Leading Associates

Social housing in South West

Ashfords LLP

Ashfords LLP has an enviable client roster of large registered providers, local authorities and housing associations, whom it advises on issues across property litigation and tenancy management, property and development work and procurement. Jointly leading the team, Sian Gibbon‘s workload comprises contentious property matters, including more complex tenant management issues, succession disputes and injunction applications, while Michael Gay assists on development acquisition work with a number of registered providers. Victoria Bonnet is recommended as an ‘exceptional property lawyer’ who acts on behalf of social housing landlords.

Responsables de la pratique:

Michael Gay; Sian Gibbon


Autres avocats clés:

Victoria Bonnet


Les références

‘The Ashfords social housing team is extremely well organised and very good to work with. They are very responsive to all queries and ensure that the client’s best interests are protected at all times. They are careful and efficient and ensure that instructions and witness evidence are detailed and clear. An excellent team to work with.’

‘Victoria Bonnet is a Partner with the firm. Her approach is detailed, precise and firm. She takes an active role in cases, ensures that she is available to answer urgent questions on complicated negotiations at court and is overall excellent to work with.’

‘Victoria is an exceptional property lawyer. I don’t mean she just has good technical knowledge, which she does in a diverse range of topics in property law -she knows how to conduct a case so that the likely outcome is a satisfactory settlement for her client.’

Principaux clients

Sovereign Housing Association


Aster Group


Bromford Housing Association


LiveWest Homes Limited


The Guinness Partnership Limited


London Borough of Lambeth


Cornerstone Housing


London Borough of Wandsworth


St. Mungo Community Housing Association


HFL Group Limited


CURO


Brick by Brick Croydon Limited


Stonewater Limited


VIVID


London Borough of Southwark


Silva Homes


Housing Associations Legal Alliance (HALA)


Advantage South West Legal Panel


London Borough of Hackney


Somerset Council


Southampton City Council


Aequus Group Holding (wholly owned by Bath and North East Somerset Council)


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising The Guinness Partnership on disrepair claims.
  • Advising Sovereign Housing in connection with the acquisition of 172 units across two deals.
  • Acting for St Mungo on a multitude of housing matters ranging from issues relating to temporary accommodation, commercial arrangements to secure housing and on possession and injunction actions.

Bevan Brittan LLP

Bevan Brittan LLP‘s team handles a range of work across property development, litigation and housing finance. Joint practice head Alison Buckingham works with housing associations and private developers on a range of affordable housing and development schemes, while Louise Leaver is a social housing finance expert. Andrew Shaw also leads the team.

Responsables de la pratique:

Louise Leaver; Andrew Shaw; Alison Buckingham


Autres avocats clés:

Jessica Church; Kate Hicks


Les références

‘Alison Buckingham is beyond exceptional, and it is clear from wider dealings and advice sounded from other colleagues that the firm has a good general depth and breadth of expertise. Associate dealings have also been of a consistently high standard.’

‘Alison Buckingham – Partner. Head & shoulders above any of the many other solicitors I have worked with over the years – optimising outcomes and client objectives with an astute commercial focus, the only solicitor we will now engage. Ability to cut through the smoke & mirrors of commercial contract negotiations – however protracted – to identify the key issues and risks, alongside options & solutions.’

Principaux clients

Places for People Group


Sovereign Network Group


Abri Housing Group


Peabody Group


Sanctuary Housing Group


The Housing Finance Corporation


London & Quadrant Group


Southmead Development Corporation


Sage Housing Group


ForHousing Limited


GreenSquareAccord Limited


Regulator of Social Housing


Orbit Homes


The Pioneer Group


Notting Hill Genesis


Grand Union Housing Group


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Peabody Group on land assembly and title rectification, having advised on the formation of its JV with Lendlease for the £8bn regeneration of Thamesmead Waterfront, which will provide 11,500 homes, education, commercial, health and community infrastructure.
  • Advised Places for People Group on its two stage merger with South Devon Rural Housing, including initial acquisition and consolidation via a transfer of engagements and governance advice.
  • Advised Grand Union Housing Group on its security valuation uplift project with Santander, achieving a £100m increase in the value of security on 1,900 properties by scrutinising titles for the properties, providing a “RAG” risk assessment, and addressing and resolving complex title and planning issues which were identified.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP

Assisting new entrants, government and regulatory bodies, Trowers & Hamlins LLP‘s team handles a range of matters including partnerships and joint ventures as a means of delivery, sustainability and retrofit solutions and regulatory compliance standards. The South West team is led by Georgina Savill James, who specialises in all areas of residential property, including development acquisition, portfolio acquisition work and large-scale disposal programmes, while Hannah Jackson manages portfolios of residential property assets for a variety of financing arrangements and acquisitions.

