Linklaters and DLA Piper are advising on the planning and development of what will be the second tallest building in London, 1 Undershaft.

Linklaters advised on the planning application submitted by Singapore-based developers Aroland Holdings. The Linklaters team is being led by real estate planning partner David Watkins.

DLA Piper, led by real estate litigation partner Ian Brierley, is also advising Aroland Holdings on the project.

The building, informally known as the 'The Trellis', due to its structural design, will be the tallest building in the City of London at 73 storeys high and more than 300 metres tall.

Architect Eric Parry designed 1 Undershaft, which will be built on the same site as the former Aviva Tower and is due to be completed in the 2020s.

Once complete, the building will have 130,000 sq m of office space and 1,800 sq m of retail space for restaurants, cafes and shops.

Watkins said: "It has been challenging in some respects because it is a very tall building, but the City Corporation has been very supportive throughout and it is evidence of their enthusiasm for more tall building office space in the City."

A raft of firms won roles connected to the development of the current tallest building in London, the Shard, which opened in 2012.

During the construction of the Shard, Clifford Chance acted for Transport for London and hotel chain Shangri La on the pre-letting of floors in the building.

Ashurst acted for developer Teighmore on construction matters and Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) acted for Teighmore on planning issues.

Eversheds won a role advising Qatar National Bank on its debt and equity investment in the £2bn development.

In 2015, Watkins was part of a Linklaters team advising real investment manager Meyer Bergman on its purchase of 14 development sites across London, the southeast and the West Country from supermarket Tesco for £250m.

picture credit: DBox for Eric Parry architects