The Commercial Property team is led by partner Chris Schwer, who was described in the Chambers' law directory 2005 as an "incredibly helpful and commercial deal maker" and has the support of one of the best regarded and largest property teams in East Anglia, numbering 47 specialists.  The team works for commercial and retail developers from the planning process through to sale and lease work.  It also acts for a number of national house builders on option agreements, site acquisition and plot sale work.  The depth and range of expertise means the team can work together in major and complex transactions on cost effective terms.

The team's expertise covers the following areas:

• Asset acquisition and disposal
• Development and investment funding
• Portfolio management
• Investment vehicles
• Planning, including public inquiries
• Site acquisitions and plot sales
• Secured lending
• Contentious and non-contentious construction matters
• Compulsory Purchase Orders

“Suffolk Life is a fully authorised life company and pension scheme provider.  We own and manage around 900 commercial properties in various parts of the UK and Birketts have acted for us on the acquisition of many of these properties.  They provide a knowledgeable and user friendly legal service to Suffolk Life and at reasonable cost.  Most of Suffolk Life’s work is subject to transactional deadlines.  The strength and depth of the Birketts property team has enabled them to cope with whatever we have thrown at them.”
Peter Weir, Director, Suffolk Life plc