Welcome

Welcome to the Commercial Real Estate Legal Association ("CRELA"), a new association for lawyers who mainly undertake non-contentious transactional and advisory work relating to commercial real estate (but excluding lawyers who are specialists in environmental, planning, construction or residential property law).

CRELA is an individual rather than a corporate or firm members' group and is for all lawyers who are involved in non-contentious commercial real estate within the property industry.

This website provides information about CRELA, its aims, events and activities, news and membership.

CRELA Events

Please see the Press Releases section for details of CRELA's previous events.

CRELA’s next event is on Monday 6 February 2012 at which Sir Nicholas Kenyon, Managing Director of the Barbican Centre (previously Controller of BBC3 and Director of the BBC Proms) and General Editor of the recently published book The City of London: Architectural Tradition and Innovation in the Square Mile and Peter Rees, one of the most respected figures in urban planning in both the UK and Europe and who has been The City Planning Officer for the City of London since 1987, will give a presentation on "Architecture in the City of London – Tradition and Innovation". The event starts at 6.45pm and is being held at The Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London EC2 followed by drinks and canapés in The Barbican Conservatory. Tickets are £15 +VAT per head and will attract 1 CPD point. Only CRELA members may apply for tickets, but members may invite guests at the same price per ticket. An invitation has been sent to members by CRELA’s administrator, Tim Power. Please do register as soon as possible as it will be a very interesting presentation.

Recent News

CRELA’s Committee is very pleased to announce that the Rt Hon Lord Justice Lewison has kindly accepted the invitation to be the first President of CRELA.

Ruth Boulton has retired as Chair of the Practice and Procedure Sub-committee and Simon Schipper of Cripps Harries Hall LLP has kindly agreed to take over as Chair. The Committee wishes to thank Ruth for all her work in setting up this Sub-committee and to welcome Simon to the Chair.

CRELA's financial and membership year now runs from 1 June to 31 May and so membership renewals are now due. Membership renewal notices will be sent out shortly by e-mail.

CRELA is most grateful to ^PLCProperty for its generous sponsorship of the CRELA website.

About CRELA

CRELA was formed to provide non-contentious commercial real estate lawyers with a dedicated specialist forum of their own within which to collaborate with a view to promoting best practice and providing networking opportunities within the property industry.

Objectives

The objects of CRELA are to:-

promote specialist non-contentious commercial real estate legal skills within the property industry and among others with interest in real estate;
provide a forum in which members can share knowledge and information with a view to improving and enhancing transactional and other procedures for the benefit of practitioners and clients; and
provide a network for social, educational and training events.

CRELA is a non political, non discriminatory and non sectarian organisation.

Please refer to CRELA's Rules for further information.

How to join CRELA

CRELA welcomes any lawyer who undertakes non-contentious transactional and advisory work relating to commercial real estate (other than in relation to environmental, planning, construction or residential property law) within the property industry and whether such undertaking is in private practice, in-house or otherwise.

CRELA's financial year runs from 1 June to 31 May. New members may join at any time but the first subscription paid by a member must be paid in full independent of the date that the member joins CRELA. The current subscription is £25 p.a.

Please download membership application form.

Please print off, complete and sign the membership application form and send together with a cheque for the annual subscription fee of £25, made payable to CRELA, to:

John Condliffe
Hogan Lovells International LLP
Atlantic House
Holborn Viaduct
London
EC1A 2FG

By signing and sending an application form to CRELA, each applicant shall be deemed to agree to submit to and abide by CRELA's constitutional Rules.

Committee and Sub-committees

The current Committee Members are:

Current Officers

	Chairman: Robert Highmore, Charles Russell LLP
	Vice Chairman: Katherine Watts, Maples Teesdale LLP
	Membership Secretary: John Condliffe, Hogan Lovells International LLP
	Honorary Treasurer: Jason Tann, Mishcon de Reya
	Press Officer: Richard Smith, Brodies LLP
	Representative for Scotland: Paul Jennings, Bell & Scott
	Regional Co-ordinator: Michael Shaw, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey (UK) LLP
	Chair Practice and Procedure Sub-committee: Simon Schipper, Cripps Harries Hall LLP
	Events Co-ordinator: Jane Dockeray, Hogan Lovells International LLP

Other Committee Members

Anthony Newton, Hogan Lovells International LLP

Sarah Pass, Forsters LLP

Ruth Boulton, Debenhams Ottaway

Charles Palmer, Speechly Bircham LLP

Alisa Sweeney, Cripps Harries Hall LLP

Rob Thompson, Irwin Mitchell LLP

Roger Thornton, Maples Teesdale LLP

It is intended that, in due course, the Committee shall consist of up to 12 elected Members of CRELA elected by Members each year at the Annual General Meeting.

Sub-Committees

Practice and Procedure

A Practice and Procedure Sub-committee has been established, chaired by Simon Schipper of Cripps Harries Hall LLP.

Objectives

The purpose of the Sub-committee is to:

Increase cooperation and understanding between owners and occupiers, funders, surveyors and lawyers.
Simplify and speed up transactions through standardisation documentation procedures and, as a result, spread best practice.
Influence legislative change.

Members

The current members of the Sub-committee are: