Stephen Harris

Associate
T: +44 (0)1392 333840
F: +44 (0)1392 336840
s.harris@ashfords.co.uk

Stephen has undertaken a variety of complex work on behalf of a range of clients in mainly the private sector and he now undertakes a mix of commercial property transactions but has particular expertise in acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant matters, secured lending and business asset sales/purchases. His clients include commercial investors and developers, landlords and tenants, banks and business operators.

Stephen has over eight years post qualification experience and his work mainly focuses on landlord and tenant, sale and purchases of property and also businesses where property is the main asset (such as pubs and shops) and additionally secured lending.
 
Work handled includes:

• Acting for a number of different SIPPs in the acquisition of various commercial units and agricultural land with leases back to the SIPP Investors;
• Acting for Lloyds TSB Bank in respect of its security over property at Woodbury Park Golf and Country Club, valued at approximately £4m. This involved investigating title and addressing numerous issues in order to obtain satisfactory security for the bank. This type of work places Stephen in an ideal position to advise purchasers of the potential security requirements of their lender;
• Sale of Monkton Court Hotel, Honiton. This involved the sale of the whole business as a going concern, with transfer of employees, assets and contracts. The main asset is of course the property in this kind of transaction hence Stephen's involvement as a commercial property lawyer;
• Purchase of fractional ownership properties in Dartmoor. This is a relatively new concept for property ownership in the UK having become popular in the US. The principle is that a number of different people own the freehold and share the expense and use of the property between them; and
  
• Sale of Foundry Site at Decoy Industrial Estate, Newton Abbot for Teignbridge Propellers Limited. Teignbridge Propellers is an international business that have now instructed Stephen on a number of matters.