Leigh Shapiro

Spear’s Review

Leigh Shapiro has cultivated a specialism in residential leasehold law over the past 16 years, honing in on the issues around lease extension and enfranchisement work. With the interests of her clients at the fore, Shapiro brings highly-technical leaseholder legislation into focus through a commercial lens. Protecting her clients’ rights is of paramount importance, whether a leaseholder or landlord, developer or private investor.

As head of Irwin Mitchell’s national leasehold enfranchisement team, Shapiro has worked on deals of all shapes and sizes. She prides herself on delving deeply into cases where complex title structures or the unique physical characteristics of properties can leave leaseholders unable to assert their statutory rights.

Carving out a niche in the field of residential leasehold law, Shapiro’s reputation is formidable and consequently, she co-edits the handbook of residential tenancies and serves as an honorary consultant for the Federation of Private Residents’ Associations.

Adviser Profile

Leigh Shapiro deals with all issues relating to residential leasehold law, acting for a whole range of people who own an interest in a flat (or a leasehold house). These can be leaseholders, landlords, developers, institutional investors, lenders or those involved in managing residential property.

Leigh’s work can involve a single flat to development of new estates and neighbourhoods. Failing to comply with the legislation can leave leaseholders unable to exercise their rights; landlords losing their interests without proper compensation; and the potential for criminal sanctions for failing to comply with the rights of first refusal procedures correctly. It is Leigh’s role to make sure her clients’ rights are protected.