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Corporate
We have over 35 years’ experience in corporate transactions. Our work encompasses the full scope of corporate activity and we act for a wide range of clients, from individuals taking their first steps or making investments, to SMEs and family businesses as well as larger national, multinational and international clients.
We are involved both on the buy side and the sell side of transactions. Most of our work comes from personal recommendation because of the deals we have done. We are practical, skilled and highly committed. We know what issues are important and do not waste time on less important or peripheral matters. We work to a budget and typically fixed fees. If the fee changes for any reason, it is very clear why it has changed and always only by agreement is any further fee charged. We look for long term relationships which are founded on openness, fairness and outstanding service.
We really enjoy management buyouts, whether acting for the management teams or for the seller who may or may not retain some interest in the business going forward. We appreciate the financial constraints which affect management teams, and since our objective is not simply to be involved in the deal, but to build a long-term relationship, we are pleased to support the teams and be flexible over pricing and support.
We provide clear and concise explanations of what the law says, and work on practical solutions for dealing with difficult situations such as corporate governance issues, shareholder protection and dividend blocks. We incorporate UK companies (often with bespoke governing documents) and provide a range of company secretarial services to ensure that all company law requirements are dealt with efficiently and cost effectively.
We understand the different dynamics which operate within family businesses, and appreciate the tensions which can arise, particularly around succession issues. We work with the other advisers to the business and the family members to make the best of what are often unique and fascinating businesses at important times in their evolution.
We work with our clients' tax advisers and accountants to deliver a cost-effective solution to enhance value, whether by share buyback, share for share exchange, demerger or any other mechanism.
Typically we act for companies who are looking for private equity and venture capital investment. We understand the issues from both the investor’s point of view and that of the investee company.
Commercial
We advise on a wide range of commercial arrangements. Our aim is to always be practical, concise and add value. We like to get to know our clients and their businesses as well as possible, and we are always to prepared to invest time in deepening our understanding.
Media
Recognised in Legal 500, our practice covers television and digital media and we advise a range of clients from major TV production companies to owner-managed businesses. Our experience ranges from the creation and development of a format, through to the financing, production and distribution of the finished product.
We can provide pre-production compliance advice, be on hand to answer ad-hoc production queries throughout production and can view completed projects to ensure compliance.
We offer a complete business affairs service from negotiating with broadcasters and financiers, to answering informal production queries. We can also provide you with template production documentation that you can reuse on future projects.
We can provide co-production expertise and structure deals with co-producers and co-financiers to ensure everyone’s interests are balanced effectively.
We are able to draft and advise on programme production and distribution agreements. We have a sound grasp of the technicalities of contract law, intellectual property and finance, as well as solid experience of working within the media industry.
We can provide prompt and comprehensive title reports to prevent clearance issues after transmission of your project.
The financing of media projects, particularly when it involves a number of parties, is becoming ever more complex. We are able to advise on the effective management of the process and create a seamless contractual framework.
Intellectual Property
We provide a full range of legal services relating to the protection, management, exploitation and monetisation of intellectual property rights. This extends to advising on all intellectual property issues including trade marks, domain names, passing off, confidential information, licensing, sponsorship, and franchising.
We are able to advise you on your copyright strategy and are specialists in preparing and negotiating agreements to ensure that your copyright material is properly protected and managed.
We advise on all aspects of trade marks and brand protection in the UK. We regularly file trade marks, conduct availability searches and provide strategic advice, enabling clients to generate, exploit and realise value in their brands.
The tort of passing off can be used to stop a third party exploiting the goodwill and reputation in your brand even without a registered trade mark. We can advise on this complicated area of law, to ensure your customers are not deceived into believing they are purchasing your goods and services.
We can advise on the licensing, franchising, merchandising, sponsorship, assignment, acquisition and other contractual agreements that deal predominantly with intellectual property rights. We also have particular expertise in the intellectual property elements of corporate transactions.
We provide advice relating to domain name filing and acquisition, particularly in the context of trade mark and brand protection.
We routinely assist our clients to put in place non-disclosure agreements with their commercial partners in order to establish clear boundaries for the use of confidential information.
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