Commercial Leases Solicitor
Commercial property leases
Commercial property leases can be of benefit to both landlords and tenants. However, negotiating the terms of a lease to ensure it is balanced and satisfies the needs of both parties can be tricky.
The support of a commercial property solicitor can make this process easier.
We have a wealth of experience assisting both landlords and tenants with commercial property leases. With experience in working for both sides to avoid disputes through dispute resolution and concerns regarding the terms of the lease.
Whether you are a:
- landlord looking to ensure that your commercial property is kept in good condition, or
- a tenant concerned about various restrictions in the lease affecting how you run your business
our expert commercial property team will work with you, listening to your wishes and helping to get the right terms in place.
Do you have to use a solicitor for a commercial lease?
From a legal perspective, you are not required to use a solicitor.
However, it is strongly recommended that you seek advice from a solicitor when entering into a commercial lease. This is because a commercial property lease may include terms and covenants that could make operating your business difficult.
A commercial property solicitor has the experience to spot terms and covenants that could impact your business. They also have the ability to negotiate the terms of the lease so that they are more favourable to your business needs.
Examples of some commercial property lease terms that we can negotiate:
Repairs
Tenants are often imposed by their lease to be responsible for repairs. We can negotiate so that this term is weaker so that the Landlord also shares some responsibility.
Alterations
You may need to carry out some non-structural alterations to adapt a property for your business needs. Leases sometimes carry terms that make this process complex and inefficient by requiring the landlord to sign off. Negotiations can eliminate or weaken this term to prevent delays in having your business ready to operate.
Signage
Some leases require the landlord to approve any signage installed on the property. As a business, you may already have set brand colours, logos and identity. If the landlord refuses to consent to your signage, this can have a serious impact on your business. Through negotiations, this term can be removed.
What does a commercial lease lawyer do?
Commercial lease lawyers create property leases between tenants and landlords. The leases they create contain all the terms and clauses that both a tenant and a landlord will have to abide by.
Through negotiation and dispute resolution they mediate differences to make a lease favourable to both parties.
Finally, a commercial lease lawyer can also assist and provide legal advice for when leases are broken by either the tenant or landlord.
Who pays the legal fees for a commercial lease?
There is no standard process of who should pay for the legal fees for a commercial lease. However, usually, the tenant is responsible for covering the cost of the lease. This is because landlords normally have a standard template lease ready to use and it is the tenant that is looking to amend the document and terms.
However, both parties should seek out separate legal representation either during the negotiation or, at the very minimum, before signing any commercial property lease.
This helps ensure that you are signing a contract that is legal and represents your best interests.
Why use Rothera Bray for legal advice on commercial property leases?
Whether you are a landlord or business tenant, we can act for you. With experience in a wide variety of sectors and industries, we can understand the particular nuances that may come with your property.
Identifying your objectives and what would work best for you is always our first priority. We will then work to secure these and the best possible terms for you and your business.
- Struggling to meet the terms of your lease? Whether you’re a landlord or tenant we can provide expert legal advice on where you stand.
- Drafting and negotiation of lease agreements along with legal advice on the heads of terms prior to the drafting of the contract.
- Expert legal advice on lease renewals, extensions, assignments and variations. This includes reviewing existing unfair and escalating ground rent provisions and any other undesirable lease terms.
- Legal advice on any disputes arising between Landlord and Tenant regarding the terms of the lease.
Related services from Rothera Bray:
- Lease renewals
- Lease extensions
- Lease assignments, sub-lettings, underlettings and variations
- Service charges
- Break clauses
- Rent reviews
- Termination of leases
- Insurance
- Recovery of possession
- Personal guarantees
- Responsibility for repairs
Send us a message
“Solicitors experienced in commercial property leases are essential to ensure that your business won’t face problems in the future.”
Russell Thompson
Commercial Property Partner
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Posted 10 July 2026
We were extremely satisfied with the service from Rothera Bray during the process of rewriting our Wills and Side letters. Our Wills are complex and our solicitor clarified the necessary changes and took the time needed to ensure we understood the legalities involved. The service was professional but friendly.
Bob and Yvonne Bundick
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Posted 10 July 2026
I found Rothera Bray to be professional and responsive. I was glad I used a firm with a local office rather than one of the remote conveyancing companies.
Nigel Wright
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Posted 10 July 2026
Ellie has been very helpful she was always ready to answer any questions/queries I had. Nothing was too much trouble at all. Ellie’s knowledge & expertise of my situation was extremely good. She kept me informed of time frames making sure I was always updated on my completion etc. I would highly recommend Ellie to my family and friends, a very patient professional who has helped me a lot. Rothera Bray have a wonderful member of their team in Ellie Robinson.
