In the spotlight: Rob Ridd
As part of our Autumn 2021 Social Housing Newsletter we get to know Corporate Partner, Rob Ridd.
Name: Rob Ridd
Job Title: Partner
Area of expertise: Corporate law
Has worked at Clarke Willmott for: 11 years
What kind of things can you help your clients with?
On the general corporate side, I can help with all and any matters that might affect a company from cradle to grave; whether that be incorporation and start-up funding, shareholder and constitutional matters, acquisitions and disposals, through to reorganisations and dissolutions. Within the social housing sector, I assist RPs with anything related to governance, structure and duties, ownership and dealing in assets, and with the corporate aspects of funding and investment.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Meeting and getting to understand interesting clients, getting involved with complex, fulfilling work, trying to explain complicated legalese in plain English (really, I like the challenge…). Most of all though, it is the culture at Clarke Willmott – supportive, friendly and putting people at the heart of what we do; both in terms of our workforce and clients.
What work challenges have you faced recently?
Getting to grips with the pandemic was a challenge for everyone, and everyone had their own problems to deal with. In the legal profession, some of ours were around the fact that some legal processes demanded in-person attendance and didn’t use available technologies – for example, signing and witnessing documents. Luckily, investment in those technologies has come to the rescue – for example, video calls and electronic signatures. Clarke Willmott was ahead of the curve in adopting much of the new technology early on, but the need for a quick transition was still a challenge.
What is your top tip for clients at the moment?
Take notice of ESG matters, in particular documenting your credentials. RPs don’t generally need to be told to take notice of their social impact – it’s intrinsic to the sector. However, the funding market is becoming increasingly interested in these matters, in order to sell ESG products. All RPs should ensure they have audited their governance provision to ensure it is fit-for-purpose and hitting the right requirements for ESG reporting purposes.
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