Guy Sackett to lead Irwin Mitchell’s National Real Estate Team and Garrath Reayer to lead Residential Property

National law firm Irwin Mitchell has appointed partner Guy Sackett as its new Head of Real Estate. Guy is replacing Adrian Barlow, who is retiring from the partnership.

In addition, Garrath Reayer has been appointed new Head of Residential Property, following the retirement of Jeremy Raj earlier this year.

 Irwin Mitchell’s Real Estate and Residential Property Teams together number 25 partners and have over 130 qualified staff working from nine offices across the UK.

Guy Sackett, National Head of Real Estate

Irwin Mitchell’s National Real Estate Division offers full-service advice across the sector including property transactional advice, including investment and development, planning and environment, construction, real estate disputes and tax.  

Guy joined the firm in 2015 following its merger with Thomas Eggar and is a real estate development lawyer with over 25 years’ experience in commercial and residential development. Prior to his new national head role, he led the firm’s Southern real estate division.

Guy’s focus over the past five years has been on large scale residential and mixed-use regeneration schemes. He also has significant expertise in the strategic land and student accommodation sectors, and acts for a number of leading developers, promoters and operators.

 In recent years Guy has acted on a number of significant transactions including:

• Advising Sussex County Cricket Club on the residential-led development of part of the County Ground in a joint venture with Roffey Homes
• Acting for Summix Capital in its role as lead promoter, promoting Worcestershire Parkway as an allocation for residential-led mixed use development of a new settlement
• Acting for a long-standing developer client in connection with the funding and development of a 215-unit central London student accommodation scheme with a GDV in excess of £130m
• Advising a leading developer in relation to a key residential-led town centre regeneration opportunity (estimated GDV in excess of £60m) in partnership with the local council
• Advising Landlink Estates on the pre-letting, development and forward funding of Saltbox Business Park (an industrial/ retail/logistics park in West Sussex)
• Advising on the acquisition, development and funding of the iconic mixed-use development at St Georges Tower, Leicester (also known as the Blue Tower) accommodating: student housing, hotel, offices, residential, leisure and retail.

He brings strong hands-on experience to the new role together with strategic knowledge of the real estate sector, strong client relationships and a track record of success in the transactional arena.

Expert Opinion

“I am excited to be taking over the reins of IM’s Real Estate Division at a time when the new government’s policies are fixed firmly on addressing the housing crisis and delivering on planning and environmental reform. All of these play to IM’s strengths and provide us with a great platform for growth.” Guy Sackett

Garrath Reayer, National Head of Residential Property

Irwin Mitchell’s National Residential Property Team covers the full remit of residential property advice including residential sales, acquisitions, refinances, leasehold enfranchisement and secured lending across the UK. The Team offers market competitive fee rates, providing an advisory rather than mere executory service. The provision of a "Platinum Service" being of paramount importance. 

Garrath joined the firm in 2015 following its merger with Thomas Eggar and has over 25 years’ experience in the high net worth / ultra-high net worth London and South-East property markets. Garrath’ s particular area of expertise lies in the secured lending sector of the residential market, working alongside top financial institutions.

In recent years Garrath has acted on many significant transactions including:

Acting for Lender in respect of a loan for purchase – London flat: purchase price: £111,000,000 – Loan Value: £52,500,000

·      Acting for Lender in respect of a refinance to a Guernsey company – funding secured on a London flat valued at £40,000,000 – Loan Value: £28,000,000

·      Acting for Lender in respect of a refinance to a BVI company – funding secured on two London properties [valued at £33,000,000 and   £17,500,000] - Loan Value: £25,300,000

·       Acting for Lender in respect of an equity release  secured against three flats in London – Loan Value £23,000,000

·       Acting for Lender in respect of a refinance of a 17-property portfolio – Loan Value: £11,500,000

In addition, Garrath has numerous long-standing celebrity clients from the world of film, TV, entertainment and sport.

Garrath brings long and successful hands-on experience to the role together with strategic knowledge of the residential market (in particular the secured lending sector), strong and long-established client relationships and a proven record of success.

Expert Opinion

“I am obviously very excited to be appointed to the role. We have a well-established, experienced and very dedicated Team who work tirelessly for our clients. I am extremely confident that we will build on the Team’s existing strong foundations. It is an exciting time to be a part of Irwin Mitchell with the firm going from strength to strength!” Garrath Reayer