Clarke Willmott’s national housebuilder team is one of the largest of its kind in the UK. The team provides specialist support to a diverse group of UK housebuilders including 3 of the Top 5 UK housebuilders; Barratt Redrow, Vistry and Persimmon, as well as for a number of SME developers.
We spoke to partner, and head of Clarke Willmott’s bespoke SME housebuilder offering, Nicola Sutton to learn more about the team’s areas of expertise and how they work together to provide exceptional legal care to our clients.
How do you support SME housebuilder clients?
We provide a tailored legal service designed to meet the unique needs of SME housebuilders. Whether you’re an established developer or an emerging SME, our specialist team offers support across acquisitions, planning, environmental law, construction, finance, and dispute resolution.
With a proven track record of supporting SMEs, we are committed to providing practical solutions that enable housebuilders to achieve their goals while maintaining their reputation and legacy within the communities they build. Clarke Willmott is more than just a legal partner -we are invested in our clients’ success, every step of the way.
What can Clarke Willmott offer clients?
With a deep understanding of the challenges SME housebuilders face, including financial constraints, reputation management, and regulatory complexities. Clarke Willmott provides comprehensive support from project inception to completion. Leveraging expertise across the property lifecycle, we guide developers through every stage of development, offering tailored legal assistance for single acquisitions or dedicated teams managing full-scale projects. Our national, multi-service approach ensures a strategy that is both detail-focused and robust, empowering businesses to navigate complexities with confidence.
We understand that housebuilders operate in a highly competitive market and require agile, strategic legal solutions. That’s why we’ve developed a bespoke SME action plan focusing on the individual needs of SME housebuilders, ensuring legal services are structured to help them achieve long-term growth.
From first-time developments to large-scale projects, we handle everything from land purchases to regulatory compliance and post-sale matters – offering solutions that safeguard businesses and maximise profitability.
Our national reach, combined with our industry experience, allows us to act as an extension of our clients’ teams, providing proactive advice that protects their interests and streamlines the development process.
How do you work with other teams across the firm to support clients?
Clarke Willmott prides itself on being a fully integrated, cross-disciplinary firm. Housebuilding involves a multitude of legal factors, which is why we bring together experts from across the firm to support individual client needs.
Our partner-led team of commercial property solicitors is one of the largest in the UK. Operating across England and Wales, the team provides the expertise of more than 100 lawyers who advise at every stage of the commercial property lifecycle. Our Home Sales team has a long history of acting for both housebuilders and registered providers in new homes sales, meaning that we are able to bring to clients this knowledge and experience to ensure that sales are effectively managed in the most efficient way and within specified timeframes.
We regularly bring in planning and environment specialists to advise on strategic land acquisition, environmental regulations, and infrastructure agreements, meanwhile our construction team provides guidance on contract negotiations, warranties, and dispute resolution.
Our banking and finance sector experts provide specialist legal advice, combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the property market. We focus on development finance, guiding housebuilders and lenders through complex financial arrangements with a proactive, commercial approach. Our procurement team provides specialist guidance on public procurement and subsidy control, offering bid support, joint venture structuring, and compliance advice for public contracts.
Additionally, SME housebuilders often require support beyond property law. Our employment team advises on workforce management, TUPE regulations, and disputes, while our corporate and commercial experts support partnerships, joint ventures, financing, and compliance.
By seamlessly collaborating across legal disciplines, we provide holistic support that helps housebuilders navigate complex regulatory landscapes while maintaining efficiency and profitability.
Why choose Clarke Willmott’s housebuilder team?
SME housebuilders are a vital part of the housing sector, and Clarke Willmott is committed to fostering their growth. What sets us apart is our deep industry knowledge, strategic approach, and dedication to client success.
Our flexible fee structures reflect the realities of housebuilding finance, offering bespoke payment options that fit each client’s needs. Our partner-led approach means clients benefit from senior-level expertise at every stage of development. Additionally, our national coverage ensures that housebuilders receive localised support with the backing of a full-service, multi-sector legal firm.
Whether handling development financing, regulatory approvals, construction contracts, land acquisitions, or commercial disputes, our expertise ensures that SME housebuilders can navigate challenges confidently and focus on what they do best – building homes and creating thriving communities.
How can clients get in touch with Clarke Willmott’s housebuilder experts?
Our bespoke SME housebuilder service, led by partner Nicola Sutton, is designed to deliver expert legal guidance with strategic, tailored solutions. To speak with Nicola, Ariaan Wilson, or another member of our housebuilder sector team, please call 0800 652 8025 or send an enquiry online.
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