Forsters Hotels team advised Limestone Capital on the acquisition of the Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch

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We acted for private equity firm Limestone Capital on their acquisition of the five-star luxury Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch for an undisclosed sum. The hotel features 164 guest bedrooms, a spa, restaurant, and conference facilities while showcasing views of the City from their top suites.

A collaborative effort from our Hotels group, we provided Limestone Capital with advice from our Corporate, Commercial Real Estate, Tax, Construction, Planning, Employment, Banking and Finance and Immigration teams. The entire Hotels team are delighted to see this acquisition complete for our client.  

Corporate Partner, Naomi Trinh, and Head of Hotels, Ben Brayford, led the deal, closely assisted by Alexandra Townsend-Wheeler, Amelia Walsh, Josh Baxter, and Elizabeth Small.

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Naomi Trinh

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Renesha Hodgson, Trainee Solicitor, shares her top 5 reflections from her seat in Planning

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1. It all starts with planning

Planning is a very wide-ranging area of law which covers more areas than just planning permissions. From listed buildings to compulsory purchase, tree regulations to the new high street rental auction processes, the area is very diverse.  Planning can arise in all manner of transactions, whether it be as part of a corporate deal or as part of matrimonial proceedings.

As a trainee I have been involved in assisting with traditional planning & highway agreements and due diligence, but have also learnt about how planning more generally plays a key role in the development. Without the correct planning permission, a site’s value can be impacted and without a planning permission having been correctly implemented, planning permission can lapse. These are key commercial considerations.

I have been particularly interested to learn that certain planning liabilities run with the land meaning a landowner can be liable for unpaid monies or the cost of rectification for unlawful works undertaken by previous owners (in the case of listed buildings). This means it very important to undertake thorough due diligence. Just because a planning permission or agreement is old does not mean it is irrelevant!

2. Planning is a very political, dynamic and ever-changing area of law

I was very lucky to start my planning seat not long after the arrival of the new Labour Government. This allowed me to experience how dynamic and political planning is and therefore how important it is to have an understanding of the political and commercial background, as it shapes the direction of planning law and policy.

Whilst the backbone of planning law legislation (The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the earlier statutes) has been in place for decades, planning policies, guidance, and even societal expectations and pressures are always changing. The evolving nature of planning law means it is imperative to keep up to date.

3. Have an opinion

Planning is very often about judgement and therefore requires you to have an opinion. There is a requirement to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions. The correct legal answer may not be the best practical answer depending on the client’s timeframes and objectives. This emphasises the importance of collaborative team working to enable everyone’s experiences to be drawn upon.

4. Sustainability is increasingly at the heart of planning   

Both environmental and social improvement are at the centre of planning decision making.  In my first few weeks in the department, I had come across so many initiatives and schemes designed to ensure social and environmental responsibility. From biodiversity and wind farms to local labour and apprenticeship provisions, there are many areas that developers must consider, driven by increasingly stringent planning policy requirements.

For example, the new BNG legislation requires that most new planning applications (from April 2024 onwards) enhance the natural habitats on site by at least 10%.

Researching this area really opened my eyes to how technical and specialist it is and therefore how important it is for clients to have the right professional consultants on board when submitting a planning application.  

5. The acronyms!

If there is one final piece of advice I can give anyone before venturing into the world of planning it is to watch out for the acronyms! There are plenty of key terms in planning with very similar names: a ‘Special Area of Conservation’ is different to a ‘Conservation Area’ which is also separate from a ‘Special Protection Area’. Learning the acronyms is key.

My  favourite acronym is NIMBY – Not in My Backyard – which is a term that refers to locals who object to development in their local area. A more positive relation to NIMBYs, are YIMBYs -Yes in My Backyard – who support and strongly encourage development to improve the local area.

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Renesha Hodgson

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The warning signs of predatory marriage – Mike Armstrong and Sophie Wilson write for FT Adviser

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Mike Armstrong and Sophie Wilson share their advice on how to protect vulnerable individuals against predatory marriage in a recent article for the FT adviser.

Predatory marriages are a form of financial abuse where an abuser targets and marries a vulnerable person (often elderly), with the intent of financial gain principally upon the person’s death. This issue is particularly concerning for the 944,000 individuals in the UK living with dementia, who are particularly at risk.

A predatory marriage will revoke a vulnerable person’s will, (unless a contrary intention is expressed in the document), allowing the predatory spouse to become the principal or sole beneficiary of the vulnerable person’s estate after death.  This not only causes financial harm but also allows the abuser to control arrangements including the funeral, which can be particularly distressing for the family.

Advisors should be vigilant for warning signs such as relationships with previously unknown individuals, significant age gaps, wealth disparities, and a desire to keep the relationship secret. Prompt action is essential, as these marriages often occur in secret and cannot be challenged after one party has died.

Read the full article here to learn more about the steps you can take to protect your family members and clients.

Tricky transatlantic nuptial agreements – Considerations for HNW individuals and their advisors

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Tricky transatlantic nuptial agreements

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Tying the knot with a wedding venue… what to know when the estate you are buying includes a wedding venue

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There was a time when the only commercial component of buying a country estate would have been farming. But as estates have sought to build financial stability through diversification, the spectrum of business activities that come with them has grown. Due to the picturesque, romantic nature of stately homes, a rising number are converting their historic houses into wedding venues.

So, what do you need to know when your dream stately home includes a wedding venue?

