About
‘A key partner in our business’ success, we’ve been working with Joelson since our very beginnings. Smart, entrepreneurial and commercial – our favourite law firm.’ Richard Reed, co-founder, Innocent Drinks.
The firm: From its offices at 2 Marylebone Road, Joelson advises clients from a wide range of industry sectors, including food and drink, hospitality and leisure, media, tech and financial services. The firm offers a range of top-ranked legal services spanning corporate, real estate, employment, litigation, licensing, immigration, property litigation, construction and planning. Joelson became B Corp certified in 2023.
Types of work undertaken
Corporate and commercial: a highly-regarded team advising on a broad range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, for private equity and VC-backed businesses, management teams on PE transactions, acting for entrepreneurs, start-ups and early stage growth companies on funding and general corporate advice on seed capital fundraising through to pre-IPO. The team also advises on joint ventures and a wide range of commercial agreements to enable and facilitate clients’ ability to trade and expand. The team has acted for a number of successful start-up companies, advising on initial funding rounds, development capital through to exit. The team has also developed an active practice acting for AIM-listed clients in relation to IPOs, placings and reverse takeovers. The firm has an active role in facilitating foreign direct investment into the UK and regularly assists clients who wish to establish businesses in the UK. Its clients include start-up businesses, serial entrepreneurs, SMEs and large multi-national companies.
Employment: the team provides innovative, commercially focused solutions to both corporate and senior executive clients. Clients benefit from a high level of partner involvement. The team has substantial experience in acting for employers in defending tribunal claims and also has experience of litigating in the High Court in relation to restrictive covenants and team moves. It also acts for senior executives (including management teams on buyouts and investment runs) advising on new terms of employment and in negotiating exit terms (often complex and high-value involving deferred elements).
Immigration: Joelson’s immigration team provides specialist business immigration advice and assistance and helps clients with obtaining Tier 1 Investor and Tier 1 Entrepreneur visas, Tier 1 Exceptional Talent visas and Representative of Overseas Business visas for entrepreneurs, talented individuals and businesses who want to set up and/or develop business in the UK. Our team also helps employers with the employer’s sponsor licence and hiring skilled and experienced employees under Tier 2. We also help individuals and their families with EEA permits, indefinite leave to remain (permanent residency) and UK citizenship. The team works closely with accountants, tax advisers and asset management advisers, together with Joelson’s corporate and property teams.
Commercial litigation: the team undertakes a wide range of high-value and complex disputes, both in the UK and internationally, for corporates and high-net-worth individuals. It has many years of experience of prosecuting and defending matters through the UK courts, arbitration and ADR. The team has extensive experience in advising on a range of commercial matters, including breach of contract, shareholder and partnership disputes, commercial property disputes, infringement of intellectual property rights, debt recovery and asset tracing, insolvency and professional negligence.
Real estate: The team assists developers and investors in the residential, retail, leisure, industrial and office sectors with all aspects of the property life-cycle, from acquisition and funding through to development, asset management and disposal. The team also has particular expertise in property finance and acting for retail and leisure operators.
Real estate litigation: The team, headed by Daniel Swimer, covers the full spectrum of commercial and residential real estate disputes often to clients in the retail and residential development sectors. The team works closely with the firm’s real estate lawyers to minimise the risk of disputes escalating to litigation. The team’s expertise includes contested and uncontested lease renewals, dilapidations, property asset management, service charge disputes, boundary disputes, sale and purchase disputes, and enfranchisement. The team acts for developers, investors, and landlords and tenants.
Construction: The team is highly rated and dynamic providing commercially focused advice in both non-contentious (transactional) and construction dispute related matters. The team acts for developers, property investors, funders, contractors and professional consultants, and has a leading specialist practitioner in development funding transactions. The team’s commercial and pragmatic approach facilitates our clients to regularly achieve their objectives in relation to construction projects.
Clients: Joelson acts on behalf of leading multi-national companies, including Addison Lee, Innocent Drinks, Itsu, Little Moons, Elvie, Eat Natural, Remoteli and Sustainable Ventures.
International: Joelson has well established relationships with firms throughout Europe and the USA. It is a member of the European Lawyers Network & Affiliated Firms and the DIT UK Advisory Network and has been a commercial partner to London & Partners for many years.