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: December 4th, 2023 by Yvonne Uzoka
I am an Associate in the Sports & Entertainment team at Lawrence Stephens.
As a former elite athlete competing in synchronised swimming and fin-swimming, I am able to bring a unique perspective to my practice and my clients. Currently, I represent a number of professional athletes on high-profile boxing promotional agreements, anti-doping disputes, and multimillion-pound arbitrations, as well as providing holistic advice in relation to reputation management, strategy and career development.
As one of the UK’s leading sports lawyers, I am now a trusted advisor to a number of notable sports and entertainment clients. I have also been appointed to the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono service. A legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the service provides pro bono legal advice and assistance to athletes and individuals of limited financial means.
Posted on: August 3rd, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens’ Private Wealth department as a paralegal in August 2023.
I have been practicing as a Solicitor in England and Wales since 19 April 2024, having previously practiced as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand for five years
I have experience with assisting high net worth clients with their succession planning and their internal restructurings, including advising clients in relation to trusts, wills and Powers of Attorney.
In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit at the gym, playing video games and traveling.
Posted on: August 1st, 2023 by Natasha Cox
As one of the founding members of Lawrence Stephens’ Sports, Media and Entertainment team, I am an experienced solicitor specialising in a mixture of non-contentious and contentious matters in sport. I deliver commercial and pragmatic advice for my clients and pay significant attention to the wider sporting context in which my clients sit.
I represent elite footballers, talent management and commercial agencies, drivers, golfers, sports brands, tech brands and various other stakeholders in sport and entertainment. I pride myself on truly understanding my clients and their brand (personal or commercial) in order to give accurate and pragmatic advice. I work hard to deliver positive outcomes for my clients on complex and unique legal matters and relish working with the best athletes, entertainers and brands.
I have an extensive network of professional and ancillary contacts in sport and ensure that all my clients benefit from those within my network as part of their wider advisory team.
I have also been appointed to the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono service. A legacy of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the service provides pro bono legal advice and assistance to athletes and individuals of limited financial means.
I am from the North West of England and now live in West London. A passionate football player, tennis player and golfer, I love playing and watching sport.
Experience highlights
- Advising a leading commercial agency on its representation agreement and ancillary agreements with one of the world’s top five most expensive football players
- Successfully defending former premier league defender at The FA Contractual Dispute Tribunal against his Club
- Advising a golfer management agency on their player’s agreement with LIV Golf
- Preparing sponsorship, consultancy, venue and other ancillary agreement for a PGAET Challenge Tour Tournament
- Successfully bringing Rule K Arbitration action on behalf of a leading football agency against a former client for non-payment of agency fees
Posted on: March 28th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I joined Lawrence Stephens’ Residential Real Estate team as a solicitor in 2023, having completed my training contract at a West End law firm. My core practice focuses on residential property purchases and sales predominantly in the prime central London market.
I joined the team with a wealth of experience in all things property-related including purchases and sales of high value, new build and commercial properties. Acting on behalf of high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, overseas, retail and corporate clients, I have built a reputation for being easily approachable and providing an elevated service to his clients. My approach is focused on ensuring clear, concise and accurate legal advice.
I started my career as a paralegal and have worked for some of the most recognisable West End law firms, while also completing my LPC and Master’s degree part-time prior to completing my training.
Outside work, I am a keen boxing and mixed-martial arts enthusiast, having boxed semi-professionally in my teenage years. I still enjoy training and try to go for a session at least once a week – though as a new father I admit my training has been lacking as of late!
Experience highlights
- Acting on several prime London property purchases and sales, including £12m purchase at the Chelsea Barracks, £2.5m purchase in Kensington and £2m sale at Battersea Power Station
- Acting on behalf of ultra-high net worth clients offloading their UK property portfolio including sales in Kensington, Chelsea, Richmond and Surrey
- Dealing with a number of ancillary issues related to prime London properties i.e. absent planning permissions, lack of insurance, service charge inconsistencies etc
Posted on: February 15th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I an Associate in our Dispute Resolution team.
My experience covers a broad range of civil and commercial disputes for individuals and businesses (including high-net-worth individuals). I have acted on matters relating to shareholder and partnership disputes, complex disputes relating to share and purchase acquisitions, breach of contract disputes and high value debt recovery matters (involving emergency relief e.g. injunctive proceedings), individual and corporate insolvency, intellectual property disputes and professional negligence.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling to new places as much as I can, strength-training at the gym and playing the piano.
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 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 Dispute Resolution solicitor in September 2021 and am now an Associate in the team.
I have diverse experience within civil and commercial litigation and act on matters relating to breach of contract, partnership and joint venture disputes, shareholders disputes, professional negligence and individual and corporate insolvency.
My practice also extends to matters of regulatory law, criminal investigations (including a Crown Court trial) and civil fraud, including a focus in the blockchain technology and digital asset sector where I assist my clients with crypto asset recovery following a hack, scam or misappropriation of their crypto assets.
I am a native Swede and am fluent in Swedish. As a Swede, I am very interested in ice hockey, a sport which I have both played and watched for many years.
Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox
I am an Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team. I am interested in people and their business. Whether you are a small business just starting out, aren’t sure what should be included in a shareholders agreement or you need some advice on the terms of a commercial contract, I am interested in hearing your big ideas and helping you bring them to life. Maybe you have been running your business for some time and are looking to raise new funding or create an employee share incentive scheme – again, I can help you achieve your business goals, wherever you may be in your journey.
I undertake a range of transactional and non-transactional corporate work including mergers and acquisitions (including for those employing buy-and build strategies), joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, commercial agreements and general company law matters. Through my earlier banking experience, I also have a deep understanding of debt and structured finance and am well-placed to advise on company and business acquisitions funded by debt.
Experience highlights
- Acting for the Buyer of a £17m business running youth hostels. Collaborating with our commercial property team and using my skills and knowledge in corporate and finance.
- Assisted a private fund with multiple acquisitions in the procurement, corporate accommodation and dental sectors, and provided company secretarial support to maintain a portfolio of companies.
- Acting for OakNorth Bank plc on a £12m development loan, working together with our construction and property teams to deliver a fast streamlined service to completion.
- Acting for a borrower in relation to a development facility provided by UTB, advising on the loan agreements, security documentation and communicating effectively with the bank and my clients to ensure a smooth process and efficient delivery to completion.
