HSBC’s UK real estate finance head to join JCRA

HSBC’s UK head of real estate finance, Shripal Shah, is joining JC Rathbone Associates to help beef up the firm’s real estate debt advisory business.

Shah will join JCRA in August, becoming director of real estate debt advisory as part of an expansion of the team.

Last year JCRA linked up with Laxfield Capital to advise borrowers on sourcing debt capital saying the combination of the two companies’ skills was “a powerful resource for borrowers”.

But this year, both parties decided to pursue debt advisory work separately rather than proceed to a business merger, and the JCRA Laxfield association was disbanded.

Jackie Bowie, JCRA’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to attract someone of Shripal’s calibre to join what is already a very strong team. The depth of understanding and sector knowledge he brings further enhances our ability to provide quality independent advice that’s tailored to the needs of our clients.”

Shah has been at HSBC for 12 years where he was head of real estate finance for the UK and the Middle East. He has recently worked on a number of large deals, including the club of four banks which provided £620 million last year for Canary Wharf Group’s first residential phase at Wood Wharf in London Docklands.

He was also involved in Brookfield and Asian investor Concord Pacific’s £244 million joint venture to develop Principle Place Tower on the north eastern edge of the City.

JCRA, which provides hedging and finance advice in real estate and other sectors including energy, recently took on Canaccord Genuity’s eight-strong social housing and bond advisory business.

The expansion takes JCRA’s European client relationship team to over 50 people.