|
Company
and Commercial
As
business legal advisors our aim is to turn new clients into long-term
clients. We bring to our clients our collective experience in dealing
with practical commercial issues and a wide scope of transactions,
whether cross-border or domestic, from start-ups to corporate structures.
The
principal areas of our advice are as follows:-
- Creation
of new business structures,
- Merging,
buying and selling companies and businesses,
- Shareholders’
issues requiring written agreements,
- Appointment
of commercial agents,
- Distribution
and supply of goods and services,
- Creation
of franchise outlets,
- Transport
and sale of goods across international borders,
- Leasing
agreements and the factoring of debts,
- Terms
and conditions for the sale of goods,
- Guarantees,
pledges, letter of comfort and bank security documentation,
- Internet
and software agreements,
- Project
finance and building construction documentation
Recent
matters
Advising
and negotiating on e-procurement framework agreement with HM Treasury.
Advising on project finance for the refurbishment of a power station
in Czech Republic.
Setting up walk-on 24 hour shuttle bus services from major airports
to city centres.
Setting up and advising on hedge fund company structures.
Advising on the disposal and acquisition of businesses in the industrial
and service sectors.
Advising on property investment company structures.
Company
Secretarial Service
We
also operate a dedicated and professional company secretarial service,
which offers a range of services including:
- UK
company formations,
- UK
and overseas company searches and reports,
- Nominee
Company Secretarial Services, including the maintenance of company's
statutory records,
- Registered
office services,
- Carrying
out other statutory compliance requirements,
- Settlement
of trusts,
- Offshore
incorporations
Commercial
Dispute Resolution
We
believe our primary role is to seek to identify potential areas
of conflict and to deal with such areas before litigation is commenced.
We are conscious that litigation is frequently a time-consuming
and expensive distraction from business.
At the same time, we have the experience and commitment if proceedings
are to be commenced to protect our client's interests as fully as
possible.
The Commercial Dispute Resolution Department has significant experience
in a broad range of commercial cross-border matters through litigation,
arbitration and dispute resolution. It has particular experience
in insolvency and jurisdictional issues. A number of successful
recent decisions have been reported in the legal press.
The
principle areas of our advice are as follows:
- General
commercial debt recovery matters,
- Insurance
and banking litigation,
- International
contractual disputes/insolvency matters,
- Intellectual
property disputes,
- Construction
litigation,
- Product
liability issues,
- Property
litigation,
- Probate
litigation,
- Loan
recoveries/fraud
Recent
Matters
Advising
a South American subsidiary of an Italian client on a substantial
retention of title claim concerning goods situated in Thailand.
Obtaining
judgement at trial (reported) concerning directors' personal liability
on presented and unpresented cheques.
Assisting
ex-directors in potentially large unfair prejudice claim against
current company directors.
Advising
intermediary in claim for commission due in purchase agreement for
controlling interest in an Italian football club.
Advising
and assisting a major internet hotel agency in wide ranging debt
recovery.
Assisting
clients in intellectual property claims on a range of products from
garments to furniture.
Property
Our
Property Team has extensive City gained experience in providing
legal advice concerning the acquisition, disposal, development,
leasing and sub-leasing of offices, shops, industrial and other
commercial premises. We frequently advise upon the substantial differences
between English property laws and those of Europe. We have substantial
expertise in explaining the frequently contrasting differences.
The
Team handles a wide range of commercial property transactions for
large and small companies as well as private individuals. In particular,
we provide advice in the following areas:
- Landlord
and Tenant,
-
Portfolio
Disposals and Acquisitions,
- Development,
- Corporate,
- Property
Finance
Recent
Transactions
Recent
transactions include acting on behalf of an Italian Government Body
in relation to the negotiation and grant of commercial lease of prime office space in central London.
Negotiation
and grant of underlease of retail premises in New Bond Street, London
on behalf of a leading Italian retailer.
Acquisition
of UK based property portfolio of £2.5m on behalf of Italian
based investors.
Negotiation
of a joint venture agreement to develop UK hospital premises and
construction of an adjoining car park on behalf of Italian based PFI bidders.
Negotiation
of Forward Funding Development Agreement and Purchase Contract in
the sum of £6.5m on behalf of Italian based Transport Company
in relation to UK distribution centres.
Trusts
The
firm offers advice on setting up and operating UK and overseas trusts.
