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.
Social housing in West Midlands
Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP
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