International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has appointed Richard Sharpe as a partner in its Residential team, based in the firm's Leeds office.
Richard joins WBD on 27 July as a nationally recognised affordable housing lawyer, bringing more than two decades of experience advising registered providers and other housing sector clients on complex residential development, stock rationalisation, disposals, intra-group transfers and social housing finance matters.
His appointment further strengthens WBD's affordable housing and wider Living sector capability at a time of significant opportunity for the market, following the Government's long-term grant funding commitments, increased institutional investment in affordable homes and the continued national focus on addressing the shortage of affordable housing.
Richard's arrival also provides partner-level leadership for WBD's growing Residential team in Leeds, where the firm already has an established group of residential specialists advising on major development and affordable housing projects across Yorkshire and nationally.
Richard Sharpe said:
"WBD has an outstanding reputation in the residential and Living sectors, with a strong national platform and a clear ambition to grow its affordable housing practice. This is a particularly important moment for the sector, with long-term funding certainty and growing investor appetite creating real opportunities for registered providers to deliver more homes. I'm excited to be joining the team in Leeds and to work with colleagues across the firm to support clients on the development, funding and delivery of much-needed affordable housing."
Julia Thomson, partner in WBD's Residential team, commented:
"Richard is a highly respected affordable housing lawyer whose experience and client relationships will be a real asset to our team. His expertise across both development work and social housing finance complements our existing strengths and will help us respond to increasing client demand in this important part of the market. His appointment also gives us senior partner presence within our Leeds Residential team, supporting our continued growth across Yorkshire and nationally."
Richard, who joins WBD from Sharpe Pritchard, has advised social housing clients since 2003, with particular experience acting for registered providers on site acquisitions, disposals and strategic portfolio work. He also has specialist expertise in affordable housing securitisation, including the charging aspects required to secure loan facilities, bond issues, private placements and other capital markets products.
WBD's Residential team is one of the largest of its kind in the UK and supports clients across the Living sector, including housebuilders, registered providers, land promoters, build to rent, private rented sector, later living and purpose-built student accommodation projects.
The appointment underlines WBD's commitment to investing in its Living sector strategy and expanding its affordable housing expertise to support clients as they navigate evolving funding, regulatory and development opportunities across the UK.
Richard's arrival follows a series of recent strategic appointments at WBD, including David Varney, who joined as a partner in the firm's Bristol office at the beginning of July to strengthen its national digital practice, and Andrew Yates, who joined the London office in March as Head of Living Capital to support the continued growth of WBD's Living sector offering.