One of our partners regularly contributes to legal journals on trust
issues. Partners of the firm have also lectured regularly on the
subject.
Most
commercial transactions raise tax issues. We understand the needs
of our clients (whether corporate or individual) operating in an
international context requiring international and trust law advice.
Taxation
and Private Client
The firm has significant experience in advising upon UK and international
tax and tax planning both for individuals and for companies.
Charities
The
firm advises upon the establishment of both UK and overseas charities.
The firm in particular advises on the different types of constitution
of charities and all other operational and commercial issues faced
by charities. We often advise trustees as to the extent and nature
of their duties, responsibilities and powers. We work closely with
the Charity Commission and the tax authorities in order to address
any issues, enquiries or investigations affecting a charity.
Recent
cases
Advising
on registration of a charity and dealing with all relevant aspects.
Redrafting
and ammending constitutional documents of a charity.
Employment
We
have a strong track record of advising both employers and employees
on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious issues.
Our
employment team is fully integrated into our company/commercial
department. We offer our clients solutions and business advice on
problems in a practical and efficient way from routine HR issues
to the most complex of employment matters.
The
principle areas of advice are as follows:
-
Employment contracts (including directors' service agreements),
- Offer
letters,
- Employment
policies and procedures, including staff handbooks,
- Consultancy
agreements,
-
Termination/compromise agreements,
- Unfair
dismissal,
-
Redundancy,
- Maternity
and parental rights,
- Working
time regulations,
- Disciplinary
matters and grievances,
-
Restrictive covenants,
- TUPE,
- Day
to day advice on HR issues,
- Litigation
in the Employment Tribunal, High Court and County Court for
unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, discrimination, redundancy,
whistle blowing and contract disputes.
Recent
matters
Negotiating
a severance package for a director of a plc company.
Advising
a client on the terms of a compromise agreement and negotiating
an increase in the financial settlement.
Advising
a corporate client on a redundancy programme in respect of closure
of a business.
Italian Law
The
Italian Department advises English and Italian companies, English
law firms and individuals upon civil and commercial Italian law.
The
principle areas of advice are:
- Drafting
and advising in Italian and in English on Italian law relating
to agency, distribution and sale of goods,
- Advising
on the creation of new business structures, joint ventures and
company matters, including acquisitions and corporate restructuring
in Italy,
- Advising
on Italian probate and inheritance issues,
- Advising
on the purchase of property in Italy,
- Acting
as Court appointed experts on aspects of Italian civil and commercial
law and private international law.
Recent
cases
Advising
and negotiating a multi-jurisdictional licence agreement governed
by Italian law on behalf of a UK company concerning a patent registered
by an Italian company.
Advising
a leading UK law firm on the effects of termination of a distribution
agreement and agency subject to Italian law.
Advising
a UK law firm on the effects of a Deed of Variation for the purpose
of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 under Italian law.
Assisting
a client through the process of purchasing a substantial villa
under construction in Italy.
Acting
as expert or joint expert in litigation on matters of private
international law, the law of contract and tort governed by Italian
law.
Italian
Property
We
advise clients on all the issues involved and explain the entire
process of buying a property in Italy. We provide an explanation
of Italian property law and procedure and assist the buyer from
the start up to completion.
It
is crucial that any prospective buyer of Italian property seeks
legal advice before signing any contract, offer or proposal. Addressing
legal issues that may arise in the early stages can save a significant
amount of time and money.
Quality
and Standards
The
underlying principle is one of professional expertise, coupled with
a personal and informal but effective service. The firm seeks to
deliver quality advice at a very substantially less cost than other
City firms offering a comparable quality of advice and service.
We have underpinned our commitment to quality by achieving certification
of the Law Society's quality assurance programme "Lexcel".
Our
Charges
Our
charges are mainly calculated with reference to the time engaged
in a matter by a Partner. The rates are reviewed from time to time,
and certain other aspects of a case may be taken into account in
the calculation of the professional fees (these factors have a statutory
basis), the difficulty of the matter, the skill and specialist knowledge
used, the urgency of the matter and the value of the matter. Usually
an estimate of the fees will be given. You will also be charged
for expenses incurred on your behalf.
Where
matters are likely to be protracted it is normal practice to request
clients make payments from time to time on account of anticipated
costs and expenses. We have found that clients find this is also
useful since it provides a clearer idea of the costs of a matter.
For
further details please contact
us or alternatively, you may email
us.
|