A director in the Real Estate group acting for developers, local authorities and landowners in connection with commercial and residential real estate development projects.

Tel: +44 (0)121 214 1042

Email: david_pettingale@wragge.com

Best brains in ...

Real estate development acting for developers on site acquisition, development, letting and funding.

Agreements between local authorities and commercial developer partners for projects such as town centre regeneration and business park development.

Landowner disposals to developers with 'retained interest' by way of overage or profit share.

Highlight of your career so far?

Concluding an agreement to lease the majority of a flagship 200,000 sq ft office building in Bristol to Burgess Salmon. Lawyers become even more cautious when they are the client! We finally settled the documents during a late night session at their offices.

Most challenging job you've ever done?

Acting for a consortium of landowners entering into a conditional option with a major UK housebuilder, in relation to an 800-acre site with a 15-year development span. The option terms, especially the valuation and cost allocation issues, were complicated enough. And reconciling the interests of our client group comprising a major pension fund, a university, a county council, Network Rail, a major aggregates PLC, a private company and private individuals, required a lot of tact, diplomacy and lateral thinking.

What's your definition of going the extra mile?

Our developer client was keen on a site with development potential but it was under an exclusivity arrangement with a third party expiring at close of business one Friday. When they failed to exchange on time we agreed to meet at the offices of the seller's solicitors in London on Saturday. With lawyers and clients for both sides together in one room for the day we did our due diligence, agreed the contract and signed the deal.

What's been written or said about you that you're most proud of?

When a leading individual from one of our established clients moved on to set up his own business he phoned and asked if I would act for him in his new venture 'because he had enjoyed working with me'. Ultimately, enjoying what we do makes all the difference.