Lovells to advise on Equitable Life's EUR 1bn property portfolio

International law firm Lovells has won the competitive tender to advise Equitable Life Assurance Society on its £778 mln (EUR 1 bn) property portfolio. Partners Victoria Sutcliffe and Nicholas Cheffings will head up the Lovell's real estate team that will advise Equitable Life on all future real estate matters. Commenting, Cheffings said: 'We're delighted to be instructed by this prestigious client and to expand our institutional client base.'

Lovells' real estate team, headed by London-based partner Bob Kidby, comprises over 150 fee earners in 12 offices in 10 jurisdictions.

Last year Lovells' advised Argent (King's Cross) Limited on its £2 bn regeneration of King's Cross Central and the BBC on the media company's relocation to the new mediacity:uk scheme in Salford Quays, Manchester.

Lovell's team also advised the UK's Royal Mail on the disposal of 110 surplus leaseholds coupled with the sale and leaseback of 176 partially surplus freehold properties in portfolio transactions with Land Securities Trillium, and Irish property developer Ballymore on one of Europe's tallest residential developments at 1 Millharbour, in London Docklands.