Rachel Gwynne
Shakespeare Martineau LLPCounting major charitable trusts and housing associations amongst its key clients, the Shakespeare Martineau LLP practice consistently handles multi-site regeneration projects, leasehold management issues and complex joint ventures. From Stratford-upon-Avon, Rachel Gwynne specialises in corporate governance work, Louise Drew focuses on tenure leasehold schemes and Emma Smith-Gamble is an expert on lease extensions. Joanna Lee-Mills has expertise in housing development matters, Gary Ekpengyoung is a housing litigation specialist and Jon Coane is also highlighted as key.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Very knowledgeable and experienced.’
‘The team genuinely make time to invest in the social housing sector - client events, sector events, NED Board memberships. A strong range of relevant legal disciplines provided that understand the social housing sector.’
‘Jon Coane: hugely responsive, pragmatic and clear advice.
- 'Joanna Lee-Mills: good knowledge of the social housing sector and very easy to deal with.’
‘Natalie Owen is efficient, pragmatic and personable.’
‘My experience of working with Shakespeares is very positive. We use them for general development work, leasehold and service charges advice and have just appointed them for stock securitisation work. They really get partnership working, are easy to talk with and are very pragmatic and practical with their advice and support.’
‘I feel that Shakespeares, collectively and individually, are completely on my side and want to find solutions and resolutions to the issues we have. Their sector knowledge is good and their professional knowledge excellent.'
- 'Louise Drew and Gary Ekpenyoung are my main contacts and recently, Natalie Owens has been working with us.’
Key clients
- The ExtraCare Charitable Trust
- Platform Housing Group
- Orbit Group
- Longhurst Group
- Walsall Housing Group
- Nottingham Community Housing Group
- Wythenshawe Community Housing
- Notting Hill Genesis
- The Field Lane Foundation
- Stonewater Group
- Regenda Group
- Midland Heart Limited
- Trent & Dove Housing
Work highlights
- Instructed by Platform to apply for without notice injunctive proceedings following violent threats by our clients' tenant to residents of a neighbouring property.
- Instructed by Regenda who have been appointed to work alongside Wirral Council as preferred development partner in the multi-site regeneration of New Ferry, Liverpool.
- Advised Field Lane Foundation (FLF), a non-exempt charitable registered provider of social housing, on its £1m acquisition of FUN (a non-exempt charity) so it became a wholly owned subsidiary of FLF.
Lawyers
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Rachel Gwynne, Louise Drew, Joanna Lee-Mills, Emma Smith-Gamble, Gary Ekpenyoung, Bukola Obadun-Craigs, Jon Coane, Natalie Owen, Rhys Wyborn, Vanessa Joll, Ruth Phillips