Rising Stars

Firms To Watch: Social housing

Devonshires Solicitors LLP opened an office in Birmingham in March 2022, led by housing, corporate and governance expert Gemma Bell, who joined along with other colleagues from Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP, and was further bolstered by the arrival of Baljit Basra from Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP in April 2023.
Hugo Stephens joined Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP in January 2022, bolstering the firm’s practice in social housing; he often works alongside Charlotte D’Avola, who was promoted to partner in April of the same year.

Social housing in West Midlands

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Recently awarded B Corp status, Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP ‘really understands the housing sector’. The firm is frequently sought after by registered providers across the UK and advises on multiple funding projects, asset transfers, property developments and regulatory frameworks. It is also adept at providing employee benefits advice, particularly in relation to pensions. The practice is led by Peter Hubbard, a recognised figure in social housing, and Jonathan Cox, based in Manchester and Birmingham, whose expertise lies in housing regulation, leasehold management and supported housing. Helen Tucker leads the firm’s housing litigation practice, while former co-practice head Baljit Basra left the firm to join Devonshires Solicitors LLP in April 2023. Victoria Jardine has developed notable expertise in social housing and charity law, leading the firm’s joint venture and due diligence work with registered providers. Other key members of the multidisciplinary team include Phil Scully, Andrew Dudley and Emma Hardman.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Cox; Peter Hubbard


Other key lawyers:

Phil Scully; Helen Tucker; Emma Hardman; Victoria Jardine; Andrew Dudley


Testimonials

‘ACS really undertsand the Housing Sector and the challenges we are facing, they provide excellent support around Governance and Treasury.’

Key clients

The Riverside Group


Citizen Housing Group


Platform Housing Group


Clarion Housing Group


The Hyde Group


Connexus


London & Quadrant Housing Trust


Livv Housing Group


Orbit Housing Group


Lewisham Homes


National Housing Federation


Redditch Borough Council


Nuneaton and Bedworth Council


Rooftop Housing Group


Walsall Housing Group


The Guinness Partnership


Work highlights


  • Advised the National Housing Federation in its discussions with government on behalf of the housing association sector over the rent caps for tenants and leaseholders.
  • Assisted a number of landlords to navigate the provisions of the Building Safety Act 2022 from both a regulatory and service charge perspective, including application of the new service charge restrictions to remedial works.
  • Advised a number of registered providers on their applications for funding under the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund and the necessary contractual and legal arrangements.

Gowling WLG

Advising a range of not-for-profit registered providers, as well as pension funds, REITs and local authorities, Gowling WLG offers broad cross-sector experience in social housing, with a particular focus on major investments. Jacqueline Knox is head of the affordable housing team and specialises in social housing development and non-contentious housing management matters. Sally Farrall spearheads the firm’s affordable housing investment practice. Principal associate Gemma Courtenay has been a key contact on the firm’s social development projects for clients including Sanctuary Housing and Legal & General Affordable Homes. The Birmingham practice often operates on a cross-office basis, working closely with the firm’s London office, in which Richard Beckingsale leads on regeneration, and Dominic Morris advises on senior living.



Practice head(s):

Jaqueline Knox; Sally Farrall


Other key lawyers:

