Firms in the Spotlight Social housing: local authorities and registered providers

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP

Ronald Fletcher Baker attracts a diverse client base from financial institutions, high-net-worth individuals and substantial freehold corporate investors, as a result of which the firm has considerable expertise acting for corporate investors based in the BVI, Bahamas, Mauritius, Seychelles, Turkey and Isle of Man. This department also acts for sellers and buyers, and buy-to-let investors, …

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Social housing: local authorities and registered providers in London

Devonshires Solicitors LLP

Devonshires Solicitors LLP fields ‘a wide range of experienced partners who can assist with matters that arise across the affordable housing and RP sectors‘. The team acts for a plethora of housing associations and registered providers on social housing issues and can and boasts ‘great strength in terms of areas of expertise and levels of experience‘. Andrew Cowan specialises in banking and governance work in the social housing sector. ‘FantasticDonna McCarthy heads the housing management and property litigation team and is particularly experienced in acting in public law, human rights, and Equality Act challenges, while Sharon Kirkham heads the property charging work. The cross-departmental team also features banking specialist Julian Barker, dispute resolution lawyer James Dunn, construction specialist Mark London as well as Triya Maicha, Neil Toner and Jonathan Corris, who head the real estate and projects team. The unit was further strengthened with the arrivals of Matthew Waters and Katie Fung. Former housing management and property head Nick Billingham retired in April 2022 but continues to support the team on a consultancy basis.

Practice head(s):

Andrew Cowan; Julian Barker; Sharon Kirkham; Mark London; Donna McCarthy; James Dunn; Triya Maicha; Neil Toner; Jonathan Corris

Other key lawyers:

Paul Buckland; Matthew Waters; Katie Fung; Gemma Bell

Testimonials

‘Devonshires’ team has excellent social housing and regulated sector experience. This gives confidence that the advice will be focussed around a strong understanding of that operating environment. This sets them above other lawyer practices for me – they are my ‘go to’.’

‘The Devonshires team has great strength in terms of areas of expertise and levels of experience. It means that work can be allocated to someone with the right area of expertise and the right level of experience. The Devonshires team is the best in these respects in the sector. If I was in a management role in a social housing provider, Devonshires would be my first point of call for legal issues.’

‘Donna McCarthy has fantastic communication skills with her clients. She makes sure that she understands what their needs are. Lee Russell has really strong analytical skills and is comfortable with complex multi faceted cases. He recently managed a case in which the whole of a recent development had to be vacated. He secured great results for his client.’

‘Devonshires have a wide range of experienced partners who can assist with matters that arise across the affordable housing and RP sectors.’

‘Neil Toner is an excellent head of real estate. He is able to communicate complex points with clarity and has wide experience within the sector. He has successfully guided us through a number of complex transactions over recent years.’

‘They have a very diverse team, that allows any legal problem to be handled by the team, this means we can have certainty when we ask a question we will get a whole answer.’

Key clients

BPHA

Paragon Asra Housing Group

Metropolitan Thames Valley

Newlon Housing Group

Trafford Housing

Home Group

Notting Hill Genesis

Peabody

Guinness

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Trowers & Hamlins LLP  provides ‘efficient and rounded advice‘ and an ‘unrivalled‘ service across the full breadth of social housing matters, acting for all types of clients in the sector, and with particular experience in setting up joint ventures between public and private sector players to secure the provision of social housing. For example, partner Sara Bailey acts for housing providers and central government developers on PPP projects, partnerships and joint ventures, as do Scott Dorling, Amy Shaw and Paul McDermott. Sharron Webster and Ian Davis advise, in particular, on governance and regulatory issues, while Rob Beiley has a focus on advising new entrants to the affordable housing market and Andy Barnard leads on build-to-rent transactions. Clients state that they frequently use the ‘well organised‘ team, headed by ‘excellent leadTonia Secker, ‘for the more complex schemes because of their breadth and depth of experience and UK wide presence‘.

