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Lawrence Stephens advises UHNW Client on £22.5 Million Funding

Posted on: August 19th, 2026 by zhewison

Lawrence Stephens is pleased to have advised the Borrower, a UHNW Client on the provision of £22.5 million of funding from HSBC UK at 50% LTV, to finance the share acquisition of the real estate holding company of a Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea property.

The financing provides a five-year interest-only facility, giving the group long-term funding certainty while supporting its investment and refurbishment strategy for the property.

This transaction highlights Lawrence Stephens integrated, cross-practice approach, with our Banking, Corporate, Commercial Real Estate and Construction teams working closely together to navigate a complex cross-border transaction and achieve a successful outcome for the client.

Ajoy-Bose Mallick, Partner and Head of Banking commented:
“We are delighted to have advised our client on this significant financing and acquisition. The transaction involved multiple workstreams across several jurisdictions, requiring close collaboration between our Banking, Corporate, Commercial Real Estate and Construction teams. By working seamlessly together, we were able to deliver a successful financial close that supports the client’s long-term investment and refurbishment strategy for this prime Kensington and Chelsea asset.”

The Lawrence Stephens team was led by Ajoy Bose-Mallick from the Banking team, James Lyons from the Corporate team, with Sam Silverman and Mohammad Hammoud from the Commercial Real Estate team. They were supported by Tom Pemberton in Construction, alongside Banking associate Joel Wish and solicitor Alex Ruder.

Matt Green Discusses Cryptocurrency Scams on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours

Posted on: August 10th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

Matt Green, Partner and Head of Blockchain and Digital Assets and Technology Disputes, recently featured on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours, discussing the growing threat of cryptocurrency scams.

The segment formed part of Scam Secrets, a BBC Radio 4 series hosted by fraud investigator Shari Vahl, criminologist Dr Elisabeth Carter and ex-fraudster and poacher-turned-gamekeeper Alex Wood. The programme explores how fraudsters trick victims out of money through a combination of real-life stories, expert analysis and undercover recordings.

In this episode, which aired on 29 July 2026, Matt offered his expert insight into the challenges of misleading crypto transfers, where individuals believe they have received Tether (USDT) but have in fact been sent a different token. While these assets may not be counterfeit, they can be presented in a way that appears similar to a recognised stablecoin. Matt explained that although the true nature of the token can be verified on the blockchain, doing so often requires specialist knowledge, leaving many recipients reliant on professional advice to understand exactly what they have received and what their options are.

Known for his work tracing and recovering crypto assets across borders, Matt regularly advises on high-value disputes involving blockchain technology and has helped shape UK legal precedent on digital property. As part of his role as chair of techUK’s Digital Asset Working Group, he is closely involved in the drive to improve regulation to help consumers recover stolen digital assets.

You can listen to the full podcast here, Matt enters the conversation at 38m30s.

To read more about our blockchain, digital and crypto assets services, please click here.

Lawrence Stephens Advises Blue Shield Capital on £24 Million Shopping Centre Refinancing

Posted on: August 6th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

Lawrence Stephens has advised long standing client Blue Shield Capital Limited on an aggregate £24 million refinancing facility secured against two shopping centres in Redhill and Portsmouth. 

The transaction, structured across two separate shopping centres and representing a 68% loan-to-value ratio, enabled the borrowers to refinance the assets while releasing equity to support future investment and business growth. 

The deal showcases the strength of Lawrence Stephens’ Banking and Real Estate Finance teams, who worked closely to navigate a complex transaction and deliver a successful financing outcome for the client within a challenging timeframe. This financing helps to implement leasing and asset management initiatives for the borrower designed to improve occupancy and strengthen income, driving NOI growth.

Ajoy-Bose Mallick, Partner and Head of Banking commented: 
“We are delighted to have advised Blue Shield on this £24 million refinancing facility. The transaction required close coordination between our Banking and Real Estate Finance teams to close the financing within a demanding timeframe. It was a pleasure to work alongside Blue Shield once again to help the borrower achieve their refinancing goals and support their future investment opportunities and growth.” 

The Lawrence Stephens team was led by Ajoy-Bose Mallick and Ann Ebberson and supported by Matthew Hind, Aminul Islam and Bola Kim on the Real Estate Finance side, and Ashley Wright and Mithushan Sivagurunathar on the Banking aspects. 

