Freeths strengthens Social Housing team with two senior hires
21st February 2025
Leading law firm Freeths has bolstered its national Social Housing offering with the appointment of Directors Lucy Richardson and Adele Scrivens. They join from EMW Law.
Lucy Richarson has over 13 years’ experience within the Real Estate sector, with her clientele comprising registered providers, property developers and house builders. She specialises in a wide range of residential development acquisitions, including option agreements, conditional contracts, promotion agreements, overage, complex title work and development agreements, as well as disposals.
Adele Scrivens’ background is in property development, with a particular focus on the social housing sector. She is well versed in advising housing associations on all aspects of development acquisition and has in depth experience in the negotiation of land sale contracts, development agreements and accompanying planning obligations.
Together, they will work closely with recently promoted Partner and Head of Social Housing, Sarah Rowe, to expand the firm’s national capabilities within the sector.
Commenting on the appointments, Sarah Rowe said: “The appointments of Lucy and Adele truly reflect the growth our team has seen over the last 18 months. After doubling our external client network, and continuing to grow internally, their appointments will allow us to develop our extensive offering.“With the Labour Government recently announcing an ambitious plan for social housing, these strategic appointments will also help play a key role in helping clients adapt to the changes.”
The appointments of Lucy and Adele follow a number of recent successes for the team including its recent appointment to CHIC’s legal framework.
Lucy Richardson continued: “With new Homes England grant funding eagerly awaited, it’s a pivotal time for many and I believe Freeths is the right firm to help clients deliver new targets.”Adele Scrivens added: “Freeths continues to go from strength to strength as one of the fastest-growing law firms in the UK and I am delighted to be working with such a committed and well-supported social housing team. I’m looking forward to playing a role in expanding its client base further and broadening the firm’s already well-established capabilities.”
ENDS
ABOUT FREETHS
Freeths is a top 50 commercial law firm. Relied on by private and public sector clients including Centrica PLC, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian, and Lloyds Bank.
Freeths was recently awarded B Corporation (B Corp) certification, demonstrating its dedication to complying with high standards of environmental and social impact and governance.
Freeths launched the landmark High Court victory for 555 sub-postmaster clients against the Post Office, which exposed Britain's largest miscarriage of justice. The firm now advises on the subsequent GLO and Horizon Convictions Redress compensation schemes.
Recent achievements:
• Winner of Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2024
• Commended for Law Firm of the Year at The Lawyer Awards 2024
• Recognised in The Legal 500 Green Guide 2024
• Listed in The Times Best Law Firms 2024
• Ranked in the top tiers of Legal 500 and Chambers legal guides
• Ranked 44 in The Lawyer’s Top 100 UK law firms
• ‘Diversity Champion’ for Stonewall – a charity supporting LGBTQ+ rights
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