Real estateBLP pips Lovells to Ballymore deal

Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has won its first instruction from Irish luxury residential developer Ballymore Properties. It has been instructed to negotiate a management agreement with Radisson Edwardian Hotels for a new hotel in London's Docklands.

Lovells carried out the planning and commercial property work for the hotel and has traditionally acted for Ballymore. However, BLP muscled in on account of its expertise in negotiating hotel management agreements. Under the agreement, Radisson Edwardian advised Ballymore on the development of the hotel and will also be managing the hotel.

Ballymore head of commercial development Jonathan Haigh told The Lawyer: "We used BLP as it has industry-recognised capability in hotel management agreements, which Lovells doesn't cover. [BLP partners] Andrew Little, John Sipling and Nick Skea-Strachan quickly identified the thorny issues, having had lots of experience of management agreements over the years. We still instruct Lovells for other work."

For Ballymore, renowned for its luxury residential developments, this is its first foray into the hotel development market. The new Radisson Edwardian hotel will have 169 bedrooms and will form part of the award-winning New Providence Wharf development in London's Docklands. It will consist of an eight-storey building connected via a glass atrium to Ontario Tower, the 30-storey block of residential apartments.

Baker & Mckenzie acted for Radisson Edwardian Hotels, a longstanding client of the firm.