Smith Hamilton was founded in 2014 as a boutique firm focused on corporate and commercial law, with expertise in fund management and advising senior executives, shareholders and entrepreneurs.
In 2023, the firm became part of MEUM Group, a multidisciplinary platform supporting ultra-high-net-worth individuals, their families and their businesses. During this period, our practice broadened significantly to include family, private client, education, charities and regulatory work, employment, and dispute resolution.
The law firm is now building on that growth to operate independently once again under the Smith Hamilton name. This transition reflects a natural progression in our growth and allows us to focus fully on delivering an integrated legal service under a single specialist brand, while retaining the expanded expertise developed over recent years.
For our clients, it remains very much business as usual – the same team, the same relationships, and an even broader depth of capability.
Real Estate Advisory
We advise on all aspects of residential and commercial real estate.
Property can be one of the most valuable and important assets in your life. We understand this, which is why we look to establish a clear picture of your requirements from the outset. We explain the terms of any legal documents and processes in clear and straightforward language.
We advise on all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. This includes buying and selling freehold and leasehold property, as well as development sites, licences for alterations, enfranchisement, remortgages, off-plan purchases, new build, auction conveyancing, licences to assign, shared ownership purchases, bridging loans, and landlord and tenant-related matters.
We regularly work on SPV-related transactions involving foreign companies and trusts. Leveraging the extensive expertise shared by our corporate lawyers and network of tax specialists, we ensure that all due diligence and other relevant procedures are adhered to.
Key Figure
Rob Prince
Head of Real Estate
Our Services
Commercial
Development
Residential
Client Support
Sourcing properties and land
HNW and UHNW Clients
Selling Properties & Land
We advise developers, funds, investors, lenders, borrowers, landlords, owner-occupiers and tenants on all aspects of real estate law in the UK.
We also act for many offshore individuals and entities making investments into the UK. We take care to ensure that our offshore clients genuinely understand the legal and commercial ramifications of buying and holding real estate in the UK.
At Smith Hamilton, we are an approachable and pragmatic team, who deal with all aspects of commercial property transactions, from purchase to ultimate disposal. We work closely with partners to deliver comprehensive advice in areas including construction, tax and finance.
The team’s expertise covers a wide range of disputes relating to commercial, residential and mixed-use property including:
• Development disputes
• Boundary disputes
• S106 creation and disputes
• Pre Planning Agreements (PPA’s) with local councils for large or complex developments
• Pre-planning advice
Our team acts for developers, funders and occupiers throughout the whole cycle of the development process, advising on mixed-use schemes as well as developments that are exclusively residential or commercial. We also have experience in regeneration, student accommodation, office, retail and leisure developments.
Our services include;
• Site acquisition/assemblage through options/conditional contracts and outright purchase
• Overage/Underage
• Development agreements/Joint Venture agreements
• Development finance
• Meeting with local councils, forming agreements with local authorities and registered providers
• Attending pre-application meetings and harnessing support for schemes at both local and national level
• Dealing with all planning and construction matters during the build period and during lettings/sales
We act for numerous private and national residential developers, advising on all aspects.
On purchase, we can advise on:
• Option Agreements
• Overage Agreements
• Conditional Contracts, often subject to planning.
• JV Agreements, often in conjunction with our corporate team
• Funding arrangements
Following purchase:
• We regularly advise on s106 Agreements and other planning documents with the relevant Council
• We advise developers on the terms of the full suite of construction documents, including appointments, building contracts and warranties
On preparing to sell the site, we often act on:
• The preparation of precedent leases and/or transfers
• The preparation of a full sales pack
• Selling the units
• Selling the freehold title, if required
The Smith Hamilton team have over 35 years of Experience.
At Smith Hamilton, our role is to make your real estate work for you. Whatever the size and shape of your portfolio, we bring the specialist expertise and depth of experience needed to help you realise its potential. We’ll manage any issues you face to help you secure and enhance your assets value.
Our team has the expertise to support your commercial goals, covering all aspects of the acquisition and disposal of real estate and asset management.
Whether you’re negotiating leases, handling acquisitions and obtaining new sites in line with your business growth, maximising the value of your existing real estate portfolio, disposing of surplus space or consolidating your offices into a single headquarter premises – our specialist advisors can help you.
We have experience across a range of commercial and residential real estate, including:
• Handling investment acquisitions and disposals
• Active asset management
• Lease management
• Regulatory compliance
• Risk management
At Smith Hamilton, we have the insight and access to many off-market opportunities. Whether it be a key location for a UK HQ, or a chain of sites with detailed metrics, we can address our clients’ needs in terms of sourcing the right development sites for expansion or launch.
What is the charge for sourcing a property or land requirement?
A success fee (payable only on the successful completion of any property introduced) can vary depending on the purchase value.
Our goal is to secure a property matching our client’s criteria at the best possible price. We use our in-depth knowledge of the search area, live market conditions, and negotiating experience. This is important in London where real estate markets are hyperlocal and fluctuate.
We provide high net worth (HNW) clients with expert UK property advisory services, offering strategic acquisitions, portfolio structuring, compliance management, and long-term capital growth for prime London and UK markets.
The UK remains a global hub for ultra-high net worth property investment. From luxury central London residences to income-generating commercial and mixed-use assets, UHNW clients require tailored advisory services to protect wealth and maximise returns.
We deliver discreet off-market sourcing, portfolio optimisation, and full regulatory compliance, helping investors navigate complex UK property landscapes with confidence.
Portfolio Structuring and Strategic Acquisition
• Balancing capital growth with sustainable rental yields
• Tax-efficient ownership and corporate structuring
• Risk-managed acquisition, development, and exit strategies
• End-to-end transactions, including due diligence, valuation, negotiation, and completion, ensuring clients’ portfolios are optimised for long-term performance and resilience.
We operate with discretion, maintaining privacy and controlled access to sensitive information. This is essential for building high-trust relationships with clients who are often seeking the most secure and confidential investment opportunities.
This service operates separately from public-facing property activity and is governed by discretion, mandate, and suitability.
Discretion and Confidentiality
Discretion is not simply a feature of this service; it underpins everything we do.
We do not publish:
• Addresses
• Images or pricing publicly
Information is only shared when alignment and intent are established, and viewings are pre-vetted for suitability.
Our off-market services are intended for:
• Private investors
• UHNW individuals
• Family offices
• Buyers requiring discretion and confidentiality
Who We Act For
Our clients value clear advice, commercial judgement and a calm, steady hand during complex transactions.