Ashurst and SNR Denton have scored advisory roles as Westfield considers developing its third shopping mall in London.

Ashurst is advising longstanding client Westfield on negotiations to develop a site in Croydon, South London, which could give the Australian developer its third site in the capital, alongside one in Shepherd's Bush and one in Stratford.

Real estate partner Hugh Lumby, who has advised on both the existing malls, is leading negotiations with the charity owning the Whitgift shopping centre in Croydon, which Westfield is considering redeveloping.

SNR Denton is advising the Whitgift Foundation, which owns the shopping mall, with London real estate partner Virginia Glastonbury – a former chief executive of legacy Dentons – at the helm.

Wider plans have been drawn up to revamp the centre of Croydon over the next few years, including the 1.2m sq ft area around the 40-year old Whitgift centre.

Lumby commented: "There are fantastic transport links to Croydon, an area in desperate need of regeneration. This is a fantastic project to be a part of."

Legal Week reported in September that Beachcroft and SNR Denton had helped fill the 1.9m sq ft Stratford centre, which opened that month, advising on leasing agreements for 300 stores inside the mall.

Ashurst took the lead on the planning, development, property and construction work for the centre – as it did on the Shepherd's Bush complex.

Other firms picking up roles in relation to Westfield's London sites include SJ Berwin and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, which advised on the sale of a 50% interest in Stratford's retail component in 2010 for £871.5m.