HCR Law expands London office with senior hire in Real Estate Finance leadership team

HCR Law has welcomed real estate finance expert Rachel Coulthard as a Partner in its Real Estate Team.

Rachel will be based at HCR Law’s international headquarters in the heart of the City of London.

Following years of experience in commercial and residential property acting on acquisitions and disposals as well as a full range of landlord and tenant matters, Rachel now specialises in real estate finance where she has acted for a full range of lenders including banks (challenger and high street), bridging lenders, private and family offices and development finance providers.

Her appointment brings HCR Law’s Real Estate Team to 26 fee earners, of which five are partners – all women.

Clare Day, Head of Financial Services Sector at HCR Law, said: “The UK’s real estate finance sector is seeing a strong resurgence driven by stabilising interest rates, lower inflation and a rise in lending. Rachel’s expertise will significantly add to our capabilities in this sector where we are seeing a lot more activity.

“Her appointment coincides with this year’s International Women’s Day on March 8, giving us the opportunity to celebrate women in our industry and our all-female Real Estate Finance (REF) leadership team, which also includes Partners Kelly Davies (Head of the REF team), Emme Raynsford and Lucie Byron, who joined following Midlands law firm Wright Hassall joining with us last November.”

The latest expansion has taken HCR Law to more than 1,000 people across 13 offices in England and Wales and to a turnover of around £112m.

Rachel said: “As a top 50 firm, HCR Law has enjoyed significant growth over the last few years and its values match mine in terms of being approachable as well as commercially minded to achieve the best for clients.

“I am also known for my support of women in real estate finance. While numbers are growing, we are still underrepresented in the sector, and I continue to push for gender equality in this field.”

[Photo caption] Back row L-R: Rachel Coulthard with Lucie Byron and Emme Raynsford. Front row L-R: Clare Day and Kelly Davies