Services

The management of assets can be fraught with complications. We help our clients by drafting and negotiating technical and commercial management agreements to safeguard the process and advise on all related contractual arrangements.

Our strong finance and corporate teams are well adept to working with clients on all aspects of the sale, purchase and financing of private and business assets. We have particular expertise in the aviation and shipping sectors (both in the commercial and private sphere), rail and equipment.

In this fast-paced and expanding industry, we offer a one-stop shop for lenders. We are there at inception and are able to draft a suite of master documents. We are also well placed to advise on the regulatory aspects at this stage. Furthermore, should you look to move from private funding to a ‘platform’, we can also advise on the legalities surrounding this. More fundamentally, we understand the nature of ‘bridging’ and are there to find quick commercial solutions rather than being another cog in the wheel.

Given our experience in acting for lenders, when acting for borrowers we are able to anticipate the lender’s requirements to ensure an expedient route to completion. We aim to be flexible on fees too.

With a wealth of experience working with clients in the asset finance area, we understand the importance of consumer credit to both businesses and financiers. We regularly draft regulated and unregulated arrangements and related security for both.

Regardless of the asset class or legal form, our team of advisers have the required know-how to guide clients efficiently through the complexity of rules and features relating to derivative products. We act for major financial institutions’ including large custody banks, SPVs, funds, asset managers, corporates and counterparties on derivatives, securities lending and associated products, as well as providing transactional support to City law firms. In addition, we are also well positioned to regularly provide clients with advice on structured products, depositary and custody services, and collateral management arrangements.

Finance documentation is often full of legal jargon. We are fully aware of the frustrations felt by our clients in this area and work closely with businesses and financiers on the drafting of all types of contractual arrangements for both new build and existing assets. We are also on hand to deal with any contractual enforcement advice if required.

Insurance and insurance related security is paramount to any business. Our asset finance team has a wealth of experience in guiding clients through the plethora of legalities surrounding insurance-related issues and regularly advises on undertakings, compliance, covenants, direct agreements, brokerage, underwriting and all other insurance-related matters.

The drafting of arrangements that relate and often dictate the relationship between different classes of creditors can be complicated. We work in tandem with our clients to ensure that the drafting of inter-creditor and ranking arrangements best suit their needs and take care of all aspects including formation, registration, deed of priorities, subordinated security, ranking enforcement and release.

We draft and negotiate agreements for the hire, leasing and maintenance of all types of assets from cars to computer equipment. Dependent on the needs of the individual client, we sometimes include optional provisions giving a lessee the right to purchase the equipment under a hire purchase arrangement for example.

As a cornerstone for the banking industry, property finance transactions are becoming progressively multifaceted. As a result, our clients require sophisticated, highly tailored techniques in order to respond to growing pressure. Our team combine expertise across the finance, real estate and tax sectors to provide bespoke solutions that address the issues faced by small and large institutions.

Requirements from clients relating to asset and security registration is a constantly changing landscape. To further complicate matters these requirements differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Our team of experts guide their clients through the maze of chargor and chargee registration and related release of security issues that arise with the likes of Companies House, MCS, CAA, and other national and international registration authorities where necessary.

Regulatory requirements from bodies such as the Finance and Leasing Association are intensive. We advise clients on a daily basis on all regulatory matters that they are required to undertake at home or abroad and any pending changes to these that may be underway. We advise on all areas including compliance, disclosure and interpretation.

Revolving credit facilities can provide an ideal hybrid solution between short- and long-term lending, but the increased complexity requires careful management and drafting to ensure that it is fit for purpose. We assist clients with the establishment, renegotiation and restructuring of revolving facilities as well as providing advice on ongoing compliance and management of such facilities.

With a thorough understanding of their finance needs, we advise our clients on all areas in relation to their security documentation from charges to pledges, mortgages to lens and assignments including all issues relation to ranking, registration, priority and discharge.

Having guided our clients through the process of securing loans we are also in a position to help them enforce this security in the event of an insolvency. We regularly advise on issues such as mortgagee in possession, distressed asset sales, voluntary and involuntary insolvencies and administrations.

We understand the frustrations that can be caused to a business and to creditors when they are owed debt and the stresses put on debtors to pay this back. We work flexibly and sensitively with clients to ensure that the process of recovering outstanding monies and the maintenance of routine recovery action is done appropriately and in accordance with the stipulations of regulators when required.

It has never been more important for businesses to conduct themselves and structure their financial products in compliance with the myriad of governmental regulations that affect them. Our diverse client base means that we are well placed to advise on every type of structured bond or financing transaction. We are also able to draw on cross-border and multi-jurisdictional experience where required.

Whether an agency is looking for an advertising agency agreement drafted between itself and a client or input vis-à-vis comparative advertising, product placement, sponsorship and merchandising; or a trader seeking guidance on digital and direct marketing, advertising to children or using ‘green claims’ for environmental adverts we work hand in hand with our clients to provide expert advice in relation to the plethora of legal requirements in relation to their work.