Lawrence Stephens Quadruples Revenue in Five Years as Shawbrook Backs the Firm’s Next Chapter

Posted on: July 29th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

We are pleased to announce that we have secured a bespoke funding package from Shawbrook to fuel our next phase of growth. Lawrence Stephens has grown significantly in recent years and this enables us to refinance our existing facilities and provide the financial headroom to maintain our growth.

Founded in 1997, Lawrence Stephens has grown from a founder-led practice into one of London’s most ambitious law firms. In the last five years we have achieved a compound annual growth rate of 30% with turnover now approaching £30m and employing around 200 people. Our client base spans entrepreneurs, SMEs, financial institutions and high-net-worth individuals, with particular strength in real estate finance, corporate, commercial and residential real estate and dispute resolution, alongside growing practices in sports and entertainment, crypto and technology disputes, and tax.

The growth has been deliberate and carefully managed: built through organic recruitment and the development of specialist teams, supported by meaningful investment in our leadership, systems and brand.

Shawbrook structured a facility combining a cashflow loan with a revolving credit facility, tailored to our specific needs rather than a standard template. The result provides us with a more flexible funding base and the working capital headroom to continue investing in our people and client offering.

The deal was introduced by Mantra Group, part of advisory group BTG, and led by Nirav Patel and Nimesh Sanghrajka.

“As Lawrence Stephens continues to grow, we remain focused on the clients and sectors where we can deliver the greatest value. This bespoke funding solution provides the flexibility and headroom required to support our long-term growth ambitions. Shawbrook and Mantra took the time to understand our business, adopting a collaborative and flexible approach to structure a facility tailored to our needs. The result is a solution that supports our current position while providing a strong platform for future growth.”

— Steven Bernstein, CEO and Co-founder, Lawrence Stephens

Chambers HNW 2026: Lawrence Stephens Secures Strong Residential Real Estate Team and Individual Rankings

Posted on: July 23rd, 2026 by Ella Darnell

We are delighted to announce that Goli-Michelle Banan, Head of Residential Real Estate at Lawrence Stephens, has once again been recognised in the latest Chambers High Net Worth 2026 guide, maintaining her Band 3 ranking. In addition to this, the wider Residential Real Estate team has maintained its Band 4 ranking in the guide.

Maintaining both individual and team rankings is a significant achievement, particularly in a turbulent market. These rankings demonstrate the team’s continued strength and reputation within the Real Estate sector. The recognition places us alongside some of London’s most established and highly regarded firms, including Edwin Coe LLP and Rusell-Cooke.

We are also pleased that Senior Associate Aaron Rajan has been recognised as an Associate to Watch in this year’s guide, reflecting both the exceptional calibre of his work and the reputation he has established in the prime central London market.

With more than a decade’s experience in the prime and core London residential market, Goli-Michelle is a trusted adviser to HNW and UHNW individuals, developers, investors, and trust administrators across the UK and internationally. Known for her commercial insight, responsiveness and meticulous attention to detail, she is also recognised in Spear’s 500 as one of the UK’s top recommended property lawyers.

This year’s Chambers HNW guide includes glowing endorsements from clients and peers, who describe her as:

  • “A breath of fresh air. She knows her subject matter incredibly well, but can translate this to those with far less legal expertise to ensure that matters are understood and the client feels well advised.”
  • “Very knowledgeable and knows what she’s doing. She’s taken on much more of a leadership role but historically she was always down to get with the details – the nitty-gritty.”

  • “Excellent… she’s protective of us but pragmatic in getting solutions.”

Our Residential Real Estate team act as a one-stop shop for real estate transactions advising on a wide range of complex and high-value transactions, including property sales and acquisitions, leasehold enfranchisement, development site purchases, and refinancing. Clients range from private investors and family offices to corporates and developers, all of whom value our commercial, solution-driven approach and high-quality service.

The team’s ranking is underpinned by excellent client feedback, including:

  • “The individuals at Lawrence Stephens are experts in their respective fields and they have a very consultative approach to ensure that a subject matter expert is involved to get deals done smoothly.”

  • “They take genuine ownership of each matter, acting as true partners in the transaction and providing a level of personal attention, commitment and reliability that…makes them a standout practice within the industry.”

  • “Lawrence Stephens prioritised understanding client needs, resulting in tailored solutions that truly resonate. This commitment to client satisfaction builds long-lasting relationships and fosters loyalty.”

Aaron Rajan’s recognition as an Associate to Watch shows the depth of talent within the team and reflects his growing profile in the market. His clients have said:

“What truly distinguishes Aaron is his commercial awareness and forward‑looking mindset… His blend of legal excellence, commercial maturity and proactive client care makes him an invaluable adviser and one of the standout performers in the industry.”

