The Firm
Built on conviction. Sustained by performance.
Hansbridge was founded in 2008 with a single belief: that London residential property, managed with institutional discipline, is one of the most reliable stores of private wealth available.
Our History
Eighteen years of navigating London's residential market.
Hansbridge was established in 2008 — at the height of the financial crisis — by James Hartwell, who had spent fifteen years in institutional real estate and believed the dislocation presented a generational acquisition opportunity for patient, well-capitalised investors.
That founding conviction — that quality residential assets in the right London locations will always find demand — has guided every investment decision since. We have grown from a single mandate of £12m to over £2.4bn under management, without ever compromising the selectivity that defines our approach.
Today, Hansbridge manages residential portfolios for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and a small number of institutional clients who value discretion, alignment, and consistent long-term performance above all else.
Hansbridge founded by James Hartwell with an initial mandate of £12m.
Assets under management exceed £100m. First institutional client mandate secured.
Expansion into Prime Outer London strategy. Team grows to 12 professionals.
Launch of the Emerging Residential strategy. AUM surpasses £500m.
Navigated COVID-19 market dislocation with zero forced disposals. Client retention 100%.
Assets under management reach £2.4bn across 340+ residential properties.
The Team
Principals with institutional pedigree.
James Hartwell
Managing Director & Founder
James founded Hansbridge in 2008 following fifteen years in institutional real estate at Goldman Sachs and Savills. He oversees investment strategy and client relationships, and has personally led over £800m in residential transactions across London.
MSc Real Estate Finance, Cass Business School
MRICS
Former VP, Goldman Sachs Real Estate
Sophie Alderton
Investment Director
Sophie joined Hansbridge in 2012 and leads portfolio construction and asset management. Her background spans residential development finance at Barclays and acquisitions at a leading London property family office.
BA Economics, Oxford
CFA Charterholder
Former Associate Director, Barclays Real Estate
Marcus Reid
Head of Acquisitions
Marcus leads the acquisitions team, responsible for sourcing and underwriting all new investments. He brings deep knowledge of the London residential market from a decade at Knight Frank and Strutt & Parker.
BSc Land Management, Reading
MRICS
Former Partner, Knight Frank Residential
Our Values
The principles that guide every decision.
Discretion
Client affairs are handled with absolute confidentiality. We do not discuss mandates, returns, or client identities without explicit consent.
Alignment
Our principals invest alongside clients in every strategy. We have no incentive to recommend what we would not own ourselves.
Rigour
Every decision is evidence-based and stress-tested. We do not act on instinct alone — we act on data, analysis, and experience.
Long-term thinking
We measure success over years and decades, not quarters. Our client relationships average over nine years in duration.
£2.4bn
Assets Under Management
Across residential strategies
9.2 yrs
Average Client Tenure
Relationships built on performance
100%
Client Retention 2020
Through COVID-19 market dislocation
Work With Us
We accept a limited number of new client mandates each year.
If you are considering a residential investment mandate and believe our approach aligns with your objectives, we welcome a confidential initial conversation.