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Swift completion of £5.9 Million loan secured over prime residential blocks

Posted on: January 20th, 2025 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

In a recent financial transaction, a £5.9 million loan was secured over three multi-unit residential blocks located in London and Hemel Hempstead. This deal involved multiple linked refinancing transactions of the commercial elements, showcasing the complexity and efficiency of the process.

Anna Christou represented YBS Commercial Mortgages, while Paul Marsh acted for the Borrower. The transaction was completed within an impressive nine working days from the issuance of the Offer, highlighting the dedication and expertise of the teams involved.

A special mention goes to Katie Peck and Amy Bristow, at YBS Commercial Mortgages, whose pivotal role ensured the smooth and timely completion of this significant transaction.

This achievement underscores the importance of collaboration and precision in high-stakes financial dealings, setting a benchmark for future transactions.

Lawrence Stephens advises Blue Shield Capital on £16.7m loan

Posted on: November 21st, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

We are pleased to report that Lawrence Stephens has advised regular client Blue Shield Capital on a £16.7 million loan for a UK landlord and BTR operator specialising in city centre rental living.

This 12-month facility, across two assets in Manchester and Leeds, will support their borrower in redeeming their existing debt and restructuring their portfolio. Blue Shield Capital is a fast-growing property lending firm who provides flexible financing solutions for property owners and investors. This deal is one of the largest they have completed to date and is the latest in a number of fast-moving deals they have undertaken supported by our team.

The team was led by Director and Head of Banking Ajoy Bose-Mallick, with support from Directors Ann Ebberson and Alex Edwards.

Ajoy commented: “We are delighted to have supported Blue Shield on one of their largest deals to date. Credit to the dynamic Lawrence Stephens’ team for delivering a fantastic outcome for our client”.

Angelique Richardson interviewed by The Law Society Gazette

Posted on: September 13th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

Associate Angelique Richardson discusses her background as a competitive swimmer and how sports have dominated her life and career, as well as highlights of her legal life, including her work on Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd.

Angelique’s interview was published in The Law Society Gazette, 13 September 2024.

Full text below:

Given my sporting background, sports law appealed. Having spent a large amount of my childhood in St. Maarten in the Caribbean, water-based sports were very much second nature. I started swimming competitively at a young age, and when I was 10 took up synchronised swimming. While at university, I ‘hung up my noseclip’ and took up finswimming. I competed at a national level, becoming British champion in the 25m bi-fins event in 2015 and setting what remains a national record in that age group. My experience as an athlete (and later as a coach) gave me a strong commitment to succeed at an elite level. 

While I graduated with a first-class degree from Northumbria University’s MLaw course, I was not initially excited by the idea of pursuing a legal career. Instead, I obtained a graduate job as a headhunter in the legal market, within litigation. This job was not for me, though I gained invaluable insight into how law firms operate and, ultimately, this piqued my interest in pursuing a career in law.

It was through this role that I met my former boss. He was looking to hire a legal assistant to help his team with a huge group action, acting for 555 claimants in the Bates & Others v Post Office Ltd case.

In 2018, I joined Freeths as a legal assistant and started my training contract. I qualified as a solicitor in the commercial dispute resolution team before being promoted to senior associate. I then moved to Lawrence Stephens in December 2023, where I work in the sports and entertainment department. This coincided with the arrival of a new director at Freeths who specialised in this area. I ended up working closely with him on a number of sports-related cases and found it the perfect route to pursue.

Ultimately, I have lived the life of an athlete. I know what pressures athletes face on a daily basis and what can happen at different points in their careers. For instance, while I might not be a boxer (unlike most of my current clients), I understand what it is like to go through training camp, the pressure of competition and navigating everything that accompanies this. As a lawyer and trusted adviser, this makes my clients more comfortable in instructing me, knowing that I understand what is on the line for them.  

Sadly, you hear all too often of athletes being taken advantage of by stakeholders. This has happened in my own sporting career and is a key driving force for me in ensuring this does not happen to my clients.

The Post Office group litigation was, naturally, a hugely noteworthy case in terms of its profile and its significance for the claimants. That case taught me a lot about strategy in litigation, which has been invaluable in my role as a sports lawyer.

I work with athletes at all levels. They range from fighters who are just turning professional (Mario Silva) and experienced, high-profile fighters (including the likes of Chris Eubank Jr, Joshua Buatsi, Lawrence Okolie, Ben Whittaker, Chev Clarke) to Olympians (including weightlifter Emily Campbell – silver medallist at Tokyo 2020 and bronze medallist at Paris 2024). Footballers include Reiss Nelson, Ivan Toney and Destiny Udogie. I am also currently leading on one of the biggest UK arbitrations in the boxing world.

On a personal level, we can all agree that sport usually takes place outside ‘normal’ working hours. With boxing, there is no off-season like there is in football. I am pretty much on standby 24/7 but my approach to practice is holistic. I am available to my clients when they need me. I also advise on strategy, brand development, reputation management and more.