Responsables de la pratique:

Georgina Savill-James; Hannah Jackson; Suzanne Benson


Autres avocats clés:

Jack Frier; Hilary Pitts


Les références

‘Trowers & Hamlins stands out as a legal advisor due to its exceptional team, deep expertise, and dedicated client support. Their expertise and responsiveness to queries and complex legal matters ensure a seamless experience for clients. One of the firm’s key strengths is the designated partner model, which fosters a strong, personalized relationship, allowing them to develop a deep understanding of our business needs.’

‘The individuals we work with at Trowers & Hamlins truly stand out due to their expertise, responsiveness, and client-focused approach. What sets them apart from competitors is their ability to combine technical excellence with a deep understanding of our business needs, ensuring their advice is not only legally sound but also commercially practical.’

‘We have built a strong and trusted relationship with the team, and their commitment to supporting us in all aspects of the process and legal queries has been invaluable. Their willingness to go the extra mile, provide clear and concise guidance, and offer pragmatic solutions makes working with them a seamless experience.’

Principaux clients

LiveWest Homes Limited


Abri Group Limited


Selwood Housing


Vistry Group


Sovereign Network Group


One Lockleaze LLP


Origin Housing


Housing Solutions


Aster


Settle Group


Teign Housing


Westward Housing


The Hyde Group


Evera Homes


Homes England


The Regulator of Social Housing


National Housing Federation


Optivo


Peabody


The Guinness Partnership


Legal & General Affordable Homes


RentPlus


Coastline Housing


Hastoe Housing


Ravelin


RESi


Cornwall Community Land Trust


Holsworthy CLT


South Devon Rural Housing


MTD Housing Limited


Raven Housing Trust


City of Exeter YMCA


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised LiveWest Homes Limited on the acquisition of a number of units at sites being developed and sold by Vistry and Westco.
  • Advised Vistry Group and Bristol City Council, through its development subsidiary, on their programme of joint venture developments in and around Bristol.
  • Acting for Legal & General Affordable Homes Limited on its continued land-led programme for delivery of affordable housing.

Clarke Willmott LLP

Clarke Willmott LLP is well regarded for its work on a range of matters, including housing management, property and development, as well as property litigation, including leasehold and asset management. Oliver Smedley leads the social housing development team, advising on all property aspects of development projects, including site acquisition, joint ventures and collaboration agreements, conditional purchase agreements and development agreements. Stephen Harper is a key name.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lindsay Felstead; Vicky Kells; Oliver Smedley


Autres avocats clés:

Stephen Harper


Les références

‘Clarke Willmott is attuned to its clients’ needs and requirements. They understand our business and provide a service which suits our needs.’

‘Oliver Smedley is our main contact at Clarke Willmott, and he works hard to deliver an excellent service to us. He is very commercial and is able to convert his advice to our requirements.’

Principaux clients

Stonewater Limited


The Guinness Partnership


Sovereign Network Homes


Bromford


Mears (Plexus)


Abri


LiveWest


Alliance Homes


L&Q


Aster


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting on a Joint Venture for Aster Homes delivering 160 units in partnership with an SME developer.
  • Acting for Sovereign on the management of a key mixed use commercial asset pending redevelopment and regeneration.
  • Acting for Stonewater on the acquisition of land in Northamptonshire for the construction of 128 affordable homes.

Foot Anstey

Foot Anstey is known for acting nationally for Housing Associations and developers disposing of their social housing. Lara Borrett-Lynch leads the team with considerable experience acting for housing associations on all aspects of residential development, focusing on acquisitions, development agreements and development.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lara Borrett-Lynch


Autres avocats clés:

Paul Butterworth; Isabelle Clement


Les références

‘Very well run and resourced with a strong knowledge base providing pragmatic advice.’

