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Asal Safarabadi

Posted on: February 20th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I am an Associate in the Real Estate Finance Department having joined Lawrence Stephens in February 2025. Since qualifying as a solicitor in 2021, I have gained experience in acting for leading banks and lenders in relation to commercial and residential property development and investment, refinances and property portfolio financing arrangements.

I pride myself in providing clear and concise legal advice to clients to navigate their transactions effectively whilst providing commercially focused solutions when required.

Experience

  • Acting for a lender on a £9.5million loan secured over a property acquisition on Bishops Avenue, Hampstead
  • Acting for a lender on a £8million loan secured over a hotel
  • Acting on the acquisition, planning, development and forward sale of a mix-used development with a gross development value (GDV) of £16.5million.
  • Acting for lender on numerous acquisitions, refinancing and development financing transactions over commercial property, land, residential portfolios, and hotels in high value prime locations.

Claire Gao

Posted on: February 17th, 2025 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

I am a Banking and Finance solicitor specialising in real estate finance and corporate lending. Before joining Lawrence Stephens, I spent several years at a leading international law firm, where I advised on a broad range of complex financing transactions, including real estate, ship and trade finance.

Over the years, I have built a strong track record of advising both lenders and borrowers on domestic and multi-jurisdictional financing projects, ranging from £100,000 to £40 million. My clients include UK and international banks, investment firms, housing associations, leasing companies, asset management companies, and other businesses who share a footprint in the UK and EU.

I have had the privilege of working on several notable transactions, from financing student accommodation projects to large-scale refinancing deals for housing associations, involving more than 100 properties. I have also supported financial institutions through the challenging Libor transition period, assisting them in updating facility agreements and security documents to accommodate risk-free rates.

I truly enjoy both the technical drafting and client-facing aspects of my work. I believe that being reliable, responsive, and open-minded is key to building long-lasting relationships, not just with my clients, but with everyone I work with.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with Piano (my black-and-white furry companion), skiing, reformer Pilates, and reading in cafés around the world.

Jules Doughty

Posted on: January 24th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens as a Paralegal in January 2025, with four years’ experience at multinational, Silver Circle, and American law firms.

I have worked with large commercial banks, investment funds and borrowers on multi-jurisdictional and UK-focussed deals, ranging from £150million to £1.2billion. I have extensive experience project-managing multi-jurisdictional transactions to ensure that local regulatory requirements and deadlines are met.

Outside of work, I enjoy design, skiing, and adding to my collection of leather-bound books.

Electra Kallidou

Posted on: October 4th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens as a trainee in September 2023, having completed the LPC with Distinction at BPP University.  Prior to that, I read Law at the University of Leeds, where I graduated with First-class honours.

I aspire to build a successful career in law where trust, collaboration and commitment define my relationships with both colleagues and clients.

As a Cypriot/American, I seek to bring a diverse perspective to my legal practice. My multicultural background and international awareness allows me to cultivate meaningful connections, extending far beyond borders.

In my free time, I cherish moments with friends and family, explore new destinations and cuisines through travel, and find joy in the company of dogs!

Ashley Wright

Posted on: February 28th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I am a Senior Associate in the Lawrence Stephens Banking team, having previously spent over half a decade working as a banking associate at international law firms.

To date, I have advised on hundreds of banking transactions from inception at term sheet stage, through the lifecycle of document negotiation, to signing and completion and managing any post-close matters. I aim to mix sensible legal advice on key risk points with an eye on the commercial imperatives and flow of a transaction.

My practice ranges from advising individuals and SMEs on smaller lending projects through to syndicated transactions for a club of investment banks. I enjoy working on a variety of lending products and getting to grips with the different pressures and markets for each deal.

Away from work, I enjoy all forms of sport (increasingly from the comfort of my sofa) and spending time with family and friends.

