Swinburne Maddison LLP, Durham City’s leading law firm, has concluded work in record time on a 10-year lease for sustainable materials company, Sphera, enabling its occupation of new premises at Seaham’s Jade Business Park.
From instruction, Swinburne Maddison quickly got work underway, taking just under eight weeks to complete the lease and associated documents.
Now fit out works are due to be carried out at the 11,195sq ft self-contained, semi-detached industrial unit, which will create a purpose-designed space to facilitate Sphera’s ambitious business development plans which include the launch of a new carbon negative, lightweight concrete aggregate, OSTO, which is poised to make a major impact within the built environment.
Commenting on the legal support provided by Swinburne Maddison, managing associate, Gillian Moir, who undertook the work, said:
“This lease was of a relatively high value and had to be turned around in a short time frame. I have significant experience of dealing with such matters and was able to conclude the legal work swiftly with assistance from the wider team.
“However, given the need to review title, undertake searches, review, negotiate and complete the documentation, such timeframes can often prove challenging when we do not have direct control over the response times of third parties in the process. In this particular matter, the landlord’s title to the estate was quite significant and a large number of documents were to be reviewed and reported on. Fortunately, all matters were concluded without a hitch.”
Sphera develops new materials for the built environment with no compromise to the planet and works with ambitious partners who are open to new science-led product innovations.
The company recently secured £1.9m funding to support its vision to be a world leader in low-carbon materials innovation. Its CEO and co-founder, Natasha Boulding, a scientist by background and a graduate of Durham University, has spent her career in innovation, research and materials development. She said:
“Swinburne Maddison has provided an excellent service for us throughout the lease process. In our commitment to making net-zero construction a reality, we wanted to get into our new premises as soon as possible because the market for low carbon environmentally friendly building materials is moving quickly and we want to launch our OSTO product without delay.
“Gillian Moir and the team had everything under control from day one and it all went very smoothly and quickly. We are delighted with the service.”
Gillian added: “I very much hope that the successful completion of the lease together with other legal matters being undertaken by our corporate team may mark the beginning of a much longer relationship with Sphera and we can assist in their expansion in the months and years ahead. We wish them well for the future.”