With an acute understanding of the differences between the roles of the agent and the distributor, we have vast experience in drafting both agency and distributor agreements. We guide our clients through issues such as ‘sole’, ‘exclusive’ and ‘non-exclusive’ arrangements where necessary; and work closely with them to understand their business needs in order to advise them on associated competition law implications and the relative merits and/ or disadvantages of appointing an agent or distributor to increase sales.

The introduction of the Bribery Act 2010 has seen an increased number of businesses and individuals investigated and sometimes prosecuted in relation to issues of bribery. We work closely with organisations to ensure that they do not fall foul to an investigation by helping to implement adequate procedures in to their businesses. Our team of experts are also highly experienced in successfully advising clients, both businesses and individuals, who have been the subject of such investigations.

We work closely with our clients and ensure to understand their individual business needs. Equipped with this understanding we are placed in a strong position to guide and advise them through the drafting of collaboration agreements when they choose to work with another party on a commercial project.

Our team of diligent experts works closely with clients to fully grasp their business plans. We have significant experience in reviewing and auditing both existing and prospective contracts in order to identify any omissions and areas of legal concerns. We take on projects on a one-off basis where clients require specific agreements or clauses to be looked at, and others where the due diligence may be part of a more comprehensive contractual overhaul prior to the likes of an acquisition or sale.

Certain businesses require third parties or employees for the introduction of new clients and/ or contacts. We work with a number of these types of organisations and work with them to draft and negotiate agreements to ensure that all parties involved understand the terms of returns in relation to any introduction made.

Confidentiality is a key issue for our clients but there are very few relationships that impose automatic duties to respect it. We advise our clients on how best to protect themselves and their businesses, and draft confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to best safeguard their information.

When a business engages the services of a freelance/ self-employed person to undertake some work it is imperative that the correct contracts are in place. We work with businesses to draft and negotiate contracts that protect our clients’ key assets including their intellectual property. We are also on hand to enforce any terms that may have been breached such as any confidentiality obligations and restrictive covenants.

The introduction of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 overhauled the rights held by consumers over traders. Our team is capable of assisting traders and consumers alike to guide them through the new rights and advise them on potential remedies for defective goods and services. We are also on hand to advise on digital content and contract forms that may be presented as being misleading.

With a deep understanding of the Data Protection Act 1998 which governs the collection and use of personal data in the UK, we regularly guide organisations that hold individuals’ data through their compliance obligations to ensure that they avoid any criminal or civil liability; including privacy and data protection policies and the transfer of personal data overseas.

Our team of experts regularly draft and negotiate agreements for the hire and leasing of all types of equipment. These agreements often feature optional provisions allowing the lessee to have the right to purchase the equipment under a hire purchase arrangement.

We have considerable experience in drafting event management agreements that record and legally bind the project management of large scale events, including festivals, concerts, conventions and sporting events.

We are acutely aware of the importance of intellectual property protection. We work closely with our clients to ensure that their technical know-how is safeguarded when another party is brought in to the mix.

Every industry is different and some clients in certain industries require ongoing services to be provided. We understand these needs and work with these clients to produce comprehensive contracts that agree the general legal framework and key provisions for all future work between parties and individually tailor these so that the exact nature and scope of services provided/ received and pricing structures may differ from project to project.

We understand the complexities of the franchising business. With vast experience advising both franchisors and franchisees, we advise on all aspects of the franchising process from guiding our clients through the key legal and commercial considerations in the process of both setting up and operating a franchise in the UK or overseas; the protection and enforcement of trade secrets, trade marks and other intellectual property rights; the preparation of franchise purchase agreements and standard franchise agreements; the negotiations of changes in ‘side-letters’; the formulation of detailed operating manuals to record business methods and trade secrets; right through to franchise disputes and the sale or transfer of the franchise.

Our commercially savvy lawyers are often called upon to review contracts prepared for a client by a third party in order to identify any areas of concern. With the clients’ best interests in mind they also regularly provide assistance on complex issues such as limitations, exclusions and caps of liability; variation, assignment and novation of contracts; retention of title; and any other matters that may arise.

We understand the importance of legal contracts to our clients and regularly prepare heads of terms/ memoranda of understanding contracts in anticipation of a more comprehensive formal legal document that contains more provisions. These contracts are usually non-binding but set out the general agreement in principal by the parties pending the full negotiation and drafting of the final contract.

Our experienced and commercial lawyers understand that businesses can often achieve more by working together. However, we also understand that these joint enterprises need very careful planning to ensure that both parties are satisfied with the outcome. We have considerable experience in forming numerous types of JVs including new corporate vehicles, partnerships and contract binding ventures. Or expertise range from advising all forms of JVs from setting them up and running them to selling them or winding them down.

We draft and negotiate agreements for the hire, leasing and maintenance of all types of assets from cars to computer equipment. Dependent on the needs of the individual client, we sometimes include optional provisions giving a lessee the right to purchase the equipment under a hire purchase arrangement for example.

