Mr Mark Smith > Ward Hadaway LLP > Leeds, England > Lawyer Profile

Mr Mark Smith

+44 (0)113 205 6655 mark.smith@wardhadaway.com

Work Department

Banking and Finance

Position

Partner

Career

Mark has dealt with a wide range of financing and banking matters for funders and borrowers and headed up the real estate finance group at a national law firm for many years.

He has acted for a diverse range of lending clients including UK and non-UK banks, peer-to-peer lending platforms, building societies, insurance companies and funds as well as many borrowers both quoted and private.

Mark has particular expertise acting for peer-to-peer lending platforms.  He advised a P2P platform in obtaining full approval from the FCA (one of the first platforms to obtain full authorisation from the FCA).

Mark has also drafted platform terms and conditions including in relation to Innovative Finance Isas recently approved by HMRC.

He has also acted for P2P platforms on the transactional and regulatory issues involved in a wide range of lending into the real estate finance sector.

Mark has also acted for opportunity funds both in their capacity as funders and borrowers in relation to all types of real estate assets including hotels, student accommodation and retail investments.

Another sector where Mark has a lot of experience is the social housing sector where he has acted for many leading lenders over the years and acted for one of the largest registered providers in relation to its varied funding arrangements with lenders to the sector.