More Than Law - The Forsters Podcast

As we progress towards a greener future, the real estate industry faces many changes and new challenges. Today, we dive into the first of a two-part special that looks closely at wildlife and its new place in the planning system. Hosted by Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer, Louise Irvine, we take a look at Biodiversity Net Gain with Charlie Croft, Senior Associate in Forsters’ Commercial Real Estate team, and Sophie Smith, Associate in our Planning team. Together, we look at the Biodiversity Net Gain requirements outlined in the planning process, and how these obligations will impact developers.

We all recognise the real estate industry is shifting towards net zero, but where are the different sectors at on their journey? In the second of our Race to Net Zero podcast series we set out to explore this question, taking a fund level perspective with Ben Lonsdale, Director of ESG at Patrizia, and Edward Glass, Senior Associate in Forsters’ Commercial Real Estate team. Together, we delve into the different decarbonisation pathways parties are considering, discuss whether green regulation can help drive change, and understand the importance of the S in ESG.

In the fourth episode of our Outside the Box podcast, we focus on the occupational requirements within the industrial and logistics sector. How has occupier demand changed during 2023 and, with an increasingly diverse occupier mix, is the industrial and logistics sector addressing the needs of occupiers? Paul Grayson, Senior Associate at Fosters chats to Tom Shaw, Director in the industrial and logistics occupier advisory team at Savills. Read more about the industrial and logistics sector in Forsters’ report: Outside the Box - Supporting an Industrial Evolution. forsters.co.uk/outside-the-box

Podcast host Louise Irvine, and Owen Spencer, Counsel in Forsters’ Studios Group, were joined by Simon Calvert of CBRE to discuss film studio real estate. The trio peer through the letterbox on the sector and give insights into the latest trends and likely developments in the film studio sector.

- As the real estate industry transitions towards a net zero world, where are the different sectors on that journey? As we move into 2024 and an Olympic year, Forsters are set to explore that question, looking at how the sectors are embracing the net zero challenge. In our first podcast, we take a cross-sector approach in conversation with Rob Wall, Assistant Director of Sustainability and Tax Policy at the British Property Federation. What is the state of play in terms of regulation?

In the third episode of our Outside the Box podcast, we look at sustainability challenges in the Industrial and Logistics sector. Miri Stickland, Forsters’ Head of Knowledge is joined by Victoria Towers, Partner at Forsters and Co-Head of Industrial and Logistics, and Jessica Pilz, Head of Sustainable Investing, Private Markets at Fiera Capital. With the sector committed to meeting net zero targets by 2050, UK investors and developers have highlighted the need for further assistance from Government. We discuss how recent announcements from Rishi Sunak weakening net zero policies will impact the sector, how pressure is mounting and where meaningful gains can be made.

In the second episode of our Outside the Box podcast, we look at market challenges and opportunities for the industrial and logistics real estate sector. Miri Stickland, Forsters’ Head of Knowledge is joined by Magnus Hassett, Partner and Head of Industrial and Logistics at Forsters, and Ben Sleath, Equity partner at DTRE. Together they discuss how has the industrial and logistics market has progressed in 2023 and Ben Sleath shares his views on occupier demand and rental growth and where the opportunities might be in 2024.

In our first episode, Magnus Hassett, Partner at Forsters and Co-Head of Industrial and Logistics, is joined by David Elvy, Head of Future Freight Strategy at the Department for Transport, and Matthew Evans, counsel in Forsters’ Planning team. Together, they take a closer look at the Department for Transport’s Future of Freight plan, with a particular focus on the role and impact of the planning system.

Returning to the familiar ground of sustainability in commercial real estate, podcast host Miri Stickland chats with Senior Associate Ed Glass and Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer Louise Irvine about forthcoming energy efficiency regulatory changes taking effect on 1 April 2023. We discuss the impact of the changes to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regime, the key issues landlords, buyers and sellers need to be aware of to avoid acting unlawfully and how landlords can best future-proof their leases.