The assets of our clients vary widely from data, software to equipment. We work closely with each of them to enable the preparation of licence documents to record the licencing that they individually require alongside expert know-how documents for the licensee.

Our experts understand the importance of insuring that the correct deliverables are in the right place at the right time. To help ensure our clients do not face any logistical problems we ensure that our agreements not only address the planning and implementation of the efficient flow and storage of goods, we also document the transport/ transfer and supply of services or data.

Whether our client is seeking to source or to supply goods in the UK or abroad, we are on hand to offer our services of drafting and negotiating manufacturing agreements, purchasing agreements and long-term supply agreements.

No matter the industry, when buying or selling assets, time is of the essence. We work in tandem with our clients in order to set up contracts such as option agreements to ensure that they have the best timescale to suit their individual needs.

The transfer of operational responsibility for a distinct business function or process to an external provider, though can come with benefits, can prove to be a legal minefield. We guide our clients through the contract process by not only designing contracts that deal with the transfer of assets and employees to the supplier but that also establish the correct service level requirements for the supplier. We are also adept to managing the exit if and when the arrangement comes to an end.

The drafting of a partnership agreement is crucial to the future of a business in order to avoid any disputes further down the line. We work closely with clients in drafting such agreements whether they are looking for a standard partnership agreement under the Partnership Act 1896 or looking to set up a limited liability partnership (LLP).

Whether our client is a company or an individual who is in the business or reselling goods that have been purchased from larger organisations to third parties via the internet or otherwise, we produce clear and bespoke contracts to suit their business needs; these can include contracts on a licensed basis or not, as a value added reseller agreement (VAR).

We tailor contracts for all business types to ensure that our clients’ business needs and property are protected as stringently as possible through their terms of business. We have vast experience in advising businesses operating in traditional or ecommerce settings on the drafting of these terms, whether in the form of standard and non-negotiable terms, or as individually-negotiated documents. All are bespoke and tailored to suit each individual clients’ requirements.

Our team of real estate lawyers understands the vast complexities involved in acquisitions and disposals of both leasehold and freehold commercial property. We regularly guide our clients through the labyrinth of negotiating contracts, reviewing titles, reporting all issues relevant to the transaction, obtaining consent and advising on other title restrictions in order to ensure that the transactions run as smoothly as possible. We are also on hand to advise on specific issues which may affect individual transactions such as Stamp Duty Land Tax and Capital Allowances.

Property management often raises a number of issues. Our team of experts are adept to advising landlords on any issues that may arise including advising on consents for assignment and underletting, advising on consents to charge and make alterations which can often include stringent documentation, and liaising with appointed management agents.

Authorised guarantee agreements are complex and confusing documents. We advise our clients on understanding the nature of these agreements, the implications of signing such an agreement, and issues that may arise (including defaults) on having signed the agreement. We work very closely with each client to ensure that all obligations in the agreements are complied with under the guarantee.

The real estate market is picking up and we are witnessing an increase in demand for advice in relation to both commercial and residential development. We work with a number of developers, both in the residential and commercial sphere, advising them on all legal aspects of their developments. We are on hand to aid on the setting up of a management company; dealing with all funder requirements if necessary; drafting of all sale, development and funding documentation; advising on all construction related issues including contracts and warranty agreements; and advising on all planning and tax related issues relating to the development.

Healthy and safety responsibilities in relation to commercial properties can often be overlooked due to the volume of non-professional landlords leasing properties. Aspects such as general maintenance, risk assessments, asbestos, and gas and electrical safety all need to be taken into consideration. We can work with you to ensure that you are up to speed with guidance set out by the relevant government bodies and ensure that you manage your property efficiently.

Certain transactions will require a variation of certain documentation, including leases, or the establishment of new rights of way over existing developments or building. We are able to assist in the preparation of all documentation relating to deeds of variation, restrictions and easements; the drafting of all applications to the Land Registry; and advising on any tax related implications including Stamp Duty Land Tax.

Healthy and safety responsibilities in relation to commercial properties can often be overlooked due to the volume of non-professional landlords leasing properties. Aspects such as general maintenance, risk assessments, asbestos, and gas and electrical safety all need to be taken into consideration. We can work with you to ensure that you are up to speed with guidance set out by the relevant government bodies and ensure that you manage your property efficiently.

Our commercially astute lawyers understand that all businesses, including those in real estate, can often achieve more by working together. However, we also understand that these joint enterprises need very careful planning to ensure that both parties are satisfied with the outcome. We have considerable experience in forming numerous types of JVs including new corporate vehicles, partnerships and contract binding ventures. We have considerable expertise in advising all forms of JVs from setting them up and running them to selling them or winding them down.

The relationship between a landlord and a tenant in a commercial or residential setting can be fraught with problems. We understand the importance that correctly drafted leases can have on both parties when a dispute arises. We work in tandem with our clients to ensure that all leases and clauses work for them to negate future problems. Our clients are both landlords and tenants from institutional companies and pension funds to retail tenants and small individual businesses. We advise on all types of leases including mineral leases and commercial leases and tailor each to suit the requirements of the individual client.

