Commercial expertise

Our experienced commercial team can offer advice on a wide range of matters relating to commercial property. These include:

  • Sales and purchases of commercial property
  • Site acquisition and set up for developers
  • Leases of commercial premises
  • Hotels, guest houses and property issues ancillary to the tourist business
  • Dealings with retail premises
  • Development projects
  • Secured borrowings over commercial property
  • Landlord and tenant issues
  • Dealings with Agricultural property

What to expect

We consider your situation in detail to ensure that you and your business obtain what you expect from your commercial property transactions, liaising with financial providers, accountants or your other professional advisors as required.

Our experts in this area are Chris Ryder, Michael Robson and Theo Lewthwaite. They can be contacted at law@arnisonheelis.co.uk or 01768 862007.

Our Team of experts

Chris Ryder

Consultant
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Chris Ryder

Consultant

Chris Ryder is Head of Conveyancing and supervises this department.  Chris graduated from Warwick University with a law degree in 1986 and passed his solicitor’s finals in 1987.  He spent the next four years working for a large commercial practice in Newcastle upon Tyne gaining valuable experience in a wide variety of commercial and property based transactions.

He joined Arnison & Co in 1991 (a few years before his father, a partner in the firm, retired) where he now specialises in commercial and in particular, commercial property, work where he has dealt with thousands of cases over the course of his career.

Away from the office Chris is actively involved in Penrith Rugby Union Football Club, a keen angler and a rather poor golfer.

Michael Robson

Director
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Michael Robson

Director

Michael is the Head of Litigation and supervises this department.  He qualified as a solicitor in 1985.  Since then he has acquired a wealth of experience in property, contentious probate litigation and in the handling of commercial property transactions.

Michael moved to Cumbria from his London firm in 1996, becoming a Partner in a Carlisle based firm with offices in Newcastle and Teeside. He joined Arnison Heelis in 2012. He lives in the Eden Valley.

Theo Lewthwaite

Solicitor
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Theo Lewthwaite

Solicitor

Theo joined Arnison Heelis as a trainee in 2022 and qualified as a solicitor with us in 2024. Working primarily in our commercial property department, Theo has advised on a variety of transactions, from business acquisitions to high-value auction sales. He regularly deals with landlord and tenant matters, as well as freehold sales and purchases, and acts for a number of corporate clients. Theo has also advised a number of charities in connection with their land and property matters.

Before joining Arnison Heelis, Theo attended Austin Friars School in Carlisle, and went on to study Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield.  He graduated with first class honours, and spent some time working in Penrith hospital, before embarking on his legal education. Theo completed the Graduate Diploma in Law in Bristol, and the Legal Practice Course in Sheffield, both with the University of Law, achieving distinction level passes.

Outside of the office, Theo enjoys fettling his old cars and likes to spend lots of time in the fells.