Julie Simms

Her expertise includes advising on major regeneration and capital projects, covering development agreements, forward funding agreements, collaboration and option agreements, exclusivity arrangements, and site assembly, disposal and lettings.

Julie leads on site investigation and assembly, development agreements and real estate funding structures. She takes a practical, pragmatic approach and works closely with DWF’s Planning and CPO team to secure land interests for large-scale development projects. She also leads teams supporting the delivery of infrastructure agreements, including asset protection agreements, deeds of easement and substation leases.

Her experience includes drafting and negotiating option and access agreements, as well as managing acquisitions and disposals of complex land interests across commercial, residential and agricultural sectors, both voluntary and under statutory blight.

Julie advises both public and private sector clients on large-scale regeneration, development and infrastructure projects, with particular experience in public-private partnerships. She has been appointed to strategic roles on multiple projects, contributing to project and management boards while ensuring legal compliance throughout.

Jurisdiction: England & Wales

• Lead Partner managing a multi-disciplinary team advising Manchester City Council on the procurement of a development and joint venture partner for the £500m regeneration of Wythenshawe. Providing full-service support across the procurement process and working closely with the wider project team.
• Lead Partner managing a multi-disciplinary team advising Liverpool City Council on the procurement of a development partner for the £200–300m regeneration of Festival Gardens, delivering end-to-end advice on the procurement process and liaising closely with the Council’s project advisers.
• Joint Lead Partner advising Tameside Council on the delivery of Godley Green Garden Village, a 150-hectare site comprising approximately 2,000 homes and supporting infrastructure. Advising on delivery model options, negotiating the collaboration agreement and infrastructure delivery plan, alongside real estate documentation and detailed title review, including site constraints.
• Lead Real Estate Partner advising the Royal Borough of Greenwich on the Woolwich Exchange CPO, including development of the land acquisition strategy to support the regeneration project. Work included advice on side orders (SUOs), TfL-approved highway improvements, a conditional land sale agreement, temporary lettings and tenancies at will, option agreements and issues relating to unregistered land across the site.
• Lead Real Estate Partner advising Wigan Council on the development of a strategic site to deliver circa 2,000 homes alongside significant infrastructure, including a new link road.