We’re proud that Chambers HNW 2026 has acknowledged the expertise that defines our real estate offering. Congratulations to Goli-Michelle, Aaron Rajan and the entire Residential Real Estate team on this well-earned recognition and continued growth within the HNW space.

You can read more about our Residential Real Estate offering here: Residential Real Estate – Lawrence Stephens

Leigh Sayliss Comments on Legislation Day 2026 Tax Reforms in LexisNexis

Posted on: July 20th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

Partner and Head of Tax Leigh Sayliss has been featured by LexisNexis, one of the UK’s leading legal, tax and regulatory information providers, for his expert commentary on the tax measures announced as part of Legislation Day 2026.

Leigh’s insights were included in a LexisNexis analysis of the draft provisions for the Finance Bill 2027, providing readers with practical guidance on key developments, including the proposed introduction of Securities Transfer Tax and wider tax reform measures.

The inclusion of Leigh’s commentary reflects his recognised expertise in corporate tax and his contribution to discussions on significant legislative and regulatory developments affecting businesses and advisers.

You can find the analysis on the LexisNexis website here, please note access may be subject to subscription.

If you’d like to get in touch with Leigh to speak about his thoughts on the upcoming bill, you can get in touch here.

Lawrence Stephens Advises STB Real Estate Finance on £36.4 Million Build-to-Rent Financing for Livingway

Posted on: July 14th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

Lawrence Stephens is pleased to have advised Secure Trust Bank (STB) Real Estate Finance on the provision of £36.4 million in funding to Livingway, the build-to-rent (BTR) investor and operator, supporting three residential assets across its growing portfolio.

The three-year facility has been structured to support three build-to-rent schemes, including ROCO, a flagship residential development located on James Street in the heart of Liverpool city centre. The scheme offers fully furnished apartments alongside a range of resident amenities, including co-working spaces, wellness facilities and communal lounges.

The transaction marks the beginning of a new relationship between STB Real Estate Finance and Livingway, reflecting STB’s relationship-led approach to lending and the continued strength of the UK build-to-rent market.

The Lawrence Stephens team advised STB Real Estate Finance on all legal aspects of the financing, working closely with the lender to deliver a bespoke funding structure that supports Livingway’s growth plans across its residential portfolio.

Mike Feasey, relationship director at STB Real Estate Finance, commented:

“It was clear that flexibility and collaboration would be key to delivering the right outcome, so we worked closely with Lawrence Stephens and the client to structure facilities that supported its objectives while reflecting the strength of the underlying assets and business model. This is a great example of the relationship-led approach we pride ourselves on at STB, and we look forward to supporting Livingway as the portfolio continues to grow.”

Ajoy Bose-Mallick, Partner and Head of Banking at Lawrence Stephens, commented:

“We were delighted to advise STB Real Estate Finance on this significant transaction. The build-to-rent sector continues to attract strong investor interest, driven by increasing demand for high-quality rental accommodation and professionally managed residential communities. This deal demonstrates the value of bespoke financing structures in supporting experienced operators as they continue to expand their portfolios.”

The Lawrence Stephens team was led by Ajoy Bose-Mallick, Partner and Head of Banking, with support from Ann Ebberson, Head of Real Estate Finance, Lucy Barnett, Senior Associate in Banking, and Alex Ruder, Solicitor in the Banking team.

Congratulations to STB Real Estate Finance and Livingway on the successful completion of the transaction.

You can read more about our Banking team here and our Real Estate Finance team here.

Lawrence Stephens Sports and Entertainment Team Shortlisted for Best Legal Team at the Global Football Industry Awards 2026

Posted on: July 8th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

Lawrence Stephens Sports and Entertainment team has been shortlisted for the Best Legal Team category at the Global Football Industry Awards. 

These awards recognise excellence off the pitch, whether through marketing, sustainability, sponsorship, grassroots development, diversity and inclusion, or investment in the sport. Nominations for these awards were made by professionals across the football industry, recognising the outstanding work and strong relationships that our team is known for. 

The Global Football Industry Awards are returning for their second year on 5 November 2026 and will be hosted by global football icons Peter Crouch and Jamie Carragher. 

