Bond Dickinson, Herbert Smith Freehills and Eversheds have taken lead roles on the £111m purchase of a south London property portfolio by joint venture Walworth Investment Properties. 

The 50:50 venture, set up between property investors Grainger and Dorrington, was created to acquire the residential portfolio from Grainger itself. 

A large team from Herbert Smith Freehills advised Dorrington, including corporate partner David Paterson, real estate partner Martin Dawbney, finance partner Ewen Fergusson, employment partner Peter Frost, and tax partners Will Arrenberg and Neil Warriner.

Newly merged Bond Dickinson advised Grainger with a team led by head of residential real estate Nigel Emmerson, while Eversheds advised HSBC – which provided a debt facility of £60m for the joint venture – with banking and finance partner David Boyd in the lead role. 

Emmerson said: "Since Grainger took over full ownership of this portfolio in 2011, it has generated a 36% return on its equity investment. We hope this new venture with Dorrington will help maximise longer-term returns on the portfolio."

The portfolio comprises 598 residential units and two commercial units, and produces gross rental income of approximately £6m per annum.