The social housing group at Birketts LLP is praised for 'the personalised contact with partners and the ability to escalate matters'. Practice heads Jonathan Hulley, who handles contentious matters, and Thaine Wilson split their time between the London and Norwich offices. They oversee a practice with a stellar client base that includes Places for People and Orbit Group. Norwich-based senior associate Sarah Fish is a key adviser to Housing Associations, housebuilders and local authorities on non-contentious matters. Legal director Kevin Edwards in Cambridge handles acquisitions, developments and disposals. Associate Rachael Watts joined from Ellisons Solicitors, adding extensive experience in advising housebuilders.
Social housing in East Anglia
Birketts LLP
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Hulley; Thaine Wilson
Other key lawyers:
Sarah Fish; Kevin Edwards; Rachael Watts
Testimonials
‘The accessibility to a wider spectrum of advice that are knowledge based and supported are key to our relationship with Birketts LLP ’
‘The personalised contact with partners and ability to escalate matters has been the defining difference for us. We also have personalised surgery that is bespoke for the needs and demands of all front line officers.’
Key clients
Places for People
Orbit Group Limited
Eastlight Community Homes
Chelmer Housing Partnership
Platform Housing Group
Honeycomb Group
Work highlights
- Advised Chelmer Housing Partnership Limited in connection with the acquisition of 72 affordable homes, the total contract value equating to £12.1 milliion.
- Advised Eastlight Community Homes Limited in connection with the acquisition of 86 affordable homes from Bloor Homes Limited. The total contract value equated to £23.5 million.
- Advised Places for People on the acquisition of 41 s106 units from Matthew Homes Limited, for a contract value of £17.5 million.
Howes Percival LLP
The team at Howes Percival LLP is 'has an unrivalled depth and breadth of knowledge and experience across the social housing sector'. The practice is led by the 'infinitely knowledgeable, astute' Estelle Corner in Norwich, who handles development and property transactions, and Cambridge-based Simon Murphy, whose prime focus is on housing management matters. Senior associate Jonathan Parker in Norwich 'takes time to carefully understand his clients' objectives and provide creative solutions'. Michaela Henson in Cambridge is a key adviser on commercial property transactions, and Norwich-based associate Katie Reading assists housing authorities, local authorities and private developers with affordable housing matters.
Practice head(s):
Estelle Corner; Simon Murphy
Other key lawyers:
Michaela Henson; Jonathan Parker; Katie Reading; Sally Rackham
Testimonials
‘The firm provides a very personal service – they are very quick to respond to all communications and offer helpful advice in a clear and concise fashion. They also provide excellent value and are transparent on fee levels.’
‘Jonathan Parker takes time to carefully understand his clients’ objectives and provides creative solutions to achieve those objectives. He takes a collaborative approach with clients and other solicitors to build consensus and buy in to reach agreement. ’
‘Estelle Corner is an excellent communicator at all levels that always provides excellent service and has great knowledge a managers her team effectively to get results and meet deadlines. Jonathan Parker, I’ve worked with for many years, and we have an excellent relationship he communicates with me and will always go the extra mile to identify possible problems and implement solutions and always meets deadlines.’
‘Jonathan Parker – excellent knowledge, personable and always professional. Explains things clearly, highlights issues in advance and recommends solutions. Estelle Corner – excellent knowledge on shared ownership and new model lease, keeping up to date on changes to regulation and legislation. Sally Rackham – excellent sales knowledge including SO, staircasing, RTA etc with many years of experience, reliable, professional and very responsive.’
‘The team has a wealth of knowledge in social housing conveyancing, providing a comprehensive service at all levels from basic transactions to complex matters.’
‘All team members are friendly and approachable, delivering a great service across in a user friendly way. Estelle Corner and Jonathan Parker lead by example so their entire team follows their lead in providing a comprehensive service that is timely and effective. They are readily available to answer any questions and working through matters together making sure us as client understand the issues and risks fully without baffling us with jargon and technical language!’
‘Estelle Corner is brilliant as the team leader, she embodies everything you would want from your legal team. She is admirably backed up by Jonathan Parker and Katie Reading, who are both a pleasure to work with too.’
‘Estelle Corner (and her team) are always happy to help and advise where possible, including going further than required to provide information direct to our customers to help processes move forward. The willingness to help together with taking the time to explain more complex legal situations to me and my team, and a general positivity and friendly, caring approach.’
Key clients
Accent Group
Allison Homes Norfolk and Suffolk Limited
Anchor Hanover Group
Broadland Development Services Limited
Broadland Housing Association Limited
Broadland St Benedicts Limited
Borough Council of Kings Lynn and West Norfolk
Crimson Development Homes Limited
Crocus Contractors Limited (subsidiary of Saffron Housing Trust)
Equinox Property Holdings Limited
Flagship Housing Group Limited
Freebridge Community Housing Limited
Hundred Houses Society Limited
Orwell Housing Association Limited
Saffron Housing Trust Limited
South Holland District Council
The Cambridge Housing Society Limited
This Land Development Limited
West Norfolk Housing Company
V&F Homes Limited
Work highlights
- Advised various regional RPs and local developers on s106 acquisitions and disposals that will deliver over 700 affordable homes in the East of England with a total package price in excess of £108,000,000.
- Advised Saffron Housing Trust on their largest land-led development with delivering 461 homes plus an independent living facility.
- Advised Freebridge Community Housing Limited on acquisition of 78 grant-funded affordable homes being delivered through a partnership between the Borough Council and its development partner.