Nicola Morris joined Birketts in October 2023 following 17 years in‑house at Rydon Homes and now leads the residential development team in Sevenoaks.
She advises on all aspects of residential development and specialises in complex collaboration and promotion agreements involving multiple landowners and developers.
Nicola supports clients throughout the full development lifecycle from initial option agreements and conditional contracts, through site acquisition and structuring, planning and delivery matters, infrastructure agreements, and on to back‑to‑back sales, overage arrangements, site set‑ups and plot sales.
Having worked in-house for a housebuilder for 17 years she fully understands the commercial drivers which influence housebuilder projects and is known for providing pragmatic, commercially focused advice designed to achieve her clients’ objectives efficiently and effectively.
Recent work highlights
Acted for a developer on a complex back‑to‑back sale and purchase, involving a site with the benefit of planning permission. Work included drafting and negotiating the sale contract, transfer documents, copyright licence, reliance letters and the assignment of key agreements.
Advised a promoter on the negotiation and drafting of a promotion agreement for land intended for residential development, together with the subsequent marketing and disposal arrangements to be implemented following the successful grant of planning permission.
Acted for a developer on the financing of two separate development sites, including preparing the security documents for a funder and coordinating completion so that it aligned with other interdependent transactions.
Experience & education
2023 Joined Birketts LLP
2006 – 2023 Rydon Group Legal Dept
2004 – 2006 London & Edinburgh Inns Legal Dept
2001 – 2004 Warners Solicitors LLP
1996 – 2001 T G Baynes Solicitors
1995 Qualified as a Solicitor
1992 – 1993 College of Law Chester
1989 – 1992 University of East Anglia
