Maria Nicol

I qualified as a commercial property solicitor in 2004. I joined Higgs in 2015 after being at my previous Firm for 11 years.

I advise on all areas of commercial property including the following:-

• The sale and acquisition of freehold and leasehold properties with or without lending;
• Acting for both Landlord and Tenants in relation to leases and lease renewals;
• Acting for investor clients dealing with Landlord and Tenant portfolios including advice on the obligations in leases;
• Pension fund acquisitions and disposals acting for SIPPs and SSASs including lease back arrangements adhering to Pension Scheme requirements;
• Negotiation, advice and completion of overage agreements, option agreements, conditional contracts and complex Property arrangements;
• Acting for lenders on finance transactions;
• Acting for franchisees in dealing with sales, purchases and Lease transactions; and
• Dealing with the Property aspects of the sale and purchase of franchisee companies.

My clients include buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, lenders, franchisees, franchisors, SIPPs and SSASs dealing with various sectors including retail, offices, fast food outlets and manufacturing.

My particular expertise is acting on behalf of pension schemes (SIPPs and SSASs) ensuring all compliance aspects are adequately adhered to.

Further I specialise in franchising advising for multiple franchisees of a leading fast-food brand with their sales, purchases and lease transactions.