Commercial Leases - Current Trends

About the Seminar

The commercial real estate sector has experienced significant changes in recent years.  As businesses have adapted to online retailing, hybrid working, fluctuating economic conditions and rising interest rates the landscape of commercial leasing in Scotland  has transformed. With the uncertainty of the business environment, tenants and landlords have become more open to flexible lease terms or agreeing lease re-gears to allow for more adaptable arrangements.  Whilst the landscape has changed, some legal issues remain the same or are more important than before such as exercising lease breaks effectively, dilapidations, rent reviews and tenant insolvency.  The seminar will look at these recent trends and key commercial property issues arising from them.

About the Speaker - Caroline Summers (Harper Macleod)

Caroline Summers has specialised in commercial property since she qualified in 1995.  She trained at Maclay Murray and Spens (now Dentons) and was promoted through the ranks to senior associate before leaving to become a partner at Miller Samuel (now Miller Samuel Hill Brown) in 2002.  She joined  Harper Macleod in 2020 as a partner in their commercial property department based at their Glasgow office.  Her clients range from institutional funds and PLCs through to SMEs and individuals.  Caroline has particular experience in investment purchases and sales, leases (acting on behalf of tenant and landlord), development work and dealing with the property aspects of corporate transactions. She  was recently approached by the Scottish Law Commission to form part of an advisory group with expertise in leasing shops and warehouses to assist the Scottish Law Commission in formulating recommendations for their forthcoming report on the reform/repeal of the Tenancy of Shops (Scotland) Act 1949.