Law firm Ward Hadaway is celebrating after being successfully appointed onto four legal panel frameworks over the last year for housing providers that collectively own and manage over a quarter of a million homes in the north of England.
As part of a four-year framework, lawyers from the firm will provide housing management, property, development and healthcare legal advice and services to Places for People.
The company is one of the largest property and leisure management, development and regeneration companies in the UK, owning and managing over 170,000 homes.
In a combined bid, the firm has also been re-appointed by Karbon Homes, (who owns almost 30,000 homes in the North East of England and Yorkshire) and Gentoo Group, (who provide more than 60,000 people in Sunderland with homes). The delivery of the contract to Karbon and Gentoo, is for an initial two years with an option to extend for a further two years.
Ward Hadaway was also reappointed to provide legal services in property, housing management, HR and employment and corporate and governance for the next four years by Leeds Federated Housing Association, who manage 4,600 properties in Leeds.
The work for all four organisations will be led by the firm’s dedicated Social Housing Team, (currently ranked in Tier 1 in the North East & Yorkshire by Chambers & Partners) covering general property development, planning, construction, housing and other landlord and tenant matters supported by 130 litigation and tax lawyers, plans technicians and plot sales specialists.
Julia Thomson, Head of Ward Hadaway’s Social Housing Team, said: “We are delighted to be appointed onto all four legal frameworks in the last year, which demonstrates our ambitious growth strategy but also our strength and depth to deliver a truly holistic service.
“With our strong reputation and valuable in-depth sector knowledge, we act for a large number of registered providers, housebuilders, councils, landowners, commercial lenders and other relevant stakeholders; so we understand the different drivers and legal positions, which benefits timely and favourable legal negotiations.
“Our Social Housing Team operates from three regional offices in Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle and is considered as one of the most experienced in the sector, providing legal services to clients on all property matters including real estate, social housing, housing and construction.”