Our well experienced lawyers understand that sometimes a potential buyer requires a period of time to decide whether a property is for them and we advise on the implication of options to purchase land and buildings. We also prepare all necessary documentation and protect these interest at the Land Registry. Our expertise extend to the drafting of pre-emption agreements to guarantee a right of first refusal in buying the likes of a freehold or adjoining land, and we advise on the best option for the individual.

Our real estate team has significant expertise in advising both buyers and sellers in cases where a landowner may want to secure future payments if the land becomes more valuable due to its sale for a development. These can be complicated agreements to negotiate and draft but our team are well experienced in doing so as well as dealing with all land registry requirements.

Institutional and private lenders often require specialist advice in relation to property lending work. We work with clients to draft all documentation relating to debentures, facility agreements and legal charges, as well as more complex lending contracts. We are also on hand to review all titles and leases and take in to account the specific emphasis on the requirements demanded by the lender which are often different from the buyer’s interests. We have vast experience in giving clients expert advice in this area including where lending is involved for both built and established properties or for land yet to be developed on.

Regeneration project work requires very specific advice and we have a team dedicated to working specifically with large regeneration projects. Our expertise span from not only property acquisition but also to the potential planning of issues that may arise, for example compulsive purchase, through to construction issues relating to building and civil engineering.

Our team regularly advises clients, both in the residential and commercial sectors, on rent deposits. We guide our clients through the potential implications that may arise dependant on the type of rent deposit and we negotiate all related documentation.

We have a dedicated team of tax experts that works in tandem with our real estate lawyers. This dedicated team is always on hand to advise on all tax issues in related to a transaction whenever they arise including Stamp Duty Land Tax and VAT.

We understand the importance of collateral warranties in providing rights to those who would otherwise not be party to underlying contracts such as professional appointments, building contracts and sub-contracts. We regularly advise on the need for these warranties, their drafting and on the potential alternative use of third party rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

Our dedicated lawyers have unrivalled expertise in relation to all the standard forms of construction and engineering contracts and have provided in-house training and seminars on their interpretation and use for clients. The team has been called upon to draft the existing standard form construction documents including the MOD’s “Defcon 2000”, the construction related documentation for NHS Lift and Building Schools for the Future, the JCT – Constructing Excellence Contract and the Term Maintenance Contract for the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme.

Working closely with our experts in the real estate department, we have accumulated substantial expertise in all aspects of property development and its funding. We have a full understanding of the construction aspects of any development and the link between the development obligations in a Development Agreement and the relevant professional appointments and building contract documentation.

Our in depth construction sector knowledge allows us to effectively advise clients on how best to deal with any dispute. We are able to give timely advice on how best to prevent a dispute and the legal merits to enable clients to negotiate a commercial settlement. Failing these, our team has significant experience in successfully guiding clients through the plethora of other options available to them including mediation, adjudication, arbitration or litigation. We have substantial experience in representing clients in the courts, including at the Technology and Construction Court.

We understand that disputes can lead to expensive court fees; we work with a number of trusted providers of both before and after the event legal cover solutions and are ourselves open to both contingency and conditionally based fee arrangements.

Our lawyers have a wide range of experience in setting up facilities maintenance arrangements both in relation to “hard” FM (repair and maintenance) and “soft” FM (cleaning, catering and so on). We regularly advise clients in the setting up term maintenance arrangements, which are often linked to some form of on-going performance monitoring and incentivisation arrangements. We understand that with such arrangements, it is vital to reality test how they may work in practice as that the law of unintended consequences has a habit of undermining such arrangements.

Our experience is setting up framework agreements has taught us of their usefulness in enabling serial employers to engage organisations quickly and without undue formality, whilst offering the chance to develop a greater understanding and ease of working with repeat organisations. We regularly advise on the structuring, drafting and operation of such agreements, with particular insight in the context of public procurement.

The very nature of the construction industry makes it highly susceptible to health and safety issues. Recent changes also mean increasingly demanding restrictions. We can assist construction businesses in understanding their responsibilities and how to prepare themselves as well as navigate potential problems between employer and contractor. If things do go wrong, our health and safety experts can advise on all workplace health and safety-related issues and spring in to action to protect your business.

Working closely with our commercial colleagues in relation to the setting up of incorporated joint ventures, our advice spans informal arrangements to work together through to formal agreements setting out the approach to joint decision making and resolving deadlock.

Our team of experts has significant experience in drafting and negotiation novation agreements. We understand the complexities of such agreements that enable both the benefit and burden of legal agreements to be passed from one contracting organisation to another. We advise our clients on the importance of considering the possibility that such an agreement might at some stage need to be reversed and that the original employer may require direct rights against the novated party by way of a collateral warranty.

Our legal team has substantial experience of setting up long term operation and maintenance arrangements. Besides documenting the services that are to be provided, we advise on the importance of setting out the measures that will be applied to monitor the performance of the service provider to ensure that it is improving over time.