Dominic Morris; Richard Beckingsale; Gemma Courtenay


Key clients

Sanctuary Housing Group


Metropolitan Thames Valley


Clarion Housing Group


London and Quadrant


Bournville Village Trust


TP Impact Housing


London Borough of Barnet


LaSalle Investment Management


BAE Systems Pension Funds Trustees Limited


Coal Pension Properties Ltd


KW Housing Limited


Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee


Triple Point Investment Management LLP


Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc


Horizon Infrastructure Partnership


Universities Superannuation Scheme


Legal & General Affordable Homes


Hyde Housing


Fox Hound Capital


Symmetry Housing CIC


Vengrove


Anchor


CBRE


Work highlights


  • Advised Sanctuary Housing Association on its acquisition of the troubled Swan Housing Association, following the withdrawal of Orbit from merger discussions.
  • Acted for Legal & General Affordable Homes in relation to the establishment of its 50:50 joint venture with Metropolitan Trent Valley Housing, through its shared ownership brand So Resi, targeting the delivery of over 2,500 shared ownership and affordable rent homes.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Under the national leadership of Tonia Secker, Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s Birmingham practice, headed by Digby Morgan, specialises in affordable housing development, including transactions, institutional investments, and joint ventures spanning the public and private sectors to procure social housing. The firm also services for-profit market entrants and registered providers. Yetunde Dania and Kate Davies are key names to note for their respective experience across affordable housing management and housing development. Former projects and construction practice head Mark Robinson retired from the practice. Natalie Owen left the practice in June 2023.

Practice head(s):

Digby Morgan


Other key lawyers:

Kate Davies; Yetunde Dania; Rachel Beck


Testimonials

‘Trowers & Hamlins always bring a strong professional approach even to the smallest of deals. I always have confidence that due diligence and advice will be thorough and tailored and aiming to get the best outcome for their clients. They are my preferred solicitors for newbuild affordable housing deals.’

‘Digby Morgan – Always available when matters get more complex or multi-disciplinary and focused on bringing more complex matters to a satisfactory conclusion.’

‘Trowers and Hamlins are my go to legal firm for portfolio acquisitions and disposals. In my experience, they are unmatched in terms of quality, capability and performance. Key strengths of the team includes their ability to consistently provide outstanding commercial legal advice, collaboration across internal departments, effective closure of projects and outstanding knowledge of the social housing sector.’

‘Rachel Beck – an excellent point of contact for our Midlands-based schemes. Always diligent and contactable on any scheme and focused on meeting agreed timescales.’

‘Digby Morgan always provides first class solutions to commercially complex problems. Rachel Beck is an exceptional lawyer who effectively oversees all aspects of projects. What always impresses me about Rachel, is her ability to know the detail of her work, whilst managing a large caseload and yet somehow always has time to be responsive and available.’

Key clients

Legal & General Affordable Homes


Midland Heart Limited


Citizen Housing Group Limited


Platform Housing Group Limited


Walsall Housing Group Limited


Clarion Housing Group Limited


Gateway Housing Association


Cross Keys Homes Limited


London Borough of Enfield


Flint Housing Limited


Shropshire Rural Housing Association Ltd


First Garden Cities Homes Limited


Brighter Places


Orbit Group Limited


Bournville Village Trust


Peabody Housing Group


Rooftop Housing Group


Grand Union Housing Group


Work highlights


  • Acting for the London Borough of Enfield on the regeneration of Meridian Water to deliver 4,000 affordable homes, together with thousands of market sale homes, commercial and leisure space, and more.
  • Acting for Legal & General Affordable Homes on a range of affordable housing acquisitions, including a large multi-phase scheme requiring bespoke viability and nutrient neutrality advice.
  • Advised long-term client CHIC, a procurement consortium of 150 housing associations and local authorities, on the procurement of their new build and modular housing framework for contractors, manufacturers and consultants.

Bevan Brittan LLP

Bevan Brittan LLP advises a number of registered providers, local authorities and developers, offering a range of services, covering corporate governance, property development, financing, housing management and regulation. The team leadership in Birmingham is comprised of Sarah Greenhalgh, housing lead partner, and Rebecca Pendlebury, head of property. Adam Kendall leads the contentious practice and advises on health and safety issues. Ashley Norman, an employment law specialist, has a focus on social housing, advising housing associations on employment issues, typically post-merger or in the context of restructurings. Senior associate Emma Holmes is a key practitioner in the team, advising housing associations and local authorities. Legal director Louise Mansfield recently joined the firm from Pinsent Masons LLP.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Greenhalgh; Rebecca Pendlebury


Other key lawyers:

Ashley Norman; Louise Mansfield; Emma Holmes


Testimonials

‘Bevan Brittan LLP are my ‘go to’ firm for corporate governance advice. Their knowledge of the social housing sector is exceptional and during the time I have been working with them they have provided sound advice on a number of company secretarial, regulatory and constitutional matters.’

