Tony Guthrie

In respect of my lease consultancy work, I’ve dealt with disputes on a wide range of properties but with a particular focus on office premises in London and the south-east. I’m an experienced expert witness having given and defended evidence in the High Court, County Court, arbitration oral hearings and at mediations. I am well-practised at helping a client to assemble a team of relevant experts to support their case and working with lawyers. I was voted one of the UK’s top-10 rent review surveyors in the poll by Property Week.

I regularly act for a broad variety of investors and occupiers and I’m also an experienced arbitrator, and co-author of the current RICS guidance notes for surveyors acting as arbitrators and as independent experts.

Working to support lenders, I have taken many appointments as a fixed charge (LPA) receiver and also work as a bank monitor to oversee consensual workouts. I have dealt with a wide range of properties and circumstances. I have advised on failed residential developments, prepared properties for sale as development opportunities, and stabilised investments where asset management work was required before bringing properties to the market. Some cases have involved a quick sale, others a long hold whilst asset management initiatives have been progressed

MY RECENT PROJECTS

• Rent review, City of London office – I advised a major occupier concerning their rent review on their 800,000 sq ft office premises. The rent review was settled part way through arbitration proceedings involving lawyers, cladding experts, fit out consultants and M&E engineers.
• Expert witness – I advised and gave evidence on behalf of a client dealing with a substantial claim over breach of contract which was settled following adjudication.
• Asset management, London office – I advised the landlord on a 200,000 sq ft multi-let office in London. This has involved a series of rent reviews and lease restructures to increase the value of the landlord’s interest.
• Support to lenders – I advised a lender in respect of a non-performing loan secured by a stalled residential development. The resulting advice enabled the lender to secure a further injection of equity from the borrower to avoid the lender enforcing on the loan.