Commercial Real Estate Legal Association

The Commercial Real Estate Legal Association (CRELA) was formed in March this year as a new association for lawyers who mainly undertake non-contentious transactional and advisory work relating to commercial real estate, but excluding lawyers who are specialists in environmental, planning, construction or residential property law.

CRELA’s first event took place on 1 July 2010 and was very well attended.  The event was hosted by Willis Group and Liz Peace, Chief Executive of the BPF, gave a thought provoking speech.  Details of her speech and of the Association are on the CRELA website: www.crela.co.uk.

The objects of CRELA include providing a forum in which members can share knowledge and information with a view to improving and enhancing transactional and other procedures for the benefit of practitioners and clients.  It will also provide a network for social, education and training events.

Membership is on an individual basis (£20 per annum) and PLA members are requested to pass on details to their commercial real estate colleagues.  CRELA is modelled on the PLA and aims to provide similar benefits to those the PLA provides for its members. 

The next event is on 11^th November at the British Library Conference Centre at which Dennis Turner Chief Economist at HSBC Bank, will be speaking on the outlook for the UK economy.  John De Lucy, Head of Estates and Facilities at the British Library, will also give a short address on the British Library.  This event is open to members and non-members and details will shortly appear on the website.

As well as seeking new members (current membership is about 250), CRELA would like expressions of interest from those in the regions and Scotland who wish to be involved in regional groups.  They are asked to contact:

Regional co-ordinator Mike Shaw : Michael.Shaw@Hammonds.com

Or, in relation to Scotland:

Richard Smith: rsmith@biggartbaillie.co.uk 

or Paul Jennings : P.Jennings@bellscott.co.uk .

 

Those interested in involvement in the newly formed CRELA Practice & Procedure Sub-Committee, which will consider issues of interest/concern to practitioners, are asked to contact Sub-Committee Chair Ruth Boulton : Ruth.Boulton@thomaseggar.com.

The CRELA Committee would like to thank the PLA for its encouragement and support.