
Practice areas:
Sector experience:
Gemma has extensive experience of all aspects of real estate transactions and specialises in large scale development and regeneration projects.
Gemma works with a range of public and private sector clients on their commercial property portfolios to include freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, title due diligence, agreements for lease, licences and development agreements.
Gemma has particular expertise in advising local authorities on complex regeneration schemes and relishes the opportunity to be involved in transformative schemes from concept to completion. Gemma’s work involves advising clients on site assembly, routes to market, procurement of developer and drafting and negotiation of development documentation including development agreements, collaboration agreements, joint venture agreements, transfer and lease documentation and construction documentation and warranties.
Gemma advises local authorities on the EU Public Procurement regime particularly as it applies to development agreements and land transactions and is regularly involved in development procurements involving the competitive dialogue procedure.
She also specialises in advising local authorities and schools on school land issues, including the property aspects of academy conversion and changing school status.
Gemma also provides training on commercial property and procurement law issues.
Memberships
Commercial Real Estate Legal Association
Case highlights
- Acting for a London Borough in the regeneration of a town centre, including giving strategic advice on the procurement process and joint venture arrangements with the private sector developer and another public sector body.
- Acting for a Borough Council in the south-east of England on a scheme for a new out of town residential development, including advising on option agreements, deeds of easement, overage deed, legal charge and deed of priority and advising on appropriation and disposal of open space land.
- Acting for Hertfordshire County Council on its competitive dialogue procurement (jointly with the Borough of Broxbourne) of a development partner to regenerate the Brookfield Riverside area of Broxbourne.
- Advising LB Wandsworth on all aspects of its competitive dialogue procurement of a development partner for the mixed use regeneration of a town centre.
- Advising a number of local authority clients on the property aspects of academy conversions.
Publications
Gemma Duncan
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The Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 looks set for change
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New Law Society Codes for signing and exchanging property contracts 2024
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Land Registry ‘lawyer assured information’ process
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Not that black and white: The use of landowner rights by planning authorities – Enterprise Hangars Ltd v Fareham Borough Council [2023] EWHC 2060