I was recently appointed to the Sports Resolutions Pro Bono Service. Costs should never be a barrier to justice. I am looking forward to continuing to help athletes who need legal advice so that their rights are protected.

 

12-month bridge loan secured for Blue Shield Capital

Posted on: July 4th, 2024 by Hugh Dineen-Lees

We are pleased to share with you that we have acted on a £6 million loan for our clients Blue Shield Capital on the refinance of three stabilised, income-producing residential assets.

This £6 million facility will allow the borrower to facilitate a restructure of their group operations and refinance some of their property portfolio in order to expand their business.

Ajoy Bose-Mallick Director and Head of Banking led the team with assistance from Senior Associate Ashley Wright & trainee Alex Ruder on banking and Paul Marsh Director on real estate.

Commenting on this transaction, Ajoy Bose-Mallick said “we have completed on another important funding facility for our clients which will expand their loan book and showcase their ability to fund larger complex transactions. Again this deal highlighted the Banking and Real Estate Finance team working seamlessly together to deliver on a successful completion for our clients.”    

Lawrence Stephens strengthens Real Estate Finance and Banking teams with new Directors from Rosling King

Posted on: July 1st, 2024 by Yvonne Uzoka

Leading corporate and commercial law firm, Lawrence Stephens, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ann Ebberson as Director in the Real Estate Finance department, and Alex Edwards as Director in the Banking department – both joining from Rosling King.

Ann and Alex are well-known industry practitioners and their expertise complements the firm’s established Real Estate Finance and Banking practices. They are both recognised in The Legal 500 directory and bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience across these sectors. 

Ann has acted for and advised lenders, loan servicers, developers and LPA/fixed charge receivers on real estate and real estate portfolio refinancing, sales, purchases, development acquisitions and sales, landlord and tenant matters including service charge disputes and forfeiture proceedings. She also has notable experience in title rectification issues and advising litigation colleagues in complex real estate disputes.  

Alex advises lenders, sponsors, developers and corporate borrowers on all forms of finance transactions. With a particular focus on real estate and development finance, Alex also regularly advises on senior and mezzanine loans and bridging finance, as well as restructuring and resolving existing loan facilities. In addition, Alex’s construction law expertise allows him to provide a comprehensive service to his clients on development finance transactions, dealing with both the finance and construction elements.

They join Directors Greg Palos and Ajoy Bose-Mallick who lead Lawrence Stephens’ Real Estate Finance and Banking practices respectively.

Ajoy Bose-Mallick commented: “Alex is a fantastic addition to our banking team and brings with him great experience of working with sponsors, developers, corporate borrowers and other alternative lenders especially development finance lenders, at a very exciting time for the firm.”

Greg Palos said: “Ann’s arrival provides us with greater strength in depth and bolsters our ability to advise clients in a wide range of transactions. Her arrival is in line with the expansion of our Real Estate Finance capability, which continues to go from strength to strength.”

News of Ann and Alex joining Lawrence Stephens was covered by Law360, New Law Journal and LegalMoves.

12-month bridge loan secured for Blue Shield Capital

Posted on: June 4th, 2024 by Natasha Cox

We are pleased to share with you that we have acted on a £6 million loan for our clients Blue Shield Capital on the refinance of three stabilised, income-producing residential assets.

This £6 million facility will allow the borrower to facilitate a restructure of their group operations and refinance some of their property portfolio in order to expand their business.

Ajoy Bose-Mallick Director and Head of Banking led the team with assistance from Senior Associate Ashley Wright & trainee Alex Ruder on banking and Paul Marsh Director on real estate.

Commenting on this transaction, Ajoy Bose-Mallick said “we have completed on another important funding facility for our clients which will expand their loan book and showcase their ability to fund larger complex transactions. Again this deal highlighted the Banking and Real Estate Finance team working seamlessly together to deliver on a successful completion for our clients.”    

Successful completion of another significant funding facility for Blue Shield Capital

Posted on: May 30th, 2024 by Natasha Cox

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of another significant funding facility for Blue Shield Capital.

This £8.8 million facility supported the acquisition of a prime £11 million mixed-use site, featuring office spaces and a Premier Inn hotel, arranged over ground and five upper floors.

The transaction was carefully and painstakingly negotiated up to the deadline, with our dedicated banking and real estate teams showcasing incredible expertise and commitment to bring this deal to a successful close.

Ajoy Bose-Mallick Director and Head of Banking led the team with assistance from Senior Associate Ashley Wright & trainee Alex Ruder on banking and Paul Marsh Director and Rachel Coulthard Senior Associate on real estate.

Commenting on this transaction, Ajoy Bose-Mallick said “this highlights our firm’s capability to call upon its cross-departmental expertise under tight deadlines and the combined team’s dedication and expertise were instrumental in navigating the complexities of this high value transaction, ultimately securing a successful outcome for the Blue Shield Capital loan and a successful acquisition for the borrower.”