More Than Law - The Forsters Podcast

In the latest More than Law podcast, Louise Irvine (Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer) is joined by Polly Montoneri (Partner, Rural Land and Business) and Sophie Smith (Senior Associate, Planning) to examine what Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) means from a landowner’s perspective, where the major opportunities lie, and the need for bespoke deal structures. The team discusses the rise in landowners entering Section 106 agreements to create and sell biodiversity credits, the evolution of conservation covenants and how mandatory BNG requirements are reinforcing the need for a trusted, multidisciplinary team – particularly amid a shortage of ecologists.

Following our two-part series in 2024 that dived into biodiversity net gain from the lens of both developers and landowners, our team of experts are back to reflect on the year just gone. From open mosaic habitats, to onsite vs offsite development, to the relationship between BNG and the incoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill, our team share their views on the latest developments and speculate about what they expect to see moving forward.

Our latest podcast, Wills potentially rewritten: protecting the elderly and vulnerable, explores the Law Commission’s potentially far-reaching proposals for modernising laws governing wills in England and Wales. The Law Commission recommendations for reform are aimed primarily at protecting testators (including from undue influence and fraud), and increasing clarity and certainty in the law where possible. Could an iPhone video or handwritten note constitute a valid will? Would the recommendations help to stamp out predatory marriage? Co-hosts Raphaella Lafrance and Robert Linden Laird Craig are joined by Hannah Mantle (Partner, Trust and Estate Disputes) and Michael Armstrong (Counsel, Private Client) to discuss the proposals, what they might mean in practice, and the safety nets needed to protect society’s most vulnerable.

Budget 2024 - Forsters' Tax Partner Elizabeth Small on carried interest by Forsters LLP

Budget 2024 - Forsters' Tax Partner Elizabeth Small on SDLT by Forsters LLP

Budget 2024 - Forsters' Tax Partner Elizabeth Small on CGT and Employee Ownership Trusts by Forsters LLP

Budget 2024 - Forsters' Tax Partner Elizabeth Small on close company loans by Forsters LLP

Budget 2024 - Forsters' Tax Partner Elizabeth Small on CGT changes by Forsters LLP

FORSTERS_MORE THAN LAW_CRE_VICTORIA AND JESS_DRAFT_3 (1) by Forsters LLP

In part two, we focus on landowners. Alongside Polly Montoneri, Partner in our Landed Estates team, and Planning Associate, Sophie Smith, we talk about the impacts of Biodiversity Net Gain obligations and the challenges landowners are faced with.

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).