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for a family office on a £3.5million loan for a family office lender on land which included a vineyard
  • Representing a dental business on its corporate facilities (acquisition/capex and RCF) with a mainstream lender
  • Advising bridging lenders on numerous bridging loan transactions for predominantly UK-based real estate assets
  • Representing a number of mainstream banks on loan products, largely for UK-based property transactions
  • Acting for a private equity sponsor as borrower in respect of a €100million facility from a structured lender

Ajoy Bose-Mallick

Posted on: February 15th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens as Head of Banking in September 2022, having led the Real Estate Finance department at a Top 200 UK law firm for almost five years. 

I act for a wide range of different lenders, non-bank lenders, alternative lenders, entrepreneurs, private family offices, property companies, funds, sponsors, developers, joint venture vehicles, entrepreneurs and borrowers on real estate investment and development finance projects across the UK ranging from £100,000 to £75m.

The bulk of the transactions I advise on are between £1m and £50m and span a wide variety of asset classes including residential, office, PRS, student accommodation, mixed use schemes, hotel, retail and buy to let projects.  I also have extensive experience working on transactions which involve international elements and offshore jurisdictions and working for international based clients looking to invest in the UK on property transactions.

I enjoy working with a variety of different clients from the individual investor to the family office or corporate institution or variety of different lenders and no one client is the same.  I enjoy advising my clients on a wide range of issues (not exclusively related to just Banking and Real Estate Finance).  In addition to documenting and negotiating transactions, I advise on structuring deals and on real estate financing issues and have also been on secondment to a clearing bank.

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for a wide range of different bridging lenders, clearing banks, alternative lenders, private banks and non-bank lenders in respect of numerous investment and development facilities for numerous real estate transactions ranging between £250,000 to £75m for UK-based and international borrowers across different asset classes such as residential, PRS, commercial, office, student accommodation, retail and mixed use schemes
  • Advising a private equity fund in connection with a £200m investment in a UK development finance lending platform, to assist an alternative lender in providing development finance in the UK residential market
  • Advising a privately owned family property company based in the UK in connection with a £33m senior loan facility for a mixed portfolio of properties in Chelsea
  • Acting for a group of investors on the £5m bridging, £35m development finance, £35m investment finance and eventual sale of a 750 bed PRS scheme in North England to an international buyer
  • Advising the borrower on the £65m refinancing of an office development in the City of London and subsequent partial debt transfer to a senior lender
  • Advising a senior lender in respect of a £5m refinancing secured on a range of residential buy to let properties
  • Acted for an alternative lender providing a secured property finance facility for the development of a student accommodation block in North England with a gross development value of £20m
  • Acted for a lender in relation to the £20m refinancing of a student accommodation scheme in Bristol, which involved finance, real estate and construction advice
  • Advising various listed managed funds in relation to numerous financings totalling £500m with different lenders in respect of the purchase of over 100 properties ranging from residential, mixed use and commercial investments and developments in the UK
  • Advising a UK property development company in connection with a £5m term loan provided by a local authority to fund the forward purchase and development of an office building
  • Acting for a private family based property company on the £15m development finance of a student accommodation project with an alternative lender

Bola Kim

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I qualified as a Solicitor in 2019 having previously worked in the property department of a City law firm for a number of years.  I joined Lawrence Stephens’ Real Estate Finance department at the start of 2023.

I have experience in dealing with a variety of matters related to real estate, for both freehold and leasehold properties as well as new developments advising individual and corporate clients.  I have focused on working with regulated and unregulated banks for property refinances, bridging loans and secured lending. My experience includes acting on behalf of lenders as well as borrowers and strives to understand the needs of my clients.

In my spare time, I enjoy travelling and exploring new cultures and foods and, in particular, a nature walk around the Cotswold’s.  I also love a friendly game of squash or tennis with my friends.

Experience highlights

  • Acting on behalf of various lenders for both purchases and refinances
  • Assisted in completing a large refinance deal with portfolio of 17 properties

Milana Katz

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I am a banking and finance senior associate specialising in real estate finance and corporate lending. My client portfolio comprises of major UK banks, alternative lenders, funds and borrowers.  

