Philip Matthews
Non-Executive Board Member
Philip joined Wedlake Bell in 1982, having trained and qualified at Penningtons. He became a partner in 1986 and was managing partner of Wedlake Bell between April 2008 and November 2011. During his period as managing partner, he led the conversion of Wedlake Bell to LLP status and initiated the discussions which led to the Firm’s merger with Cumberland Ellis in 2012.
Philip’s main area of expertise is as a commercial real estate lawyer advising on all aspects of general commercial property work, including acquisitions, disposals and lettings. He has particular expertise in dealing with property development and joint ventures, including devising appropriate structures for both tax and commercial issues; property finance, including senior debt and forward funding, and property insolvency issues. Philip is also one of the team’s advisers on contaminated land issues. Philip’s practice now includes the taking of fixed charged (‘LPA’) receivership appointments in respect of distressed real estate assets (including shops, shopping centres, office blocks business parks and industrial sites) and regularly advises other receivers on legal issues relating to receiverships.
Philip’s experience includes:
- Dealing with the acquisition, funding joint venture and refinancing issues relating to Pioneer Point in Ilford, one of the tallest residential developments in the UK;
- Preliminary work in connection with one of the largest regeneration schemes in Central London;
- A joint venture with a registered social landlord in connection with a series of mixed use developments;
- Senior debt financing on Wandsworth Riverside Quarter.
- Acquiring head office premises in Mayfair;
- Preparing a series of asset management agreements in respect of distressed real estate assets located in Germany;
- Devising a comprehensive restructuring of the ownership of a leasehold shopping centre in the West Midlands in receivership which enable a re-gearing of the headlease and a funding package to be entered into with the local authority and the existing lender enabling a major refurbishment of the centre to be carried out
- The sale of a major Business Park in the West Midlands for a figure in excess of £120 million
- Senior debt financing of a West-end hotel.
Philip is a member of NARA (the Fixed Charge Receivers Association), and was previously a Council Member and Director. He is a Registered Property Receiver (as administered by the Insolvency Practitioners Association). He has also taken and passed the Financial Times Non-Executive Directors Diploma.