Clarke Willmott LLP
Vicky Kells is a partner in Clarke Willmott solicitors' Cardiff Social Housing team specialising in charging affordable housing portfolios.
United Kingdom - Wales • Real estate
Clarke Willmott LLP
The 'brilliant' team at Clarke Willmott LLP provides a 'very efficient' service to a range of stakeholders on housing management, property and development matters, as well as its core specialism in relation to social housing finance. Drawing upon a 'great deal of knowledge of lender requirements', team head Vicky Kells is effectively able to advise housing associations on the relevant due diligence required for securing loan facilities, as well as in the context of private placements. Drawing upon his expertise of acting for both lenders and borrowers, the 'very knowledgeable and personable' Fraser MacRae has an excellent perspective of what is acceptable to both parties when negotiating loan facilities (bilateral and syndicated) and bond issuances. Outside of the financing arena, commercial property partner Clare Gregory handles a considerable volume of transactional property work in the space, including on acquisitions and disposals, as well as development work.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘The team at Clarke Willmott are brilliant. They are reliable, knowledgeable and very efficient.'
‘I find the team at Clarke Willmott just fantastic. It is so comforting that a professional services firm delivers what it says it will, on time and charges the agreed fee.’
‘Vicky Kells is very experienced in acting for housing associations in mortgaging properties and has a great deal of knowledge of lender requirements.'
‘Fraser McCrae is very knowledgeable and personable.'
- 'Charlotte Lord has a great attention to detail and is very organised and efficient.'
Key clients
- RHA Wales Group Limited
- United Welsh Housing Association Limited
- Melin Homes Limited
- Caredig
- Taff Housing Association Limited
- Principality Building Society
- Silva Homes Limited
- Orbit Group Limited
- Southern Housing
- Hafod Housing Association Limited
- Tai Tarian
Work highlights
- Provided wide-ranging advice to RHA Wales Group – including in relation to the acquisition of 272 homes from Wales & West; a new loan facility from Barclays; auctioning disposals of empty properties; grant and surrender of commercial leases; and dealing with anti-social behaviour claims.
- Advised national Registered Provider, Orbit Group, on £21m transfer of a nationwide shared ownership portfolio (196 homes) to a for-profit registered provider (ReSI Housing) – this was the second disposal and the team is currently working on a third tranche.
- Advised Principality Building Society on a new £50m facility agreement for Pobl Homes and Communities Limited and accompanying security over more than 900 properties within tight time-scales.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Vicky Kells