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.
Posted on: February 20th, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I am paralegal in the Real Estate Finance Department having joined Lawrence Stephens from Memery Crystal in 2025.
I have experience acting on a variety of commercial and residential property transactions for prominent UK lenders.
Prior to my work in real estate transactions, I worked for a leading UK firm in its financial services disputes department – representing several Big Four banks in complex litigation.
Outside of my work, I play a variety of sports and enjoy cooking.
Posted on: February 10th, 2025 by Natasha Cox
I am a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Finance department.
I have extensive experience dealing with a broad spectrum of real estate matters, consisting of but not limited to secured lending of residential and commercial real estate having acted for several institutional, second tier and specialist lenders. I have also acted for investors, developers, high-net-worth individuals (HNWI), and SMEs assisting them in diversifying their property portfolios across the UK.
Furthermore, I have a strong background in landlord and tenant matters, particularly in the grant, renewal and assignment of leases, as well as dealing with underleases, surrenders and variations. I have acted on transactions involving the letting of highly sought after commercial property in prime London locations and nationwide.
My approach is pragmatic and client-focused. Having acted for a diverse client base, I value the significance of each transaction and how the same aligns with my clients’ needs and objectives. Synonymously, I am committed to delivering a responsive, efficient, and commercially sound service and have garnered relationships with fellow industry professionals.
Outside of work, I am proud father. I have a passion for sports and enjoy football, but bear the heavy burden of being a Manchester United supporter. I have a keen interest for cars and would consider myself an enthusiast. I enjoy travelling and have visited numerous countries experiencing the wonderful cultures, cuisines and people.
Experience highlights
- Acted on behalf of a lender client in relation to the refinancing of a portfolio of properties consisting of mixed use and residential properties for a facility of £6.8m. The security comprised 6 commercial units to the ground floor and 10 residential flats to the upper floors. The second building consisted of 20 residential flats.
- Acted on behalf of a lender client on a transaction that involved the splitting and acquisition of a site consisting of a block of 23 flats and 6 townhouses. The facility was for a net amount of £3.7m.
- Acted on a refinance matter for a lender client which consisted of a portfolio of 13 residential flats all on long leases and some with car parking leases. The facility was for the sum of £4.7m.
- I acted on the acquisition, financing and subsequent sale of a small development. The client acquired two plots, one with an existing property situated on it and the other consisting of land. The plot containing the existing property was acquired first and subsequently refinanced. The value of the facility was for the sum of £2.7m and the funds were then utilized to acquire the plot comprising the land. The plots were both redeveloped to form 2 high-end residential properties. The titles were subsequently amalgamated and then split again respective to the extent of the properties. The newly built properties were then sold for £5m respectively.
- Acted on behalf of a landlord in relation to the asset management of their freehold property in Dover street, Mayfair. We assisted the client with the lettings of their office units to the upper floors and the letting of the Sub-station to the rear. I also assisted with the means of escape issue with the adjoining owner of the property.
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: June 25th, 2024 by Yvonne Uzoka
I am a Partner and Head of the Real Estate Finance team at Lawrence Stephens.
I have a wealth of experience of working on real estate finance deals, particularly development finance, property acquisitions and sales, residential landlord and tenant issues, title rectifications and working with litigation colleagues on complex disputes which involve real estate and finance. I have acted for a range of banks, lending institutions, fixed charge receivers, developers, property companies and individuals.
Prior to joining Lawrence Stephens, I was a partner for many years in the city firm of Rosling King LLP in the real estate team.
My large family keeps me busy but in my spare time I love pottering in my garden and clay pigeon shooting with my husband and friends.
Posted on: January 15th, 2024 by Yvonne Uzoka
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a Solicitor in 2024, bringing with me extensive experience in real estate finance. With a diverse background representing bridging lenders and borrowers ranging from first-time buyers to high net-worth individuals and property developers, I possess a deep understanding of the nuanced needs and challenges inherent in bridging, refurbishment and development loans.
I love a challenge and being able to find solutions to problems or simplifying a complex issue for a client to give them the understanding to be able to proceed with confidence as issues arise. I also adopt a pragmatic approach, working with all stakeholders involved to ensure a seamless and timely completion to the benefit of lender and borrower alike. Lender clients have also relied on me to assist them with creating and improving upon their loan documents leading to better protections for lenders and faster turnaround times leading to a more timely completion for the borrowers.
Outside of the office, I enjoy swimming, trying new foods and spending time with my family.
