Jo Loake

Having worked for charities, third sector and social housing providers and other organisations in the sector all her legal career, Jo is an expert legal voice and a highly experienced lawyer in a wide range of business-critical governance, regulatory and constitutional areas.

Jo’s experience includes governance advice, policy and constitutional issues, identifying and mitigating risk, and advising on strategic projects such as stock transfers and group structures. She also has expertise in commercial contracts and partnering arrangements and complex negotiations, including with local authorities, third party solicitors and funders’ solicitors on contract terms, warranties, service level agreements, nominations, VAT sharing and VAT shelters.  Jo’s experience includes service level agreements between parties in relation to housing management matters, including supported and sheltered accommodation arrangements and services between charitable and non charitable organisations, as well as within group structures.

Jo also advises on a wide range of mergers, cost-sharing vehicles, JVs and other partnering arrangements, including JVs between charitable and private organisations, and also matters ranging from codes of conduct and board member service agreements to restructures, creating subsidiary organisations and intra-group arrangements.

Jo is at the cutting edge of developments in the regulatory environment, regularly speaking at seminars and conferences on changes affecting the sector. Jo regularly advises on the regulatory framework for registered providers in relation to policy matters, the rent standards and the application of the consumer standards, as well as issues around governance and financial viability as they relate to grading and governance.

Jo regularly advises charities on the governance of charities, from inception to ongoing management, policies and procedures and compliance with charity law and Charity Commission guidance and regulation. In particular Jo advises on risk management in relation to charitable objects, and decision making, constitutional matters and board roles and responsibilities.

Jo advises boards of registered providers, charities, educational establishments and other sector organisations regularly on project matters, as well as day-to-day aspects and risk management and decision making processes. Jo provides corporate governance and business advice with a specialism in charity and social housing law and regulation, which covers matters such as commerce, PR and trade, as part of understanding her clients’ business and the charity sector.

Jo also demonstrates authoritative thought leadership through her regular blogs and contributions to the housing press. Jo also contributed to the legal text Handbook of Co-operative and Community Benefit Society Law and is vice chair of the North West branch of the Chartered Institute of Housing.