Commercial Property Solicitors | Cumbria & Newcastle

Commercial property legal advice tailored to your business

Our commitment to clients is clear; we deliver informed, practical advice that adds value to your business by being proactive, innovative and responsive to market conditions.

We understand that every client has different priorities. For some, it is completing a transaction quickly. For others, it is protecting a long-term investment, supporting future growth or managing risk. Whatever your objectives, we work alongside you to provide commercially focused legal advice that reflects your individual circumstances.

We regularly work with business owners, developers, landlords, investors, lenders, public sector organisations and professional advisers, building long-term relationships based on trust, responsiveness and practical solutions.

Our commercial property expertise

Our Commercial Property team is jointly headed by Partners Helen Hayward and Robbie Mather and advises on all aspects of commercial property law, including:

Commercial leases
Buying and selling commercial premises
Agricultural land transactions
Retail, industrial and office premises
Development agreements – commercial, industrial and residential
Construction and engineering
Property portfolio management
Leisure and tourism matters
Pension property investments, including SIPP and SASS investments
Commercial landlord and tenant matters
Property finance including development finance
Public sector advice – local authority and education
Planning
Environmental matters and mines and minerals

Supporting businesses at every stage

Commercial property is about much more than completing transactions. It is about helping businesses make informed decisions that support their future success.

Our team advises clients throughout the entire property lifecycle, from acquiring premises and negotiating leases to managing property portfolios, refinancing investments and supporting development opportunities. We work closely with surveyors, accountants, lenders and other professional advisers to ensure transactions progress as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

By taking the time to understand your business and your long-term objectives, we can provide legal advice that is not only technically robust but also commercially practical.

Experience across a wide range of sectors

We act for clients across many sectors, giving us a broad understanding of the commercial challenges different organisations face.

Our experience includes advising businesses operating in retail, manufacturing, hospitality, leisure and tourism, agriculture, education and the public sector, as well as developers, investors and family-owned businesses.

This breadth of experience allows us to deliver advice that reflects the realities of your sector as well as the legal issues involved.

Why choose Burnetts?

Clients choose Burnetts because we combine technical legal specialisms with a practical, down-to-earth approach.

We pride ourselves on being approachable, responsive and easy to work with, taking the time to understand your commercial objectives and providing straightforward advice throughout every stage of your transaction.

Whether you require support with a single property matter or ongoing advice across a wider property portfolio, our Commercial Property team is committed to helping you achieve the best possible outcome.

Speak to our Commercial Property team

If you are buying, selling, leasing or developing commercial property, or require advice on any other commercial property matter, our experienced team is here to help. Please just get in touch.

More about our services

kinderzimmer UK

“Burnetts have supported us since our first nursery opened in 2023, and the Commercial Property team’s guidance on Ockford Mill was, as always, excellent. It’s a partnership we value greatly as we continue to grow.”

Vishav Roma

CEO

“We were extremely pleased with the service provided by Robbie and the team at Burnetts during the sale of our land. Their knowledge, attention to detail and responsiveness were outstanding throughout. Whilst the transaction presented a number of challenges along the way, Robbie and his team handled every issue exceptionally well, guiding us through the process with confidence and professionalism. We would not hesitate to recommend Burnetts to anyone seeking expert legal support for a land or property sale.”

Henry Ashbridge

Land Owner

Wordsworth Trust

“The team at Burnetts have navigated us calmly and expertly through a major acquisition process. We appointed them because of their wealth of knowledge and expertise in this area, but equally impressive has been their friendly, responsive and proactive approach. It’s been great to work with them!”

Michael McGregor

Director

W & M Wholesale

“Very professional, quick to answer any questions or queries we had, did a great job.”

Kerry Taylor Auctions

“Burnetts Solicitors has been an absolutely invaluable asset to our commercial property ventures for many years. The service we receive is consistently outstanding, and their support has been nothing short of pivotal, especially when navigating the time-critical pressures of auction acquisitions. Kerry Taylor Auctions is the leading fashion and textile auction business globally and our property needs often come with unique, requirements and rapid timelines. The dedication demonstrated by the team—exemplified by our solicitor, Helen Hayward—has allowed us to complete transactions and secure premises in a matter of days, a feat that showcases their commitment to efficiency. Coupled with competitive and transparent fees, Burnetts Solicitors provides value for money and peace of mind. It is hugely reassuring to know we have a firm of their calibre in our corner.”

Story Homes Ltd

“Burnetts provided an attentive on-point service in the resolution of our site’s highly complex planning legal agreements, which were a first of their kind for volume housebuilding involving cross local authority legal coordination. Special thanks to Robbie for getting this over the line and enabling our start on site!”

Adam McNally

Senior Land and Planning Manager (Cumbria & SW Scotland)

“A massive thank you to all the team at Burnetts for the professionalism they showed on the sale of our company. I was unaware prior to the sale, of all the different fields of expertise within the company! As a female business owner, I found it extremely comforting to have Jen, Rebecca and Anna helping to navigate me through all the processes and procedures. This personal approach from Burnetts and in particular the ladies was simply amazing. They all explained in fine detail the steps ahead for us as a company and for me as an individual from start to finish. This took a huge amount of stress away from me at an extremely intense and anxious time! So thank you again Burnetts you are all amazing. We couldn’t have done it without you!”

Lindsay Telford

Former owner of Telford Škoda

Benton House Limited

“The team at Burnetts provided exceptional legal advice and support throughout the entire sale process. Their expertise and professionalism were invaluable, and we are very grateful for their assistance.”

Phil Rodgers

Director

Legal 500 UK 2026

Burnetts‘ Carlisle-based practice stands out for its ’blend of technical expertise and commercial awareness’. Robbie Mather‘s workload includes advising on property portfolios and handling large-scale developments and disposals, with a particular specialism in the leisure and tourism sector. Helen Hayward harnesses expertise in landlord and tenant matters, including retail lease negotiations. The pair co-lead the practice, which was bolstered with the arrival of Sarah Carr-Baugh in July 2024.

Burnetts Solicitors LLP’s team stands out for their exceptional ability to navigate complex transactions with precision and confidence.

What makes them unique is their blend of technical expertise and commercial awareness – they don’t just understand property law, they understand business objectives. Potential clients should know that their strength lies in managing challenging deals with remarkable efficiency.

Chambers UK Legal Guide 2026

“Burnetts provide really good client care. The partners are incredibly active and responsive.”

“The lawyers’ key strengths are their knowledge, their integrity and their ability to communicate effectively with all parties.”

“The lawyers understand the market and their expertise is excellent. There is nothing they haven’t been able to help me out with.”

“The lawyers are very responsive, prompt and ever so down to earth with the advice they give.”