Practice head(s):

Tonia Secker

Other key lawyers:

Scott Dorling; Amy Shaw; Paul McDermott; Rob Beiley; Sharron Webster; Ian Davis; Sara Bailey; Andy Barnard

Testimonials

‘In-depth understanding of the social housing sector in both not for profit and the growing for profit provider space. Trowers’ ability to bring a width and depth of expertise to each area of discussion, as well as added value beyond any brief, is invaluable.’

‘Tonia Secker is an excellent lead for Trowers, very responsive, well-informed and connected, which she uses creatively to problem-solve.’

‘Sharron Webster – innovative, forward-thinking, always focused on how can you! Sharron gains a real understanding of your business and always has this knowledge at the forefront of her mind, enabling connections and networks to form and driving collaboration where there is a shared value across the sector.’

‘The Trowers team are always very well-organised and prepared for all meetings. They’ve had internal cross discipline conversations in advance of any of our legal meetings, meaning that we get efficient and rounded advice. They are a proactive team, identifying potential issues and flagging these early. Using outstanding issues lists to highlight and focus on key commercial elements to draw negotiations to swift conclusions.’

‘Amy Shaw – Always a pleasure to work with. Very attentive and goes above and beyond to ensure the client is fully briefed, aware of the commercial concerns and informed ahead of making decisions. Extremely knowledgeable about social housing and many of the complexities of grant funding, planning and regulation in a market where parameters are regularly changing.’

‘They understand the client brief, and challenge and explain things in a customer friendly way, which anyone can understand. It is a breadth of fresh air not to have complicated ‘legalese’.

‘The team are excellent in social housing, construction contracts, joint venture documentation and land purchase agreements. We use Trowers for the more complex schemes because of their breadth and depth of experience and UK wide presence. Their procurement advice is always excellent.’

‘Bespoke specialist services staff with extensive experience in the industry, but in particular the for-profit RP sector, which is a new emerging sector. Work in partnership to understand your business model, and how they can bring added value to this. Fair and transparent billing service’

Key clients

Homes England

Greater London Authority

Peabody Trust

Legal & General Affordable Homes

Vistry Partnerships

Hyde Housing Group

Clarion Housing Group

The Guinness Partnership

Man Group

Vengrove

Sovereign Housing Association

Swan Housing

Evera Homes

VIVID Housing

Paradigm Housing Group

Network Homes Limited

Origin Housing

Catalyst Housing Group

Hill Residential

BoKlok

L&Q Housing Trust

Mount Anvil

Residential Secure Income plc

QSix

Housing 21

One Housing Group

Cross Keys Homes

Goram Homes

Capital Letters

Westminster City Council

London Borough of Enfield

London Borough of Barking & Dagenham

Slough Borough Council

London Borough of Ealing

Epping Forest District Council

Work highlights

  • Acted for Aster Group on their transformation and growth programme. This included a merger with Central & Cecil Housing Trust, which sees the Aster Group moving further into the South East market.
  • Acted for Legal & General Affordable Homes on the growth of their affordable housing platform and retained to advise on the structuring of the growth of their affordable housing platform and which included advising on the establishment and registration of four new for-profit registered providers of social housing with the Regulator of Social Housing.
  • Acted for Catalyst Housing Limited in relation to the St Ann’s Hospital Site. CHL were procured under the LDP2 panel and the scheme will deliver ca. 934 homes, 50% of which will be affordable housing. Catalyst will also enter into a joint venture with Hill Residential in relation to the private sale element.

Capsticks LLP

The ‘great‘ social housing team at Capsticks LLP acts for registered providers on a variety of matters, including bespoke private development, land-led development and joint ventures as well as mergers and acquisitions. ‘Exceptional leaderChimi Shakohoxha specialises in property development and regeneration as well as mixed use developments. Michael Owen and Katrina Robinson lead on housing management matters, including serious anti-social behaviour and succession matters as well as policy reviews for landlords and leasehold litigation. ‘Stand out impressiveJames Howard is the unit's practitioner for development acquisitions, site assembly and stock rationalisation, and new arrival Sarah Waite acts predominantly on development transactions for registered providers.

