Social housing: local authorities and registered providers in London

‘Market-leading expertise on regulatory and other advice provided to registered providers of social housing and local authorities.’

‘Rob Beiley – highly experienced and the sector expert on registering new social housing providers. Accessible and helpful. Authoritative, but also very pragmatic and works closely with clients to identify solutions that work for them. I have always found Rob to be imaginative and more likely than most to come up with novel but workable solutions. Fantastic knowledge of the underpinning law and regulations. Very well networked.  I could make very similar comments about Scott Dorling in relation to local authority housing work. Unparalleled experience and knowledge. He gives the impression of already having dealt with every imaginable problem.’

‘They have significant experience and capabilities in social housing sector. This is beneficial to us as we work with many housing associations and local authorities.’

‘We deal primarily with Amy Shaw. She is extremely good. Very measured and is on hand when needed.’

‘The key strengths of Trowers’ team is in their understanding of the social housing sector and registered providers. Their advice always reflects the social objects and purpose of the sector, balanced with the regulatory requirements.’

‘Ian Davis and Robert Beiley – both particularly responsive and supportive, helping guide us through balancing social objects and regulatory requirements.’

‘The team are professional and extremely knowledgeable and are always well informed about the sector and also the status of our company.’

‘Amy Shaw is thorough, responsive, dedicated and formidable in representing her clients interests.’

‘The team has always demonstrated exceptional knowledge and offered high levels of support particularly when dealing with complex ASB cases in sheltered and supported housing. The team’s greatest strength is always being available, always willing to listen and always offering the most appropriate and proportionate approach in dealing with complex issues.’

‘Donna McCarthy is our lead legal advisor in the team and her passion for social housing never seems to diminish! Her support is always unwavering as is her ability to consider every minute detail of cases presented to her.’

‘This is a great partnership that uniquely offers the social housing provider a one stop shop in terms of advice and client management, I think what is particularly helpful is the way the different disciplines work together to ensure a seamless service where work crosses over different fields. I think they have also worked well to make sure real experts are available to assist if issues become more complex.’

‘Nick Billingham – Has an outstanding ability to take recent changes in the law and apply them to how people in the social housing field would be impacted, I have clear confidence that we are being fully supported when any of his team are dealing with our cases. Mark London – Have worked closely to ensure our residents interests are protected in the complex field of fire safety and freehold interests.’

‘An outstanding social housing practice. All the best clients and amazing solicitors. They can cover all bases and have superb knowledge.’

‘All of the partners are very good; however, two stand out for me: Nick Billingham and Donna McCarthy. ‘

‘Jon Corris’ clarity, and ability to cut to the chase diplomatically, are hugely valuable characteristics.’

‘Their long-term, in-depth knowledge of and expertise in the sector is incomparable.’

‘Jonathan Cox and Helen Tucker are truly excellent.’

‘The ACS team provide a consistently reliable service, offering both proactive and responsive aspects which help us achieve our aims and objectives in an efficient manner.’

‘ACS colleagues regularly demonstrate quality in customer service and a broad scope of technical knowledge. When we’ve been working collaboratively alongside advisors from other organisations (such as tax or audit), the ACS team have always supported those conversations in a professional manner.’

‘Good knowledge about the sector. Willing to act and respond quickly. Offer good value for money.’

‘Lucy Worrall is my contact at Anthony Collins. She is attentive, supportive and provides good advice. She knows the sector well and has a good reputation.’

‘Anthony Collins has a friendly and approachable team, which is extremely responsive to any requests for advice.’

‘Bevan Brittan have brought a coordinated multidisciplinary approach to our project and have readily drawn on and coordinated advice from colleagues to ensure a holistic view is provided.’

‘They are very much a “go to” firm with a great track record.’

‘The three stand-out individuals are Daniel Skinner, Helen Gascoigne and Katrina Robinson. Daniel is peerless when it comes to social housing and property, in particular housing associations. His legal knowledge is ever impressive and allied to a superb client care instinct. Helen is simply a joy to be instructed by. She is massively hard-working, 100% reliable and hugely respected by her clients and those she works with. Katrina has recently joined Capsticks and has a real instinct for the area, allied to impressive experience. She is especially impressive in the social housing fraud field.’