Experience highlights
- Completing a complex £2.4m bridging finance transaction involving five security properties including a dwelling house, residential flats, partially completed dwellings and a HMO which required extensive negotiations and overcoming a multitude of obstacles
- Completing a finance transaction secured over a portfolio of 21 properties being acquired by the borrower
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
Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a Partner in September 2019 and contribute over 35 years of legal experience to our Real Estate/Secured Lending team.
Over the years, I have established a proactive, can-do attitude to meeting clients’ objectives and offer a level of service which, given my number of repeat clients, has clearly proven attractive.
I act for a range of leading UK specialist bridging finance lenders, providing extensive advice on property finance, landlord and tenant and commercial conveyancing matters. As well as advising on the acquisition, disposal and letting of commercial property, I have a large number of private property investors to whom I provide all types of commercial property management advice.
My clients are predominantly made up of established lenders in the bridging finance or property lending market and long standing private property investors. These range from clients with large Central London holdings to those with portfolios of shops, offices and industrial units. The variety offers a significant volume of work, but also provides the opportunity to establish close personal relationships with individual underwriters.
Lawrence Stephens’ cohort of long-suffering Spurs supporters welcomes me with wide open arms, though I also enjoys tennis, cricket and bridge, and am an avid cinema and theatre-goer. When I’m not working, I involve myself in charity work to provide holiday opportunities to under-privileged children.
Experience highlights
- Acted for the sale of a private property investor in relation to the sale of a portfolio of 18 tenanted properties at a price of £5,162,500
- Acted for the bank in relation to a loan of £1.25m secured by a mixture of first and second charges over six freehold and leasehold properties
- Acted for the executors of an estate in relation to the sale of two linked flats in St Johns Wood for £2.65m with enquiries from both buyer’s and lender’s solicitors
- Acting for borrower and lender in relation to 9 separate loans on a mixture of freehold and leasehold residential properties having a total loan value of £1.7m
Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens in 2016 as an Associate and became a Partner in Lawrence Stephens’ Real Estate Finance department in 2020. I qualified as a solicitor in 2011, having previously worked in the commercial world of sales and marketing.
As an integral part of the team, I act and advise both lenders and borrowers in relation to secured lending matters that, in many cases, involve multiple properties.
I regularly act for lenders in a variety of sectors including retail, hospitality, commercial and healthcare. With a broad knowledge of those areas, my advice is valuable in providing both the lender and borrower with a quality professional service.
Experience highlights
- Acting for a borrower in relation to a £27m refinance secured against 119 properties
- Acting on behalf of a lender in putting in place security over new and existing properties under a revolving £25m LMA loan facility
- Acting for a client dealing with property aspects for a client selling multiple companies with a combined property portfolio of circa 200 properties
- Acting for a borrower in a £33m refinance of a residential block of flats recently converted from offices
- Acting for lender in a £8m refinance secured over 9 properties
Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a Solicitor in the Real Estate Finance department in August 2022, having qualified in 2021 at a boutique firm specialising in property.
I have experience acting on secured lending transactions for both lenders and borrowers. I have also worked on acquisitions, disposals and refinances of both freehold and leasehold properties, mostly mixed-use and residential for both residential and commercial clients.
I am from an international background, having come from Korea and lived in Poland for a few years. I am a travel enthusiast and also enjoy outdoor hiking and trekking adventures.
Experience highlights
- Acting on £6.5m refinance to be securing four multi-unit commercial properties
- Assisting on acquisition loans for multiple mixed-use properties
Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a trainee solicitor in September 2022 and qualified in the Real Estate Finance team in September 2024.
I studied at the University of Exeter, graduating in 2020 and subsequently completed the LPC LLM the following year. I previously worked as a paralegal in real estate finance and wider commercial property matters such as advising lenders on the security of their lending, acquisitions and disposals and landlord and tenant work.
I am a keen netball player and am also passionate about music and enjoy going to concerts and watching musicals at the theatre.
Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens as a paralegal in April 2022. I started my training contract in September 2023 and qualified as a Solicitor in the Real Estate Finance team September 2025.
After graduating from university in Melbourne with a Bachelors Degree in Communications, I worked in a variety of industries before completing my GDL and LPC LLM at the University of Law London, graduating with a High Distinction.
Before joining Lawrence Stephens, I worked as an in-house paralegal at a travel and leisure company, followed by a role as a real estate paralegal at a high street law firm. I have experience in residential and commercial property matters, including advising lenders, dealing with acquisitions and disposals and landlord and tenant work.
I believe in the value of client care and service, building relationships with clients and ensuring they are communicated with at each stage of the process.
In my spare time, I enjoy travelling, playing hockey and trying new restaurants.
