England - South East • Real estate
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP
Counting local authorities, housing associations, and financial services providers amongst its key clients, the Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP social housing team is described as ‘extremely dedicated and professional’. The practice routinely handles complex section 106 agreements and manages commercial property portfolios, with Basingstoke-based head Linda Storey specialising in advising housing providers on acquisitions and disposals. Having joined the firm as a partner from Perrin Myddelton in September 2022, Sanjeev Shah brings vast expertise in developments, acquisitions and investments to the Oxford office. In Reading, Eugene Wojciechowski focuses on relevant employment law issues, while Basingstoke-based Charlotte D’Avola handles large-scale securitisation transactions. Senior associates Laura McCann and Catherine Bradshaw are also noted.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team is extremely dedicated and professional; they always provide firm and thorough updates allowing us to do our jobs better and forecast efficiently.'
'They are all extremely knowledgeable and helpful- I couldn't ask to work with a better group of solicitors.’
‘Laura McCann is fantastic and is such an asset.'
‘I am so pleased we changed our previous solicitors to Penningtons, the team are experienced in dealing with the property sales we work on, and will attend team meetings weekly to discuss sales cases, and agree action points the team need to work on to achieve completion within the agreed timelines.’
‘I deal with Laura McCann, Linda Storey and Catherine Bradshaw, who easily understand my requests, and deal with them efficiently, keeping me updated on progress.’
‘Easy to contact. Happy to take time to explain possible courses of action and potential outcomes of different alternatives.’
Key clients
- Accent Group Ltd
- Hightown Housing Association
- MTVH
- Octavia Housing
- Paragon Asra Housing
- Peabody
- Poplar HARCA
- Saxon Weald
- Mount Green Housing Association Ltd
- Bromford Housing Association Limited
- London Borough of Havering
- Origin Housing
- Greatwell Housing
- London & Quadrant Housing Group
- Sovereign Housing Limited
Work highlights
- Handling a broad variety of corporate, governance, development and dispute resolution work on behalf of Hightown Housing Association.
- Assisted Paragon Asra Housing with two portfolio acquisitions worth approximately £100m from other housing associations.
- Supporting Peabody with its sales and aftersales programme, including providing advice on transactions and providing variations to bring the current documentation in line with current requirements.
Lawyers
Rising stars
Leading individuals
Linda heads the firm’s social housing team. She has over 20 years’ experience and specialises in advising housing providers on acquisitions, disposals, associated planning agreements, home ownership transactions (both affordable and outright sale) and lease extensions, as well as advising on Right to Buy and Right to Acquire. Linda has strong relationships with clients including the Peabody Group, L&Q, Bromford, Paragon Asra and Vivid Housing. She pioneers initiatives for clients designed to help individuals to move into affordable home ownership and increased delivery from new providers to the sector. Linda is a regular contributor to sector publications and regularly speaks at leading sector conferences.
Next Generation Partners
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Linda Storey