Griffin joins J3 as MD of debt advisory
Evan Griffin has been appointed managing director of debt advisory at specialist advice firm J3, bringing over two decades of experience to the role.
He has worked across banking, property and finance, including senior lending roles at Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) and United Trust Bank (UTB), as well as 11 years with Lloyds Banking Group.
Griffin’s experience spans build to sell, build to rent, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA), co-living, care and industrial development.
At J3, Griffin will lead its debt advisory business and work with developers and investors on the structuring, sourcing and execution of property finance.
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.”
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Griffin added: “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.”
