Holmes & Hills appoints new Head of Commercial Property

Holmes & Hills Solicitors are pleased to announce that with effect from 1^st November 2025, our Commercial Property Department will be headed up by Laura Gale.

Laura joined Holmes & Hills in January 2021, having previously worked at a regional firm in Southend-on-Sea. She has worked exclusively in real estate law since 2017, most recently with a focus on the residential development sector. Alongside her colleagues, Laura prides herself on her “no nonsense” approach, delivering clear and concise advice to the firm’s varied clientele.

Speaking on the move, Laura has said:

“I am really pleased to be making a strategic move back into the firm’s core commercial property team. The rapport we have built with long-standing clients, and professional contacts, over the years is a testament to the service offered, and I look forward to working with the team to secure our future successes and drive continued growth.”

Holmes & Hills houses one of the largest teams of transactional real estate specialists in the region. The Department has been recognised by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners directories for real estate work carried out in East Anglia, with both Laura Gale and Chris Milner having been individually recognised for their expertise.

Our 13 specialist lawyers – supported by 5 experienced secretaries – deliver pragmatic, timely, and friendly advice and service, and are able to assist with the full breadth of real estate work, including:

• Freehold and leasehold sales of registered and unregistered commercial and mixed-use buildings and units;
• Acquisitions of commercial and mixed-use property, ranging from industrial estates through to supermarkets, retail complexes, and office buildings;
• Non-contentious landlord and tenant work, including new and renewal leases, variations, lease assignments, and standalone licences; and
• Utility and service agreements.

The specialist Land & Development Division, headed up by Partner Chris Milner, complements the firm’s commercial property offering. In collaboration with the firm’s Planning Law Department and Construction Department, the Division advises landowners, housebuilders, developers, and land promoter clients, with a focus on unlocking sites for development. Chris and his team deal with the full breadth of development-focused real estate work, including:

• Acquisition and sale of land for development (including conditional contracts and sub-sale arrangements);
• Strategic land matters (including Option agreements and Promotion Agreements);
• Affordable housing sales to registered providers;
• Collaboration and joint venture agreements; and
• Development finance.

Managing Partner, Rebecca Mason says:

“I am excited to see the future of the Commercial Property team under Laura’s leadership. By working closely with our clients and local referrers, we are building strong, trusted partnerships that enable us to understand and meet their evolving needs. The team has grown significantly in recent years, and Laura’s appointment ensures that we will continue to offer tailored, high-quality legal advice to our partners.”

With over 200 legal professionals and offering a broad and collaborative range of legal services, Holmes & Hills is well-positioned to provide an end-to-end service to their commercial clients bringing together specialists in real estate, land and development matters, Planning Law, construction and corporate and commercial matters.