Wragge & Co appointed to Circle Anglia's new legal panel

Wragge & Co LLP has boosted its social housing credentials with an appointment to Circle Anglia's new legal panel. It will advise the affordable housing provider, which manages more than 51,500 homes across the UK, on finance, employment, housing management and corporate work.

Residential development partner Duncan Murphy led a cross-firm team on the appointment. Social housing experts Jacqueline Knox and Mark Blair, corporate partner Peter Smith and associate Angela Boughton, employment partner Martin Chitty and commercial litigation associate Nicholas Cobill assisted. The firm will work closely with Circle Anglia's executive board and operational staff.

Duncan Murphy said: "Being appointed to Circle Anglia's legal panel is a tremendous opportunity. Our full-service expertise, enthusiasm and experience, plus our strong track record working with affordable housing providers, was key to the appointment. Experts from across the firm will work together to provide first-class advice and guidance on issues facing the social housing sector. We are really looking forward to getting started and working with Circle Anglia for many years to come."

Kai Boschmann, executive director of communications and governance at Circle Anglia, said: "We conducted this review to make sure that we have a value for money legal service which helps us to share learnings and expertise across the Group. The money saved from this process will help us to provide more services that enhance the life chances of our residents. We welcome Wragge & Co to the panel and hope that this will be the beginning of a long and successful relationship."

The Circle Anglia Group includes 11 partners, providing care and support services for more than 187,000 people across the UK. Together with eight registered providers, the Group manages homes across London, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Kent, Surrey, Essex and the West Midlands. It also has two support & care partners: EPIC Trust and Invicta Telecare, as well as Commercial Services Circle Anglia for shared ownership, market rent and private sale properties. Cobbetts, Devonshires and Trowers & Hamlins were also appointed to the panel.

Wragge & Co's social housing practice advises house builders, local authorities, housing associations and service providers. Working closely with experts in banking and finance, construction, corporate, dispute resolution, PFI and regeneration, and supported by more than 140 real estate experts, the team is ideally placed to provide timely and strategic advice across the whole affordable housing sector. Clients include Birmingham City Council, Bournville Village Trust, Croydon LBC, Hackney Homes and Sanctuary Housing Association.