International law firm Trowers & Hamlins has been shortlisted for Real Estate Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2026.
The Lawyer Awards recognise excellence across the legal profession, celebrating outstanding achievements by firms and individuals.
The shortlist recognises our role in advising the Ellison Institute of Technology on its £890 million acquisition of the West Side of Oxford Science Park, a major expansion of its Oxford campus and the next step in EIT’s mission to bring world-leading science, technology and entrepreneurship together under one roof. The deal marks a major milestone in EIT’s plans to grow its Oxford presence to over 2 million sq ft of laboratories, offices, and collaborative spaces for research and education, creating a dynamic home for scientific innovation in the pursuit of solving humanity's most challenging problems.
Tom Calnan, lead Partner for Trowers & Hamlins on the acquisition, commented:
"Being shortlisted for Real Estate Team of the Year at The Lawyer Awards is an important recognition of our work on this landmark transaction. The Oxford deal represents one of the largest and most significant transactions ever carried out in the UK's life sciences sector, and demonstrates the depth of expertise across our Real Estate team and the wider firm. In successfully closing this strategic deal for the client, Trowers was once again able to showcase its pre-eminence in UK real estate, combining deep-rooted sector insight with extensive experience in delivering complex large-scale matters.
We are proud to have supported the fantastic team at EIT on a transaction of this scale and significance, and to have contributed to a project that will play an important role in the continued growth of the Oxford Science Park."
Suzanne Benson, National Head of Real Estate at Trowers & Hamlins, added:
"We are delighted to see our Real Estate team recognised in this way. This shortlist reflects not only the significance of the Oxford Science Park transaction, but the strength and depth of our real estate practice, demonstrated across a wide range of major transactions in the sector. It highlights our ability to bring together multidisciplinary expertise, market insight and a collaborative approach to deliver for clients on some of the most complex and high-profile projects in the sector."
Lisa Flashner, Chief Operating Officer at Ellison Institute of Technology, Oxford Limited said:
“At the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) we are building a new kind of science organisation - reimagining the path from breakthrough discoveries to real-world impact on a global scale. To achieve this, you need great partners to assist you. The Trowers team have supported us from the beginning of our journey and, as such, EIT has a deep, ongoing and trusted working relationship with their multi-faceted team of lawyers, resulting in the kind of intelligent and commercial decision-making that only comes from fully understanding our brand and our unique vision."