Our experts regularly see the provision of performance bonds and parent company guarantees on construction projects. We have a good understanding of what is both necessary and practical in the sector at any given time and can provide the necessary documentation and accompanying advice to ensure that documentation is realistic and provides the intended protection without being unnecessarily onerous.

Our team has excellent knowledge and experience in setting up, drafting and negotiating PFI and PPP arrangements. We regularly advise public authorities as well as special purpose vehicles, investors, contractors and subcontractors.

Our leading experts understand the fundamental differences in advising public and private sector organisations in relation to their procurement needs. Public sector organisations must comply with stringent EU procurement requirements and we guide them through these requirements, at the same time advising them on the appropriate form and content of all procurement documentation. Our private sector clients, although free from EU procurement requirements, benefit from our understanding of their industry sector and the guidance that we support in considering their goals, working hand in hand with them to achieve and frame their individual procurement requirements accordingly.

Our team works closely with clients to ensure that the terms of engagement in relation to hiring a consultant are fall proof. We understand the importance of this in order to avoid any unnecessary negotiation about these terms and these allow all consultants to be engaged on the same basis, without differences in duties of care, dispute resolution and primary duties.

Due to the risks associated with investing in the early stage of a business, we understand the importance of sector knowledge when we advise our clients in this area. We act for act for investors, groups of investors, angel investment funds and businesses receiving investment by assisting them with all their needs from non-disclosure agreements and due diligence to post completion controls and earn outs.

No matter the size of the amount our client is borrowing or lending, we make it a priority to ensure that the transaction is well documented. We act for lenders and borrowers of all sizes and advise on the terms of security and credit in a range of forms from simple bullet facilities through to complicated revolving asset finance ones. We focus on the areas that matter to our clients and tailor documentation to suit their needs, and guide our clients through the transaction ensuring there are no surprises.

No business is immune to change and in many instances the business is able to adapt over time. However, we understand that sometimes change can be difficult and that sometimes a complete reorganisation is in order. We guide our national and international clients through all matters involved in a restructuring process including corporate, banking and tax matters to ensure that the process runs as smoothly as possible. We also have colleagues with expertise in employment, pensions and property who are available to lend a hand when required.

We work closely with clients to ensure that their company formation provides them with limited liability and tax efficiency. We provide advice on the set up of various corporate identities including trusts, partnerships and other special purpose vehicles, in the UK and abroad. We are also able to provide our clients with a registered office in central London at the same time monitor their legal obligations and be on hand to assist when needs be.

Access to capital is key for companies and securing that by offering shares to the public can be more efficient than other methods of corporate finance. We advise clients on listings and initial public offerings on all English stock markets with a particular focus on London Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”).

The director of a company is bound by statutory obligations and can be penalised for their breach. We guide our clients through these duties to ensure that they fully understand their role as guardians of the company and advise them on complying with these in all situations. Our dedicated and tailored advice ranges from “business as usual” advice through to once in a career transactions, and from normal trading matters through to crisis situations such as insolvencies and internal disputes.

Our experienced commercial lawyers understand that businesses can often achieve more by working together. However, we also understand that these joint enterprises need very careful planning to ensure that both parties are satisfied with the outcome. We have considerable experience in forming numerous types of JVs including new corporate vehicles, partnerships and contract binding ventures. We have considerable expertise in advising all forms of JVs from setting them up and running them to selling them or winding them down.

Whether the buying and selling of a company is an everyday occurrence or a new concept for our client, our leading lawyers understand that there is no room for error and that careful attention needs to be paid from the due diligence stage right the way through to completion and integration. Our dedicated team guides their clients through the process, knows where to focus according to the individual client’s appetite for risk, and produce robust documents to ensure that the transaction is as seamless as possible.

Our dedicated corporate team understands the importance of partnership agreement to the future of a business in order to avoid any disputes further down the line. We work closely with clients in drafting all agreements and the setting up of a partnership whether they are looking for a standard partnership agreement under the Partnership Act 1896 or looking to set up a limited liability partnership (LLP).

We are aware that when people come together to take part in a business there is always room for disagreement. Rather than leave matters to chance we advise our clients to ensure that they cover any potential stress points through a shareholder agreement. We advise on all forms of these arising out of all business transactions from investment to JVs and from start-ups to mergers. We draft shareholder agreements with a commercial eye and business acumen which are fundamental necessities to getting it right.

Venture capital is a highly specialised area. From buyouts to fundings, from investments to divestments and from single transactions to acting for funds on portfolio matters those involved in venture capital transactions need advice from lawyers well versed in such deals. Working across all sectors, we act for funds, investors, targets and management on all aspects of venture capital matters including advising on deals and setting up funds.

Our data protection team understands that in some cases, individuals wish to see what personal information is held about them by a company or organisation – a right awarded to them through The Data Protection Act. We advise organisations on the necessary procedures involved in dealing with such requests.

