Posted on: January 19th, 2026 by Ella Darnell
I am a Solicitor in the Real Estate Department at Lawrence Stephens, having joined in 2026.
I have experience in acting for lenders, borrowers and developers on a broad range of secured lending transactions including bridging loans, buy to let mortgages and development finance. With deals including a portfolio of properties, HMO licencing, AST and new build financing.
I am motivated by achieving the best possible outcomes for my clients and pride myself on delivering a high standard of client care.
Posted on: November 11th, 2025 by Ella Darnell
I joined Lawrence Stephens’ Banking team as an Associate in October 2025.
I have experience on a variety of finance transactions having acted for overseas banks, bridging lenders, funders, developers and corporate borrowers. I have a particular focus on real estate finance projects from investment/acquisitions, development and construction finance as well as short-term bridging loans often involving complex assets.
In terms of wider banking, I have assisted lenders restructuring deals, advised funders on participation agreements and drafted security arrangements including share charges, bank account charges and assignments of underlying borrower security.
Experience highlights
- Acted for a private bank on a £4 million refinance of four South London properties involving both commercial and residential units
- Acted for numerous property finance lenders on a variety of bridging and development finance loans
- Acted for a corporate borrower on a £5 million plus refinance to support a residential apartment development project
- Acted for an individual borrower on a £6 million refinance of 8 residential flats under the terms of a sharia compliant Murabaha facility arrangement
Posted on: October 2nd, 2025 by Ella Darnell
I am a Partner in the Real Estate Finance team, having joined in 2025.
My practice focuses primarily on representing lenders in relation to their commercial, development, bridging and residential financing transactions.
I also have experience advising clients on all aspects of investment, acquisitions and disposals of commercial and residential real estate, real estate development, and corporate real estate support matters. I have particular experience in ‘co-living’, hotel and real estate/development finance deals for both lenders and borrowers. I have also advised on various cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate and finance matters, with significant experience in Central and Eastern Europe.
Experience highlights
- Advising one of the leading global co-living businesses on a broad range of matters, including real estate acquisitions, joint venture agreements, SPAs, development agreements and acquisition and development finance, in various jurisdictions including the UK, USA, Germany and Singapore
- Advised a London based property developer on £80m refinance of their residential portfolio
- Advised a Middle-Eastern investor in relation to refinance of their £450m luxury hotel portfolio in the UK
- Advising one of the leading multi-national real estate companies with business operations in Southeast Europe in relation to their hotel operations, including real estate acquisitions, development and financing
- Advised a Dutch lender on £10mil facility relating to agricultural development project in the UK
Posted on: May 15th, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as an Associate from an international law firm in 2025.
I specialise in real estate finance which involves both residential and commercial properties. I act for lenders on a regular basis, including sole and dual representation. I also have extensive experience in high-value property transactions including new builds, freehold and leasehold properties.
My clientele ranges from lenders, first-time buyers, company buyers, property developers to overseas clients.
Experience highlights
- Acted for multinational banks from the Middle East on a regular basis
- Refinancing of a substantial property portfolio involving a £9 million loan and 37 properties.
- Acted for lenders on loans and redemptions in relation to borrowers which are offshore companies registered in the BVI and Bermuda.
- Acted for a HNW overseas client on the purchase of a residential property worth over £8 million.
- Refinancing of a property in central London worth around £5 million.
Posted on: February 17th, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens’ Banking team in 2025, having gained valuable experience from city firms across a broad range of finance matters.
I have experience acting for overseas and domestic banks, bridging lenders, alternative lenders and non-bank lenders in respect of secured lending transactions, including investment and development finance matters; property refinance and security release matters; and in dealing with security arrangements in corporate acquisitions. I also have experience acting for individuals and SMEs on smaller lending projects throughout the deal cycle.
Away from work, I am an Indian classical percussionist, specialising in Morsing, Ghatam and Konnakol. I am also a hopeful Arsenal fan.
Experience
- acting for bridging lenders on numerous bridging loan transactions for domestic and overseas real estate assets
- acting for banks on loan agreements, amendment agreements, intercreditor agreements, security arrangements and releases in connection with real estate assets and corporate acquisitions
- acting for various alternative/private credit lenders on real estate acquisition and development finance transactions
- acting for individuals (in their capacity as a lender or a borrower) in smaller loan and security arrangements
Posted on: February 10th, 2025 by Hugh Dineen-Lees
I am a solicitor in the Real Estate Finance department, advising clients on a range of property finance matters. I work with lenders, investors, and developers on transactions involving HMOs, ASTs, planning permission, development properties, and new-build financing. I aim to provide clear, practical advice to help clients sail through their transactions efficiently.
Experience highlights
- Assisted a client with financing a portfolio of HMOs, ensuring compliance with lending and licensing requirements.
- Advised on the purchase and funding of a new-build residential development, including planning considerations.
- Worked on refinancing a mixed-use property portfolio, including properties under AST agreements.
- Assisted with the refinance of a bridge loan for a development property, conducting due diligence, checking and reviewing lender requirements.
- Acted on real estate finance transactions involving Sharia-compliant lending.
Posted on: February 28th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I am an experienced finance lawyer, responsible for executing transactions on behalf of banks, alternative lenders, sponsors and borrowers. During my career I have acted for numerous leading underwriters and top-tier and mid-market sponsors in the European market and have spent time on secondment (in the loan finance and structured finance legal teams) at an international investment bank.
My practice encompasses all forms of lending. This ranges from leveraged finance transactions (acquisition financing, unitranche and PIK loans), real estate finance (investment, development and bridge lending), general corporate lending (RCFs and term loans) and more bespoke funding structures (margin lending, factoring, loan-on-loan and participation agreements).
To date, I have advised on hundreds of deals from term sheet stage, through document negotiation, to signing and completion and managing any post-close matters. I mix sensible legal advice on key risk points with an eye on the commercial imperatives and flow of a transaction.
Away from work, I enjoy all forms of sport (especially rugby and running) and spending time with family and friends.
Experience highlights
- Acting for a sponsor on a €100million term loan with a European credit fund
- Acting for a sponsor on a unitranche and acquisition finance facility with private debt fund Eurazeo
- Acting for a sponsor on £52million acquisition facility and RCF with the private debt fund arm of an international bank
- Acting for a borrower in respect of a £25million loan-on-loan RCF with the fintech bank OakNorth
- Acting for a London based developer on a bespoke £12million financing package (including with a crowd funding platform and a sales guarantee)
- Acting for approximately 15 UK based lenders on real estate finance and general corporate lending matters
Posted on: February 27th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I qualified into Lawrence Stephens’ Banking team in September 2025, having completed a training contract at the firm.
I graduated with a law degree from the University of Bristol in September 2020, before going on to complete the Bar Practice Course with LLM in 2021. I was called to the Bar at Lincoln’s Inn in March 2022. After completing the Bar, I had a change of heart and completed the LPC at BPP University in September 2022.
Outside of law, I enjoy my wine, having completed my WSET Level 2 award in wines.
Experience
- acting for bridging lenders on numerous bridging loan transactions for domestic and overseas real estate assets
- acting for banks on loan agreements, amendment agreements, intercreditor agreements, security arrangements and releases in connection with real estate assets and corporate acquisitions
