Manusri Prabhakar

Departments to date: Corporate; Client Secondment ; Commercial Property
University: University of Liverpool ; University of Law, Bristol
Degree: LPC LLM in Professional Legal Practice – Distinction ; LLB (Hons) Law Degree – First Class Honours

9.00am: I arrive at the office, fresh from a morning session at the gym. I’m someone who loves starting the day with a workout. There’s something about getting it out of the way early that feels better than facing the crowded gym after work. Once I’m settled in, the first thing I do is check my inbox for property news updates from the forums I’m subscribed to, keeping an eye out for anything related to my area of work. Then, I review my to-do list to set my priorities for the day and get a clear sense of what needs my attention first.

9.30am: I’m currently assisting the partner I sit with on a matter involving the sale of a property owned by a charity. There’s a restriction on the title register that we haven’t come across before, so my focus this morning is on researching how we can comply with it to avoid any delays with the sale. I start by checking the Land Registry Practice Guides and then reach out to the Land Registry directly to clarify a few points. I also look through articles and online property forums to see if others have encountered a similar restriction.

To move things forward, we book a meeting with our client to find out whether they have any background information on the restriction, and I also get in touch with our charity expert for their input.

11.30am:  We have recently issued a draft wayleave agreement for one of our clients, and this morning the other side’s solicitor has sent back a marked-up version of the contract. I review all the changes they have proposed, conceding on the non-controversial points to help keep the process moving efficiently for our client. For the provisions that are crucial to protecting our client’s position, I push back.

Some of the amendments relate to technical points, so I conduct additional research to determine the most appropriate approach under the relevant regulations and industry standards. Once I have completed my review, I prepare a summary of my proposed amends for the partner’s input before we send our reply to the other side.

1.15pm: I take my lunch break around this time. A few of the other trainees and I usually sit together on the sofas on the fourth floor to eat. It’s a nice chance to catch up with each other about our day so far and take a short break before the afternoon picks up again.

2:15pm: : We have received notice from our client that one of their neighbours had previously sent them letters raising potential rights to light issues connected to the development and sale of our client’s property. I contact our client and the managing agent to check whether they still have copies of the previous correspondence, as we’ll need to disclose these on the data site that all potential bidders can access. I also update the CPSEs to reflect the dispute and work closely with the partner I report to address the issue and ensure everything is properly documented.

3:30pm:  One of our clients is looking to develop on a highway located close to public transport lines. I order the relevant searches and additional TfL searches so that we can assess the proximity of the transport infrastructure in relation to the property. As the land involves a highway, the partner I work with has asked me to research the process for “stopping up” highways to allow development to proceed. I prepare a research note outlining the process. After discussing my findings with the partner, I draft a summary to send to the client so they have a clear understanding of the process and next steps.

5:30pm: I go through my emails, tick off the tasks I’ve completed today on my to-do list, post my time recordings, and make sure everything is filed correctly. Today, Maples is celebrating its 150th anniversary, and a party has been organised for our clients. I walk to the venue with the other trainees, and it’s a great event. We enjoy food and drinks and have the opportunity to catch up with many of the firm’s clients who have come to celebrate this milestone.