Next Generation Partners

Firms To Watch: Social housing

In Ward Hadaway LLP’s newly established Birmingham office, Joanna Lee-Mills and Natalie Owen are the key names to note for housing matters; the pair joined from Shakespeare Martineau LLP in 2025.

Social housing in West Midlands

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

Showcasing extensive expertise in complex construction disputes and allegations of defective design claims, Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP is routinely called upon to advise major housing associations and multinational corporations. The Birmingham-based department is well versed in private placements and regulatory compliance measures, with head of housing management Emma Hardman being an expert in service charges and rent reviews. Managing partner Peter Hubbard focuses on governance restructuring, Andrew Dudley is experienced in acquisitions and disposals, while Victoria Jardine is a charity law specialist. Helen Tucker is highly knowledgeable in housing litigation and disrepair claims, and Sarah Patrice predominantly focuses on contractual advice.

Praxisleiter:

Jonathan Cox; Emma Hardman; Peter Hubbard; Victoria Jardine; Jon Coane; Helen Tucker; Andrew Dudley; Julia Robertson; Tim Coolican


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sarah Patrice; Rebecca Sembuuze


Referenzen

‘Access to a wide range of information including planning, construction contracts and VAT as well as land/property purchases.  Ability to explain complex legal documents to non-legal persons. Collaborates well with other legal firms.’

‚They have many strengths, but for me one of the ones is their attitude towards undertaking business and their social purpose.‘

‚Peter Hubbard has an in-depth knowledge across all areas of the law. He has a sharp brain and offers sage advice, when it is particularly needed and appreciated in the heat of what are sometimes very challenging situations. His lengthy experience in social housing means there is very little that he hasn’t seen before and nothing that he has been unable to help us with. As with his colleagues, he delivers his advice in a friendly and approachable manner. Victoria Jardine is excellent. A wealth of knowledge and the gravitas and communication skills to be able to engage Board members to earn their trust whilst delivering sage advice. Always available and deals with every challenge we throw at her with good humour and professionalism.‘

Kernmandanten

Homes for West Midlands LLP


Citizen Housing Group


Platform Housing Group


Connexus Housing Group


Wolverhampton Homes


Futures Housing Group


Nottingham Community Housing Association


Rooftop Housing Group


Midland Heart


Aspire Housing


Walsall Housing Group


Cottsway Housing Association


Hyde Housing Association


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Homes for West Midlands LLP (“HWM”) and its five promoters, Bromford Housing, Citizen, Midlands Heart, whg and GreenSquareAccord on its’ project harnessing the collaborative working of five of the largest West Midlands housing providers.
  • Supporting over 25 RPs (with funding arrangements of over £5 billion combined) on breaches of regulatory standards and reports to the Regulator of Social Housing, with our approach minimising regulatory interventions because of reassurances put in place and steps taken to resolve issues.
  • Advising on an application for dispensation from section 20 consultation requirements for Clarion Housing Group, affecting over 18,000 of its residents (all who were party to the application) in respect of future energy contracts.

Bevan Brittan LLP

With a strong track record in handling strategic governance and acquisitions on behalf of major trusts and housing associations, the ‘practical, flexible’ team at Bevan Brittan LLP is highly regarded for its knowledge in housing finance and management issues. With an offering spanning from regeneration scheme expertise to assistance with compulsory purchase orders, the Birmingham-based head of property Rebecca Pendlebury is well versed in joint venture arrangements and procurement projects. Also in Birmingham, Rose Klemperer and Sarah Greenhalgh co-lead the housing division, each specialising in corporate governance and regulatory matters, while Julia Jones is also cited as key.

Praxisleiter:

Rose Klemperer; Sarah Greenhalgh; Rebecca Pendlebury; Louise Leaver


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Julia Jones; Louise Mansfield; Emma Holmes


Referenzen

‘The team has a positive culture. You can tell they enjoy working together and respect each of the skills and strengths they all bring.’

‘The advisers are practical, flexible, knowledgeable and committed to their clients.’

