People | Melanie Benson

Melanie Benson is a Senior Associate in the Property Practice.

An experienced property lawyer, she advises on a broad range of commercial real estate matters involving a wide variety of premises including retail, warehouse, office and theatres. She acts on behalf of private property companies, investors and occupiers, as well as many high profile media clients, in the sale and purchase of commercial property, leasing and lease renewals, corporate support and property development work. She also acts for a number of charity clients.

Melanie’s recent work includes:

• Disposals acquisitions and advice in connection with business premises for media clients including 19 XIX Entertainment (formerly 19 Entertainment) Ingenious Media Limited and Take 2 Interactive Software Europe Limited;
  
• The acquisition of The Olympic Studios, a well known recording studio in Barnes, for a media client, with the intention of developing this into a boutique cinema;
  
• The acquisition of new office/retail premises in Mayfair for a well known media company;
  
• The acquisition of retail property in Chelsea for investment purposes on behalf of a high net worth individual;
  
• Providing property advice in connection with film projects for Dreamworks and Universal;
  
• Advising on the Central School of Speech and Drama redevelopment;
  
• Acting on the purchase of a restaurant in the West End as part of the relocation of a client’s Japanese restaurant.

Other clients include Ben Sherman Group Limited, The Really Useful Group Ltd and World Courier (U.K.) Ltd.

Melanie joined Harbottle & Lewis in April 2000 and was promoted to Senior Associate in August 2004.

"Associate Melanie Benson is highly commended for her 'attentive and reliable counsel - it's as if our file is always on top of her desk,' say clients." Chambers and Partners, 2009