Our experts fully appreciate the fact that as one of the leading users of CCTV, the UK has a record number of cameras on the streets which can raise a number of privacy legal issues. We assist organisation using CCTV, whether recording personal images or vehicle registration numbers, to comply with the legal requirements governing how these images are gathered, stored and used.

Most children are more competent when it comes to the use of the web and social media than their parents. And our team understands the safety and security issues that may bring for a family household. Few children are actually aware of how the information that they place online is used. Therefore, they are simply unable to make informed decisions as to how they share their data online. Our experts advise organisations on how best to comply with data protection obligations when providing on-line services including social media services used by youngsters.

Our team of highly skilled data protection experts work closely with organisations to help them develop compliant procedures for the collection, storing and processing of personal data. We regularly work closely with businesses to give guidance on the legal compliance duties placed upon them through the data protection laws and regulations including in relation to how they collect, store, use, disclose or transfer personal data and on how to manage regulatory enquiries and audits and claims from individuals.

Our lawyers are perfectly placed to guide clients through the plethora of duties placed upon them, under The Data Protection Act 1998 (the Act) which controls the use of ‘personal data’. We can advise on registration requirements of the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) (the body tasked with enforcing the Act) and on other regulations under the Act, for example in relation to how personal data can be lawfully obtained, stored, disclosed and shared including transfers of personal data outside of the UK. We are also experienced in assisting organisations with their interactions with the ICO on all matters including development and approval of Binding Corporate Rules, ad-hoc data transfer agreements and on data subject complaints and any enforcement actions.

As the world of business becomes increasingly global, it’s crucial that international law keeps up with the pace. Our data protection team is skilled at dealing with all matters, in relation to the European Union Directive which regulates the processing of personal data within the EEA. The Directive is an important component of EU privacy and human rights law and we ensure that our clients are equipped, in their knowledge, to deal with any issues that may arise. Even in a post-Brexit world many clients will need to ensure that they are complying with the relevant EU data protection legislation which will apply where they collect and process personal data of EEA individuals even if the collection, storing and processing of that personal data occurs in the UK.

The General Data Protection Regulation (‘GDPR’) comes into force in May 2018 and will replace the EU Directive. Whether or not Britain choses to implement the GDPR post-Brexit our privacy team will be keeping up to date with national developments in the UK and has a full understanding of the changes being implemented across the EEA by the GDPR. The team is well place to advise organisations that will be impacted by the GDPR (whether or not the UK adopts the new EU regulations) to ensure that they understand the changes in the EU regulation and whether or not they need to comply with the new regulations and, where they do, to help them to develop their compliance programs in preparation for the coming into force of the new regulations in Spring 2018.

With extensive experience in advising organisations in all areas involving human resources including transfers of employees on the sale or purchase of a business, our privacy team together with the experience of our employment team, is fully aware of the statutory obligations imposed on organisations in relation to collection, storage and use of employee data including transfers of such data to headquarters outside of the UK and outside of the EEA. Our team is also able to advise on disclosures of personal data as part of transferring employees in an acquisition scenario. We work closely with organisations to ensure compliance with both the data protection regulations and employment regulations and laws, and regularly assist clients in understanding what personal data of employees needs to be disclosed, when and what limitations there may be in making disclosures.

Many businesses routinely transfer data overseas, whether to another group company, to a third party for sub-processing or for other reasons. This process can be fraught with legal compliance issues as the UK Data Protection Act and the EU Data Protection Regulations do not allow the transfer of personal data outside of the EEA to countries that are not deemed by the EU Commission as affording the same safeguards for personal data as those under the EU Data Protection Directive. We are well placed to advise organisations of all sizes on legitimising these overseas transfers of personal data and on the requirements for on-ward transfer.

The value of personal data, collected by an organisation, can be hugely significant, as long as it has been collected in a legally compliant way. Whether such data can be used for future marketing activities, either by the business that collected it or by others, is often overlooked and can have negative connotations. The regulators, not only in the UK but globally, are cracking down on direct marketers who flout the law and we are seeing an increase in enforcement action and some huge fines levied against perpetrators. We regularly work with businesses to ensure that personal data is collected in a way that facilitates best practice in future marketing activities and advise on how to comply with direct marketing regulations so as to run legally compliant marketing campaigns.

We currently assist companies in reviewing their existing privacy notices and other relevant internal policies concerning personal data, and help them draft appropriate policies and notices to ensure that they will remain compliant. With the implementation of the new GDPR which replaces the current EU Directive on data processing, many organisations will need to update their privacy notices and policies and revamp their internal policies concerning collection and handling of personal data. The team is already working with organisations to assess current policies and procedures and to being the updating process and is well placed to guide both large and small organisations in this area.

The team is also experienced in providing training progammes for organisations that assist in bringing staff and management up to speed on their privacy rules and regulations.