Practice head(s):

Chimi Shakohoxha; Michael Owen

Other key lawyers:

Katrina Robinson; James Howard; Sarah Waite

Testimonials

‘Great team, very positive and result focused. Led by people who want to find solutions to issues and who are transparent and this emanates through the rest of the team. Whenever we have an issue, the Capsticks team always try and find a speedy answer and one that involves consultation with us and open discussion about the issue at hand.’

‘Straightforward communication, open to time delay improvements, James Howard and Chimi Shakohoxha are exceptional leaders who make our life easier every day.’

‘The team are exceptionally responsive and commercially aware. The litigation team are also strong and the support on a recent contentious matter was invaluable. Billing is dealt with in a very mature way.’

‘Chimi Shakohoxha and James Howard are stand-out impressive given their responsiveness, advice and commercially aware drafting’

‘This team’s strength is the quality of its people. The service is first-rate. Everyone in the team is knowledgeable, helpful, proactive and client-focused. Our cases are dealt with efficiently and the team take absolute pride and delight in keeping our costs to a minimum! We have 100% confidence in the Capsticks team and they are a joy to work with.’

‘Katrina Robinson – for her unflinching professionalism and sharp insight. We really value her, and the work she has done for us is nothing short of outstanding. I’ve never known disrepair cases to be dispatched with such ruthless efficiency. Her advice is clear, pragmatic, concise, and always super-helpful. She’s a force of nature!’

Key clients

London & Quadrant

Southern

Notting Hill

Shepherds Bush

Guinness

Riverside

Gateway

Paragon

Town & Country

Sovereign

Work highlights

  • Advised Tonic Housing on the acquisition of shared ownership apartments at London’s Bankhouse from One Housing Group (OHG). The properties are to be developed into the first LGBT+ affirmative affordable residential community in the UK that is aimed at retired people.
  • Acted on a claim for possession for client Riverside resulting in the second largest ever Unlawful Profit Order (‘UPO’) in the country (worth £145,000).
  • Successfully acted for a London based housing provider in the Court of Appeal. The case set an important legal precedent for service of Notices to Quit following the death of the tenant.

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP advises registered providers and housing associations, including co-operatives, on all matters concerning governance, corporate and regulatory issues as well as funding, procurement, construction, housing management and related litigation. The ‘reliable and professional‘ team is headed by housing regulation and legislation expert Jonathan Cox and further features ‘outstandingLucy Worrall, who specialises in developments, regenerations and site acquisitions, and Peter Hubbard, who advises on constitutional, governance and regulatory issues. Emma Hardman and Sarah Patrice made partner in 2021 and Tom Starkey and Andrew Dudley joined the team in September and October 2021 respectively.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Cox

Other key lawyers:

Lucy Worrall; Peter Hubbard; Helen Tucker; Emma Hardman; Sarah Patrice; Baljit Basra; Andrew Millross; Phil Scully, Tom Starkey

Testimonials

‘Lucy Worrall is outstanding.’

‘Anthony Collins people talk to us in a language we understand, present their thoughts/options articulately and provide us with their recommendation and the reasons for that. They have taken time to get to know us and who we are and how we work and feel as if they are part of the company.’

Key clients

Clarion Housing Group

The Hyde Group

London & Quadrant Housing Trust

Lewisham Homes

Metropolitan Thames Valley

Peabody

The Riverside Group

Platform Housing Group

Orbit Housing Group

Citizen Housing Group

Connexus Group

Housing Plus Group

My Generation Asset Management

Work highlights

  • Lead on the project “Help to Own”, a groundbreaking house purchase scheme allowing tenants to purchase a home without any up front capital nor any mortgage. The project needed to overcome numerous legal hurdles. It culminated in the letting of 100 new eco-friendly homes in Wolverhampton to persons who would not otherwise have any prospect of being homeowners.
  • Successfully acted for social housing landlord Lewisham Homes, in the enforcement by the court of an adjudication decision which provided that the contractor should pay £2.7m plus VAT for the replacement of fire doors.
  • Completed the procurement of Clarion’s 20-year planned maintenance contracts for works valued at £1.76bn, using the competitive procedure with negotiation.

