Harper Macleod Appointed as Legal Adviser to River Clyde Homes

Leading Scottish commercial law firm Harper Macleod LLP has been appointed by Scotland's 3rd largest social landlord River Clyde Homes as their principal legal advisers.

The contract was awarded following a competitive tender exercise and incorporates the provision of property, employment and corporate and regulatory legal services.

Professor Lorne Crerar, Harper Macleod Chairman commented: "We are delighted to have been given this opportunity to work with River Clyde Homes over the coming years. The appointment is further evidence of the strength of our Housing & Community Development Practice Group and the depth of experience contained within it.

Karen Neary, Chief Executive of River Clyde Homes welcomed the appointment of Harper Macleod saying: "I know that we are looking forward to working with Harper Macleod to deliver a significant contribution to social housing in the West of Scotland. These are exciting times in Inverclyde and River Clyde Homes has a large part to play in the area's regeneration.'

Covering the Inverclyde area, River Clyde Homes is a new and exciting organisation that is committed to recognising and developing the communities with which it works. River Clyde Homes aims to engage with people and change how social landlords operate and are viewed. It plans to build 1050 new homes and spend ?83m on major repairs and investment over the next six years.

Harper Macleod has long been regarded as a leader in the field of social housing with Len Freedman and James McMorrow heading up the firm's prominent social housing practice.

Partner Len Freedman is a regular and well known speaker on a range of social housing and public sector issues. He is the Scottish legal correspondent of "Social Housing" magazine and "Housing Law Monitor" and his book "Affordable Housing Law in Scotland" is due to be published in Spring 2009.

The Group's expertise is backed by that of Professor Crerar whose "Independent Review of Regulation, Audit, Inspection and Complaints Handling of Public Services in Scotland" - The Crerar Review proposed the creation of the new Scottish Housing Regulator and its future scrutiny.