The retention of communications data, in the UK, has long been recognised as a valuable measure. Our lawyers understand the importance of regulation, such as The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Order 2015 and the Retention of Communications Data (Code of Practice) Order 2015, and the Freedom of Information Act 2001, in regards to businesses concerned with providing telecommunications and other data services and government organisations providing public services and holding public data. We guide these businesses and government regulations through the miasma of their obligations on all retained data and requests for disclosure – working closely with them to ensure that they have appropriate policies and procedures in place relating to such retained data. We can also advise on the making of applications for access to such data and are on hand should any application be refused.

Disputes between agents and their principals can often arise under the Commercial Agents Regulations. Our recognised team understands the importance of these regulations and actively seeks to resolve disputes that involve these or the breach of any other agency or distributor agreements. If alternative forms of dispute resolution fail to reach an agreement between the parties our team is well averse to carrying out successful litigation in the courts.

Arbitration is a form of alternative dispute resolution and we have a team of experts in this field that works hand in hand with clients to ensure disputes are resolved without the need to go through the courts. Our arbitration team has specific experience in the shipping and shipbuilding sectors and also regularly advise on ad-hoc arbitrations in other sectors when required.

High value commercial disputes require specialist knowledge and acumen. Our team of litigators are experienced in a number of business sectors and on hand to deal with any client disputes.

Disputes in the construction sector require specialist legal construction knowledge. Our team of expert litigators in this area regularly interpret construction related contracts including those produced by the Joint Contract Tribunal (JCT) and other standard sector contract forms. The team has also a wealth of experience carrying out a number of adjudications including under the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996.

We understand the frustrations that can be caused to a business and to creditors when they are owed debt and the stresses put on debtors to pay this back. We work flexibly and sensitively with clients to ensure that the process of recovering outstanding monies is done appropriately and in accordance with the stipulations of regulators when required.

Defamation disputes have become a news hot topic over the recent years, the access to social media has certainly helped this happen. Whether a client believes that they have been slandered (defamed by the spoken word) or been victim to libel (published writings) we have a team of experts on hand to help. We understand that no type of dispute is an easy process but in the case of defamation and the personal nature of such a dispute we understand emotional distress caused to our clients and act as sensitively as possible in guiding them through the process.

A company director is bound by statutory obligations and the risk that they face are becoming more onerous by the day. We understand these challenges and have a team of experts who can advise on the full range of duties faced whether as a non-executive director or executive director.

We represent individuals who have been accused of carrying out fraud or breaching their fiduciary duties. We have vast experience in advising clients in respect to matters in the Magistrates Courts as well as in the Crown Courts and work closely with selected barristers to ensure our clients receive a seamless defence service to enable them to promptly and strongly respond to any allegations made which is crucially important in cases such as these.

We understand that the effects of workplace incidents and accidents can be detrimental to a business. The risks involved can be significant, and can be both financial and reputational. Our disputes experts can advise on all workplace health and safety-related issues and spring in to action to protect your business when things go wrong. Additionally, we have proven expertise in advising businesses on product liability issues, from steps to minimise and manage risk through to creating effective product-recall programmes and managing reputational damage.

Our disputes team understands the importance of insurance and insurance related security to any business. We are on hand to assist with any matters subject of a disagreement including the breach of contracts such as undertakings, covenants, direct agreements, brokerage, underwriting and all other insurance-related matters. We are also available to advise on any compliance related issues.

For more complex matters, particularly where a cross-border element is involved, international arbitration is an increasingly common method used for resolving disputes. Our specialist international team has dealt with a vast range of arbitrations, across many jurisdictions, and is well-versed in conducting them under numerous procedural and substantive laws and forums, including but not limitied to the ICC, LCIA, ad hoc and local courts. With the largest all-partner level disputes team in the UK, our practice has a highly established track record of success when it comes to handling high value, intricate cases. 

For more complex matters, particularly where a cross-border element is involved, international arbitration is an increasingly common method used for resolving disputes. Our specialist international team has dealt with a vast range of arbitrations, across many jurisdictions, and is well-versed in conducting them under numerous procedural and substantive laws and forums, including but not limitied to the ICC, LCIA, ad hoc and local courts. With the largest all-partner level disputes team in the UK, our practice has a highly established track record of success when it comes to handling high value, intricate cases. 

Mediation is a form of alternative dispute resolution that requires specialist training and knowledge and today forms a central part in the UK’s dispute resolution landscape. We are well positioned to guide our clients through the mediation process as a number of our advisors are accredited and experienced in this field. Our experts work tirelessly to ensure that the best possible representation in any alternative dispute resolution is on offer for their clients.

We have a team of experts dedicated to advising clients in relation to disputes arising from all matter of partnership disagreements and disputes. We regularly advise clients affected from standard partnerships under the Partnership Act 1896 and affected through a limited liability partnership (LLP) and have successfully resolved these types of disputes through alternative resolution, including arbitration, and through litigation in the courts.

Professional negligence cases are complex and require specialist knowledge in order to resolve these cases successfully. We have a team of experts on hand to guide clients through the legalities and procedures, and who can recommend accounting professionals able to quantify the claim.

