Experienced real estate lender joins J3 to lead its Debt Advisory business, bringing more than 20 years of banking, property and finance experience to the firm
J3 Advisory has appointed Evan Griffin as managing director of Debt Advisory.
Griffin joins from Pluto Finance, where he was lending director for the Midlands and North, originating and structuring investment, development and bridging finance.
He brings more than 20 years’ experience in banking and property finance, including senior lending roles at Hampshire Trust Bank and United Trust Bank following 11 years with Lloyds Banking Group.
His experience spans build-to-sell, build-to-rent, PBSA, co-living, care & industrial development, with recent transactions representing more than £130m of funding, including a £44m build-to-sell development in Birmingham.
At J3, Griffin will lead the Debt Advisory business, working nationally with developers and investors on the structuring, sourcing and execution of property finance.
J3 was established in 2021 as a specialist structural warranty and latent defects insurance adviser. It has since broadened its capabilities across construction insurance, transactional risk and debt advisory while expanding its UK presence, with teams in London, Manchester and Scotland.
The firm has supported more than 1,000 property developments with a combined GDV exceeding £5.9bn.
Jack Bristow, managing director of J3 Advisory, said:
“We’ve known Evan for a number of years and know the calibre of lender he is. For us, this wasn’t simply about filling a role. We wanted someone who could bring genuine lending experience into the business and lead the next phase of Debt Advisory.
“Evan has spent much of his career making lending decisions and structuring property transactions. He understands what makes a deal fundable, what will concern a lender and where problems are likely to arise.
“We already work closely with developers, investors and lenders across the UK. Bringing Evan into the business means we can add that lender’s perspective to the advice we’re giving clients and build a serious debt advisory offering alongside the rest of J3.”
Commenting on his appointment Griffin said, “I’ve spent much of my career sitting on the lender’s side of the table, so I know what happens to a deal once it lands with a lender and, ultimately, with credit.
“You learn where the questions are going to come from, what will concern a lender and what can be dealt with before it becomes a problem. That can have a real bearing on the terms a borrower achieves and, just as importantly, the certainty of getting the funding in place.
“For me, good debt advice is about more than knowing which lenders are active. It’s understanding the deal properly, knowing how a lender will look at it and getting the structure right before you take it to market.
“J3 already has strong relationships with developers and lenders. There’s a real opportunity to bring my experience as a lender into those relationships and build a strong debt advisory business.”
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