Biography
Robin is a partner in the Real Estate Team, specialising in working on Public Sector and Development Projects.
Robin advises a diverse range of public and private sector clients in connection with a wide range of Real Estate matters, including complex regeneration and development projects, acquisition and disposal and landlord and tenant matters. He has advised on major infrastructure and town centre regeneration projects for local and central government. Having working in house as a solicitor in local government, Robin has a sound grasp of the particular issues associated with Public Sector Real Estate projects.
Prior to joining Ashfords, Robin was a Partner at Davitt Jones Bould acting for clients including The Royal Parks, Highways England, DEFRA, Central Government Departments and others.
Robin is recognised as a leading figure in both the Real Estate and Planning Fields by both the Legal 500 and Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and is praised for being "a creative and collaborative lawyer" and "very pragmatic, good at getting you where you need to be".
Relevant experience
- Woking Borough Council: Leading this large scale regeneration project to deliver the mixed use redevelopment of over 1,000 dwellings, leisure facilities and other uses. The legal work included advising on the use of Compulsory Purchase Powers, and the negotiated acquisition of multiple properties.
- The Royal Parks: Robin has advised The Royal Parks for the last 10 years, on a wide range of projects including:
- the London Cycle Superhighway. Advice included construction licences and commercial contracts in association with this large scale infrastructure project.
- a world class range of sporting and cultural events, including Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park British Summer Time, Taste of London Festival, London Marathon, Tour de France and more.
- occasions of national significance including Trooping the Colour, HM The Queen's Platinum Jubilee and State Funeral and Royal Weddings
- The Met Office: Advising the Met Office in connection with strategically important real estate assets and transactions involving development agreements and option agreements.
- Exeter Science Park Limited: A diverse range of Real Estate advice and commercial transactions in association with the expansion and development of Exeter Science Park. Projects have involved public sector and private sector partnerships and advice has included site acquisition and disposal, commercial tenancies, infrastructure development and elements of Real Estate financing.
- Chichester Borough Council: Advice in connection with the promotion of Tangmere, a strategic housing site for circa 1300 dwellings. Robin advised in connection with a development agreement and the use of Compulsory Purchase Powers.
- Department for Work and Pensions: Leading a team of lawyers on the PRIME project, a mass lease renewal project relating to thousands of leases across the UK. Robin managed a team of lawyers working on this project to deliver lease renewals on Job Centres and other sites occupied by DWP.
- Ashford Borough Council: advising in connection with Ashford International Studios, a £250 million investment into the regeneration of one of the largest brownfield sites in the UK The project will deliver film studios, commercial and residential property, digital industry skills, an education centre and hotel.