Bevan Brittan LLP

Bevan Brittan LLP acts for a broad array of clients on social housing matters, including housing associations, local authorities, developers and funders. The ‘extremely knowledgeable, personable, pragmatic and efficient‘ team advises on matters pertaining to housing management, property development as well as litigation, and has recently expanded its footprint in the areas of funding and corporate governance. Louise Leaver heads the team nationally and specialises in social housing finance work. ‘InnovativeAndrew Shaw and Wendy Wilks jointly lead the London offering, and specialise in housing development matters. Social housing finance focused Jessica Church joined from Trowers & Hamlins LLP in March 2021.

Practice head(s):

Louise Leaver; Wendy Wilks; Andrew Shaw

Other key lawyers:

Jessica Church; Jonathan Turner

Testimonials

‘The team are extremely knowledgeable, personable, pragmatic and efficient.’

‘Andrew Shaw is very friendly and approachable, and has a huge wealth of experience to draw upon. He is innovative in that he works to find the best solution to your problems.’

‘Jonathan Turner is quietly reassuring, both in his manner and with his advice. He has a wealth of experience which he draws on to ensure the best outcomes for his clients.’

Key clients

Sage Housing

Places for People Group

Catalyst Housing Group

Orbit Homes

London & Quadrant

Network Homes

Peabody Group

Sanctuary Group

Hyde Housing

The Housing Finance Corporation Limited (THFC)/Affordable Housing Finance Plc/bLEND Funding Plc

Work highlights

  • Ongoing advice to Peabody Land on its joint venture with international developer Lendlease, for their £8bn delivery of 11,500+ at Thamesmead Waterfront, south-east London, which includes an extension of the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) under the River Thames.
  • Advised Peabody Group and Catalyst Housing Group on their 2022 merger, to create a new organisation responsible for 104,000 homes and ca. 220,000 residents across London and the southeast, making it the second largest housing association group in the UK.
  • Acted for London & Quadrant Housing Trust on over 500 tenant disrepair claims since 2018, minimising L&Q’s exposure through agreed settlements and occasionally court action, as well as through continuous training for their housing officer staff.

Pinsent Masons LLP

Pinsent Masons LLP is particularly known for advising government bodies, both local and central, on strategic cooperations and partnerships to deliver social housing. The team is experienced in setting up novel structures, such as groups of companies and community benefit societies, to develop, regenerate, manage and invest into affordable housing. Practice head Anne Bowden has ample experience acting for a variety of London boroughs and councils across the UK on major housing schemes. David Meecham has particular experience in public sector led housing development and housing led regeneration projects, and Nick McDonald is experienced in council led housing regeneration projects.

Practice head(s):

Anne Bowden

Other key lawyers:

David Meecham; Nick McDonald

Key clients

Homes England

Westminster City Council

London Borough of Lambeth

London Borough of Haringey

Galliford Try Partnerships

Lovell Partnerships

Countryside Properties

London Borough of Wandsworth

London Borough of Hackney

London Borough of Brent

London Borough of Barnet

London Borough of Southwark

London Borough of Hounslow

London Borough of Redbridge

Southampton City Council

Clarion Housing Group

Work highlights

  • Advised London Borough of Wandsworth on their two largest Council estate regeneration projects, delivering 3500 homes with an end value of over £1bn.
  • Advised London Borough of Haringey on its High Road West housing regeneration scheme which will deliver 2500 new home (including 850 affordable homes) in a scheme valued at up to £1bn.
  • Advising London Borough of Brent over many years on its multi-phase South Kilburn council estate renewal project.

Winckworth Sherwood

Winckworth Sherwood LLP acts for both for-profit and not-for-profit registered providers assisting with a full service regarding housing development schemes. The team provides support on all aspects of housing developments, from initial pre-acquisition due diligence, acquisition and planning to financing, charging, section 106 agreements, construction and sale as well as ongoing asset management, which clients feel are ‘second to none‘. Head of the team Charlie Proddow specialises in advising registered providers on housing developments as well as other property-related transactions. Former head of the department Andrew Murray has now retired.

Practice head(s):

Charlie Proddow

Testimonials

‘Adaptability to change and take on board complex instructions.’

