Steven Cunliffe
Associate – Commercial Property
"I am a commercial property solicitor with knowledge across a range of sectors including specialist insolvency work and am experienced in handling the full remit of commercial property transactions for large and small businesses. ”
I started my career in commercial property on qualification as a solicitor after training at a magic circle and international law firm in London.
I later practiced at a multinational law firm in Birmingham where I acted for various FTSE 100 clients. I also worked in Switzerland at a leading business law firm in relation to an international tribunal for dormant bank accounts.
I am pragmatic, commercially focussed, technically effective and have been described by my clients as supportive and helpful.
- acted for both landlords and tenants in relation to new commercial leases and the assignment of commercial leases.
- acted for corporates in relation to all aspects of their property portfolios to include i.e. bulk leases, subleases and lease renewals, licences to alter, leasehold assignments and licences to change use/vary/sublet and bulk freehold disposals conditional on environmental issues. Working with clients to develop KPIs and critical issues.
- commercial property sales of occupied investment properties (TOGCs) to include offices and multi let business parks.
- commercial property sales of freehold and leasehold factories, restaurants, rows of shops etc.
- agricultural land - acting for buyers and sellers negotiating tailored transfers of part, land swaps and overage agreements and adverse possession claims.
- dealing with general property management issues for landlords and tenants in relation to applications to landlords for consent to assign, licences to assign, guarantor issues, licences to alter, deeds of variation, scaffolding licences and rights of way issues.
- advised on various property finance and refinance transactions for lenders (including large scale commercial lending projects) taking legal charges and debentures on commercial property and businesses such as factories and business parks to include issuing security documents and dealing with redemptions.
- acting for schools and churches in relation to all real estate aspects of Academy Conversions including agreement of Department for Education leases and transfers and more complex land swaps.
- corporate support work in relation to all property aspects of share/purchase and asset sale agreements (acting for buyer or seller), undertaking due diligence and negotiating warranties and preparing legal advice/summaries to clients on property issues within agreed materiality thresholds.
- a range of property insolvency scenarios acting for trustees in bankruptcy, liquidators, administrators and LPA receivers in relation to routine and complex freehold and leasehold disposals of commercial, agricultural and residential property, auction sales, distributions in specie, assignments of beneficial interest and sales pursuant to court orders.
- more specialised work including acting for liquidators of an English company to recover land in Dresden, Germany relating to a bomb site to include extensive research and review of German documents and preparation of witness statements and correspondence in German with a German heir hunter and Court Curator to reclaim land.
- acting in relation to a complex insolvency related high value matrimonial property dispute.
- acting for trustees in bankruptcy in relation to a deceased insolvent estate and contested matrimonial court order and dispute with co-owner in relation to portfolio of occupied residential properties.
- litigation support work in relation to contested 54’ Act lease renewals and providing advice to clients and taking instructions and preparing Scott Schedules.
- litigation support in relation to insolvency litigation matters such as orders for possession and sale, declarations of interest to include pre-action correspondence, researching legal issues and advising clients and reviewing and amending settlement agreements and associated legal charges to secure settlement sums;
- litigation support acting for freeholders, landlords and tenants in relation to a range of property disputes relating to overage, breaches of covenant (e.g. unlawful occupation/alterations/use), rights of way, rights to light, rent reviews, preparation of briefs to Counsel and negotiating settlement agreements.
More about me
My hero
Detective Foyle and Dame Margot Fonteyn de Arias.
Proudest moment
Discovering Yorkshire Tea
Favourite quote
“Never complain, never explain.”
Childhood career goal
Shop keeper, doctor, teacher and ballet dancer.
Latest insights
Meet the team
Cherry Elliott
Partner and Head of Property
Sarah Bradford
Legal Director - Commercial Property
James Adams
Principal Associate - Commercial Property
Sara Shepherd
Partner - Commercial Property
Aman Sahota-Dhatt
Legal Director - Commercial Property
Raj Flora-Seehra
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Maria Nicol
Principal Associate - Commercial Property
Zahra Farooq
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Jen Hicks-Jones
Partner - Commercial Property
Becky Pickering
Associate - Commercial Property
Latoyah Thompson
Trainee Solicitor - Commercial Property
Darrell Aldridge
Senior Associate - Commercial Property
Adele Grove
Paralegal - Commercial Property
Asim Faraz
Trainee Solicitor - Commercial Property