Licence to Assign and Underlet

Emma is a trainee solicitor at Harper & Partners in Leeds. She has been instructed by a tenant client who wishes to assign their commercial lease to a third party. The lease contains a standard alienation clause requiring the landlord's consent prior to any assignment. Emma's supervising partner asks her to explain to the client why a licence to assign is necessary, what document it is, and what it should contain. Emma needs to provide accurate advice on this fundamental point before the client approaches their landlord. The client is particularly concerned about whether they can avoid the licence process given that they have a willing assignee lined up.