Principaux clients

Livewest Homes Limited


Westco Properties Limited


Plymouth Community Homes


Hyde Group


Abri Group Limited


Aster Group Limited


Vivid Housing Limited


Ocean Housing Limited


Coastline Housing Limited


Westward Housing


Bromford Housing Association Limited


Eastlight Homes


Magna Housing


CURO


Communities & Housing Investment Consortium (CHIC)


Advantage South West


Housing Associations’ Legal Alliance (HALA)


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for a South West registered provider in Cornwall on the acquisition of land for 122 affordable homes from a PLC developer.
  • Advising Aster Group on two acquisitions on a consortium site from two separate developers, including the purchase of 40 golden-brick Section 106 plots, and 43 golden-brick Section 106 plots.
  • Advising Coastline Housing on the purchase of a former ironworks for 100% affordable housing.

TLT

The housing and regeneration team at TLT is jointly led by Sarah Hale, who is experienced in dealing with large scale residential developments, site assembly, acquisitions, disposals and estate management on behalf of Registered Providers, and David Meecham, who has a particular focus on large-scale housing and residential schemes and major regeneration projects in the public sector. Kane Kirkbride is also of note.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sarah Hale; David Meecham


Autres avocats clés:

Kane Kirkbride; Susannah Lopez-Bernal


Les références

‘Kane Kirkbride is an exceptionally good lawyer and also a pleasure to work with.’

Stephens Scown LLP

Stephens Scown LLP handles a spectrum of social housing mandates ranging across procurement and governance, finance, construction disputes, complex site acquisitions, planning and tenancy matters. Practice head Tim Walmsley advises on the acquisition of sites for housing associations and related infrastructure agreements. Walmsley also supervises the plot sales team and advises extensively on matters arising from the right to buy, the right to acquire and shared ownership leases. Kate Westlake is another key name.

Responsables de la pratique:

Tim Walmsley


Autres avocats clés:

Kate Westlake


Les références

‘Good interaction at all levels of the team. Wide range of skills to complement in a wider firm.’

‘The team is completely streamlined, processes flow well, and all members of the team can pick up work to cover leave effortlessly, making it easy to obtain updates and check in on progress.’

‘Provide good local advice on a wide range of topics.’

Principaux clients

Magna Housing


Reside Housing


Greenfields


Plymouth Community Homes


Hastoe Housing Association


LiveWest Homes Limited


English Rural Housing Association Limited


Coastline Housing


Abri


South Devon Housing Group


Cornwall Rural Housing Association Limited


Bramford Speke CLT


Westward Housing Group Limited


Truro CLT


The Peninsula Trust


Ocean Housing Limited


Cornwall CLT


Rural Homes Ltd


Cambridgeshire Cottage Housing Society Limited


Curo Places Limited


North Devon Homes Limited


Three Seas Cornwall


Principaux dossiers


  • Acting for Coastline Housing Limited’s portfolio of over 5,000 properties.
  • Acting for Magna Housing Limited’s portfolio of over 8,500 properties in many different areas of legal work.

Tozers Solicitors LLP

Tozers Solicitors LLP acts for a wide range of registered providers in the UK, from large national organisations to smaller regional schemes. The team is also known for its niche expertise in Community Land Trusts. Stephen Burtchaell leads the team, specialising in complex registered provider property work, particularly development and regeneration, joint ventures and site assembly. Rachel Langley joined the team from Foot Anstey in September 2025.

Responsables de la pratique:

Stephen Burtchaell


Autres avocats clés:

Rachel Langley


Les références

‘This practice stays true to its purpose, which ensures a consistency in delivery of the fundamentals of legal practice.’

‘Stephen Burtchaell remains outstanding in his service ethos and active interest in the social purpose of our organisation.’

Principaux clients

North Devon Homes Limited


Plymouth Community Homes


Brunelcare


Bromford Housing Group


Willow Tree Housing Partnership


Westward Housing Group Limited


Cottsway (previously Cirencester Housing Association)


Bridgwater YMCA


Exeter YMCA


Elim Housing Association


White Horse Housing Association


Places for People (previously South Devon Rural)


Cornerstone Housing Limited


Middlemarch CLT advisors


Nehmiah Housing Association


Stonewater


Northampton Partnership Homes (West Northamptonshire Council)


Salvation Army Housing Association


Coastline Housing Limited


Kingsbarton Housing Association


The Guinness Partnership


Sovereign Housing Association


West Devon Borough Council


South Hams District Council


Ilfracombe Community Land Trust


Newton and Noss Community Land Trust


Transition Homes Community Land Trust


Cornwall Rural Housing Association