Darren Hooker
Partner
Experience
Darren is a partner and head of our Social Housing Governance Team based in London. Darren specialises in advising RPs, public sector bodies and charities on corporate governance and regulatory issues.
Expertise
Darren has a particular expertise in corporate restructuring, including the establishment of new entities, the consolidation of groups and the merger of organisations. Darren has worked on many of the biggest mergers within the social housing sector.
Darren is a frequent speaker at some of the biggest conferences in the Social Housing calendar and has authored several publications, including an essential guide to the Social Housing (Regulation Act) 2023.
Notable projects
- Significant experience advising on a number of RP mergers, including for G15 members. Advising on all corporate aspects and project management including in relation to legal due diligence ahead of merger.
- Advice on a wide range of group restructures, including intragroup consolidations of significant RP groups, incorporation of unincorporated bodies and conversions from a charitable company into a community benefit society.
- Advice on other corporate structuring arrangements such as the establishment of trading subsidiaries, development companies, design and build companies and cost sharing vehicles. Includes related governance advice on potential issues such as vires and charitable investment rules.
- A wide range of regulatory advice, such as in relation to self-referrals to the Regulator of Social Housing, serious incident reports to the Charity Commission and advice around tenant engagement structures and compliance with the regulatory standards.
Publications
An essential guide to the Social Housing (Regulation Act) 2023.
Admitted as a Solicitor
2011
Memberships
Charity Law Association