Our team of real estate lawyers has a long history of successfully resolving disputes that concern real estate. They regularly advise clients on all related matters including high value commercial property disputes between companies and those between commercial landlords and their tenants.

Today’s political climate has led HMRC to be under more pressure than ever to be seen to be clamping down on organisations and individuals suspected of improperly handling their tax affairs and those advising them to do so. We regularly help our clients resolve disputes related to tax in relation to COP9 investigations, and both criminal investigations and prosecutions. We have also successfully advised clients on statutory tax appeals within the Tax Tribuna

A vast number of employers depend on recruiting employees from outside the UK to ensure that their workforce is well rounded and has the best possible skill set. The hiring of non-EEA nationals from abroad is often a necessity in industries in which the UK sees a skills shortage or where expert personnel from overseas entities are needed. Regulation surrounding this area is stringent and it is crucial that companies employing foreign workers are compliant with the rules. Whether you require advice or assistance on transferring employees, on bringing employees to work in the UK, or on existing domestic staff, our Business Immigration team assist a range of businesses on all of the relevant obligations including visa applications, sponsorships, settlement, and extension of stay as well as best practice. Furthermore, the team can assist with auditing your existing workforce and internal processes to ensure that you are compliant with the immigration rules and where this is lacking, recommend corrective actions.

No matter the sector, we fully understand the potential challenges of negotiating executive appointments and exits. We work closely with employers and senior executives advising them on the statutory duties of Directors and we are always on hand to help resolve any boardroom or shareholder disputes should they arise.

Our dedicated team of employment lawyers are experts when it comes to employment rights and often guide through disciplinary, grievance and other internal proceedings. They are also on hand to provide training to managers to ensure that no claims are brought against them.

Every business is different. We work closely with our clients to draft tailored employment contracts to suit their individual needs and understand the importance of having adequate policies in place. Working hand in hand with our clients to fully grasp their business needs, we produce bespoke policies and handbooks for our clients on an individual basis.

Working closely with employers and individuals, we have considerable expertise in resolving workplace disputes through mediation, negotiating settlement agreements, through to representation on a full range of claims in the Employment Tribunal.

Our team has particular expertise in dealing with clients in the financial services sector who are strictly regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). We understand their specific needs and guide them through all employment related regulation by which they may be affected.

Our team has particular expertise in dealing with clients in the financial services sector who are strictly regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). We understand their specific needs and guide them through all employment related regulation by which they may be affected.

Unfortunately, employers sometimes face the task of needing to manage an employee whose performance and/ or absence record is not up to scratch. We work with these employers advising them through the process including ones that may involve an employee with a disability.

Our team of experts understand the additional responsibilities given to companies with significant market power not to use that power in a way which reduces, restricts or distorts competition. We regularly advise companies that hold or may hold dominant market positions to determine whether the rules affect them and if so how they can ensure compliance with the minimal disruption to their commercial positions.

Whilst, cartels are arguably the most obvious and the most serious breaches of competition law, our experience has taught us that what sometimes amounts to cartel behaviour is not as straight forward as it may seem. We regularly guide clients through the confusing rules to ensure that they fully understand them and we are always on hand to defend them if anything goes wrong.

We are fully aware that companies involved in distribution or supply agreements, IP licensing or joint ventures are often subject to agreements which contain restrictive terms such as non-compete, MFN or exclusivity clauses. We work with these companies to review their agreements to ensure that these provisions continue to be lawful and enforceable. We fully understand that the new challenges arising from electronic trading raise additional competition issues which interface with licensing of digital rights, rules relating to on-line markets, geo-blocking, the use of price comparison sites as well as impacting models of selective distribution, and we regularly assist our clients in navigating complaint solutions while maximising our their commercial objectives.

Our team of competition law experts works closely with clients to ensure that competitors or suppliers do not breach their commercial arrangements and if necessary lodge complaints with regulators on their behalf. We have successfully resolved disputes and influenced commercial negotiations to the advantage of our clients; as well as influenced market investigations and complaints with the use of competition law arguments. We regularly tackle unlawful behaviour by our clients’ competitors or suppliers when they abuse the dominant market positions or other breaches of competition law in order to gain unfair commercial advantages.

We understand the full extent to a company if found guilty of breaching competition law. We work hand in hand with clients to develop customised compliance policies, and to identify areas of risk, training and review needs. We also have specific expertise in advising on specific practices and commercial agreements.

Our lawyers regularly help clients to identify when they are receiving state aid and to determine any exemptions applicable or notify and seek approval where necessary. The need to avoid receiving an illegal state aid as part of any investment agreement is essential in order to have the security that funds provided will not be unlawful.

We understand that even in the event that a marriage break-down is relatively cordial there may still be points of contention where the couple simply cannot come to an agreement vis-à-vis a financial allocation or the children. We always recommend involving a solicitor when going through a mediation process so that legal advice can be provided as the sessions progress, in order to save any further disagreements down the line.