‘The practice has provided us with a wealth of practical advice and guidance in relation to security charging and have been on-hand through-out our project to demystify the legal requirements of this complex process. Strengths include in-depth knowledge of the housing market and regulatory environment.’

‘Excellent team, extremely knowledgeable, can cover all bases. One of the best social housing firms around.’

‘Daniel Skinner – the best housing practitioner around. Knows all there is to know about housing law. Excellent on bankruptcy matters and service charges too. Helen Gascoigne – a rising star. So much knowledge and experience. Really great client care.’

‘They have extensive knowledge of the sector and deal with contracts expeditiously and at a reasonable price.’

‘The entire team are not only knowledgeable, often suggesting practical solutions to legal problems. They are also aware of the pressures faced by social housing landlords which provides them with much need insight. Importantly for me, the team is accessible and all members are a pleasure to work with.’

‘The team collaborated really well bringing on board appropriate specialists within the practice to provide additional advice. The practice ensured client interests were prioritised at all times and risks were appropriately managed. The advice provided was concise and enabled robust decision making.’

‘The solicitor I dealt with was a specialist in the area of our requirement. In addition the solicitor was excellent at negotiation and mediating with the other party and pressed hard to ensure our interests were protected. The stand out partner for us was Kate Silverman.’

‘The practice has a specific social housing team with excellent cross-department links to other teams to enable efficient and robust advice.’

‘Vicky Kells is outstanding for her in-depth knowledge of the housing market, but she also has the capacity to apply commercial advice to the legal advice.’

‘They have been invaluable in providing advice, feedback and support helping us navigate through a new area of work.’

‘I have principally worked with Beverley Pike and her team, and also Kary Withers and Henry Russell, all of whom have demonstrated they comprehensively understand our context as a social housing provider, have steered us through new legislation and also providing timely advice on emerging precedent case law. In building this relationship we have gained a much better understanding, been able to respond effectively and secure our position.’

‘For me, the great thing is their ability to draw in experts across the legal spectrum to meet a specific requirement – planning law, litigation, land and acquisition, building contract. Our contact on a day to day basis seems to deliver this seamlessly acting as our account manager/point of contact.’

‘The social housing team at Forsters understand the complexities of social housing, the nuanced relationship between social purpose, regulation and commercial performance. The team at Forsters are second to none in the quality of the advice and the expert drafting of agreements and contracts. Forsters has a true team, they understand that to succeed all must contribute at the highest level and like all great teams they have their star performers.’

‘Anne O’Neill is my go to lawyer, she gets things done. Anne has the ability to find a clear path through the most difficult issues and secure a consensus. Anne is an excellent communicator and a first-class lawyer. Sara Branch is an excellent negotiator with great commercial acumen. Sara has the legal craftmanship to put you in the best possible commercial position while ensuring all regulatory obligations are nailed down.’

‘The real estate team provide a unique combination of expert legal services balanced with a commercial understanding of both our organisation and each individual transaction. Taking the time to understand the client commercial goals has been fundamental to many successful negotiations. The commercial savvy and negotiation skills are underpinned by top-class legal knowledge and advice.’

‘Anne O’Neill, Jonathan Preece, Sara Branch. All three are excellent communicators whether it is chairing large rooms or page turning complex documents to clients. They are expert negotiators and always available.’

‘Forsters’ residential team have provided advice to us, in various guises, for over 20 years and are our first port of call for complex residential transactions and joint ventures. Forsters know our business very well and understand our key drivers and limitations. continuity of staff has been exceptional, which saves a lot of time and effort.’

‘Anne O’Neill, Sara Branch and Jonathan Preece are excellent lawyers who provide not only well thought out legal advice, but also practical opinions as to the best solutions.’

‘The partners have excellent experience of advising registered providers on development transactions. They understand our processes/needs and tailor their service to accommodate them. The team works effectively and efficiently, is readily accessible and focused on finding solutions for their clients.’

‘Sara Branch and Anne O’Neill are highly experienced solicitors and are leaders in their field. They are professional, approachable and responsive, and their knowledge of housing development is unparalleled. They are excellent negotiators and adopt a strategic and problem-solving approach to issues.’