Interview
Jackson O
ur sector is rebuilding and entering a new phase, ripe for investment and opportunity. It stands to reason, therefore, that its backing, potential for M&A, and regulation are all timely topics for conversation, and I could think of no one better to dive into them with than long-time Bridging & Commercial friend Ray Cohen, director at Jackson Cohen, and new friends Lee Doyle, partner, and Matt Pentecost, counsel, at law firm Ashurst. Ray has held several positions in the bridging space on behalf of lenders and associations and is widely considered the industry’s go-to consultant for regulatory matters. As well as acting as a conduit between the FCA and Treasury and the bridging world, he has been instrumental in assisting several well-known specialist finance providers, including Masthaven, Octane Capital and Market Financial Solutions, get things right. For the past few years, Ashurst—which has been involved in numerous high-profile transactions in the wider banking arena—has increasingly worked with bridging and commercial lenders, specialising in funding arrangements, risk and portfolio management. Upon first meeting Lee and Matt, it is clear that they have a passion for the future of this industry and the shape of things to come. And, tasked with advising on lenders’ loan books, they have a unique perspective on what is going on under the hood.
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