Bridging Finance Solutions

BFS has appointed Angela Jones   as a business development manager for the North West.

Part of her role will be to educate customers on the varied and flexible uses of bridging finance.

She joins the business from NatWest, where she worked as a private banking relationship manager for over 30 years.

Angela brings a wealth of personal finance experience to the role, having developed strong relationships with a vast professional network of individuals and businesses during her career. 

“This is a significant and important move for me, having worked within the banking industry for so many years,” she said.

“The changing nature of the sector, however, means that the cultivation of personal relationships that where once considered so important are being replaced by automation and online processing. 

“While BFS is undoubtedly tech driven, a recognition of one-to-one service and building lasting relationships remains a priority, which I believe is incredibly important.

“BFS is growing quickly and it’s great to be part of this exciting enterprise. 

“Even while expansion is underway, the firm’s values remain the same and BFS undoubtedly owns a strong family-driven ethos and one that is built on relationships, both in-house and externally.”

Steve Barber, managing director at BFS, added: "Angie owns a vast amount of experience within the banking and wider finance industry. 

“I believe that she is ready for a fresh challenge, working with a new product that is not available to customers on the high street.”

ThinCats

ThinCats has appointed James Osbiston as a BDM for the London and South East regional team.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the execution of lending transactions within the business community and private equity backed acquisitions.

James — who is a CFA charter holder — has over 12 years of experience in financial services and joins the company from Clydesdale Bank, where he most recently supported the origination of leveraged finance clients.

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Prior to this, he held roles at BNY Mellon and High Alert Capital Partners. 

“I have watched from the outside and seen the kinds of businesses that ThinCats is supporting, and I am excited to be in a position to help mid-sized SMEs, when many other lenders just don’t have the ability or understanding to provide funding for them,” said James.

Mike Hackett, head of business development at ThinCats, commented: “We are very pleased to be welcoming James to the team.  

“He joins just at the right time to help us support the huge number of businesses that are seeing light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and really beginning to focus on growth and acquisitions.  

“He will be an asset to the team, and we are looking forward to having him on board.”

Lawrence Stephens

Lawrence Stephens has appointed Ausra Kaminskaite as a senior associate solicitor in its expanding real estate finance and banking team.

She brings a wealth of experience to the group, having acted for lenders, borrowers and investors on the full spectrum of real estate finance transactions, including secured lending, refinancing, investment and development finance. 

Bridging finance is one of Ausra’s key areas of interest, and she has recently worked for a number of bridging lenders on a variety of complex transactions.  

She also has experience handling a range of commercial real estate transactions, including all aspects of landlords and tenants, acquisitions, disposals, lettings, leasehold renewals and transfers of portfolios to corporate structures.

Ausra joins the law firm from Harold Benjamin.

Prior to this, she held positions at numerous other law companies, including DWFM Beckham, Gordon Dadds, and Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP.

Commenting on her appointment, Ausra said: “I am very excited to join Lawrence Stephens’ esteemed real estate finance and banking department and I aim to use my considerable experience and expertise in secured lending to enhance the team’s continued success in 2021.”

Steven Bernstein, senior director at Lawrence Stephens, added: “Ausra’s impressive background in negotiating complex refinance, bridging and investment finance transactions for a range of high-profile lender and borrower clients will certainly enable us to continue delivering quality, specialist legal services for our ever-growing list of real estate finance clients.”