Founded by football players and industry leaders, the Global Football Industry Awards exist to recognise the often-overlooked heroes driving the game’s success behind the scenes. From grassroots initiatives to corporate partnerships, this event shines a well-deserved spotlight on the international business leaders, brands, and innovators who make football’s global impact possible. Judged by a panel of experts from across the game, the awards acknowledge those whose vision, dedication, and leadership are shaping the future of the sport, and we are delighted to be recognised here. 

You can read more about the work that our Sports and Entertainment team have been up to here. 

Lawrence Stephens Makes Bumper Promotion Round

Posted on: July 1st, 2026 by Ella Darnell

 Lawrence Stephens is delighted to announce the promotion of nine colleagues to Senior Associate, and a further six colleagues to Associate, effective from 1 July 2026. These promotions are from across the firm and reflect the contribution made by them in the delivery of our services to our clients and the wider firm.

 Aaron Rajan becomes a Senior Associate in the Residential Real Estate team. Aaron is focused on the prime Central London residential real estate market and has developed great experience in dealing with tight timelines and complex ownership/purchase structures.

Annabel Andreou becomes a Senior Associate in the Family team. Annabel specialises in advising and assisting individuals in connection with separation, divorce, parenting agreements, child arrangements, and domestic abuse injunctions.

Bola Kim becomes a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Finance team. Bola focuses on working with regulated and unregulated banks for property refinances, bridging loans and secured lending.

Charlotte Hamilton becomes a Senior Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team. Charlotte trained at the firm and qualified into the Corporate and Commercial team. She has been instrumental in developing our Flourish bundled legal services product aimed at early-stage businesses.

Joseph Furze becomes a Senior Associate in the Private Wealth and Succession Planning team. Joe previously practised as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand before moving to the UK. He advises high net worth clients with their succession planning and their internal restructurings, including advising clients in relation to trusts, tax, Wills and Powers of Attorney.

Lefteris Kallou becomes a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team. Lefteris specialises in insolvency matters and resolving complex and high-value disputes relating to breach of contract, shareholder and boardroom, debt and professional negligence claims.

Louisa Hartley becomes a Senior Associate in the Commercial Real Estate team. Louisa joined Lawrence Stephens with the team from Memery Crystal in early 2025, she advises on landlord and tenant matters, acquisitions and disposals, development projects and corporate real estate.

Lucy-Jane Barnett becomes a Senior Associate in the Banking team. Lucy focuses on secured lending transactions, including investment and development finance matters, from deal originations to refinancing and loan/property management assistance.

Miran Sharif becomes a Senior Associate in the Real Estate Finance team. Miran focuses on advising bridging lenders and borrowers ranging from first-time buyers to high net-worth individuals and property developers.

 

Becci Collins becomes an Associate in the Employment team. Becci represents businesses and individuals on contentious and non-contentious matters spanning the breadth of employment law.

Bethany Jacobs becomes an Associate in the Real Estate Disputes and Secured Recoveries team. Bethany trained and qualified at the firm, she advises on a wide range of residential property possession claims and commercial forfeiture, debt recovery claims, 1954 Act Lease renewals, secured lending recovery and enforcement work.

Carla Galkoff becomes an Associate in the Corporate & Commercial team. Carla trained and qualified at the firm and advises on a range of matters, including share and asset sales, mergers & acquisitions and company restructuring.

Isabella Tamlyn becomes an Associate in the Private Wealth & Succession Planning team. Isabella trained and qualified at the firm. She advises high net worth clients with their succession planning and their internal restructurings, including advising clients in relation to trusts, wills and Powers of Attorney.

Mithushan Sivagurunathar becomes an Associate in the Banking team. Mithushan acts for overseas and domestic banks, bridging lenders, alternative lenders and non-bank lenders in respect of secured lending transactions.

Mohammad Hammoud becomes an Associate in the Commercial Real Estate team. Mo joined Lawrence Stephens with the team from Memery Crystal in early 2025, his focus is on landlord and tenant matters and commercial property acquisitions and disposals.

Steven Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer at Lawrence Stephens, commented: “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than seeing my legal colleagues recognised for their dedication, expertise, and contribution to our clients and the firm. Equally pleasing is to see these promotions happening across the firm, and not just from one or two teams which indicates how the firm is managing to grow across the board in what have been globally challenging times.”     

Lawrence Stephens Strengthens Employment Team with Senior Associate Robert Turner

Posted on: June 30th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

We’re pleased to welcome Robert Turner to the firm as a Senior Associate in our Employment team.

