Property
The real estate sector remains a challenging and complex environment. Our commercial property lawyers understand the difficulties facing the marketplace and have the commercial experience to advise businesses on the best course of action.
We have a strong relationship with Barney and the Square One Law team. We know that we can rely on them to go above and beyond to help us successfully develop the project.
Our property team led by partner, Barney Frith, pictured above with Adrian Hill, has been working on large projects both regionally and nationally.
Some examples include:
Highbridge Properties plc (owners of the Cobalt business park) – on the creation of a new industrial site, Indigo Park which has the capacity to generate more than 1,000 jobs
Recently working with Highbridge Properties plc in the letting of Cobalt 22, Cobalt Business Park to Utilitywise plc as its new flagship headquarters
Working with North East training provider, TDR, in its acquisition of a 40,000 sq.ft. property at Quorum Business Park as the company’s new headquarters
Acting for Aker Solutions on taking a lease of the entire 220,000 sq.ft. of Building 6 at Chiswick Park, London, being one of the largest pre-lets in the London market since 2007
Acting for London based developer Landid on a number of high profile schemes and most recently on the £20m acquisition of Gorsebrook Industrial Park, Dagenham and the subsequent letting of the whole site to Eddie Stobart Limited.
Employment
The constant developments in employment law present our employer clients with more challenges now than ever before. We understand that the most valuable assets of a business are its people and recognise the difficulties faced by businesses when balancing the need for compliance against their commercial objectives.
Some examples of the type of work we cover:
Successfully assisted a client resist a claim by HMRC for PAYE and NIC in excess of £3m
Assisted a number of clients agree severance terms with departing executive directors
Dealing with day to day employment queries and tribunal claims for a host of existing clients like, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Newcastle Building Society, George F White, Henry Colbeck Limited and NSK Bearings Ltd and a host of new clients like Komatsu, R-TEK, Lanchester Wine, Banks Group, Quorn Foods, Bannatyne Fitness Ltd, GEM Partnership Ltd and Lumley Castle Hotel Ltd.
Assist commercial clients enforce restrictive covenants and senior executives resist allegations they have breached their restrictive covenants
Advised a number of clients about employees engaged abroad including the business set up and registration of a new European commercial arm for a large multinational pharmaceutical company
Provide ongoing employment advice to a number of the firm’s key commercial clients including KeyedIn Solutions, Able UK, Lanchester Wines and Mediaworks
Played a full role assisting the company and commercial team in providing employment support for the majority of the corporate transactions which led to the firm being nominated as NE Corporate Law Firm of the Year by Insider Dealmakers
Litigation
We appreciate that disputes inevitably arise in any business. Our litigation team understands the complex and sensitive nature of disputes and litigation and aims to achieve the best outcome for our clients in a professional and cost effective manner.
The litigation team is led by Gillian Hulls and Robin Winskell and provides advice across a diverse range of disputes including: professional negligence, intellectual property, insurance, property, shareholder, finance and regulatory.
Some examples of our recent caseload include:
Acting on behalf of a claimant on a contractual dispute with an international element, which is believed to be the biggest case to be tried outside of London this year
Advising on and settling a high number of shareholder and partnership disputes which have required sensitive and highly professional handling
Acting for over 100 high net worth clients from the UK and overseas claiming financial mis-selling and professional negligence and seeking recovery of losses resulting from failed tax avoidance and investment schemes, where losses claimed by our clients total in excess of £20m
Operating as part of a team with other professionals in the handling and disposal of an HMRC tax investigation for £22m