Law firm Herbert Smith Freehills LLP has paid a warm tribute to Garry Hart, a former partner of the firm, special adviser to the Lord Chancellor and life peer, who has died aged 77.
The firm praised him as a “brilliantly successful property lawyer who contributed significantly to the transformation of London and property law over three decades, and was then an influential political adviser and politician who greatly facilitated legal and constitutional reform in the UK over a 20-year period”.
Hart joined the firm (then Herbert Smith) in 1962 as an articled clerk, rising to partner at 27, and became the head and driver of the real estate practice. He acted for a whole range of clients from architects such as Lord Rogers of Riverside and Lord Foster of Thames Bank, the Mercers’ Company, John Aspinall with his famous wildlife park, and the most successful property developers such as Sir Stuart Lipton, Godfrey Bradman and Elliott Bernerd.
He was involved in many famous property development projects such as the innovative Broadgate scheme in the City. He developed new ways of marketing and selling developments where the ultimate tenant got much greater input in the design of the building after the framework was completed. This involved immense change in both planning and conveyancing practice.
The firm said: “Garry was a superb lawyer and a wise and decent adviser who gave advice on these schemes and all aspects of property law. He was one of the creators of modern planning practice in commercial developments beyond the technicalities of planning and property law, combining conveyancing and planning judgment which was unusual in a property lawyer. He was an accomplished and effective negotiator famous for his generosity and his desire to do a deal which everyone wanted rather than getting the better of the other side, always with a healthy dose of fun.
“In looking at schemes he was as much focused on the issues of whether the scheme contributed to the community as on the economic benefits for the developer. He was one of the founders of the Architecture Foundation, a body he set up with Lord Foster and Lord Rogers to promote better design in buildings and the public realm.
“He was fun to work with or negotiate against. His easy-going manner lay on top of an immense knowledge and understanding of the law. He was regarded by his property lawyer contemporaries as a leader in the field.
“He was the absolute doyen of the complex planning inquiry who understood the detail better than the experts and counsel. Famously, he whispered in the ear of the QC cross-examining the well-known architect Colonel Seifert, on some complex plans, that Seifert was looking at the plans upside down.
“He was much admired for his brilliance and much loved at Herbert Smith by colleagues and staff at all levels for his mischievous wit, irreverent sense of humour and sensitivity. One partner described him as the conscience of Herbert Smith. He profoundly affected the firm’s culture.”
In 1998, Hart abandoned his successful career in planning law to become the special adviser to Lord Irvine of Lairg, then Lord Chancellor, beginning his next equally successful career as a public servant facilitating and delivering major legal and constitutional change.
He became the trusted adviser to the next Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, serving as a bridge between the government and the legal profession.
He became Lord Hart of Chilton in 2004 and served a backbench member of the House of Lords respected by peers of every party, whose advice was sought on every topic from issues of the highest constitutional importance to purely personal problems.
HSF added: “Garry was in all of these roles profoundly respected trusted and liked. His influence on the development of London, the Blair years’ legal and constitutional reforms, and the conduct of the House of Lords in all its political disputes with the executive, was substantial.
“What made Garry so special was added to his cleverness, legal knowledge and his immensely good judgment, was his warmth, his humour and his profound capacity for friendship. Everyone liked him, and wanted his good opinion.”
Hart is survived by his mother, brother, wife, five children and four grandchildren.
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