Kernmandanten

Magenta Living


Abri Group Limited


Oxford City Housing Limited


Livv Housing Group


West Oxfordshire District Council


Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council


Fenland Futures Limited


South Cambridgeshire District Council


Wrekin Housing Trust


Midland Heart Limited


Milverton Homes Limited


GreenSquareAccord


London & Quadrant Housing Trust


Places for People


Peabody Trust Limited


The Pioneer Group


Rushmoor Borough Council


South Cambridgeshire District Council


Tower Hamlets London Borough Council


Wolverhampton City Council


Rother District Council


ForHousing Limited


Grand Union Housing Group Limited


Regulator of Social Housing


Notting Hill Genesis


Richmond Housing Partnership


Sanctuary Housing Group


Ongo Homes


Walsall Housing Group


Town and Country Housing


54 North Homes


Broadacres Housing Association


Flagship Housing Group


Great Places Housing Group


Together Housing Group


Mansfield District Council


Highlight-Mandate


Gowling WLG

Representing a client list of registered providers of social housing, local authorities, and investors, Gowling WLG’s Birmingham-based team displays ‘strong sector knowledge’ when handling disposals of property portfolios and residential investment transactions. The advice extends to assisting with complex shared ownership framework agreements, while the head of affordable housing Jacqueline Knox is an expert in public funding arrangements. Richard Beckingsale is knowledgeable in residential investment matters, and Sally Farrall is a social housing development specialist. Gemma Courtenay is also recommended.

Praxisleiter:

Jacqueline Knox; Richard Beckingsale; Sally Farrall; Dominic Morris; Gemma Courtenay


Referenzen

‘Strong sector knowledge and very responsive.’

‚Commercial, no nonsense, and get the work done with a minimum amount of fuss. I find that their fees are attractive and they tend not to go over budget, which is different to some other firms we work with. They can be left to get on with transactions, coming back on key commercial points where appropriate. We have a panel of firms and Gowling is definitely the best.‘

‚Jacqueline Knox is the main partner we work with, and she’s really excellent.‘

Kernmandanten

Sanctuary Group


Metropolitan Thames Valley


Clarion Housing Group


London and Quadrant


Bournville Village Trust


London Borough of Barnet


LaSalle Investment Management


BAE Systems Pension Funds Trustees Limited


Coal Pension Properties Ltd


KW Housing Limited


Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc


Horizon Infrastructure Partnership


Universities Superannuation Scheme


Legal & General Affordable Homes


Hyde Group


Fox Hound Capital


Symmetry Housing CIC


Anchor


MSS Communities


RCM Neo


Vistry


Muse Places


Windrush Housing


Flint Housing


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Hyde Housing on the bid and acquisition of Pinnacle Group, a company managing and servicing 70,000 homes on behalf of councils, institutional investors, and housing developers.
  • Advised Vistry on one of the largest new build residential investment transactions on record, involving the sale and development of 2,915 residential units across 70 development sites nationally.
  • Advised Muse Places Limited on its significant long-term public-private partnership, named Habiko, which targets up to 100% affordable homes for rent for those whose needs are not met by the market, with rents set at 20% below the local market rent.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is noted for its focus on disposals and acquisitions of affordable housing, in addition to work related to housing development schemes and Building Safety Act measures. The firm covers all governance, regulatory, and development aspects associated with social housing, steered by Suzanne Benson. In Birmingham, Yetunde Dania is knowledgeable on housing law issues and tenant litigation, Dorota Pawlowski focuses on housing management issues, and Natalie Singh is noted for her finance expertise. Rachael Hobbis acts for commercial developers, and Rachel Ford is also recommended.

Praxisleiter:

Suzanne Benson


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Yetunde Dania; Dorota Pawlowski; Natalie Singh; Rachael Hobbis; Rachel Ford; Joe Holland; Karen Wells


Referenzen

‘Trowers negotiated our first development contract and have been able to replicate that for us on further schemes.’

Kernmandanten

Midland Heart


Citizen Housing Group


Grosvenor Hart Homes


Platform Housing Group


The Riverside Group


Places for People


Walsall Housing Group


Shropshire Rural Housing Association


The Community Housing Group


Rother DC Housing Company Limited


Housing 21


Connexus


Gateway Housing Association


Eastlight Community Homes


Sanctuary Housing Association


East Devon District Council


Plus Dane Housing


Legal & General Affordable Homes Limited


Goram Homes Limited


Clarion Housing Association


Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for Midland Heart on the disposal of c.1,500 units of affordable housing for older people to Housing 21, spread across a large number of schemes in the Midlands.
  • Acted for Grosvenor Hart Homes, which is the Grosvenor Group’s new RP, on its first acquisition of 40 new homes from a third-party developer.
  • Acted for Platform Housing Group on the acquisition of more than 100 affordable housing units in the course of construction from Lovell Partnerships Limited.

Devonshires Solicitors LLP

Regularly handling mergers for registered providers of social housing, the Devonshires Solicitors LLP practice is highly regarded for its general corporate, governance, and regulatory advice. The firm is experienced in securing anti-social behaviour injunctions, with the head of the Birmingham office Gemma Bell being a specialist in joint ventures and de-mergers. Baljit Basra acts for housing associations and local authorities, while Sharon Thandi regularly supports charities with reorganising group structures.

