We strengthen our funding offering

Full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau has bolstered its building communities offering with the appointment of experienced finance solicitor Jon Coane.

With more than 27 years’ post-qualified experience, Jon joins the firm as a partner following eight years at Anthony Collins Solicitors.

Throughout his career, Jon has focused on advising on loan finance that makes a difference to communities, such as building schools, recycling centres, and social housing.

He specialises in advising housing associations and not for profit organisations on the structuring and documentation of their funding, including bonds, private placements (UK and US), bank loan agreements, aggregators loans and social investment. He also advises funders, local authorities, infrastructure companies, and energy companies in relation to the structuring and documentation of their debt funding, including their funding for infrastructure projects, joint ventures and other transactions.

Jon, who is based in Birmingham but works with clients nationally, said: “I am extremely passionate about sustainability and, in particular, the creation of sustainable communities. With this in mind, I have spent a large part of my career helping with the funding of these communities, so Shakespeare Martineau’s building communities team is very inspiring and I am thrilled to be helping fulfil that vision.

“In addition, hearing about the direction of the firm as a whole was the icing on the cake – I believe that for a modern law practice to be successful, it has to be a sustainable, socially-responsible business, which Shakespeare Martineau is striving to achieve. I am looking forward to helping the firm reach its goal, while also growing the social housing practice and building communities team.”

Shakespeare Martineau’s social housing team is backed by specialists in residential and commercial development, planning and construction, as well as housing management, employment, finance and funding, and corporate and commercial law.

Rachel Gwynne, head of social housing at Shakespeare Martineau, said: “Jon joins the team to provide greater strength and depth to our finance offering for our social housing, public sector, and wider charity and not for profit clients, who will all benefit from his expansive experience in this specialised area of work.

“We have ambitious growth and expansion plans to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our clients. Jon’s arrival is part of the investment we are making in our social housing offering to drive forward our growth strategy.

“This enables us to work alongside our clients, providing pragmatic legal advice and innovative strategic thinking as they tackle some of society’s biggest challenges – from achieving net zero to increasing affordable housing supply – while delivering excellent landlord services to their customers.”

Shakespeare Martineau is proactively seeking talented people to join the firm on its growth journey, including mergers, team recruitment and lateral hires nationally.