For borrowers in the social housing sector, Devonshires Solicitors LLP is a go-to firm, with a large volume of registered providers in its impressive client base. The practice offers clients support with raising debt finance from banks or through the capital markets, as well as with ESG loans, borrowing from local authorities and funds, and joint venture funding arrangements. The ‘deeply knowledgeable’ Julian Barker sits at the helm of the banking and capital markets team with expertise in bond issues, private placements, and syndicated and bilateral loans, and Sharon Kirkham chairs the securitisation practice with significant experience in refinancing transactions. Gary Grigor and Chris Drabble head up the Leeds-based banking and securitisation teams respectively. Other key members of the team include Natalie Swales, who specialises in non-contentious transactional finance work, Rachel Orgill-Harris, who is especially skilled in advising issuers on high-value public bond issues and bond programmes, and Alice Overton, who is sought after by housing association treasury teams.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team has specialist knowledge of our sector and provides strong support.’
‘We have a great relationship with the Devonshires' social housing finance team, led by Julian Barker. They are always available, responsive and pragmatic in guiding us through whatever comes up, and they know the lay of the land across the sector to help in guiding best practice.'
'They fight our corner doggedly when needed, but also guide pragmatic and realistic compromise to maintain transaction momentum when it is acceptable to do so.’
‘Julian Barker is relaxed, pragmatic, deeply knowledgeable and willing to have a real conversation using normal language that leads to practical action rather than living in a world of caveats and legal jargon. Great to work with and always on speed dial when anything comes up.'
- 'Carolyn Thomas is attentive, independent and able to work through the details of loan agreements, restatements, variations and such like to ensure everything is attended to.’
‘Great knowledge of the sector.'
‘Good availability of Julian Barker.'
Key clients
- Southern Housing
- Yorkshire Housing
- Grand Union Housing Group Limited
- Stonewater Limited
- Abri Group Limited
- South Lakes Housing
- Jigsaw Homes Group Limited
- Sage Housing Limited
- Pobl Group Limited
- The Riverside Group Limited
- Walsall Housing Group
- Midland Heart Limited
- Clarion Housing Limited
- London & Quadrant Housing Trust
- LiveWest Homes Limited
- West Kent Housing Association
Work highlights
- Advised Grand Union Housing Group on its £332m group refinancing and property charging exercise.
- Advised Riverside Housing Group on its £365m private placement.
- Advised Abri Group and Silva Homes on the £850m restructure of their debt portfolios in connection with their recent merger.
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Julian Barker, Gary Grigor, Sharon Kirkham, Chris Drabble