Sarah Bradford
Legal Director - Commercial Property
"I am a commercial property lawyer with specialist experience assisting lenders and borrowers with property finance matters, working with insolvency practitioners on insolvency property transactions and with pension funds on commercial property acquisitions and disposals.”
I jointly lead the core commercial property team at Higgs, having joined Higgs as a Legal Director in December 2021.
I help clients to navigate the technical process and documents required to assist them to achieve their property transactions and goals whilst adding value, not only by enabling acquisitive clients to enhance the monetary value of their property assets and portfolios but by understanding clients’ businesses and objectives, providing bespoke commercial advice and minimising their risks and legal and financial liability.
Having amassed 20 years’ knowledge and expertise in practice as a property lawyer I have a great ability to analyse and understand complex property transactions and apply that knowledge to deliver a wide range of solutions to help my clients achieve their property goals.
With extensive experience working for mainstream lenders, second tier/mezzanine lenders and private equity lenders on property and development finance transactions, I take a pro-active commercial approach, understanding my client’s priorities and risk appetite, offering solutions to mitigate risks identified during the due diligence process and driving the process to achieve completion in the timescale required.
I also frequently act for borrowers on finance or re-finance transactions in connection with property acquisitions or corporate re-organisations.
I work in conjunction with Higgs restructuring and insolvency team acting for insolvency practitioners on a wide range of complex property disposals, explaining the process and technical issues clearly and project managing the parties to provide excellent client service and achieve successful completion for my clients.
I help clients to navigate the technical process and documents required to assist them to achieve their property transactions and goals whilst adding value, not only by enabling acquisitive clients to enhance the monetary value of their property assets and portfolios but by understanding clients’ businesses and objectives, providing bespoke commercial advice and minimising their risks and legal and financial liability.
- Regularly act for a lender on property development finance transactions, working as an extension of the client’s team, identifying and mitigating risks through the due diligence process, collaborating with Higgs construction and engineering team and the professional valuers and surveyors involved to enable the client to lend as quickly as possible within its acceptable risk parameters and fully secure the facility.
- Act for insolvency practitioners on property transactions relating to the management or disposal of assets as part the various different insolvency processes, often working collaboratively with Higgs specialist restructuring and insolvency team.
- Act for various pension schemes in the acquisition and disposal of commercial properties of all types and sizes, navigating the regulatory pension requirements and liaising closely with the pension trustees and all parties involved.
- High value complex property support for corporate transactions, both acquisitions and disposals. Working collaboratively with Higgs corporate law team the client, their accountants and finance advisers, analysing and understanding the properties involved in order to deal with the due diligence process comprehensively and input and advise on property specific risks, warranties and indemnities.
- Portfolio re-organisations for corporate groups or investment landlords seeking to restructure their property holdings, often for tax efficiency or to raise finance/re-finance.
More about me
My hero
My parents – without them I would not have achieved all that I have personally and professionally.
Favourite quote
“Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground”
Childhood career goal
Solicitor or Estate Agent – I have always loved property!
Interests
Dog walking, yoga and I love to swim (preferably outdoors)