‘Sarah Greenhalgh is professional, efficient and her understanding of the housing sector is second to none. I really value having Sarah and her team on board.’

‘The team, led by Sarah Greenhalgh, is very personable and able to communicate and convey complex information simply.’

‘Sarah Greenhalgh is dependable. She feels like an extension of the team. She understand us – our nuances, our challenges and our stakeholders.’

Key clients

Sixty Bricks Limited


Bournemouth Christchurch & Poole Council


Milverton Homes


Oxford City Housing (Development) Limited


Sanctuary Housing Association


Peabody Trust


ForHousing Limited


GreenSquareAccord


National Places LLP


Sage Housing Group


Abri


Sovereign Housing Group


Orbit Group


Midland Heart


Regulator of Social Housing


Riverside


The Pioneer Housing and Community Group


Walsall Housing Group


Broadacres Housing Association


Together Housing Group


Catalyst Housing Group


Leeds and Yorkshire Housing Association


Karbon


Network Housing Group


Onward Housing Group


Hyde Housing


Accent Housing Group


London & Quadrant Housing Trust


Work highlights


  • Advised Peabody and Catalyst on their merger and subsequent consolidation to form one of the largest housing association groups in the country.
  • Advising National Places (a joint venture between Places for People Homes and National Grid) in relation to the acquisition and residential development of National Grid’s surplus land.
  • Advised GreenSquareAccord on how best to structure the group in line with its strategic objectives, including its Local Homes business (which manufactures properties using Modern Methods of Construction).

Roythornes Solicitors

Roythornes Solicitors continues to strengthen its ‘growing reputation’ across the West Midlands, advising a range of clients, in particular social landlords, on matters including transactions, development, planning and construction. Daniel Skinner, a ‘social housing law maestro’, is singled out for his expertise in housing management, including anti-social behaviour and regulatory issues. Benjamin Smith has a wealth of experience in development, leading and investment projects. Associate Tahmina Jany, who specialises in housing disrepair, recently joined the firm.

Practice head(s):

Ben Smith


Other key lawyers:

Daniel Skinner; Tahmina Jany


Testimonials

‘Roythornes brings a fresh approach to our increasingly complex sector. They work on relationships, without ever compromising the quality and integrity of their advice. They have worked with us on new delivery models, and quickly adapted to how we want to work. We can call on their pool of specialists 24/7, and always get on-point advice at a very competitive price.’

‘A team with a growing reputation in the social housing field since the acquisition of Daniel Skinner.’

‘Daniel Skinner – “Mr Social Housing”. A brilliant communicator, immersed in his subject.’

‘They collaborate very well internally and the work is done extremely efficiently and to a very high standard. The best thing about the work they do (which differs from other firms) is that they tailor it completely to the needs of the client. We have an effective in-house team who from time to time need support on a matter and we work together with Roythornes to produce the most cost effective result for our client. Roythornes’ ability to be flexible and innovative in this regard is invaluable – they really do feel like an extension of our in-house legal team.’

‘I cannot speak of Ben Smith highly enough – his knowledge in both social housing and development work is exceptional. Ben is so helpful, responsive and approachable. He not only has a good legal brain and makes sure to protect all the interests we need adequately, but also a commercial one and is able to take a pragmatic approach to everything he does, which helps to get transactions we need over the line.’

‘Daniel Skinner is social housing law’s maestro. He applies a keen intellect to practical and pragmatic advice. Daniel’s progressive approach keeps us far ahead of the field. He is values-driven and dependable, which is why so many in the sector are so loyal to him. We would not trust our work to any other lawyer.’