‘They listen, discuss and agree the solutions. The team have dealt with varying land issues in the past year with success and compliance with our directions’

‘Down to earth, approachable, accessible / responsive, knowledgeable and pragmatic when it comes to negotiating fees and taking a view if projects aborted.’

‘Charlie Proddow: highly personable and responsive, going the extra mile to be of assistance and often taking a commercial view on work in progress verse emerging work. Prepared to discuss downside / abortive project risk and strike an excellent balance of give and take.’

‘The support on property, strategic partnership agreements, joint ventures and development agreements is second to none. The recent support on a major stock sale was invaluable.’

‘Charlie Proddow has incredible attention to detail which never diminishes even when the transaction gets hard. Their support on a major stock transfer which included negotiations with HE and the GLA, a development agreement, warranty agreements and assignment of build contracts was outstanding. Advice is quick and commercially astute. They are an asset in any negotiation.’

‘The team at Winckworths work collaboratively with each other to provide advice in a timely manner, seeking assistance from their colleagues with another specialisms as appropriate to try and assist as best they can.’

Key clients

A2Dominion

Abri

Bpha

Catalyst

Clarion

Hightown

Hyde

Hyelm

Golding

London & Quadrant

Metropolitan Thames Valley

Moat

Network Homes

Notting Hill Genesis

One Housing

Optivo

Peabody

Sage

Settle

Southern Housing

Sovereign

Swan Housing

Vivid

ReSI Housing

Lewisham Homes

Evolve Housing + Support

Worthing Homes

Work highlights

  • Advised Optivo on a “first of its kind” £100m plus disposal of 420 grant-funded homes under development to for-profit registered provider, Sage Housing.
  • Advised L&Q on its development acquisition of a 120 unit lease for relocating residents within major regeneration scheme at Brent Cross.
  • Advised Clarion on its “Clarion 2040 Stock Disposal” project involving the sale of ca. 4,000 tenanted homes and associated parts of the business.

Clarke Willmott LLP

Clarke Willmott LLP provides an an ‘excellent service‘, advising registered providers on social housing development, regeneration, property and housing management matters, ranging from the establishing of joint venture vehicles, site acquisitions, planning, construction and sale of shared ownership units. Further, the team handles a variety of property related litigation, including service charge disputes, dilapidation, possession claims and leasehold issues. Lindsay Felstead, Vicky Kells, Oliver Smedley and Kary Withers head the social housing offering nationally while Kate Silverman heads the London social housing team.

Practice head(s):

Lindsay Felstead; Vicky Kells; Oliver Smedley; Kary Withers; Kate Silverman

Testimonials

‘Kate Silverman has assisted on some complex land matters and she goes to great lengths to explain the legal issues in a way that non-legal people will understand.’

‘The Clarke Willmott team were far more communicative than any other practice I have progressed work with previously. They were quick to identify pitfalls and open to acknowledging additional resource need where that became necessary. Always courteous, they progressed the actions required with vigour and capability. I do not have any involvement in the billing process but also recognised that they were very good value.’

‘They always respond to requests for additional pressure and hasteners and ensure the smooth progress of the action in hand.’

‘The team at Clarke Willmott have assisted us with various contractual requirements in the last few years. All matters have been dealt with quickly, diligently and in a professional manner each time. We would therefore highly recommend them to others in the future.’

‘As well as providing an excellent legal service they run regular CPD webinar sessions which are of great value.’

‘Kary Withers – always available at short notice and provides expert advice’

‘The quality and depth on knowledge give me comfort. Never do they stray into areas they are not trained in and will always provide internal support when necessary. Their knowledge within their expertise is excellent.’

‘Kate Silverman has excellent knowledge and understanding of commercial property law and provides clear advice considering all the outcomes. Her attention to detail is second to none.’

