Jessica Church > Bevan Brittan LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Led by Mark Calverley, the ‘first-class’ team at Bevan Brittan LLP provides an ‘excellent service that is quick, efficient and knowledgeable’ to its roster of clients, including local authorities, housing associations, health trusts and social care providers. Alison Buckingham spearheads the social housing team and acts for housing associations and local authorities in development projects and housing schemes. Head of the estate management sector practice, David Hobbs takes a ‘proactive and pragmatic approach’ to landlord and tenant asset management matters, while Rob Harrison handles high-value health-related property transactions. Other key contacts in the team include Harriet Murray Jones and Jessica Church.

Bevan Brittan LLP‘s strength encompasses complex joint ventures, mergers and related corporate and restructuring work, and housing finance matters, acting for housing association borrowers and lenders. In addition, the practice is highly capable on issues relating to housing management, building safety, and contentious mandates. South West region practice head Alison Buckingham has extensive experience acting for public and private sector clients, particularly on development schemes. Jonathan Turner has expertise in joint ventures involving developments and regeneration matters, while Jessica Church has a focus on the security aspects of finance matters. On the disputes side, Steve Eccles takes the lead as housing and property litigation head, with a stream of work relating to the Building Safety Act 2022. Kate Hicks is also prominent in advising landlords on anti-social tenants.

Bevan Brittan LLP’s housing team is well regarded for its expertise in transactions surrounding private placements, bank lending, derivatives, structured finance, and securitisations. Advice on new loans and existing facilities, refinancings, and joint venture arrangements are also a key area for the practice, and the group is active in assisting with the funding of local authorities investing and lending into housing. Louise Leaver chairs the department with expertise in representing both lenders and borrowers, and is ably supported by Sarah Greenhalgh, who handles mergers and general governance work, and Wendy Wilks and Jessica Church, who advises registered providers on the security elements of their finance projects. The group has undergone expansion with the addition of Katie Dyer from Trowers & Hamlins LLP and Rose Klemperer from Devonshires Solicitors LLP at the beginning of 2024.