Lee Shankland-Gort has led the expansion of the housing finance practice at Addleshaw Goddard to form a new social, sustainable, and green finance team that is praised as ‘really strong and market-leading’. The market-leading practice has an established reputation advising funders and investors, including new entrants to the social housing sector, on matters ranging from finance and property security to debt capital markets. The department assists clients with all aspects of funding, offering advice on debt financing, refinancing, and restructuring; Helen Hunter advised Lloyds as a funder of Swan Housing Association’s merger with Sanctuary Housing Association. Jennie Chilton heads the strong social housing finance property security team, acting exclusively for funders and security trustees. The firm is leading the way on sustainability-linked loans in the sector, advising Barclays on its first green loan to a housing association. Beth Collett leads the debt capital markets group on secured sustainability bonds, with Steve Mackie handling significant debt transactions. Nick Barlow is a lead partner on many of the firm’s transactions, having advised funders in the sector for over 29 years. Tom McHugh left the firm in January 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'I have worked with Steve Mackie and Helen Hunter over the years. They are both easy to work with and experts in the field. I appreciate the insights they share about the market and they role they have in facilitating transactions.'
‘Steve Mackie has a wealth of experience and expertise that is invaluable.'
'Jennie Chilton concisely delivers the key commercial risks out of technical legal issues.’
‘The people and the knowledge are second-to-none. The attention to detail and level of advice they provide is seamless.’
‘Sector leading firm and individuals. Addleshaws goes above and beyond in terms of adding value, not just to individual transactions, but also the ongoing relationship.’
‘Lee Shankland-Gort is the pre-eminent partner in the sector and leadings a fantastic team at Addleshaws. Geoff McGinley is great to work with, always adding value and enhancing the overall relationship.’
'A really strong and market-leading team with very strong expertise in social housing finance. A very strong bench of highly experienced legal professionals and sustainability expertise.'
'Steve Mackie is reliable, exceptionally efficient and pragmatic. Helen Hunter is personable, detailed and a fantastic lawyer. Beth Collett is the market-leading debt capital markets lawyer for social housing clients. She is meticulous in her advice and pragmatic in terms of reaching commercial and considered solutions for all parties. Jenny Chilton on the property charging side is a huge asset to the firm and always delivers!'

Key clients

Barclays Bank
The Royal Bank of Scotland
National Westminster Bank
Santander
Lloyds
Clydesdale Bank
HSBC Bank UK
MUFG
National Australia Bank
Nationwide Building Society
ARA Venn

Work highlights

Acted for eleven funders on the transition of existing financing arrangements with London & Quadrant Housing Trust into sustainability-linked loans.
Advised for eleven funders and M&G Trustee Company Limited as bond trustee and security trustee on the merger of Optivo and Southern Housing Group and the refinance of a £2.3bn existing loan, ISDA documentation, and associated property security work.
Acted for NatWest Structured Finance as Document Co-ordinator and Joint ESG Co-ordinator with Barclays Bank on the new £900m eight funder syndicated unsecured facility to Places for People Treasury.

Lawyers

Hall of Fame

The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.

Steve Mackie

Hall of fameAddleshaw Goddard

Partner advising in relation to structured finance; specialising in social housing finance, real estate finance, debt capital markets, project finance and derivatives

Lee Shankland

Hall of fameAddleshaw Goddard

Partner

Rising stars

Leading individuals

Partner