Mark Gauguier

Partner

Mark is a highly experienced lawyer who provides technically excellent and commercially focused advice across all aspects of commercial real estate. He acts across a range of asset classes for a variety of developers, investors, owners and occupiers, including asset managers, family offices, funds, private equity investors, property companies, charities and institutions. Mark trained and qualified at Farrer & Co and is an integral part of the firm's commercial real estate practice, which he now leads.

Complicated development work forms a large part of Mark’s practice. A recognised leader in his field, Mark has an excellent track record in providing cutting-edge advice on prominent schemes that require multi-disciplinary input. Drawing on more than 20 years of diverse experience, Mark is equally adept at advising on commercial, mixed-use or residential developments, and has considerable expertise acting for both landowners and developers.

As lead partner on high-profile mixed-use urban community developments, Mark leads a team that supports substantial landowners on all aspects of complex schemes – a role that demands the seamless coordination of a broad range of complementary disciplines, as well as technical ability, commercial awareness and social sensitivity. Mark also harnesses those skills to act for significant developers on major schemes, most notably advising Shadowbox Studios, an international soundstage platform, on all aspects of the development of almost 1m square feet of state-of-the-art film studio space at Shinfield Studios, near Reading.

Mark has also built a strong investment practice, and he has a wealth of experience in acting on most asset classes and transaction types. The breadth of his client base, which ranges from property funds and domestic and foreign ultra-high-net-worth investors to charities and institutions, has given him a broad perspective as an investment adviser. Working closely with his clients to understand their particular drivers, Mark maintains clarity and focus even in the most high-pressure negotiations.

For over two decades, Mark has been the principal real estate adviser to the Charities Property Fund, an open-ended common investment fund with over £1 billion in assets, during which time he has acted on numerous forward fundings, forward purchases and acquisitions and disposals, as well as advising on a wide range of landlord and tenant matters. Mark also has particular experience advising international ultra-high-net-worth investors on all aspects of property investment and asset management, acting for clients from Australia, mainland Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and the US.

Mark qualified as a solicitor in 2003 and has been a partner since 2011.

Property Investment

Mark has developed an impressive investment practice, and he has considerable experience of a broad spread of asset classes and transaction types. The breadth of his client base, which ranges from property funds and domestic and foreign ultra-high net worth investors to charities and institutions, has helped Mark to become a truly rounded investment practitioner. Working closely with his clients to understand their particular drivers and requirements, Mark is able to maintain a cool head and clear perspective even in the most high-pressured negotiations.

Property Development

Mark has wide experience of development work, particularly in acting on significant legacy and placemaking projects. A recognised leader in his field, Mark has an excellent track-record in providing cutting-edge advice, to both land owners and developers, on significant schemes that require multi-disciplinary input. As lead partner on high profile mixed-use urban community developments, Mark manages a team that deals with all the issues confronting major landowners – a role that demands technical ability, commercial awareness and social sensitivity.

Recognitions

Chambers UK 2026

Real Estate: £50-£150 million

Band 2

The Legal 500 2026

Commercial Property: Development

Leading Partner

The Legal 500 2026

Commercial Property: Investment

Recommended Individual

The Legal 500 2025

Commercial Property: Development

Leading Partner

Work Highlights

Examples of Mark's recent work include:

Advised the UK arm of global film studio platform Shadowbox Studios on the development of a landmark film studios complex in Berkshire, in collaboration with the University of Reading. A conditional long lease was completed in March 2022 and attracted significant national media attention. Since then, advice has been provided on every stage of the project’s lifecycle, including the joint venture arrangements with the University, complex planning, environmental, construction and real estate matters, and occupational leases with major industry tenants such as Paramount. The role included supporting the expansion of the site through additional lease acquisitions, structuring agreements for future development phases, and acting on major financing transactions, including a £261m development facility from Cain International, the UK elements of Silver Lake’s £500m equity investment, and most recently a refinancing with Apollo. This high-profile scheme, the first of its kind in the UK, is anticipated to generate over £500m annually in inward investment.
Acting as lead partner for an open-ended common investment fund which exists to enable charities to invest in commercial property and is a substantial investor in the UK property market with over 100 properties and £1.2 billion in assets across the retail, offices, industrial and alternatives sectors. Mark's team has acted for this fund on numerous recent transactions, with highlights including the forward funding of a significant four-unit retail park development, pre-let to Next, Aldi, Primark and Mothercare on a brownfield site in Greenwich; the forward purchase of a new build school boarding house in Oxford, pre-let to D'Overbroecks Limited; the purchase of a prominent freehold retail property located adjacent to IKEA and the Metro Centre in Gateshead; and a substantial redevelopment and pre-let to Travelodge of the former office floors of a mixed use asset in a prominent site in central Bath.
Acting for the Duchy of Cornwall on all aspects of the flagship mixed-use urban community development at Poundbury, Dorset. Particular recent highlights include acting on the development of the three main schemes at Queen Mother Square, which is set to be the exemplar space at Poundbury; and acting on the development of the Northern Quadrant, a large section of the latest phase to be released for development, which involved a simultaneous transaction with three developers and complicated communal infrastructure arrangements. Mark's team has also advised the Duchy on new forms of affordable housing to be made available at Poundbury and in relation to the largest anaerobic digester in England.
Acting for an ultra-high net worth far eastern investor on two high profile acquisitions of leisure investments near London for an aggregate sum of over £100 million.
Acting for a well-known global brand on the sale of the entire UK share capital of a company whose primary asset is a high profile golf club in the UK for £10 million.

Testimonials

"Mark is one of life's good people. His ability to manage a transaction is exceptional, particularly when challenges are presented from the other side. His leadership qualities are beyond admirable." (Chambers UK 2026)

"Mark delivers highly skilled and business-oriented guidance on all aspects of commercial real estate." (Chambers UK 2026)

"Mark is a leader in the field." (Chambers UK 2026)

"Mark has an acute awareness of our requirements and manages interactions with a great deal of thought." (Chambers UK 2025)

"Not only is Mark personable, but he also manages to wade through treacle and unlock difficult complex positions. He is an absolute delight to work with." (Chambers UK 2025)

"Mark is an extremely responsive lawyer with a good blend of commercial and interpersonal skills." (Chambers UK 2025)

"Mark is a knowledgeable and dedicated lawyer. He is also friendly and responsive." (Chambers UK 2024)

Mark is ranked as a Leading Individual for Commercial Property: Development in the Legal 500 UK 2022 directory.

"Mark Gauguier possess the breadth of experience and dogmatic determination to both hold to principles and identify compromise positions as necessary." (Legal 500 2022)

"Mark Gauguier is outstanding. He was engaged throughout and felt as if he was really one of the team trying to get the deal over the line. Friendly and approachable at all times. Good on interpersonal skills and kept friendly even when we were discussing business. Was never patronising when I did not understand a legal point and was always able to explain matters in clear English. He was wholly engaged and thoroughly professional. A delight to work with." (Legal 500 2021)

"We find Mark Gauguier’s team friendly, hard working and always willing to put extra effort in if necessary to get the deal done." (Legal 500 2021)

Mark is ranked Band 3 for Real Estate: Mainly mid-market in the Chambers UK 2021 directory.

"He is very commercially minded and good at dealing with issues, and he's got a very friendly approach." "Highly experienced, very dedicated to his client's aims and an excellent negotiator." (Chambers UK 2021)

Placemaking and legacy developments

As the Government strives to meet its ambitious housing targets and spur economic growth, placemaking and legacy developments are facilitating the delivery of much needed, high-quality housing and mixed use and commercial developments.

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A data-driven approach to achieving net zero in the property sector. Farrer & Co has sponsored research by the British Property Federation and Savills on the role of energy data in reaching zero emissions, identifying the key data challenges faced by property owners and occupiers.

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