Neil Toner

I advise on a wide range of legal issues facing our commercial property and developer clients including; negotiating leases and associated agreements for both landlord and tenant clients; acquiring land for development purposes (including ancillary matters such as rights to light, the negotiation of planning agreements, negotiating releases, variations or grants of restrictive covenants and easements and resolving defective title issues) and advising on environmental issues.

The projects I have worked on include:

• Acting for an international technology company acquiring a new Head Quarters building by way of pre-let agreement;
• Assisting a landlord client on their lease negotiations with one of the ‘Big Four’ UK supermarket chains for a new store in East London
• Heading up our team on the transfer of over three thousand properties as part of a corporate de-merger exercise.

More about Real Estate

I have worked with our developer clients delivering successful projects for over 20 years.  My clients include those in the public, private and third sectors – with projects ranging from office blocks, through housing estates to schools and medical centres.  Even a tunnel project under London.  With a mix of environmental expertise, commercial sector property work and development experience, I can give detailed advice on the wide range of issues that need to be tackled to ensure a project proceeds as smoothly as possible.      

Whilst I couldn’t say ‘I’ve seen it all’, I can say that I’ve dealt with a remarkably wide range of issues including:-

The discovery of dead bodies during site establishment for the construction of a microchip processing facility;

The relocation of a thriving population of slow worms to ensure an affordable housing project could proceed without delay;

The theft of several tonnes of soil from a cleared site the day before our clients were due to complete their acquisition and commence development.

Not only have issues such as this kept my job interesting, they also mean I have a track record in dealing with the unexpected.

More about Real Estate Development

I have a wide range of experience in environmental law – both in the context of ‘contamination’ and also the protection of wildlife.  I have worked for both potentially contaminating businesses – assessing statutory requirements, compliance and risk issues – and also for property developers acquiring potentially contaminated land for redevelopment. My work has included:

• Acting for a major multinational corporation on the environmental matters arising from their acquisition of a manufacturing company in the UK.  This included providing a comprehensive summary of UK law (in the context of liabilities following closing, having particular regard to the potential contamination of a number of industrial sites) and the drafting and negotiating of a complex stand alone “Environmental Deed” with wide ranging indemnities and clean up obligations.
• Acting for one of the world’s largest natural resources companies on a remediation agreement, securing a release from future liabilities.
• Acting for a developer whose timetable was at risk following the discovery of a slow worm population – and, in particular, negotiating an agreement with the local authority relating to the relocation of the slow worms.
• Providing a not for profit landlord with a comprehensive analysis of their statutory duties relating to any asbestos which may exist within their extensive stock comprising well in excess of 19 thousand homes together with offices and community facilities.

More about Planning & Environment

I have worked with a number of our academy sponsor and local authority clients on the development aspects of school projects.  With a mix of development experience, environmental expertise and third sector property work, I can give detailed advice on the wide range of issues that need to be tackled to ensure a school building project (whether it be new build, extension or refurbishment) proceeds as smoothly as possible – on time and on budget.

I am very familiar with the documentation produced by the Department for Education and the issues to look out for and address during the course of a project.  My experience, spanning over 20 years, in property development also means I fully understand the complexities that can arise during a school building project. 

More about Academies

I have worked with our housing, school and developer clients, delivering successful projects for over 20 years.  My clients include those in the public, private and third sectors – with projects ranging from office blocks, through housing estates to schools and medical centres.  Even a tunnel project under London.  With a mix of environmental expertise, commercial and third sector property work and development experience, I can give detailed advice on the wide range of issues that need to be tackled to ensure a project proceeds as smoothly as possible.

Whilst I couldn’t say ‘I’ve seen it all’, I can say that I’ve dealt with a remarkably wide range of issues including:

• The discovery of dead bodies during site establishment for the construction of a microchip processing facility;
• The relocation of a thriving population of slow worms to ensure an affordable housing project could proceed without delay;
• The theft of several tonnes of soil from a cleared site the day before our clients were due to complete their acquisition and commence development.
• Not only have issues such as this kept my job interesting, they also mean I have a track record in dealing with the unexpected.

More about Housing & Regeneration