Client Spotlight: Celebrating 5 years with another property completion

This week marks the fifth anniversary of Pinney Talfourd’s appointment as solicitors for Sisu Advisors; a commercial real estate investment company with an impressive portfolio of Grade A office buildings across the UK. ​
With a further completion this week, Vesa Poikonen, the founder and CEO of Sisu Advisors, visited the firm’s office for a celebratory drink and a look back at their working relationship. ​

_{Building a property investment portfolio}

Vesa intended to test our firm’s legal services with the first acquisition and was impressed with the thorough due diligence and attention to detail, ensuring the deal was completed in a timely fashion. Over the years the efficiency of service has been invaluable to the client; the team saved £40k for the company by working flat out to exchange contracts prior to a midnight deadline following a surprise announcement in the budget in 2016 to raise the threshold for stamp duty land tax in connection with commercial property purchases over £1m.

Senior Associate, Keeley Miller has acted for the company as lead solicitor for the majority of the company’s acquisitions and said; “It has been an absolute privilege to work with Vesa and a delight to see his ambitious plans transform into reality.”

_{Assisting with all commercial property needs}

In addition to property acquisitions and disposals, the Commercial Property Team have provided assistance with a variety of landlord and tenant matters over the years including the grant of leases to new tenants, renewal leases for existing tenants, deeds of variation, deeds of surrender, licences for alterations for major works and car parking licences for over 500 car parking spaces.

Vesa said: “Keeley has taken the time to get to know me and my business; she’s an extension to the Sisu Advisors team now and provides expert legal support and advice that adds value to the business.”

_{Help when things go wrong – litigation matters}

Maintenance and management of the portfolio is also crucial and Pinney Talfourd’s Property Litigation Team have been on hand to provide the company with support and advice in connection with disputes relating to dilapidations, break notices, vandalism and insurance claims. ​

_{A client for life}

Keeley says: “It has been a pleasure working with such a dynamic team as Sisu Advisors and collaborating with their many professional advisors including Avison Young (formerly GVA) and Beverley Ham of Building Funding Solutions, multiple financial institutions and the occasional offshore legal advisor and fiduciary trustee. It has been a fantastic journey and one which I hope will continue to flourish for many more years.”

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A close working relationship with your solicitor is crucial in property investment. Pinney Talfourd have an outstanding commercial property team and are recommended by Legal 500 UK as ‘legally savvy and forward-thinking’. 

If you would like to find out more about how the team can help your development plans  contact our Commercial Property Team to arrange a free legal review.This article was written by Keeley Miller, Senior Associate at Pinney Talfourd LLP Solicitors with the consent of our client. Specific legal advice should be taken on each individual matter. This article is based on the law as of March 2019.