Clarke Willmott LLP boasts specialist commercial property and banking lawyers who focus on the social housing arena. The group acts for a significant number of registered providers, as well as funders, on a wide range of funding arrangements, encompassing bilateral and syndicated facilities, private placements, and aggregated bonds. Head of the Cardiff office Vicky Kells and Lindsay Felstead in Manchester jointly lead the practice; Kells specialises in social housing lending and large-scale stock rationalisation mandates. Fraser MacRae, also in Manchester, sits as joint head of the firm’s banking and finance team, and he is especially skilled in secured funding matters.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The people are very professional and friendly.’
‘Professional service and speed of delivery. The team are great to work with and are very responsive to queries.’
‘Highly experienced and knowledgeable, Vicky Kells is a pleasure to work with as she takes ownership of the transaction and leads from the front. From our clients perspective, they have impressed with the service Clarke Willmott provides when acting on our behalf. ’
‘Outstanding knowledge of the sector in question. Regarded as a go-to firm for social housing.’
‘Vicky Kells and Fraser MacRae are without doubt experts within this field.’
‘Vicky Kells is great at what she does. Her advice is clear and concise and always prompt.'
- 'Charlotte Lord is fantastic. Very quick at responding with detailed advice.’
Key clients
- Tai Calon
- Southern Housing
- Bromford Group
- Wales & West Housing Association
- Hafod Housing Association
- RHA Wales
- Principality Building Society
- Triodos Bank UK Limited
- Cardiff Community Housing Association
- United Welsh Housing Association
Work highlights
- Advised Tai Calon on its £105m refinancing with NatWest and undertaking title due diligence on 6,000 homes.
- Acting for Bromford Group in connection with security being provided by Bromford Housing and Merlin Housing Society to support a new £75m HSBC loan facility.
- Advising Hafod on the restructuring of its loan facilities, with 4 new loans, and putting in place security (in excess of £100m).
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.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Charlotte Lord
Practice head
Vicky Kells; Lindsay Felstead
Other key lawyers
Fraser MacRae; Bethan Evans; Charlotte Lord