Spotlight on… Kylie Cooper

Kylie Cooper is Head of Commercial Property in Leamington Spa. She shares what attracted her to property law, what clients value most and why Coventry and Warwickshire is a dynamic market for property investment and development.

What first attracted you to a career in commercial real estate?

No two days are the same. One morning I could be working through the detail of a sale agreement and, by the afternoon, I’m deep in lease negotiations for a completely different client in a completely different sector.

I also love that property law sits right at the intersection of technical legal work and real-world commercial decision-making. You’re not just advising in the abstract; you’re helping someone make a significant business decision, and that’s really motivating.

What does your day-to-day work look like?

I handle everything from acquisitions and disposals to development work, investment deals, landlord and tenant matters and portfolio management, so it’s broad.

I work with a real mix of clients too. Some are owner-managed businesses taking their first serious step into commercial property; others are seasoned property professionals running complex portfolios.

I also collaborate quite closely with the Corporate team because property transactions rarely exist in a vacuum, and there’s almost always a wider business story behind the deal.

What ties it all together is that I want every client to walk away feeling they got straightforward, practical advice that actually made sense for their situation.

If you had to explain your job to someone at a barbecue, what would you say?

I help businesses make informed decisions about their property and what they want to do with it.

What’s the one piece of advice you find yourself giving clients time and again?

Pick up the phone before you sign anything. If I can get involved at heads of terms stage, I can flag the issues that matter, push back where needed and save a lot of time and cost further down the line.

It’s always much easier to negotiate a better position before you’ve committed than to unpick problems afterwards.

What three words would you want a client to use when recommending you?

Commercial, trusted, approachable. I’d be happy with any of those!

For me, it comes down to this: I want my clients to know they’ve got someone in their corner who genuinely understands what they’re trying to do and will be straight with them about how to get there.

What excites you about the property market in Coventry and Warwickshire right now?

There’s a genuine buzz. The region has brilliant connectivity, a diverse economy and a real sense of ambition in the local business community. I’m working with clients who are thinking strategically about their property needs and positioning themselves for growth, which is always energising.

Being based in Leamington Spa means I’m close to what’s happening on the ground, and I genuinely enjoy helping local businesses and investors make confident, well-informed decisions about their next step.

And finally, what do you get up to when you’re not at your desk?

Running is a big part of my life; I’m always training for something, whether it’s a local race or a longer challenge.

I’m also a Level 5 Qualified Executive Coach, which feeds into a wider passion for personal development and helping people push themselves.

Outside of that, it’s all about family time: weekends with my family and our dogs, preferably outdoors somewhere. Fresh air and muddy boots are pretty much my ideal weekend.