Sonal completed a joint honours degree in Law and French and after qualifying in 1998, she worked at various West End law firms progressing from assistant to partnership level which she maintained for several years before becoming a consultant. She has been consulting with various firms as a specialist Commercial Property Lawyer since 2011 acting for property investors, SMEs, retailers, and high net worth individuals based both in the UK and offshore.
Sonal has a wide–ranging practice, acting for investors in commercial property portfolio acquisitions and disposals, occupiers in the healthcare sector, investors in hotels, nursing homes and pubs. She also deals with the day-to-day management of retail and office portfolios, secured lending and all non-contentious commercial landlord and tenant matters.
More specifically, she deals with the acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold premises; grant and approval of leases and advice on allied landlord and tenant matters such as 54 Act exclusion, rent review clauses and service charge structures; commercial auction sales and purchases; negotiating contracts to include conditional contracts and she works with accountants and tax professionals in advising clients on VAT and stamp duty implications relating to property transactions.
Legal experience also extends to secured lending and re-financing: mezzanine funding and bridging finance; drafting all security documents; dealing with pre-drawdown requirements, arranging security substitution; agreeing security release procedures with Borrowers including tranche payments and dealing with releases of part and redemption. She has acted for most of the large retail banks and for private investment banks.
Sonal advises on the property related aspects of corporate transactions, including the acquisition and disposal of businesses such as pharmacies, restaurants, hotels, pubs, dental practices, and nursing homes; joint venture transactions using offshore vehicles and transactions involving share sale and purchase agreements, warranties and assisting in the due diligence process.
Outside of work Sonal enjoys travelling extensively, sampling different wines (a hobby acquired whilst living in France), theatre and other performing arts and the fast-paced world of Formula One motor racing.