Lightlease

They say never meet your heroes… how wrong they were. Thank you Canary Wharf Group for yesterday’s event and providing the opportunity for me to meet the almighty ‘Barry’ from Eastenders. Otherwise known as Shaun Williamson. Nice to see an off-piste celebrity guest and he had everyone in stitches. Lots going on at the Wharf. Back there today with clients. Stuart Fyfe, Leanne Catterall, Erin McDonald, Charlotte Roberts - 👏 let’s do some deals! #canarywharf #woodwharf #cubestudios #barryfromeastenders #lifegoals

A stunning return to Bluewater for KIKO MILANO. This time on the prime pitch opposite a super UNIQLO store and with some other very exciting names arriving on the same Lower Rose Gallery. It’s another very strong opening, reinforcing the power of KIKO MILANO’s growing status as a global beauty brand. A big thanks to the landlord team at Landsec including Rob Hardie and Emma Mees, and especially my old colleague and friend, Jack Mackinnon (still the most efficient agent in the market) at Time Retail Partners Bravo Team Kiko - Alexandra Smith, Samantha Cronin MCIOB and Paul Devin. Good build from Jack T. and good legal work from Christopher Richardson. Well done everybody ☺️ #teamworkisdreamwork #bluewater #beauty #cosmetics #kiko #italy #retail #shopping

Another Fantastic looking boutique from Nespresso UK again. This time in Westfield’s Stratford City. Nespresso UK continue to set the bar in store design, with a strong focus on customer engagement and experience. It’s done beautifully here. We probably didn’t have the right location in this impressive centre and it’s rewarding to finally see how it can perform! A big thank you to all the Nespresso team including, but not limited to: Steve Clack, Michael Solloway, Erik van Houten, Anna Lundstrom And also the following from the landlord side: Paul Marshall, Natalie Mylroie, Jonny Perkins #nespresso #coffee #FMCG #boutique #stratford #westfield #stratfordcity #experience #experiential #storedesign

Does anyone else feel like most property transactions are taking longer…. And longer… and Zzzzz… just nodded off there…. Longer to reach a satisfactory conclusion (i.e. client open and trading, hopefully well)? I became obsessed with this idea when we started Lightlease some 6 years ago and thought I had the answer cracked in the form of shared cloud-based documents , tracking each party’s activity. But then I got side-tracked and frankly wasn’t a loud enough voice to try and implement a structural change. Nor am I now of course, but I am interested in people’s thoughts on this topic. I find an increasing amount of my time is spent investigating where we are in the transaction process and then cajoling those I am able to (without breaking diplomatic protocol). Occasionally I approach a landlord directly (normally with an agency counterpart’s blessing). A handful of times, I have (cue gasps across law firms) gone direct to the opposing solicitor, but that’s never been very well received 😳. At the heart of this is a belief that it is our role, as the agents, to undertake these duties and do our best to impersonate the conductor of the property transaction orchestra. Even better if there are two conductors! We do make a big difference to this process, but it’s not anywhere enough! It is simplistic to put all the blame of one slow solicitor, client, agent, board approval process… although all of the above can cause substantial delays. Surely it is the inherent structure of this process that is causing the issues time and again? When you see technology suddenly moving at an electrifying pace and all the excitement and opportunity that brings, I am absolutely convinced that there is an answer out there for an entire industry such as ours to embrace a new cloud-based technology that streamlines this process in a safe and user-friendly way. Perhaps it’s something already out there, that I haven’t stumbled across yet or perhaps it’s waiting for a software designer to pick up some Web 3.0 tools, or something similar and make it happen? I’d be really keen to hear of any systems already out there that could be used? I’d also love to hear from solicitors that are keen to embrace such technology. Ultimately, it has to increase accountability, which is a scary thing, right? We have all felt gratitude at times in having an email to hide behind while playing catch up with work. But…. I want to work with partners who are happy to be accountable, honest about why there are sometimes delays and aligned in trying to move the dial here, even a fraction. Would love to hear your thoughts. #accountability #transactiontimes #property #commercialproperty #dealflow #leasing #investment #transactions #web3.0 #blockchain #software #cloudsharing #googledocs #landlords #tenants

