With significant experience in real estate, Andrew has dealt with all types of matters including buying and selling investment property, property development – from site assembly to forward sale, landlord and tenant work for both owners and occupiers, real estate finance work, transactions involving mines and minerals and working on the property aspects of corporate transactions.

He has provided advice to both the public and private sectors and has done a large proportion of his work as part of specialist teams focused on development projects and work for higher education institutions. His clients have ranged from small businesses and individual landowners to international PLCs and government departments. His broad range of experience has also allowed him to develop the skills needed to quickly obtain client and sector specific knowledge, as well as the ability to provide innovative solutions and bespoke drafting.

Andrew previously worked for a large national firm of solicitors, having been based in Manchester and prior to that in Leeds.

What others say about Andrew:

Andrew's attitude perfectly matched the approach we wanted. He identified the battles we could win and did not waste time on proving points. Egos never came into it. There were many complicated property elements and Andrew worked with us to resolve these before they became an issue.

(W. Armitage)

Andrew has been key to the achievement of the sale and has without doubt offered excellent advice and timely intervention in what was at points a complicated negotiation, made more difficult by the buyer's Solicitor. His expertise has also been noted by the buyer's Director of Land, who informs us he has recommended Andrew to a third party with whom his Company is seeking to undertake a transaction. We take this opportunity to re-iterate how pleased we have been with the service received from your Practice over a number of years.

(O. Thomas, The Manor House Nursing and Residential Homes)

James qualified as a solicitor in September 2004, having trained at a then UK Top 100 law firm in the North East of England. In 2006, James joined a niche commercial practice in Newcastle upon Tyne, specialising in all aspects of commercial property, before joining another leading law firm based in the North East of England. Until recently, James has been a partner with a well-known South Yorkshire law firm specialising in commercial property, before joining Eaton Smith in April 2020 as a partner in our property department.

James has significant experience across all aspects of commercial property, including landlord and tenant work, acquisition and disposal, portfolio and estate management, commercial development, secured lending and property and development finance.

What clients have previously said of James:

“A superb service provided by James Burgess and his team. Constantly kept up to date and the transaction was completed efficiently. Would not use anyone else after such a positive experience. Thank you very much!”.

“James was very attentive and we knew he had our best interests in hand. Made buying and selling a lot less stressful knowing we had an excellent team supporting us”.

Melissa Cook joined our Commercial Property Team in November 2020 having worked at a top 20 law firm since qualifying in 2013. Melissa has a broad range of experience, including retail, acting for institutional landlords and development projects.