Joe is a Partner in our Commercial Property team in Watford, and he leads our Banking and Finance Sector.
These sectors he is also involved with include secured property lending work and property investment/management and development work.
Joe is responsible for the firm's relationship with key clients such as Imagination Technologies Limited, Oakman Group PLC, Investec Bank PLC, Santander UK PLC, Handelsbanken PLC, Hampshire Trust Bank PLC, Fox Funding LLP, and Ergonom Limited.
On secured property lending work, Joe has represented lenders and borrowers in a number of portfolio refinances, where there have been a large number of investment properties/estate financed/re-financed on a short timescale, with the added complication of the borrowers being off-shore. Examples of this work include the refinance for £11.5 million of a portfolio of 31 separate properties. Joe has a clear understanding of the lender's requirements, and liaises closely with his clients to ensure they understand where the issues are in relation to the property portfolio they are lending against.
On property investment work, Joe has led our property teams on a number of large transactions this year, such as the purchase of occupied industrial estates, single let retail units let to well-known retailers such as Costa Coffee, B&M Stores, Wickes and Pure Gym. His team continues to act on acquisition and property management advice to a PLC property company, a family property fund with assets now valued over £300 million, and various family offices with substantial property portfolios.
Joe has also led a team acting for care home operators on acquiring and disposing of their care homes business which included all property and funding issues. Joe has also advised on the disposal of a hotel for £6.5m in west London and, in addition, led a team in the refinance of two hotel portfolios (located in central London and the Midlands) for £11m and £4m.
Having initially worked for a financial institution before qualifying as a lawyer has helped Joe understand real estate finance and he is therefore able to advise and be a sounding board for his clients in their investment strategy in the property sector. Joe's career and specialisms reflect his interest in both property and finance, and in particular the macroeconomic conditions which are currently affecting the world economy and how it affects the UK property investment market.
He is really commercially aware.
What others say
The Legal 500 recommends Joe and says that he "works hard to understand the business of his clients". The 2016 edition of Chambers & Partners quotes clients as saying that he offers “a balance of commerciality but also a firm hand in protecting us against risk”.
What You Might Like to Know
Joe previously worked at Matthew Arnold and Baldwin (MAB) in Watford. He has interests in golf, football, and skiing. He also has basic ability in speaking Cantonese.
Other teams Joe works with
In addition to the Commercial Property team, Joe works across several others, including the Corporate team within the Education sector.
He also supports the corporate team with Corporate Support, advice on warranties and disclosures on asset / share purchase agreements, as well as the Insolvency Team on property support, sale by receivers and advice in relation to it.
