Nicola Fairbairn

Nicola specialises in Real Estate.

Nicola acts for both private and public sector clients on a wide range of estates matters but with a particular emphasis on large scale development or investment transactions and the related project management. 

Nicola has over 19 years’ experience in the real estate market and recent examples of that experience include advising:

• a national logistics company on the occupation of substantial regional hub facilities including the negotiation of the agreement for lease (involving landlord works obligations); leading on the complex due diligence exercise; and project managing the delivery of the advice across the construction, real estate litigation, planning and tax aspects of the project
• a local authority on the development documentation required to deliver a £40m key city centre site regeneration scheme (in partnership with a private developer) through a complex surrender, sale, development agreement and lease structure, together with supporting option and overage arrangements
• a central government body on various aspects of their property portfolio including delivery of a regional centres programme and PFI exit arrangements
• a local authority on both the acquisition and leaseback of a £25m hospital site with strategic redevelopment opportunities and the purchase of a £47m site for the delivery of civic facilities
• a university on the acquisition of a closing city centre hospital site for £15m including complex split site acquisition arrangements, phased decant provisions for the NHS Trust occupying the site and interfacing services requirements for matters including car parking, estate maintenance and insurance
• a financial institution on the acquisition of additional £15m office HQ premises, held pursuant to an Enterprise Zone lease structure, which included an element of investment as a result of a blue chip company being in occupation of part of the property

Prior to her promotion to Partner in 2020, Nicola had been recognised by Chambers & Partners as a “Star Associate” for three consecutive years.  She is described as "really approachable" and praised for her ability to "translate legal jargon into a layman's perspective."

‘‘I would follow Nicola Fairbairn to any firm she practised in, as her positive attitude and capacity for hard work gives me confidence that even the most difficult and confrontational negotiations will be resolved with a positive outcome.” Legal 500 UK 2021, Commercial property, Newcastle