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Social housing
Leading individuals

Social housing

1
- Harper Macleod LLP (Glasgow)
- T C Young (Edinburgh, Glasgow)
2
- BTO Solicitors LLP (Edinburgh)
- HBJ Gateley (Edinburgh)
3
- Anderson Strathern (Edinburgh)
- Burness Paull LLP (Edinburgh, Glasgow)
- CMS (Glasgow)
- Morton Fraser (Edinburgh)
- Shepherd and Wedderburn (Edinburgh, Glasgow)
- Shoosmiths (Edinburgh)

Leading individuals

1
- Andrew Cowan - T C Young
- Len Freedman - T C Young

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Harper Macleod LLP acts for five of the six largest Scottish registered social landlords, while other clients include funders, developers and local authorities. Derek Hogg’s team includes James McMorrow, who is assisting Wheatley Housing Group with a review of its group procurement structure to reflect recent legal changes. Other strengths of the practice include mergers and stock transfers. In 2015, John McHugh and Jennifer Jack joined from McClure Naismith LLP and DWF, respectively.

T C Young’s longstanding track record sees it act for 120 registered social landlords located throughout Scotland. Its extensive workload includes private finance arrangements, group structures, court actions, land acquisitions and procurement advice. Mark Ewing acted for Bellsmyre Housing Association in the creation of a constitutional partnership with Caledonia Housing Association. Christine Stuart has ‘a very sharp mind’, Stephen MacGregor has ‘unmatched experience in corporate and governance work’ and Jim Bauld ‘cuts through the fluff’.

BTO Solicitors LLP’s team acts for a significant number of registered social landlords, including Clyde Valley Housing Association, Berwickshire Housing Association and Parkhead Housing Association. In a recent highlight, it advised Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership on the sale of properties earmarked for disposal under the New Supply Shared Equity scheme. Patrice Fabien, Karen Brodie and Marion Davis are ‘knowledgeable and personable’.

HBJ Gateley’s team deals with matters ranging from housing management and debt recovery to group structures and constitutional partnerships. Paul Minto and Heather Pearson assisted Berwickshire Community Renewables LLP with all legal matters connected with its successful development of a three-turbine wind farm in the Scottish Borders. Helena Brown joined from Burness Paull LLP, while Jacqueline McCluskey departed for Morisons LLP.

Anderson Strathern’s David Hunter, Gavin Thain and Deborah Lovell are advising three housing associations on a renewable energy initiative to generate free electricity for tenants and reduce fuel poverty levels. Shirley Evans, an expert in contentious housing management issues, ‘will fight your corner tenaciously’. Mark Cowie joined from McClure Naismith LLP and Douglas McLachlan was hired from DWF.

Burness Paull LLP’s Scott Peterkin acted for City Legacy and Cruden Estates in the development, marketing and sale of the Athletes’ Village in Dalmarnock, Glasgow. Peter Chambers and Stephen Phillips are other names to note in the team, which also acts for Link Group and Sanctuary Scotland Housing Association. Caroline Drummond joined the Scottish Law Commission.

CMS’ team acts for clients such as Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland in social housing finance transactions. Elsewhere, the firm has worked with City of Edinburgh Council on the delivery of affordable new homes through the National Housing Trust initiative. Ailsa Ritchie is recommended.

Social housing finance is a core area of focus at Morton Fraser, which acts for clients such as Royal Bank of Scotland and Clydesdale Bank. The firm also advises Scottish government departments on housing development projects, and assists social landlords with employment issues and development transactions. Andrew Meakin ‘thinks outside the box’.

Shepherd and Wedderburn’s Stephen Humphreys specialises in contentious matters, and has particular experience in landlord and tenant issues. Senior associate Siobhan Connelly regularly represents registered social landlords in court litigation, with notable expertise in antisocial behaviour. Elaine Hunter and Rhona Harper are other key names in the team, which acts for City of Edinburgh Council, Wheatley Group and Southside Housing Association, among other clients.

Shoosmiths advises registered social landlords on a gamut of issues, including procurement, group restructurings and debt recovery. Janette Speed and Laura Bloxham acted for Dunedin Canmore Housing in its £2m acquisition of a development site in Edinburgh. Karen Harvie is recommended for employment and regulatory matters.

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Legal Developments in Scotland for Social housing

Parking rights: here to stay? Consent might be the surprising answer  

In the field of the acquisition of easements by prescription, little has caused more consternation over the last decade or so than the question of whether a right to park cars can be acquired by twenty years user as of right. The types of property capable of being adversely affected range from individual residential units all the way up to major development sites. The establishment of such a right can have a devastating impact on the value of the burdened land. 

- Falcon Chambers

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

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