“Helen Hayward harnesses expertise in landlord and tenant matters, including retail lease negotiations.”
Legal 500 UK 2026
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Head of Commercial Property
Helen Hayward
Former fashion house lawyer Helen Hayward relocated from London and joined us as a solicitor in 2013. She became a Partner in 2017 and is joint Head of our Commercial Property team. Helen is recognised by Legal 500 as a Leading Partner and by Chambers and Partners as a Notable Practitioner.
As well as this, Helen is our Training Principal and also leads on our Environmental and Social Governance agenda.
She has experience in all areas of commercial property, and acts for a diverse range of clients. She regularly deals with major sales and acquisitions, refinancing and development projects, but has a special interest in leasehold work and retail/office acquisition and development.
Helen has built up an excellent client base in Cumbria and beyond, and looks after clients with considerable property portfolios, both investors and several significant property occupiers in the retail, education and leisure sectors. Helen also heads up our SIPP/SASS pension team which is appointed to the panel of a leading provider of self-invested pensions.
Helen also leads our Franchising team.
Originally from the North East, Helen studied at the University of Bristol, the University of Groningen in Holland and Nottingham Law School.
In 2002, after training at London city law firm Stephenson Harwood, Helen spent several years at the West End law firm Boodle Hadfield in their property development team. She advised developers and investors on a variety of high value property projects including the acquisition of several major office and retail developments.
In 2007, she joined iconic British fashion brand and FTSE 100 company Burberry, where she worked as Senior Legal Counsel for more than five years, managing the legal affairs of the PLC’s global retail and corporate property portfolio. During this time she developed a keen retail lease specialism and was involved in multi-million pound lettings, several significant disposals and the relocation of the company’s central London headquarters.