. In this episode, Charles Cochrane of Cochrane Adams Fine Art Agents and Jo Thompson, part of the Art & Cultural Property team at Forsters, joined host Robert Linden Laird Craig to talk about the, often very subjective, features of the art market. In particular, the discussion covered how buyers can approach becoming successful collectors in the face of pressure from the many people and organisations, all with very different objectives, vying for attention. You can get in touch with Charles for help starting your journey as an art collector by visiting the Cochrane Adams website here (https://www.cochrane-adams.com/). To read Jo’s comprehensive guide to owning art that she put together with Sotheby’s, follow the link here (https://www.forsters.co.uk/news/blog/sothebys-and-forsters-owners-guide-art-part-1).

Chris Armstrong of McDonald’s Restaurants and Commercial Real Estate partner Vicki Towers join podcast host Miri Stickland to talk through Chris’s experiences managing the roll out of rapid EVCPs across McDonald’s UK drive-through restaurant portfolio.

Counsel Bryan Shacklady, senior associate Ashleigh Carr and trainee Joe May join podcast host Miri Stickland to give insight into the Dispute Resolution team at Forsters. They explain how no two days are the same and highlight the personal and professional skills needed to be part of this collaborative department. The team also stress the importance of attention to detail within their work, and provide examples of the unexpected topics they have had to become experts on.

Historic England’s General Counsel, Andrew Wiseman and Commercial Real Estate partner Vicki Towers join host Miri Stickland to unpick what a historic building is and how can they be developed and adapted for future generations, with a particular eye on the challenges around introducing energy efficiency measures into historic buildings.

Partner Anthony Goodmaker, associate Anna Penn and trainee Cameron Turnbull join podcast host Miri Stickland to explain why Forsters’ Commercial Real Estate department is more than just easements and covenants. The team run through an average day, give insight into the firm’s culture and identify key skills. They also share their own motivations for qualifying into CRE, and highlight the importance of keeping an open mind throughout your training contract as you may be surprised by the seat you enjoy the most.

Senior Associates Daniel Burr and Dan Cudlipp and Associate Lauren Hepburn join podcast host Miri Stickland to shed some light on the Construction team at Forsters. They discuss the best and worst parts of being a construction lawyer, exciting clients, and an average day in the life. The team also highlight the differences between contentious and non-contentious work and the key skills needed for success in each side of the team.

This episode was recorded at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) headquarters with Dr Alexander Pearce, the modelling lead in the UKAEA Power Plant Technology Group, and senior associate Laura Haworth. Alex and Laura joined podcast host Robert Linden Laird Craig to talk about fusion energy; what it is and how it might one day be used to put power on the grid.

Dr Hannah Wakeford, lecturer in Astrophysics in the School of Physics at the University of Bristol, and senior associate Laura Haworth join podcast host Miri Stickland to talk about the issue of space junk in Earth’s increasingly crowded orbit, its potential impact on planetary environments and shared lessons for sustainability in space and in our built environment.

Podcast hosts Miri Stickland and Robert Linden Laird Craig are joined by partner Amy France and counsel Mike Armstrong to talk about the advantages of forward planning for later life, the importance of having difficult conversations at the right time and the evolution of later living homes in the UK.

Managing Director of sustainability consultants Element Four, Georgia Elliott-Smith, and Commercial Real Estate Partner, Vicki Towers, join podcast host, Miri Stickland, to discuss the advantages of strategic sustainability planning within the real estate sector, the concept of Net Zero, why you shouldn’t assume that a BREEAM excellent rating necessarily means a high EPC rating and the direction of travel for the energy rating of buildings.

Is there a 'right' answer to the questions you are asked at interview? Partner, Katherine Ekers, and trainees, Tatiana Kinsky and Oliver James, join podcast host, Miri Stickland, to give their insights.