Freemans Solicitors

Established in 1995 by Howard Freeman, Freemans Solicitors has evolved into a highly regarded central London practice. It has a reputation for dealing with difficult and complex cases, and for providing clients with a high standard professional service.

Freemans advise individuals and businesses on a range of legal issues. The firm’s main areas of practice include:

Property (commercial and residential): Freemans’ commercial and residential conveyancing team represent a variety of clients, including developers, investors and lenders acquiring, disposing and lending against the security of land and buildings. Freemans has the legal expertise to negotiate, draft and produce complex documentation that will establish responsibilities and control costs, in order to maximise the value of clients’ properties. The department has a reputation for acting quickly, competently and having a real understanding of the ‘deal’ from a client’s perspective.

Civil litigation and Company law: the firm has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial litigation, property litigation, building disputes, insolvency, probate and inheritance disputes and company/shareholders disputes and has conducted cases in all civil courts, the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal, and in mediations and arbitrations. Its client base ranges from private individuals to large corporations and offshore companies. It is also able to provide advice and assistance in relation to drafting of documents, including shareholders’ agreements, service contracts, joint venture agreements, partnership agreements, terms of business and asset purchase agreements.

Employment: the specialist employment department deals with all employment matters from the drafting of contracts and advising on settlement agreements to litigation in the courts and the employment tribunals. The firm acts for employers and employees and can advise on employment claims arising from unfair dismissal, constructive dismissal, harassment, bullying and victimisation, and employment issues on the transfer of the business to a new owner.

Family, Children and Divorce: the family department has a reputation for high-quality service and breadth of expertise. It is particularly well known for its work in the field of international family law, an area in which it is considered to be a market leader. The firm has a number of specialist solicitors and has been involved in a number of high-profile cases involving cross-border disputes, including in the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union, which has helped to shape the law. It is also well known for representing parents and children involved with social services. The matrimonial finance team are frequently instructed in complex cases involving high-net-worth individuals, and cases with international elements. The department also includes a team of specialist family mediators to assist parties who wish to reach an amicable agreement in relation to their children and/or family finances. Some solicitors in the family department are members of the Law Society Children and Family Law panels, and many are Resolution accredited specialists. The head of family department is also a member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers.

Immigration: the team of specialists are highly experienced in all areas of immigration and nationality law including business immigration. It is very adept at assisting high-net-worth individuals and businesses, especially in Central London. Clients include large businesses and manufacturing companies which are leaders in Europe and the Middle East. The team is able to achieve exceptional results for clients and has assisted tier 1 entrepreneurs, tier 1 investors and tier 2 work permit applicants. It has obtained sponsorship licences for employers and assisted sole representatives of overseas companies. Recently the team have been working with UK and European Nationals advising them on the impact of Brexit. Freemans lawyers are experts in human rights and European law rights, appeals and judicial review applications in connection with transfers and negotiating image rights on the behalf of clients. The team have had cases heard at all levels of Court, including the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights.

Crime: the criminal team has considerable experience across a wide range of criminal offences, many high profile, including, inter alia, serious drugs, murder, terrorism, extradition, VAT fraud, money laundering, driving cases involving death, drink drive, sexual offences, investigations by the DSS, DWP, MHRA and NMC. It offers specialist advocacy services in all cases before Magistrates, Crown Court and criminal appeal courts.

Regulatory: the firm offers a specialist regulatory service to businesses and individuals. The firm advises on environmental, trading standards, and health and safety maters. Advice and assistance is provided to professionals subject to investigation or disciplinary proceedings by their regulator.

Wills and probate: the firm offers an efficient service for the preparation of wills and lasting powers of attorney, which can, if necessary, include a visit you your home. It provides a professional and sympathetic service, after a death, in dealing with the administration of the deceased’s estate in accordance with the terms of the will, or if there is no will, in accordance with the intestacy rules. It also deals with post-death variations by way of the preparation of deeds of variation, deeds of family arrangement or disclaimer.

Freemans has a contract with the Legal Aid Agency in the practice areas of Crime, Family and Immigration. The team can assess an individual’s eligibility for legal aid where appropriate.