an image of Zoë Paton-Crockett, a Butcher & Barlow LLP employee

Zoë Paton-Crockett

Partner


Contact Zoë

I am Co-Head of Commercial Property and a Partner based at our Gadbrook Park office.

I graduated with joint honours in French and Spanish from Manchester University in 2009, then went on to complete the GDL and LPC at the College of Law (now the University of Law) and BPP Law School respectively. I have been working in commercial property since 2010, qualified as a Solicitor in 2014 (having completed my training contract at Butcher & Barlow), became a Partner in 2018 and Head of Commercial Property in 2019.

I have been ranked as a “Next Generation Partner” for the past 3 years by the Legal 500 for my exceptional contribution to the team, and recognition of this by my peers and clients.

Due to the growing size and strength of the Commercial Property Department, I am now Co-Head of the Commercial Property team together with my colleague Rachel Martin, and I take the lead in supervising and managing the development work (i.e. new build developments, options, promotion agreements etc) undertaken by the department.

I also work part-time and in a jobshare arrangement with my fellow Partner, Rebecca Jepson. I am pleased to fly the flag for flexible working arrangements which suit those with young children or other caring responsibilities, but which also still allow us to provide top-notch client service at all times.

I have expertise in a wide variety of Commercial Property matters but my specialisms include:-

  • Development site acquisitions (freeholds and long leases) on both a conditional and unconditional basis;
  • New build sales (freeholds and long leases) including commercial and residential units on both a conditional and unconditional basis;
  • Land promotion agreements – both strategic long term promotions, and shorter term agreements, and I act for both promoters and landowners;
  • Option agreements – for both developers and landowners;
  • New build developments (commercial and residential) from ‘cradle to grave’ (i.e. buying sites in, setting them up for development and selling off completed units);
  • Estate management (renewals, licences, management company matters); and
  • Conditional acquisitions/leases – both with and without development obligations.

In particular, I act for a number of SME housebuilders dealing with their acquisitions, site setups and plot sales, as well as undertaking a significant amount of commercial development work across Cheshire, including new build industrial estates, and land promotion agreements and options.

My work highlights include a valuable cross-jurisdictional refinance transaction in relation to a large development site for a client based in the Channel Isles, and providing corporate support from a property perspective in connection with a £15m+ sale of a property investment company.

I am told by my clients that I am efficient, commercial and ‘get the job done’. I seek to solve problems rather than creating obstructions but I am always clear about what can or cannot be achieved. I think my straightforward approach fosters trust with my clients, and I always aim to understand my clients’ business needs to tailor my advice appropriately.

When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my young family.

Specialist Areas

Commercial Property
Commercial Property

Accreditations

The Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2024 The Legal 500 Leading Individual 2024 The Legal 500 Next Generation Partner 2023 The Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2023 The Legal 500 UK Next Generation Partner 2022 logo The Legal 500 Recommended Lawyer 2020 logo The Legal 500 Next Generation Lawyer 2021 logo The Legal 500 Next Generation Lawyer 2020 logo UK Leading partner 2025 UK Recommended lawyer 2025

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What our clients say about Zoë

Very professional approach giving us all the details which we needed to make informed decisions and challenge the landlords as needed to get to the right place for us. Also done in a very friendly way which I really appreciated. The combination of these two approaches made it very easy to do business with Zoë and her team.