Southern Housing Group names 13 law firms to revised legal panels
One of the largest housing associations in the South East of England, Southern Housing Group, has appointed 13 law firms to its revised legal panel.
The group manages more than 25,500 homes and works with more than 70 local authorities in the South East.
The successful firms were:
- Anthony Collins;
- Bevan Brittan;
- Capsticks;
- Clarke Willmott;
- Devonshires;
- Housing Law Services;
- Lewis Silkin;
- PDT;
- Penningtons Manches;
- Sharratts;
- TLT;
- Trowers & Hamlins; and
- Winckworth Sherwood.
Anthony Armitage, Southern Housing Group’s in-house counsel, said that the new panel members had been chosen “because of the significant value and expertise they offered in their respective areas of speciality and the wide variety of added value benefits they will bring to the Group”.
He added: “We work across a broad range of housing, corporate, commercial, treasury, governance and employment law. With this new panel of experts we’ve got the opportunity to benefit from skilled advice and guidance, while at the same time saving money that can be reinvested into providing homes for our residents.
“The standard of applicants to join the panel was extremely good and we’re proud to be able to work with such high quality firms.”
The firms have also agreed to support Southern Housing Group’s work with residents in a range of areas. These include a range of employment and training opportunities, support around financial resilience and lifestyle, and delivering enhancements to the local environment.
Southern Housing Group said the previous panel, appointed in 2012, had resulted in a 35% reduction in legal fees. “This saved approximately £300,000 in the first year, with similar levels of savings maintained in subsequent years,” it added.
The group also said the appointment of Armitage as its first in-house counsel in 2012 had generated savings of around £150,000 each year.