct

2/ Act for Client – we take over care and conduct of the file – ideal where the matter is transactional and we need to deal with other parties on behalf of the client

In both cases we will comply with SRA requirements relating to client care.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Before undertaking any work for you we will agree to a defined Service Level Agreement which will encompass but not be limited to the following commitments:

• Our relationship is with you

• We work to your high standards so as to protect your reputation

• All work undertaken is securely held within the jurisdiction

• We operate an adaptable and friendly service. Your service is moulded to your needs and requirements

• We are LEXCEL accredited

• You will be allocated a direct single point of contact who will deal with instructions and queries

• You will have direct access to the Lawyer with care and conduct of the matter at all times.

OUR STANDARDS

OUR SERVICES

With a combined PQE of over 500 years, DJB’s property and planning lawyers have a deserved reputation as one of the most credible teams in the country.

Whilst we are able to provide legal services in relation to property and planning law only, the range of services is comprehensive and include:

• Advisory services

• Aquisitions and disposals

• Landlord and Tenant work

• Property Litigation

• Planning

• Compulsory purchase and highways

• Auction sales

• Insolvency property

• Pre-sale/pre-purchase negotiations and tender selection/preparation

• Drafting of all types of property agreement including options, Section 106 Agreements, clawback, overage, etc

• Training, lectures and mentoring

Commercial PropertyAcquisitions and Disposals of freehold and leasehold property in connection with investment, development and owner-occupation. Estate management. Commercial leases, renewals and termination. Dilapidations.

PlanningLegal advice on strategic planning and planning policy, drafting planning obligations, compulsory purchase schemes, conducting planning appeals, judicial review, highways law and local government law.

Property LitigationRent arrears, breach of contract, debt claims, injunctions, judicial review, professional negligence (property professionals).

Landlord and TenantBusiness leases, renewals, rent reviews, break options, dilapidations, agricultural tenancies.

Corporate SupportInvestigation of title, certificates, warranties, clause drafting, maintenance of data room.

DevelopmentCommercial and Residential development, establishment of scheme and structure, site assembly, development and construction contracts, warranties.

Environmental LawLiability for contaminated land, collateral warranties, sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs), nature reserves.

Agricultural and Forestry LawFarm business tenancies, milk quotas, agricultural holdings, management agreements under the Countryside Acts, general advice on any of the Forestry Commission Acts.

General Property AdviceProperty and boundary issues, common land and rights in common, occupiers liability and health and safety, Crichel Down rules.

Public LawJudicial Review, human rights, impact of European law, legal position of the crown, interrelationship of law and policy, intra/ultra vires issues.

Retail/LeisureActing for landlord or tenant, turnover rents, service charges, portfolio management, licences, third party agreements.

OUR CREDENTIALS

LEGAL 500

• Real Estate: Commercial Property – London• Real Estate: Planning – London• Real Estate: Property Litigation – London • Real Estate: Planning – South West • Real Estate: Property Litigation – South West• Public Sector: Local Government – South West• Real Estate: Commercial Property – West Country (top tier firm)

CHAMBERS UK

• Real Estate: Somerset (sole top tier firm) • Planning: Somerset (sole top tier firm)• Real Estate Litigation: Somerset

AWARDS

• 2013 Lawyer Awards – Boutique Firm – National - Winner• 2013 Lawyer Awards – Real Estate Team – 2nd

“The level of service is excellent, and advice is well thought out and practical.”

LEGAL 500 2014

“The team is efficient and very knowledgeable – they know their stuff and get the job done quickly within time limits.”

CHAMBERS 2015

“Very professional, quick to respond and good at keeping the client informed.”

LEGAL 500 2014

“I think they’re very thorough and rigorous. They make sure that they are protecting us to the greatest extent possible.”

CHAMBERS 2015

WHATTHE PRESS

SAYS

“The ascent of the onshore legal outsourcing industry may change the shape and structure of traditional law firms from high street [through] to major City firms.”

LEGAL FUTURES, 2011

“Outsourcing converts fixed costs to variable ones…provides flexibility and avoids capital commitments… [and] allows lawyers to focus on their “highest and best use,” which is serving clients and winning new business. Eliminating managerial distractions from lawyers can let them bill more hours, thus boosting revenue.”

LLRX.COM, 2008

“The motivation for the review [of legal support arrangements] is to cut costs, and law firms need to respond by developing innovative outsourcing initiatives.”

CHIEF OF STAFF, INTERNATIONAL BANK, LEGAL WEEK, 2011

“The word ‘outsourcing’ is something of a misnomer. We’re not talking about lifting and shifting a department or function. It’s about working collaboratively. ‘Legal Services Integration’ is probably a more accurate description.” The key in this equation is that each spoke in the wheel—each process—be performed by the party with the greatest comparative advantage.”

MANAGING ATTORNEY, INTERNATIONAL MINING COMPANY, FORBES, 2011

CASESTUDIES

Assisting a boutique corporate team with the property elements of an M&A deal concerning hotel and leisure properties distributed across England and Wales.

Collaborating with a City firm’s real estate’s team on a major tender to provide comprehensive legal services covering a diverse property estate across the UK.

Undertaking all the property elements of a government privatisation in support of a City corporate team.

ABOUTDJB

Established in 1999, Davitt Jones Bould is now the largest niche firm of real estate lawyers outside London.

DJB is entirely focused on real estate. Covering commercial property, planning and other related areas we have one of the most experienced teams in the country with a total of over 500 years’ PQE.

We act for a wide range of public and private sector clients spanning many industries. Our client base includes some of the most significant landowners in the country, whether acting directly or in support of City firms and smaller firms.

Handling any size of property transaction or planning project, the team is comprised of City trained and highly regarded lawyers that operate from the firm’s low cost base in the South West.

The firm enjoys top tier rankings in all of the main directories and is a winner of the Lawyer Awards.