Sophie Bristow

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Sophie is a senior associate in Bell Gully’s real estate and projects team with local and overseas experience in the investment, disposal, development and asset management of real estate across the retail, office, industrial and residential sectors.

Sophie joined Bell Gully after several years legal work in London, practising most recently at Addleshaw Goddard LLP where she worked with prominent British and international developers and investors on a broad range of projects.

Work highlights

Overseas experience prior to joining Bell Gully

Investment

Acting for Aljazira Capital in relation to its £78.7m acquisition of Vodafone Property Investments, the then owner of Vodafone’s UK headquarters and surrounding office campus, and the subsequent leaseback to Vodafone whilst facilitating the requirements of Islamic financial structuring.

Acting for M7 Real Estate in relation to multiple acquisitions of industrial property portfolios on an expedited basis.

Acting for Realty Income in relation to multiple, high-value acquisitions of retail property portfolios, including its £206.6m acquisition of nine retail parks from Sports Direct.

Development

Acting for the Hestia fund in relation to the forward-funded acquisition of a large site in Dartford, London for mixed residential (private and social housing) development. The transaction was completed under significant time pressure in order to satisfy the requirements for a £15m GLA grant.

Acting for Muse Developments in relation to the sub-sale of a residential development site in partnership with the local council and the Canal and River Trust.

Acting for Derwent London in their £240m acquisition of Moorfields Hospital for a mixed-use development.

Asset management and finance solutions

Acting for Nuffield Health on the sale and leaseback of a portfolio of private hospitals to a funder.

Acting for British Land in commercial lettings and advising on the splitting of a long-leasehold title and apportionment of covenants to facilitate the disposal of parts of blocks of retail property with commercial tenants.

Acting for Barclays Bank on the grant of office leases (Barclays as tenant) and on the £4.7m disposal of an office building.

Acting on the refinancing of the redevelopment of Battersea Power Station for retail and residential use.