Why I joined Anthony Collins Solicitors; leading a housing revolution in the North West

Catherine Simpson

Catherine Simpson is the latest senior hire for Anthony Collins Solicitors’ new Manchester office and joins as Senior Associate, heading up the housing governance practice in the North West.

Find out more about the firm’s Manchester office by visiting www.anthonycollins.com/manchester.

Never has the housing landscape in the North West been so diverse, and the governance of social housing so important.

National law firm, Anthony Collins Solicitors, is leading the way within this complex and challenging sector, through their provision of specialist legal services.

With de-regulation, cross-subsidy and group rationalisation, including mergers, just a few of the ongoing changes and challenges within the housing field, I am proud to now represent.

Anthony Collins Solicitors and further progress my advisory work; guiding clients and building an industry-leading legal team.

I have long been an admirer of the firm – as well as partners Jonathan Cox and Peter Hubbard – for its commitment to delivering social purpose, the responsibility it offers staff and its flexible approach that enables employees to pursue specialisms in which they thrive.

I have been in the legal profession and the housing sector since I qualified as a solicitor in 2001, and I have been committed to assisting Registered Provider (RP) clients, to achieve social change and enable clients to deliver quality, affordable housing to communities in need.

It is the perfect time to join the firm with its new office in Manchester’s prestigious King Street, coupled with the aim of delivering further social value in the North West region.

Following my early days advising RP clients on property matters, I made the transition into governance, where my heart lies.

The opportunities available to RPs following deregulation mean sound legal advice on housing association group structures and rationalisation is critical to their ongoing pursuit of social purpose.

Advising on mergers is another specialism I enjoy, with cost-savings and the pressure to deliver value for money a key driver, alongside the benefit of pooled resources and assets – something Anthony Collins Solicitors has real pedigree in.

This commitment to the sector is further exemplified by my position on the board of Women in Social Housing (WISH) North Wales, an organisation very close to my heart and a role that Jonathan and the team fully support.

Alongside this, I love writing about issues facing the sector – including contributions to Welsh Housing Quarterly and the Handbook of Co-operative & Community Benefit Society Law.

Like all who work at Anthony Collins Solicitors, my primary mission is to deliver social purpose for our clients and society at large. My vision for where I want to take the housing governance team excites me.

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