Beverley Wyatt
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Posted 10 July 2026
We had the pleasure of dealing with Rothera Bray for our property purchase and specifically Tim Brooke and his team Craig Allsopp and Nikola Dzierzak. Despite a non-straightforward transaction with multiple titles, Tim and his team were excellent from start to finish, always advising us in a timely manner and doing a really thorough job on all the searches and relevant property matters. Once completion took place, Tim and team stayed engaged to ensure the title registration was complete despite the delays at land registry. We cannot thank Tim enough as at several points we thought the property deal might fall through but with the advice, guidance and attention to detail provided by Tim we got there in the end! Thank you.
Prachi
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Posted 9 July 2026
It’s lovely to deal with someone whom makes the process just so easy. Dealing with Talita at Rothera Bray was an absolute pleasure . Very professional and thorough.
Will client
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Posted 8 July 2026
George dealt with my settlement agreement, quickly and efficiently. He answered all my questions and put my mind at rest that I was doing the right thing. Thanks.
Julie R
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Posted 8 July 2026
The experience was very good, Millie was very knowledgeable, was quick to respond and brought the matter to a successful conclusion.
Stephen Hughes
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Posted 8 July 2026
Lauren provided me with exceptional support and great advice throughout my case. She is incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and honest, making what was such a stressful process for me much easier to manage. I'd highly recommend her to anyone who might need her services.
Employment Law client
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Posted 7 July 2026
The conveyancing process was smooth from start to finish. Everything was handled efficiently, communication was clear, and the team was polite and professional throughout. I really appreciated how straightforward they made the whole process. Ellie Robinson and Grace Millward Thank you for a great service!
Zak Appleby
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Posted 6 July 2026
Thank you to everyone for all your help over a long period of time. Your mannerism and efficiency to solve each issue was most impressive. I have recommended your services to others .What was going on in the background certainly tested my patience and you kept the ship running smoothly.
Daniel P
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Posted 6 July 2026
We have recently purchased a property and had the pleasure of working with Fatima Altaf for our conveyancing needs. She was superb from start to finish, she worked extremely hard and was always professional, friendly and in regular contact with us throughout to make sure we were up to date and well informed of the process. Moving house with a small baby in tow is a tricky process with lots of plates to juggle, but Fatima’s confidence and competence really did make it easier for us and we felt safe and in very good hands with her. We are very impressed and wouldn’t hesitate to use Rothera Bray again in the future.
Hannah Sullivan
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Posted 6 July 2026
I cannot thank Chelsey and the team at Rothera Bray LLP enough for their outstanding support. We were facing a highly stressful motoring matter involving a Section 172 allegation alongside a speeding offence, which originally arose because we never received the initial NIP / request to provide driver details in the post. Chelsey was incredibly efficient, swift and proactive. Thanks to her exceptional legal expertise, she acted immediately to negotiate with the Prosecution, successfully getting the Section 172 charge completely withdrawn before the court date. She resolved the speeding offence smoothly without requiring our personal attendance in Court and secured an incredibly favourable outcome (minimum penalty points and zero prosecution costs). Her communication was clear, fast, and deeply reassuring throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend Chelsey and her firm to anyone who requires legal assistance with motoring matters.
W Cheng
Catherine Angrave
Partner & Head of Commercial Property
Catherine deals with all types of commercial property work and has acquired substantial experience in acting for residential property developer clients in the acquisition and disposal of development land. She’s based at our Leicester office.
Russell Thompson
Partner & Head of Licensing
Russell Thompson is a Partner in the Commercial Property department at Rothera Bray Solicitors and is based at our Lace Market office.
Antony Fyson
Consultant
Antony Fyson is a Consultant at Rothera Bray Solicitors. He works from our Lace Market office and offers clients a wealth of expertise in commercial property, property development and conveyancing matters.
Ed Postlethwaite
Managing Associate
Ed Postlethwaite is a Managing Associate in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property team and is based at our Derby office.
Marneya Chauhan
Senior Associate Solicitor
Marneya is a Senior Associate Solicitor in our Commercial Property department, based at our Leicester office. He acts for commercial property lenders, property investors and landowners.
Amy Moore
Senior Associate Solicitor
Amy is part of our busy Commercial Property team at our Leicester city centre office. She specialises in commercial leases, renewal leases, and acts on behalf of pension schemes in relation to purchases, sales and lease aspects.
Marika Whiteman
Associate Solicitor
Marika Whiteman is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property team and is based at our Leicester office.
Amie Hardy
Solicitor
Amie Hardy is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Danielle Marshall
Solicitor
Danielle Marshall is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property team and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.
Katie Sampson
Trainee Solicitor
Katie Sampson is a Trainee Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Commercial Property department and is based at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.
Alison Gill
Paralegal
Alison is a Paralegal in our Commercial Property department and is based at our Lace Market office.
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