Extent of property used for the wedding business

First, you will need to know how much of the property is used for the wedding business. Weddings inevitably mean opening the gates of your estate to tens, if not hundreds of strangers. You will want to be sure that your personal area is sufficiently separated from the areas open to guests to offer you the privacy you would expect of a home.

Planning permission

A crucial matter your solicitor will need to confirm is that the property has the necessary planning consents to be used as a commercial event space. Given the age of the property in question, the permitted use for the estate will likely have been established through long use as residential and agricultural.

When the decision was made to run a venue from the property, the sellers ought to have obtained planning permission to change its use. You will want to know that the planning permission for the change of use was granted and that it covers the full extent of the property used to host the weddings.

Licences and risk assessments

Weddings (often) mean providing alcohol and live music or entertainment. As such, there needs to be a premises licence in place for the provision of these services. If the wedding venue offers ceremonies as well as receptions, it will also need to hold an approved premises wedding licence. You will also want confirmation that the obligations of said licences have been complied with.

Existing bookings and contracts

If the sellers are already running a thriving wedding business, they likely already have future bookings in place. You will need to know what bookings are already in place for any dates following completion and the terms of said bookings. The same goes for any suppliers the sellers have relationships with.  

Structure of the acquisition

Much will depend on the structure of the purchase; are you buying the business as whole or just the assets of the business? This will determine how you address the question of employees, existing bookings and contracts with third party suppliers.

Neighbourly disputes

Be wary of the disgruntled neighbour. Weddings mean unusual levels of people and noise in the otherwise peaceful countryside. There is a risk this could lead to noise complaints and disputes with neighbours, which could complicate the running of the wedding business. Be sure to enquire into whether there is a history of such issues at the property.

In short, purchasing an estate with a wedding venue business attached to it offers a valuable opportunity. However, it will require a solicitor who understands the complicated nature of the transaction and can establish that it has everything you need before you say ‘I do’ to your new home.

Iscoyd Park
Iscoyd Park – Shropshire
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Tatiana Kinsky

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14 Forsters lawyers featured in Legal Week’s 2025 Private Client Global Elite Directory

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Lawyers in our Private Wealth team have been recognised once again in Legal Week’s Private Client Global Elite Directory 2025. This year includes three new additions to the Private Client Global Excellence listing: Alfred Liu, Ashleigh Carr and Charlotte Evans-Tipping.  

The Private Client Global Elite directory is a highly respected global listing that features the top private client lawyers and advisors. Those included are peer-nominated and selected based on their exemplary skills, experience, and contributions to the private wealth sector.

A total of 14 of our Private Wealth lawyers have been recognised:

Private Client Global Elite:

Private Client Global Excellence:

Their inclusion in the listing demonstrates our Private Wealth team’s dedication to excellence and our commitment to delivering the highest quality legal services to our clients. It marks the most number of our team listed to date.

Check out their profiles on the Private Client Global Elite platform to discover some interesting insights from each of those profiled, including what drew them to specialising in private client law as well as tips for best places around our office to take a peer for a coffee or cocktail!  

Forsters advises Frank Butler Farms on the development of Barnsgrove

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Forsters’ Rural Land and Business team has been crucial to the development of Barnsgrove, a new private membership club near Greywell, Hampshire. Owned by James and Jo Butler of Frank Butler Farms, Barnsgrove spans 20,000 sq.ft. and offers a clubhouse, café, bar, fitness studio, gym, private offices, and wellness rooms. This project aims to provide locals with a space to work, exercise, relax, and socialise.

Forsters supported the Butler’s to transform their farm’s future amid economic challenges.

Jo Butler commented, “our journey to get to where we are today has not been an easy one, especially when it came to planning – S278 and S106.  Forsters have been such a support to the business throughout that process.  Barnsgrove is not a standalone business project at Frank Butler Farms.  Like any other farm in the current economic climate, we’ve had to constantly look at alternative sources of income and safeguard the farm for future generations by utilising the land we’re custodians of. Alongside Barnsgrove, Forsters have also helped us with legal support for a solar farm project; with new commercial property lets; refinancing; and in securing sales on development areas we’ve managed to recoup as a result of coming out of dairy”.

Victoria Salter-Galbraith commented, “Forsters has a long-term relationship with Frank Butler Farms and I have been fortunate to act for Jo and James for most of my career. Jo and James are both so driven and forward-thinking so it’s always exciting to be involved with the next step in their plan for the farm which has been in James’ family for several generations. Having spent some time working at Barnsgrove, I can attest to what a wonderful space they have created right in the heart of the North Hampshire countryside.”

Forsters’ advice has been pivotal in realising Barnsgrove, ensuring it stands as a testament to community-focused development.

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Victoria Salter-Galbraith

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Zahava Rosenthal to speak at STEP’s inaugural CPD masterclass series

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Senior Associate, Zahava Rosenthal, has been invited to speak at STEP’s new masterclass series. The series is set to be a blend of in-person events and online webinars to enhance knowledge and skills in the complex issues families face in planning their future. It will give attendees the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field and network with their peers.

To kick off 2025, the first event will be on Mental Capacity, taking place in London on 5 February. The session will cover a range of topics including:

  • LPA abuse: how to spot and prevent the misuse of Lasting Powers of Attorney
  • Predatory marriage: where the law stands and what to do when it doesn’t protect a client.
  • Case study: a reminder of the dos and don’ts when assessing testamentary capacity.

Zahava will be delivering her presentation that she co-wrote with KC Alex Troupe from St John’s Chambers.

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Zahava Rosenthal

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