Key clients

Peabody Trust

Clarion

Metropolitan Thames Valley

Notting Hill Genesis

Optivo

London & Quadrant Housing Trust

One Housing Group Limited

bpha

Sovereign

Guinness Partnership

Work highlights

  • Instructed to negotiate a bespoke works agreement for L&Q Group in relation to gas safety upgrade works with the ultimate landlord and freeholder. This has involved detailed review and negotiation of the underlying building contract, together with drafting provisions in the works agreement to cover access, defects and delay.
  • Instructed by One Housing Group Limited in relation to the highly intricate Granville Road regeneration scheme involving infill development between Council tower blocks. Dealt with the phased acquisition of the affordable housing for One Housing Group Limited, as well as the subsequent transfer of the long-term management of the estate to One Housing Group Limited.
  • Acted for a client whose tenant had ceased to occupy the client’s property and was living elsewhere. The tenant subsequently passed away. The tenant’s son was occupying the property and submitted a succession claim which the client declined. The occupier then issued a full judicial review claim with costs sought. Successfully defended the claim and have since instigated possession proceedings.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP acts for housing associations, investors, developers and local authorities on developments, acquisitions, planning and construction matters, including the development of new investment and social housing delivery models via, for example, joint ventures. ‘Stand-outAndrew Casstles understands the registered provider world very well‘ with particular experience of development transactions for housing association clients. Mark Sellers acts for registered providers on acquisitions, including by way of golden brick agreements and option agreements.

Practice head(s):

Andrew Casstles; Mark Sellers

Testimonials

‘I’ve used London based solicitors before and have been disappointed by the service. Penningtons, however, made me feel at every point like the most important client they had, and certainly not a number.’

‘They were responsive, professional and realistic about what could be achieved and in what timescale. Updates on progress are regular and without the need to request. At all times you feel like they are acting in your best interests.’

‘Easy to work with knowledgeable solicitors.’

‘Penningtons are professional and very responsive and always seem able to help.’

‘I have mostly worked with Andrew Casstles. He is professional, easy to get along with and understands the RP world very well. Always pitching the discussions and advice at the correct level for my team who are relatively new to development to understand and make informed choices.’

‘We consistently get good understandable advice from the team.. They understand our needs and tailor the advice accordingly’

‘The team provides a blanket of support that isn’t just reliant on one individual and as such we get access to support quickly and effectively. We really feel they have our best interests at heart and have 100% trust in their advice and outputs.’

‘The individuals within the team are professional, diligent and appear very happy in their work. They give the impression of a happy and integrated team.’

Key clients

Paragon Asra Housing

Newlon Housing Trust and Newlon Build Limited

Peabody Trust / Peabody Construction Limited

CBRE UK Affordable Housing Fund

Hightown Housing Association

Optivo

bpha Limited

Saxon Weald

Accent Housing

Abri Group Limited

Settle Group

White Horse Housing Association

Poplar HARCA

Treveth Holdings LLP and Treveth Development LLP (wholly owned subsidiaries of Cornwall Council)

Mount Green Housing Association

Phoenix Community Housing Association

Inquilab Housing Association

Plymouth Community Homes Ltd

North London Muslim Housing Association Ltd

One Housing Group Ltd

Hexagon Housing Association Ltd

NW3 Community Land Trust Limited

Sapphire Independent Housing Limited

LiveWest Homes Limited

Southern Housing Group Ltd

West Kent Housing Association

Islington and Shoreditch Housing Association Ltd

Epping Forest District Council

Advance Housing & Support Limited

Sage Housing Ltd

Raven Housing Trust Limited

South Yorkshire Housing Association Ltd

Catalyst Housing

Cross Keys Homes Ltd

Bromsgrove District Housing Trust Limited

Richmond Housing Partnership Ltd

Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing

Westway Housing Association Ltd

Bromford Housing Association Ltd

Sovereign Housing Association Ltd

Ekaya Housing Association Ltd

Warrington Housing Association Limited

Orbit Group Ltd

Mace Housing Cooperative Limited

Christian Action (Enfield) Housing Association Ltd

Midland Heart Limited

Wandle Housing Association Ltd

London & Quadrant Housing Trust

Housing Solutions Group

Octavia Housing

Mackenzie Homes (South West) Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Newlon Housing Trust on the development of over 200 apartments at a former Homebase store site in Walthamstow, London with the GDP of the wider scheme being £370m.
  • Advised bpha Limited on the purchase of 150 affordable dwellings from Countryside (UK) Limited via a development agreement conditional upon the developer acquiring the site, obtaining reserved matters planning permission and a variation to the existing planning agreement.
  • Acted for Paragon Asra Housing Limited (PAH) on the acquisition of 156 affordable rented units in four tower blocks across two sites, from Cetza Trustees V3 Limited and Cetza Trustees V4 Limited (Seller).

