Michael Brennan
Solicitor
Profile
SRA-qualified solicitor with 4 years PQE specialising in commercial property transactions across retail, industrial, and mixed-use developments. Proven track record managing high-value acquisitions and disposals up to £25M for institutional clients and major UK developers. Consistently exceeds billing targets while maintaining strong client relationships and delivering complex transactions within tight deadlines.
Experience
Lead commercial property lawyer acting for institutional investors, pension funds, and property developers on acquisitions, disposals, and development projects.
- Completed 45+ commercial property transactions totalling over £180M in aggregate value, including headline acquisitions of retail parks in Manchester and Birmingham
- Negotiated and drafted lease agreements for major occupiers including Tesco, Next, and Amazon, securing rental incomes exceeding £2M per annum
- Managed complex due diligence processes on portfolio acquisitions, identifying and resolving critical title issues that saved clients over £500K in potential liabilities
- Exceeded annual billing target of 1,600 hours by 12%, generating fee income of £420K while maintaining 98% client satisfaction scores
- Mentored 2 trainee solicitors and supervised junior associates on transaction documentation and client management
- Successfully completed urgent refinancing transaction worth £35M within 10-day deadline, enabling client to secure preferential interest rates
- Developed expertise in renewable energy projects, advising on 5 solar farm developments with combined capacity of 150MW
Completed comprehensive training contract across four key practice areas before qualifying into the award-winning commercial property team.
- Assisted lead partner on £120M mixed-use development in Leeds city centre, coordinating with planning consultants and managing construction documentation
- Qualified into commercial property team 6 months early due to exceptional performance, immediately taking responsibility for own caseload of 25+ matters
- Conducted title investigations and prepared comprehensive due diligence reports on over 80 commercial properties, identifying potential risks worth £2.3M
- Drafted and reviewed development agreements, option agreements, and conditional contracts for residential and commercial schemes totalling 450 units
- Completed construction seat managing 15 professional negligence claims, successfully recovering £750K in damages for contractor clients
- Supported planning applications for major retail developments, liaising with local authorities and achieving consent for schemes worth £85M
- Achieved consistently high appraisal ratings across all seats, ranking in top 10% of trainee cohort nationally
Skills
- Commercial Property Transactions
- Lease Negotiation and Drafting
- Due Diligence and Title Investigation
- Development Agreements
- SDLT and Tax Planning
- Client Relationship Management
- Legal Drafting and Documentation
- Case Management Systems (Elite 3E)
- Property Development Law
- Land Registry Practice
- Construction Contracts
- Planning and Development
- Landlord and Tenant Law
- Renewable Energy Projects
- Portfolio Acquisitions
- Refinancing Transactions
- Risk Assessment and Management
- Project Coordination
- Regulatory Compliance
- Commercial Awareness
Education
Certifications
- SRA Practising Certificate
- Law Society Commercial Property Accreditation
- RICS Conflict Avoidance and Dispute Resolution (Level 1)
- CPD Compliance (20+ hours annually)