People: Avison Young; Gateley Legal
Global real estate firm Avison Young UK has appointed Helen Collins as Principal, National Head of Affordable Housing and Managing Director for the Midlands region.
Helen brings more than 30 years of experience in senior consultancy and delivery roles, specialising in transaction advisory, development, regeneration and investment within both public and private sector sectors.
Prior to working for the firm, Helen was UK Board Director and Head of Affordable Housing Consultancy at Savills UK. Helen brokered and managed many ground-breaking stock rationalisation transactions and supported Homes England’s Strategic Partnership initiative. She led a multi-disciplinary team providing strategic advice to affordable housing stakeholders. Helen has long been a leading advocate for new ways of working and innovative partnerships to deliver new homes and investment in existing stock.
In her dual role at Avison Young, Helen will lead the firm’s affordable housing team, driving growth in services for key stakeholders, leveraging the firm’s expertise in development, regeneration and residential investment. She will also oversee Avison Young’s Midlands multi-disciplinary operations as Managing Director, building on its established track record of regional development and investment across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.
As a Fellow and Former President of the Chartered Institute of Housing and a Professional member of the RICS, Helen continues to highlight the opportunity of private capital and FPRP’s in working alongside Housing Associations and Local Authorities to extend sector capacity for investment and development.
Nick Walkley, Principal and UK President, Avison Young, said: “Helen brings a proven track record as an experienced leader, building high performing teams to deliver great value for affordable housing stakeholders. This appointment reflects our growth strategy for a new leading multi-disciplinary national affordable housing team, which will deliver great services to landlords, developers, lenders and investors.”
Helen Collins, Principal, National Lead for Affordable Housing and Managing Director of the Midlands region, Avison Young, said: “I look forward to bringing my experience of successful social and affordable housing delivery to this new role and championing the role partnerships can play. As a Midlander, I’m proud to join Avison Young’s Birmingham office, working with a multi-disciplinary commercial and residential team of over 200 experts with a 50-year track record of delivery in the region.”
Lee McBride and Rebecca Sherwin
Gateley Legal has bolstered its national real estate team with the appointment of Lee McBride as a partner at its Birmingham office.
McBride brings more than 30 years of commercial real estate and environmental law experience to the team. He joins following three years with Lodders Solicitors LLP, and prior to that spent 25 years at Gowling WLG. He was head of environmental law at both firms and has serviced a wide range of industries including retail, defence, automotive, residential and affordable housing, finance and industrial.
In his role at Gateley Legal, McBride’s expertise will enhance the company’s environmental offering across the commercial and residential property sectors, as well as supporting on corporate transactions and regulatory matters.
On his appointment, McBride said: “Gateley Legal’s real estate team is widely renowned for its leading position within the industry and experience of handling large deals and transactions, and I’m looking forward to getting involved with an array of matters. It’s great to be back in Birmingham too amongst the business community I know so well.”
Rebecca Sherwin, partner and national head of real estate at Gateley Legal, comments: “We are delighted to have Lee join us in Birmingham. Lee brings valuable experience spanning a wide range of sectors and his due diligence and environmental expertise will not only develop our market leading real estate team but also provide support for our other property services and wider legal offering.”
Gateley Legal’s real estate team operates from offices in Birmingham, London, Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham and Belfast. Its experts advise on all aspects of commercial property development and real estate finance transactions for both national and regional developers.