Key clients

Poplar HARCA


Settle


Regenda Homes


Platform Housing


Flagship Housing


West Kent Housing


MHS Homes


Southern Housing Group


Midland Heart


Walsall Housing Group


Onward Housing


WM


Longhurst Group


Work highlights


  • Advising Flagship Housing Group on the land acquisition in respect of a residential development in Narborough, advising on stepping down specific obligations in the section 106 agreement onto Minster Property Group and on charities relief from SDLT.
  • Successfully advised Poplar HARCA on a claim for possession arising out of serious anti-social behaviour.
  • Advising Midland Heart on the acquisition of a development site at a former bus depot with complex back-to-back development obligations with a private developer for the construction of 118 affordable housing dwellings.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Based in Stratford-Upon-Avon, the team at Shakespeare Martineau LLP advises on a range of social housing matters, including acquisitions, housing management and construction, and the firm’s frequent appointment to housing group legal panels reflects the firm’s sector experience. The practice is led by Rachel Gwynne, who specialises in corporate governance for housing clients, and Louise Drew, who focuses on sales and asset management for registered providers. Emma Smith-Gamble, Joanna Lee-Mills and associates Paula Evans and Stewart Freeman are also key contacts in the team.

Practice head(s):

Rachel Gwynne; Louise Drew


Other key lawyers:

Stewart Freeman; Paula Evans; Emma Smith-Gamble; Bukola Obadun-Craigs; Natalie Owen


Testimonials

‘We are pleased with how they react to our queries and their response time, which we find is very important for us to get completions through. If the person dealing with the case is not available then another member of the team will come back to us.’

‘Rachel Gwynne, Emma Smith-Gamble and Stewart Freeman are very approachable and really friendly and will assist with anything we throw at them or pass to another associate who can help.’

Key clients

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust


Platform Housing Group


Orbit Group


Longhurst


Walsall Housing Group


Nottingham Community Housing Group


Wythenshawe Community Housing


EMH


The Field Lane Foundation


Stonewater Group


Work highlights


  • Advised The Field Lane Foundation on its acquisition of a domiciliary care agency.
  • Advised EMH Housing & Regeneration on its first bespoke retirement living development shared ownership lease.
  • Advised Citizen on the first phase of a five-year £500m investment and regeneration plan to develop 500 private sale homes and 2,800 affordable homes.

Shoosmiths LLP

Tapping into the firm’s national offering, Shoosmiths LLP focuses on social housing development for an array of registered providers across the UK. The firm takes a sector approach and acts for a number of housing associations and not-for-profit organisations. David Perry leads the practice and works closely with the firm’s roster of registered provider clients.


Practice head(s):

David Perry


Other key lawyers:

Claire Lane


Testimonials

‘Very satisfied with the service provided. Weekly progress report is receieved which is extremely helpful.’

‘Claire Lane is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. As a team we trust her advice and guidance. The service provided is excellent with timely responses on all case matters.’

Key clients

Platform Housing Group


Midland Heart Limited


Clarion Housing Group


L&Q


A2Dominion


Muir Group Housing Association


Bromsgrove District Housing Trust


Two Rivers Housing


Walsall Housing Group


South Yorkshire Housing Association


Work highlights


  • Advising Midland Heart on a complex 87-unit 100% affordable scheme in Coventry involving a ‘land and build’ structure.
  • Advising L&Q on a successful response to a third party challenge to the adopted South Oxfordshire Local Plan.
  • Advising Clarion on a complex long-term strategic land option, involving several landholdings and highways challenges, to bring forward on a ‘subject to planning ‘ basis a mixed-tenure housing scheme in Staffordshire.

Wright Hassall LLP

Wright Hassall LLP is regularly sought after by registered providers, including large-scale voluntary transfer (LSVT) providers, for its experience in property portfolio management. The team can often be found advising on funding, development of affordable housing, and safety regulations. The practice is led by Claire Waring at the firm’s headquarters in Leamington Spa. In significant developments, Carol Matthews retired, and Mary Rouse departed the firm.

Practice head(s):

Claire Waring


Key clients

Accent Group


Aspire Group


West Kent Housing Association


Connexus Group


Rooftop Housing


East Midlands Housing Group Limited


Grand Union Housing Group


Great Places Housing Group


GreenSquareAccord


Longhurst Group


London & Quadrant Housing Association


Mosscare St Vincent’s Housing Group


Stonewater


Orbit Group


Settle Group


Sovereign Housing Group


Two Rivers Housing Group


Warwickshire Rural Housing Association