Overseen by Donna McCarthy, Devonshires Solicitors LLP‘s property litigation is a go-to name for the social housing sector. With a strong track record advising landlords and tenants, McCarthy lends this experience to social housing providers. Lee Russell acts for social housing providers and build-to-rent providers on building safety instructions, while Mark Foxcroft chiefly focuses on leasehold, shared ownership, and commonhold mandates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A great bunch of lawyers who are thorough and knowledgeable, especially when it comes to building safety and the complex structure of leases. Fabulous to work with; always collaborative. It is also invaluable having their steer on the client's needs and the practical issues.’

  • ‘Lee Russell - Partner. Knowledgeable, dedicated and available with an exceptional understanding of the sector and clients' needs. A pleasure to work with and receive instructions from. He is outstanding at dealing with very complex building safety work.’

  • ‘Mark Foxcroft is always responsive to our needs, understands where we are as a business and provides us with advice and information that we will need for decision making on specific questions or issues, sometimes even if we haven't specifically asked for it, because he knows it will be relevant to our decision.’

  • ‘The team is very responsive and thorough. They inspire confidence and go the extra mile to ensure we are always aware of all potential angles to an issue to allow us to make an informed decision on our preferred way forward.’

  • ‘They are knowledgeable. Available and thorough.’

  • ‘The team has worked with the social housing sector for such a long period of time and across many diverse housing providers. This perspective is a key strength.’

Key clients

  • Notting Hill Genesis
  • Coastal Housing Group Limited
  • Tai Calon Community Housing Limited
  • Community Housing Cymru
  • Curo
  • Red Kite

Work highlights

Represented Notting Hill Genesis in Notting Hill Genesis v Uddin & others [2025] UKUT 56 (LC), which was an appeal to the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber).
Instructed by two housing associations in Wales, including membership body CHC, in relation to the first test case involving the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016.
Acted for Notting Hill Genesis in 4 separate but connected contested right to manage (RTM) applications in relation to various buildings on a large Estate in London.

Practice head

Donna McCarthy

Other key lawyers

Lee Russell; Mark Foxcroft