Chris is a real estate partner at Bexley Beaumont. Chris has been practising as a solicitor for over 25 years, he was previously a partner at Brabners LLP, and most recently a partner at international law firm Trowers & Hamlins.

At Brabners, Chris was head of the Residential Development team, managing a plot sales team and transactional work for plc and private housebuilders as well as land promotion companies. He was also, for several years, head of the real estate team in the Manchester office.

His practice has in recent years has been predominantly (but not exclusively) land-based transactions for commercial development, with focus on the national residential market for both small and large developers, land promoters, national and local public sector government bodies and Registered Providers for affordable housing. He also acts for landowners (including families, landed estates and individuals) in their negotiation with developers.

Throughout his career he has acted for a wide range of clients in different property sectors including

• Sport and Leisure;
• Residential Development;
• Public sector development acting for town councils on town centre regeneration projects; and
• Land Promotion Companies.

He aims to work in partnership with colleagues, clients and their external advisors, bringing together his knowledge of each aspect of the development process (e.g. planning, construction and infrastructure) in delivering quick effective solutions for his clients.

Career work highlights include:

• Acting for St Helen’s Rugby League Club on the sale of its Knowsley Road site for residential development and the development of its new Stadium in the town centre.
• Acting on the sale of Liverpool water space (including the Albert Docks ) to the then British Waterways.
• Acting for the original founders on the first private sale of the now national “B&M Bargains” chain.
• Advising Great Places Housing Association in 2022 and 2023 on the acquisition of several schemes in the regeneration of Ancoats and New Islington areas of Manchester for development purposes, including schemes at Laystall Street, Downley Drive and the former Ancoats Dispensary (as reported in the Legal 500).
• Acting for Ainscough Strategic Land Limited on numerous Planning Promotion Agreements across the country from initial engagement on the site and through the planning process, additional site assembly and sale to ultimate housebuilding purchaser