Mills & Reeve advise Marick on Oxford city centre development partnership
Leading national law firm Mills & Reeve has advised Marick Real Estate on its appointment as development partner for the regeneration of 38-40 George Street, Oxford following a competitive public procurement process.
Marick Real Estate has joined forces with Makespace Oxford to deliver a new cultural community space in the town centre, alongside an aparthotel to be operated by Dublin-based operator Staycity Group, under its premium Wilde brand.
Plans will also include improvements to the public realm and incorporate sustainable practices in both building design and throughout construction. The development will also offer apprenticeships for people in Oxford both during construction and once the hotel is operational and include a commitment to paying all staff at the aparthotel the Oxford Living Wage.
Patrick Going, managing director at Marick Real Estate said: “We are delighted to have been selected for this project working with the City Council, engaging with the local community and stakeholders to regenerate the George Street site for a new aparthotel and much needed community space.”
Caroline Hanratty, real estate partner at Mills & Reeve, said: “Marick is a long-standing client of the firm, and it is excellent news that it has been appointed on this prestigious redevelopment. Marick has fantastic expertise and experience in city centre redevelopment, and we look forward to advising the team throughout the project.”
“We’re also really pleased to be involved in this project given we’ve recently opened our seventh UK office in Oxford. The Oxford region has great synergies for us in terms of a number of our core sectors including education, life sciences, real estate investment, private wealth and technology, and the area continues to be a key focus for business, government and private investments.”
Councillor Susan Brown, Leader of Oxford City Council and Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy and Partnerships, said: “This is a once-in-a-generation redevelopment. We are extremely excited to see the building regenerated. Oxford City Council has been encouraging more hotels to open in Oxford city centre to help boost the local economy. Those staying overnight spend, on average, about 1.5 times more than those on day trips so providing central accommodation is vital.”
Warning: Undefined array key "author_person" in /home/b4business/public_html/wp-content/themes/b4-2020/functions.php on line 121
Warning: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/b4business/public_html/wp-content/themes/b4-2020/functions.php on line 121
More in Solicitors
Freeths sets 2040 net zero pathway with release of first firm‑wide...
Leading law firm Freeths has just published its first Net Zero Transition Plan, marking a major step forward in the firm’s long-term commitment to responsible business. The plan sets out a clear, science-aligned pathway to achieving net zero across the value chain by 2040, underpinned by newly validated near and long-term targets from the Science […]
TalkTalk Business expands managed services portfolio with addition of Planet IT
Leading law firm Freeths has advised the selling shareholders of Planet IT on the sale of the business to TalkTalk Business, supporting TalkTalk Business’s expansion of its managed services portfolio.
Freeths Spotlight: A Young Apprentice’s Path to a Career in Law
Freeths has been working with an outstanding legal apprentice who has shared her story about carving out a successful career in law via the apprenticeship route. She’s currently part of the team at Freeths in Oxford, and her experience offers a really strong example of the opportunities apprenticeships can provide in the legal sector.
From this author
End of 2025: Business reflections from Mills & Reeve
As we wrap up 2025, it’s a good moment to pause and reflect on what’s been an eventful year for Oxfordshire and to look ahead at what’s on the horizon for 2026.
Innovation gap opening due to varying AI adoption – Mills &...
An innovation and governance gap is opening up between businesses that realise the potential of GenAI and those that see its impact as limited, our new report has found.
According to The Critical AI Window, organisations that don’t find ways to capitalise on the potential of AI to drive innovation and growth run the risk of being left behind. As a result, competitive edge is at risk.
Our report shows that less than a third of businesses (31%) are using GenAI, with only one-fifth (22%) seeing it as high value.
Paul Knight, partner at Mills & Reeve said: “There is a clear divide amongst businesses – between those that have bought into AI and are building systems and processes around it, and those that are still unsure of its impact beyond mid- to low-value tasks, such as reducing administration and improving efficiencies and productivity.
“This divide is opening up an innovation and governance gap, as early innovators seize on the opportunities that AI presents. While our research shows that the number of businesses using GenAI is likely to rise to 72% by 2027, the lag in performance between then and now could become insurmountable.”
The report highlights the biggest concerns felt by businesses over AI adoption. The majority (90%) are concerned about inaccuracy, more than eight in ten are worried about safety risks (85%), such as cyber attacks, with the impact on future employment also a cause for concern. However, despite 83% of respondents stating that are worried about regulatory compliance, only 31% of businesses have a risk mitigation strategy in place.
Paul added: “The explosion of GenAI has seen a raft of regulations introduced across the world, with more likely, and all of them subject to change as AI understanding develops. In the UK, the regulation of AI relies on existing legal frameworks such as intellectual property, data protection and contract law, highlighting the growing need for these frameworks to be adapted to address the novel risks and complexities introduced by AI technologies. All this suggests that there will be no steady state for regulation for some time.”
However, the risk of not complying is significant, both reputationally and financially. Within the EU, under the EU AI Act, for example, violations can cause administrative fines of €35 million or 7% of total global turnover, whichever is greater.
“There is a real need for businesses to set their own guardrails as legislation in the UK catches up. If they don’t fully understand the legal and ethical boundaries – whether around data protection, intellectual property, or equality law – the consequences could be profound. A single misjudgement could expose the organisation to group litigation.”
Mills & Reeve announces record turnover of £181m as new head...
Leading UK law firm Mills & Reeve has announced turnover growth of £13 million over the 2024/25 financial year, resulting in a new high annual turnover of £181 million. Its Oxford office has seen standout success, with 55% fee growth and a new head of office appointed to lead its next chapter.