Jen Hicks-Jones

Item: Higgs LLP
Author: Fatima Essoufi, Chief Transformation Officer at La Maison Bleue

Partner - Commercial Property

01384 327183

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About me Expertise Experience

About me

"I am an experienced commercial property lawyer, specialising in acquisitions, disposals, lease transactions, asset management, rural property matters and corporate support.”

I work alongside the Head of Property, in leading the commercial property team at Higgs LLP. I joined the firm in September 2018.

I work with businesses and people to deliver results on a diverse range of commercial property transactions. In particular, I provide strategic advice and legal services to many portfolio clients, including Urban Splash, London & Cambridge Properties, the Sheet Anchor Group and The Old Station Nursery Limited.

My expertise includes:

acquisitions and disposals
property investment and finance
lease transactions
general asset and estate management
corporate support
rural property transactions
leasehold enfranchisement

I have particular experience in the following sectors:

childcare
healthcare
industrial
retail
leisure and hospitality
rural
enfranchisement

I am a member of Higgs LLP’s Inclusion Group and am recognised as a key Commercial Property lawyer in the Legal 500.

Expertise

Commercial property

Property development

Experience

Advising a key client in relation to the investment sale of a pre-let, newly built warehouse unit. Tenant was a leading builder’s merchant. The unit formed part of a larger development site and involved a full suite of complex sale contract documentation, conditional upon provision of a full pack of construction warranties.
Acting for a large property investor client in connection with the complex leasehold enfranchisement of four flats within its existing long-leasehold, mixed-use interest in the south-west of England. The leases were carved out of the client’s headlease interest, surrendered and re-granted individually for much longer terms. The advice was complex, as consideration needed to be given to the impact of the enfranchisement on the responsibility for managing and maintaining the remainder of the building, long-term. The advice included Court proceedings pursuant to the tenant’s rights under the Leasehold Enfranchisement (Housing and Urban Development) Act 1993.
Continuing to advise Urban Splash in connection with the management of their short-form lease portfolio for a number of their mixed-use premises in Plymouth, Manchester and Liverpool. A bespoke team from the department acts on the preparation, negotiation and grant of short-term leasing arrangements requiring tight turnaround timescales and a commercial and pragmatic view to be taken in advising the client. Urban Splash has confirmed a direct correlation in its occupancy rate across the portfolio as a result of successful completions.
Advising a key client on a high-value, strategic lease assignment of premises in central London. The assignment was conditional on landlord’s consent to both the assignment and the client’s fit out works.
Advising a private individual in connection with re-gear and assignment of long-leasehold interest in a Grade 1 listed building in southeast of England, followed by proposed sympathetic redevelopment. The Landlord was the National Trust, who were contributing towards the redevelopment costs. The transaction was extremely complex and nuanced due to sensitivities regarding proposed redevelopment works for building of this nature, and investment of charitable funds.

More about me

My hero

Michelle Obama

Favourite quote

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

Favourite food

Curry

Favourite place

Top of the Malvern Hills

Latest successes

Success Story

Selling a family-run care business

29 February 2024

“Jen and I have worked together now for over two years, on a variety of matters. She stepped in to help me with a particularly high-value, urgent sale and she did an excellent job, achieving a fantastic result for our group in very challenging times.”

Amy James, Legal Director & Head of Legal at London & Cambridge Properties

“I have worked closely with Jen for over two years on the property aspects of each of our UK nursery group acquisitions. I and the rest of the team at LMB and The Old Station Nursery group are extremely grateful for Jen’s calm, high level of professionalism and assured guidance through what have often been quite challenging circumstances.”

Fatima Essoufi, Chief Transformation Officer at La Maison Bleue

Latest insights from Jen Hicks-Jones

View all insights

2 min read

Article

Surrendering your commercial property lease: what about VAT?

Unfortunately, the current economic climate means that more tenants are taking the difficult decision to approach their landlord to discuss ending their commercial lease.

30 June 2023

1 min read

Article

Impact of The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act

The Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022 (LRGRA) took effect from June 30 this year and was introduced following widespread publicity about unfair ground rent increases.

16 August 2022