Praxisleiter:

Gemma Bell; Julian Barker; Donna McCarthy; Baljit Basra; Jonathan Corris


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Sharon Thandi


Referenzen

‚The team hold a broad level of expertise, all of whom are incredibly approachable and knowledgeable. It’s great to be able to talk things through before you decide if you need to proceed with formal advice.‘

‚Gemma Bell is such a trusted person to work with. The Board, Executive Team and Directors all hold her in such high esteem due to her approach to work and excellent advice. She is able to adapt her approach to her audience seamlessly.‘

‚Responsive and personable.‘

Kernmandanten

Stonewater Group


People Potential Possibilities/ P3 Housing (the P3 Group)


London & Quadrant Housing Trust


GreenSquare Accord Ltd


Beacon Cymru Group


Windrush Alliance UK Community Interest Company


GreenSquare Accord Ltd


Bromford Housing Group and Flagship Housing Group


Wrekin Housing Group and Housing Plus Group


Karibu Community Homes


Highlight-Mandate


  • Advised Coastal Housing Group Limited and RHA Wales Group Limited on their merger, which completed in January 2025.
  • Assisted in obtaining anti-social behaviour injunctions against two individuals who were causing criminal damage and graffiti to schemes owned by GreenSquare Accord Limited.
  • Instructed by Wrekin Housing Group and Housing Plus Group on their proposed merger, which completed on 6 January 2025.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP

Overseeing a wide range of transactions for the development and regeneration of land, the ‘exceptionally competent and patient’ Shakespeare Martineau LLP‘s practice is knowledgeable on all aspects of building contracts and planning agreements. In Stratford, Louise Drew leads the social housing division, specialising in mixed-tenure schemes, and Emma Joy Smith focuses on disposal programmes. Rachel Gwynne left the practice in November 2024.

Praxisleiter:

Louise Drew; Emma Joy Smith; Bukola Obadun-Craigs; Gary Ekpenyoung; Grant Docherty; Rhys Wyborn


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Anita Rasaratnam; Stewart Freeman; Vicci Faulkner


Referenzen

‘SHMA are exceptionally competent and patient and have an outstanding grasp of the legal matters we refer to them. Their expertise in handling complex litigation cases and proficiency in navigating procedural issues have been game-changers for us.‘

‚What truly sets them apart is their deep understanding of our business and industry and the time they take to understand our needs.’

‘Natalie Walford, Habib Khan, Bukola Obadun-Craigs & Gary Ekpenyoung are amazing to work with. They have successfully managed intricate litigation and provided strategic advice on complex litigation showcasing their ability to handle the nuances and balancing acts with remarkable ease.‘

Kernmandanten

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust


Platform Housing Group


Orbit Group


Longhurst Group


Walsall Housing Group


Nottingham Community Housing Group


Wythenshawe Community Housing


Notting Hill Genesis


The Field Lane Foundation


Stonewater Group


One Manchester


Two Rivers


Magenta Living


Regenda Group


Accent Group


Trent & Dove


Highlight-Mandate


  • Acted for Orbit Group in the disposal of 250 tenanted homes to B3 Living, another registered provider.
  • Overseeing a single unit disposal programme consisting of c100 properties to be completed within a 12 month period, once sales agreed by an agent on behalf of Nottingham Community Housing Association Limited.
  • Advised Walsall Housing Group in relation to a key infrastructure agreement with Hyperoptic Broadband.

Weightmans LLP

Primarily focusing on housing disputes, ranging from breach of tenancy terms and anti-social behaviour injunctions, Weightmans LLP provides a ‘very proactive and effective’ service to social housing providers. Based out of Liverpool, Sian Evans spearheads the outfit, while Birmingham-based Andrew Brammer is a specialist regulatory lawyer. Joining him in Birmingham, Matthew Lake is an expert property litigator, and Jill Weston is knowledgeable in the healthcare sector.

Praxisleiter:

Sian Evans


Weitere Kernanwälte:

Andrew Brammer; Matthew Lake; Jill Weston; James Muller; Rhiannon Moody; William Hallett


Referenzen

‘Sound and sensible legal advice given in a format that is easily understandable. AI tools used for future predictions.’

‘Matthew Lake is always available to give advice at short notice and provides training and coaching for the team.’

‘We receive a very proactive and effective service from Weightmans. Over the last year, we have successfully defended a number of disrepairs claims with their assistance and benefitted from their advice on liability and costs.’

Kernmandanten

Midland Heart


Riverside


Clarion Housing Group


Sanctuary Housing


Regenda


Sovini


The Guinness Partnership


Midland Heart


Highlight-Mandate