Howard Kennedy LLP

The firm: Howard Kennedy is a London based law firm specialising in providing straightforward advice to businesses and individuals on domestic and international matters. Many of their clients are entrepreneurial, ambitious enterprises who are often privately or family owned, or private equity backed. It is one of only a few London based firms with a large private wealth offering alongside significant business law capability. The firm also advises major corporates on particular specialist legal matters who find their straightforward approach a compelling alternative to larger, less personal firms.

Principal areas of work
Corporate and commercial: M&A, capital markets with a particular focus on venture capital trusts and enterprise investment schemes, AIM, corporate real estate, intellectual property, commercial contracts, business advisory and tax, business recovery and reconstruction, financial regulation and international banking and finance.

Dispute resolution: General commercial litigation, real estate dispute resolution, media litigation, international arbitration and mediation, defamation and human rights, business crime and regulatory and personal injury.

Employment and immigration: Board level advice, discrimination and harassment, confidentiality and business protection, disciplinary and grievance issues, international workforce issues, TUPE, Tribunal and High Court claims, redundancy and reorganisation programmes, employment contract preparation, whistleblowing and policy guidance. Immigration advice includes sponsor licences, compliance audits and ‘right to work’ checks, ’right to rent’ checks, individual applications from within the UK, entry clearance applications and representation before the First-tier Tribunal and Upper Tribunal.

Finance:  Asset based financing, asset finance, banking, capital markets, lending and leveraged finance, financial institutions lending, hotel finance, Islamic finance, real estate finance, financial regulation, restructuring and insolvency.

Private client and family: International wealth structuring, inheritance tax planning, establishing UK and offshore trusts, estate administration, trust and estate disputes, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Court of Protection work. Family law advice includes separation, divorce, nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements and children matters including relocation, surrogacy and co-parenting agreements.

Real estate: Construction, planning, commercial occupation, development, real estate finance, real estate investment, residential development sales, residential acquisition and disposals, leasehold enfranchisement, real estate and planning disputes, PRS, social housing and student accommodation.

Sector focus
Howard Kennedy’s focus reflects their sector expertise and other specialist offerings. This client-centric approach offers them clear benefits in encouraging closer co-operation between different legal teams and departments, and clear market positioning. The firm has significant experience in the retail and leisure, private wealth and real estate sectors. This enables the firm to provide innovative, straightforward advice to meet its client’s needs.

International
Howard Kennedy’s international capabilities include EMEA, the US/Canada, South America and Asia Pacific. The firm delivers legal solutions via its own regional experts based from its London headquarters, or through relationships with preferred local providers.

The firm is a member of Meritas and Lawyers Associated Worldwide (L.A.W). These networks along with Howard Kennedy’s own regional focus groups give the firm independent reach and access to insight and expertise to benefit clients wherever they need advice and support.