Chris Brierley

Housing finance

Chris has particular experience in financing in the social housing sector. He has advised one of the largest registered providers of social housing in the sector, Sanctuary Housing Association for over 20 years on all of its financings including on all of its listed bond issues, listed real estate investment trust Triple Point Social Housing REIT plc on all of their debt work, for insurers including Pension Corporation on long dated index linked debt to Welsh and English registered housing associations and for major clearing banks on term and revolving loans to registered providers of social housing. He has demonstrated thought leadership in the sector including advising another clearing bank around issues of funding modular housing.

Renewable energy

Chris has been involved in this sector for many years including working back in 2012 for lenders and sponsors in subsidised solar and wind including acting for Legal & General and Pension Corporation on a number of fixed interest loan transactions including Malina Financing 2013(No.1) plc, for the investors in Npower Community Solar plc, the securitisation vehicle for the income stream off a social housing rooftop portfolio originally owned by Gentoo Sunderland, more recently working for Primrose Solar to debt finance a number of its 15 solar farm developments, for Ecotricity on a portfolio of wind farms financed by L&G and in 2021 acting for AIB Group (UK) plc on project financing seven hydro power schemes in Scotland.

Healthcare

Chris has covered this sector for many years ranging from the earlier days of NHS privatisation (including PFI) to working with a major clearing bank on developing its project finance light structure for funding development of large community healthcare hubs run by GP fund holders. He has also advised a major clearing bank in relation its development and investment finance facilities to Sunrise Senior Living and has advised HSBC Bank UK plc in relation to financing a number of care homes other care home developers. He has also advised other healthcare sponsors including Prime Plc in relation to its generation of NHS estate through "lease plus" agreements.

Student accommodation

Chris's experience includes acting for the funders on a number of large and complex schemes including sponsored by UPP Limited (Cartwright Gardens, Bloomsbury, London and Kent Turing College). This was established as a complex lease structure with the sponsoring university, with index linked long dated loans secured on income derived from student accommodation with the funder taking demand risk and the asset reverting to the sponsor at the end of the term. Chris has also acted for large sponsors in refinancing distressed student accommodation assets.

Recognition

"Chris Brierley possesses vast experience advising on a broad spectrum of banking and finance mandates, including restructurings."
Chambers 2022

"Practice head Chris Brierley has notable prowess in balance sheet corporate lending and off-balance sheet project financing which he supplements with strong sector-specific knowledge in the health, social housing, franchising and renewable energy fields."
Legal 500 2022 Leading Individual - Banking and Finance Midlands

"Practice head Chris Brierley, is experienced in senior debt financing and commercial paper programmes, advises large social housing providers and major clearance banks."
Legal 500 2022 - Social Housing Finance

"Commended for Banking and Finance."
Times Best Law Firms 2022.