We reinforce our differentiated value proposition based on quality and unique design with the launch of the exclusive collection designed together with Victoria Beckham. The launch campaign, which has toured the main streets of cities such as Barcelona, Madrid, London, New York, Paris and Milan, reflects the sophisticated proposal of this new collaboration in which tailoring, slip dresses, and high-quality materials stand out. The alliance, coinciding with Mango's 40th anniversary and a clear example of the Elevate lever of our Strategic Plan 2024-26, will boost the brand's positioning internationally, placing special focus on strategic markets, such as the United Kingdom and the United States, countries where Victoria Beckham is highly recognised. #Mango #MangoWoman #VictoriaBeckhamxMango

We are continuing our expansion and brand consolidation plan in the UK, with more than 20 store openings planned for 2024. Growth is focused on expanding our presence in London and Scotland, as well as the arrival for the first time in several cities in Northern Ireland and in central and southern England. The UK, where we’ve been present since 1999, is one of the priority markets for Mango's international growth. At the close of 2023, we had 60 stores in the country, as well as a digital presence through our own online channel and other marketplaces. For more information: https://go.mango/44kXASx #Mango #Corporate #Expansion

I’m really proud to have advised MANGO on another successful acquisition as the UK portfolio starts to grow to an impressive number. This time in the very royal Windsor Yards shopping centre. It’s got off to a great start and the MANGO team did an amazing job with the fit out, which is bigger than the normal stores. Special thanks, as always, to Ricardo Franklyn Thomas Morgan. I’m sorry that you had so much to do on this one mate 😬 But also Alexandra Higham, Emma Charlesworth, at Lunson Mitchenall and Warren Meech, MRICS at AEW . Plus Alina Iglesias Hiller and the wider MANGO team. On to the next one… #mango #windsor #fashion #windsoryards #spain #royalwindsor #premiumfashion

After a lot of work, the new KIKO MILANO boutiques have started opening. The first of which was in Canary Wharf Group’s Cabot Place. It has got off to a really strong start and having visited many times with many different people from Kiko over a 10 year period, it is a dream finally realised. Lots more exciting Kiko news to follow imminently, as we continue the UK & Ireland expansion. Thanks to the following for making it happen: Paul Devin, Alexandra Smith Erin McDonald, Stuart Fyfe, Samantha Cronin MCIOB, Jack T.

Its a hat-trick of west-end openings in November for Lightlease. Welcome to London, Sculpted by Aimee now open on Foubert’s Place in Shaftesbury Capital PLC’s Carnaby Estate! Aimee Connolly was very patient and a pleasure to work with throughout the protracted process, but we are all thrilled to have helped her open in this location, Aimee’s first overseas boutique, and no doubt the first of many. Thanks to the landlord team: Megan Hutchinson, Freddie Steel, Duncan Gilliard, John Lyons, William Oliver, Addy Williams, Samantha Bain-Mollison And an extra special thanks to Gareth Shiells for the vote of confidence. #sculptedbyaimee #beauty #london #carnaby #retail #crossborder

Delighted to have advised TWOJEYS on their UK market entry, with their flagship store at Shaftesbury Capital PLC’s 21 Brewer Street. A real pleasure to work with founders joan Margarit and Biel Juste Calduch whose enthusiasm and workrate is great to see. These guys have created a cult-like following and you can see why. One of THE biggest Gen Z brands out there. Special thanks to Miquel Roig Sauret and the team at aRetail for connecting us and also the landlord team who helped make it happen: Megan Hutchinson, Freddie Steel, Duncan Gilliard, John Lyons, Addy Williams, William Oliver I bought a hoodie, but feeling braver and might go back for some rings and a belt buckle! More to come from TWOJEYS #twojeys #jewellery #mensjewellery #barcelona #london #urbanfashion #soho #brewerstreet