Robert advises businesses, senior stakeholders and HR teams across the full range of employment law matters. His work covers day-to-day HR advice, Employment Tribunal litigation and complex claims such as discrimination and whistleblowing, as well as restructurings, redundancies and senior exits.

He also provides employment law support on corporate transactions, offering practical insight on organisational change and people-related risk.

Robert is known for giving clear, practical advice and takes a commercial approach to the challenges his clients face. With experience both in private practice and in-house, he works closely with decision-makers on sensitive and business-critical people issues.

Alongside his client work, he regularly delivers training and webinars on employment law developments and supports businesses with internal investigations.

Andrew Conway, Head of Employment added:

“Robert is a fantastic addition to the team. He brings a strong mix of advisory and contentious experience, which adds real depth to our employment offering. Just as importantly, he will be working closely with colleagues across the firm, particularly in the Corporate and Commercial team, to help our clients manage growth and change in a way that’s both commercially sound and people-focused.”

You can find out more about our Employment team’s offering here.

Lawrence Stephens Supports Howden on Launch of Web3 Risk Ecosystem

Posted on: June 11th, 2026 by Ella Darnell

Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, has announced the launch of a comprehensive Web3 risk ecosystem, evolving its digital asset offering to provide end-to-end support across the full risk lifecycle.

The launch builds on Howden’s earlier collaboration with Lawrence Stephens on its crypto theft insurance and recovery solution, first introduced in 2025, and reflects growing client demand for integrated support spanning prevention, operational resilience, incident response and asset recovery.

The enhanced ecosystem brings together a curated network of specialist providers across key areas of the digital asset landscape, including security infrastructure, forensic investigation, restructuring, asset tracing and legal advisory. Lawrence Stephens forms part of this panel, working alongside leading global vendors to deliver coordinated recovery and legal support in the event of digital asset loss.

As part of the ecosystem, Lawrence Stephens provides integrated legal and recovery capabilities, including the coordination of blockchain forensic analysis, asset tracing strategies, and engagement with exchanges and other relevant stakeholders. This enables swift and effective action to trace, freeze and recover stolen digital assets, supporting clients through complex, often cross-border recovery scenarios.

The expanded model represents a shift from traditional, reactive insurance solutions to a more holistic approach, embedding pre-emptive expertise alongside claims and recovery services. By combining legal, technical and operational capabilities, the ecosystem is designed to help clients strengthen resilience before an incident occurs, while improving recovery outcomes where losses arise.

Matt Green, Head of Blockchain, Digital Assets and Technology Disputes at Lawrence Stephens, commented: “We are delighted to continue working alongside Howden, who recognise the importance of having a panel of leading specialists to support clients in this space. Effective recovery requires a combination of expertise, including blockchain forensic analysis, OSINT, and active engagement with exchanges and other stakeholders to trace, freeze or seize stolen assets.”

This latest development reinforces Lawrence Stephens position at the forefront of digital asset disputes and recovery, and highlights the firm’s ongoing role in supporting innovative, market-leading solutions for clients operating in the Web3 and blockchain space.

Lawrence Stephens and Fidelius launch joint venture, LS Wealth

Posted on: June 2nd, 2026 by Alanah Lenten

Fidelius, the Bath-based advisory firm, and Lawrence Stephens, the London-based law firm, today announce a new joint venture, LS Wealth.  This new venture will combine Lawrence Stephens full-service legal expertise with Fidelius’s fast-growing, objective-based financial planning business to create a fully integrated experience for clients.

The new venture, LS Wealth, is a trading style of Fidelius. With a seamless client experience at its heart, the joint venture will see strong collaboration between the two brands, expanding the proposition for both firms and increasing opportunities to generate leads and referrals.

Steve Skelding, Head of Commercial at Fidelius, said: “We are excited to have the opportunity to work closely with the skilled professionals at Lawrence Stephens as we launch our new venture, LS Wealth. There is a close cultural fit between our two businesses, rooted in exceptional client service. Our brands also feel aligned in terms of our commercial approach, so we look forward to seeing what we can achieve as we join forces in this way.”

Steven Bernstein, Chief Executive Officer at Lawrence Stephens, added: “We’re delighted to team-up with Fidelius. We believe that a joined-up approach from professional advisers can provide the optimum outcome for our clients. Fidelius’ clients often engage with them at some of the most critical stages in their personal or business journey. It’s no surprise then to find that they are often seeking legal advice at the same time as reviewing their wealth management options. We have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with their like-minded team who share our values, ambition and commitment and we look forward to working with them in this exciting new venture”