Since qualifying into the Banking team at Lawrence Stephens in November 2019, I have developed my real estate finance banking practice by acting for clients on term and bridging facilities on both a regulated and unregulated basis to enable the completion of purchases, refinances and developments across a variety of real estate asset classes including residential properties, hotels, student accommodations, nurseries and care homes. 

I have extensive experience in advising on bilateral and syndicated loans as well as funding lines and loan-on-loan facilities. I regularly complete deals with cross border elements where I instruct lawyers in jurisdictions such as the BVI, Jersey, Guernsey, Scotland and RAK ICC to provide capacity and authority legal opinions.

On the corporate lending side, I continue to assist lenders and borrowers alike on revolving credit facilities and other financial arrangements to help meet the businesses’ expansion plans and working capital requirements.

I have also undertaken a client secondment to OakNorth Bank Plc where I advised on a broad range of finance deals spanning both the UK and the US.

Lastly, I pride myself on being responsive, commercial, reliable and taking a solutions focused approach to my transactions.

When I am not getting deals over the line, I enjoy spending time with my two children, Leo and Goldie, as well as my husband (in that order).

Experience highlights 

  • Completed a £40million investment loan facility for a UK challenger bank to assist their borrower in the acquisition of several residential properties with a pre-let in place to registered care providers and to also fund minor refurb capex for properties as required
  • Acted on behalf of a bank to provide loan facilities in the aggregate amount of £7million to a residential and nursing home for older people provider to enable them to acquire a number of care homes in the counties adjoining Staffordshire and other key locations across the Midlands and South Wales, which was a deal that necessitated a collaborative approach from our corporate, banking and real estate finance teams
  • Advised a Danish limited partnership in relation to a £2.9million refinance secured against a purpose-built detached health and fitness centre currently operated by Nuffield Health
  • Advised a UK bank on a £7million trading business loan facility secured against a prominent hotel in Nottingham operating under a franchise agreement to a Guernsey registered borrower with a number of international shareholders to refinance its existing debt and provide equity cash-out to the ultimate beneficial owner (UBO)
  • Acted on a circa £2.5million loan-on-loan facility where I advised both the bank that was providing back-to-back financing and the lender that made the loan available to the ultimate borrower
  • Negotiated a £10million uncommitted revolving funding line facility on behalf of an established bridging lender
  • Advised a bridging lender on a circa £12million bridge loan to be used to purchase freehold land with vacant possession and finance development costs associated with the change of use from office to residential under permitted development rights with planning to provide 163 flats

Nisha Saigal

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

With over 13 years’ experience in commercial real estate, I am a core member of my department representing property developers, investor clients, lenders and commercial landlords and tenants.

I have a particular focus on refinance work and act regularly for borrowers on single to large portfolio refinances.  I understand the pressures which some borrowers are faced with when refinancing, making timing critical to ensure that the new facility is completed coterminous with the redemption of the outgoing loan.

I also act for a variety of lenders including commercial lenders, bridging lenders and digital mortgage lenders.

Irrespective of the value of the transaction, I am always driven to secure the best results for my clients.  This is achieved by taking the time to understand my clients’ business and  effectively ‘stepping into their shoes’.

I value the importance of working relationships with clients, brokers and agents, regarding these relationships as integral to the progression, efficiency and outcome of my transactions.

When not at work, I spend quality time with my two daughters.  As well as cooking and listening to music, ‘pounding the pavements’ and exploring the sights on a city break are my favourite ways to relax. I have also rediscovered my netball skills by joining the firm’s netball team.

Experience highlights 

  • Acting for Monument Bank and the borrower on a £4.1m refinance across a portfolio of eight properties
  • Acting for the borrower on the refinance of a 44 unit residential development including the subsequent sale of each unit
  • Acting for a challenger bank on a development loan of £3.8m which completed in nine days consisting of multiple tranches
  • Acting for a challenger bank on a £7m loan to refinance a well-known hotel chain in Nottingham
  • Purchase of various residential and commercial units for an investor client with the assistance of a bridging loan and the subsequent refinance under a term loan