Browne Jacobson advised planning and development consultancy Montagu Evans as part of a deal in which its UK property management business has been taken on by Savills.
The acquisition provides Savills with an opportunity to enhance its UK property management business by further broadening its client base, particularly in terms of the public sector, as well as boosting its accounts team and generating greater opportunities to leverage sector-specific knowledge and expertise throughout its UK divisions and regions.
Led by Andrew Walker, the Montagu Evans property management team comprises almost 100 staff based across the UK. Its established client base includes Redical Holdings, Rivington Hark, AEW and a number of local authorities. It currently manages a shopping centre portfolio of circa five million sq. ft across 20 centres, with the majority being public sector mandates.
The Browne Jacobson corporate team comprised corporate finance partner Clare Hanna and Jack Milnthorpe alongside Bethan Ellis-Jones, Andrew Noble and Emma Capper.
Clare Hanna, Partner in the corporate team at Browne Jacobson, said: “It was a pleasure to advise Montagu Evans on the strategic disposal of its successful UK property management business to a market leader in Savills. The relationship we have built with Montagu Evans reinforces our commitment to building longstanding meaningful client relationships – the transaction is a great reflection on our sector expertise.”
David Jones, Finance Director at Montagu Evans, added: "Montagu Evans continues to strengthen its position as a leading UK planning and development consultancy, supporting clients with complex challenges and providing specialist advice across a range of core sectors and services from within our planning, advisory and transactional teams. The Browne Jacobson team has provided high-quality legal and commercial advice to us on this key deal to enhance future service delivery for our clients and career opportunities for all our people. We look forward to working with the team again.”