TLT

TLT acts for a variety of clients, including housing associations and local authorities, providing a full service offering covering property related issues and the provision of affordable housing. The team has a ‘huge breadth of expertise‘ and advises on all aspects from development to disposal , as well as representing clients in contentious matters, including employment disputes for housing associations. Practice head Linda Convery advises on developments, joint ventures, regenerations and issues around supported housing, among others. Shazia Bashir is particularly experienced in regard to housing-led regeneration schemes.

Practice head(s):

Linda Convery

Other key lawyers:

Shazia Bashir

Testimonials

‘TLT has a huge breadth of expertise. Extremely professional and approachable and great to work with.’

‘The team are extremely capable and experienced; hard working with excellent client care skills, calm, capable and thorough.’

Key clients

Network Homes Group

Southern Housing Group

The Guinness Partnership

Peabody Group

London and Quadrant Housing

London Borough of Waltham Forest

One Housing Group Limited

Catalyst Housing Group

Notting Hill Genesis

Sovereign

Swan Housing Group

Silva Homes

Housing Solutions

Town & Country

London Borough Crawley

West Kent Housing

Work highlights

  • Advised Network Homes on the acquisition of a large mixed-use scheme which comprises 100 residential units and over 1700 square metres of commercial space to support new jobs and local businesses.
  • Advised New Granville LLP on a joint venture between One Housing Group and a large national construction company on its regeneration site in North West London.
  • Advised Swan Housing on Beechwood Village which is part of a £210m regeneration project in partnership with Homes England and Basildon Borough Council.

Birketts LLP

Birketts LLP advises on the full scope of housing development and management issues, including related litigation. A speciality of the team, headed by Jonathan Hulley and Clive Adams, is assisting with the setting-up of for-profit registered providers to deliver affordable housing via trading arms of local authorities. Clients of the firm ‘appreciate that they are receiving a truly tailored service from trusted professionals at competitive rates‘.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Hulley; Clive Adams

Testimonials

‘Birketts’ team has had the massive boost of two partners, Jonathan Hulley and Clive Adams, joining from Capsticks. They are really forging the march to put Birketts firmly on the map when it comes to providing a full, one-stop service to social housing clients.’

‘The firm have strong IT and case management processes ensuring key snippets of important information do not get buried in an electronic jungle or mass of paper on a file.’

‘Jonathan Hulley’s client care is outstanding: clients appreciate that they are receiving a truly tailored service from trusted professionals at competitive rates.’

‘Clive Adams heads up the Housing and Asset Management team sitting under Jonathan. He is the rarest of things in social housing – a true expert in service charge. He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the case law and statutory provisions of relevance, and there is no safer pair of hands to be on a service charge dispute.’

‘I’m very impressed by Clive Adams’ knowledge of civil procedure and especially its application to social housing. He is a very enthusiastic and energetic fighter against the plague of CFA disrepair claims that social landlords suffer.’

Key clients

Broadland Housing Association

Flagship Housing Group

CHP

Orbit Group Limited

Longhurst Group

Iceni Homes

Eastlight (previously Greenfields)

London and Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q)

B3 Living

Cambridge Housing Society

Swan Housing

Westway Housing Association

Harlow Council

Basildon Borough Council

South Holland District Council

Barley Homes Limited

Work highlights

  • Conducted appeal to Court of Appeal in the case of Aster Communities v Chapman and others [2021]. The case concerned five blocks of flats, each requiring a substantial scheme of works, together totalling circa £4.7m.
  • Acted for Brentwood Borough Council and V acquisition of the multi-unit Childerditch Industrial Estate for £59m.
  • Acted for a housing client on the acquisition of bare land from the Chelmsford City Council to develop 12 affordable housing units for £2.5m.