Shoosmiths LLP

Adam Leszczynski

Adam is a corporate senior associate based in the Thames Valley office. Adam has experience in a range of transactions including acquisitions, disposals, venture and growth capital investment, private equity investment, reorganisations, shareholder investments, private to public re-registrations of companies, share buy backs, conducting legal due diligence as well as general corporate governance. Adam has experience working with investors, management teams and companies, particularly in the manufacturing, tech, media and communications sectors. Adam’s recent experience includes: assisting with the £221 million sale of smart locker technology and field service solutions company Bybox to private equity backer Francisco Partners; assisting with the acquisition of Wax Digital, an independent Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business by a private equity house; advising LDC on its £16 million investment into national hair salon operator, Rush Hair; advising Downing Ventures and Gresham House Ventures on its combined £8 million investment into Funding Xchange, a FinTech company offering its customers instant access to personalised quotes for business funding; advising Downing Ventures and Foresight Group on its investment into Masters of Pie, a virtual reality and augmented reality software company; advising NVM Private Equity on its £3.1 million investment into Clarilis Limited, a provider of automated solutions software for the legal industry; advising NVM Private Equity on its £2.2 million investment into Mo, a recognition, employee reward and ideas platform; advising NVM Private Equity on its £2 million investment into Duke & Dexter, an award-winning footwear manufacturer; advising Treetops Nurseries on its expansion through a number of acquisitions of other nursery sites; advising the shareholders of Xtrac, a world leader in the design and manufacturer of high performance transmissions for the motorsport and automotive industry, in a buyout deal with Inflexion Private Equity; advising the shareholders of Phabrix Limited, a manufacturer of video and audio broadcast test and measurement instruments, in their exit and sale of shares to Leader Electronics; advising on a company re-registration from private to public limited status, including the UK’s first re-registration of a private Community Interest Company to a Community Interest Public Limited Company; advising company directors in relation to a proposed public offer of investment; and principal advisor on the acquisition of a specialist case management company providing rehabilitation services to clients with severe and complex injuries.  

Adam Fox

Adam is a Principal Associate working in the commercial team in London. Adam advises clients on a wide range of commercial matters, with a particular focus on digital technologies and emerging business models, global privacy and data protection, and marketing laws and regulations. Adam’s experience includes: acting (on secondment for 2.5 years) as sole Privacy Counsel for WeWork's EMEA region, leading privacy and data protection compliance in the region; conducting GDPR audits for various multinational organisations, including a Japanese car manufacturer, an artificial intelligence business in the pharmaceuticals industry and a television production and distribution company; providing strategic international data transfers advice and support (both from a UK GDPR and EU GDPR perspective) for global clients, including a well-known international IT company, a leading international hotel chain, a SaaS-based web, desktop and mobile analytics platform and a leading manufacturer and marketer of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair products; advising on large data subject access requests (DSAR), including supporting a bank on a highly contentious DSAR by project managing and co-ordinating a review team to ensure regulatory deadlines were met; assisting multinational businesses with data breaches, preparing breach notifications for supervisory authorities across the globe and conducting post-breach investigations and audits; supporting an on-demand online grocery delivery business by negotiating agreements with partners in its AdTech network; advising an online takeaway delivery company on their negotiation of a Google Marketing/Ads Platform reseller agreement; acting for an internationally recognised digital brand: co-ordinating large global e-compliance projects, implementing end-to-end GDPR, Data Protection 2018 and ePrivacy compliance, responding to DSRs, advising on direct marketing and online advertising strategies, competitions and promotions, social media marketing and the use of children’s data, advising on high-value commercial distribution agreements and technology-related procurement contracts; drafting software development agreements for a major telecommunications and internet service provider in relation to a new SIM-only mobile network trading platform for retailers; and acting for J.K. Rowling’s agency protecting J.K. Rowling and the Harry Potter brand from an IP and reputational perspective, drafting and advising on agency and publishing deals and managing J.K. Rowling’s domain portfolio.

Aimee Cook

Aimee is a Principal Associate in Shoosmiths' Dispute Resolution team, based in the Thames Valley. Aimee advises clients on complex, high value commercial disputes, acting for clients primarily in the Energy, Technology, Logistics and Automotive sectors. Aimee acts on cases in the English High Court and has experience of commercial and investor-state arbitration, and mediation. Aimee's experience is particularly focused on: outsourcing disputes; corporate and shareholder disputes; procurement challenges; and restrictive covenant disputes. Recent work includes: acting for a major communications company to successfully negotiate a pre-action settlement of a multi-million pound outsourcing dispute; acting for the defendant company in a substantial High Court claim regarding alleged breaches of a shareholder agreement (successfully settled pre-trial); successfully protecting the interests of various pharmaceutical clients in respect of procurement challenges; and successfully avoiding a potential injunction in respect of alleged breaches by the clients of restrictive covenants in an employment contract.

Albi Bell

Albi is a Senior Associate construction lawyer with experience in acting for funders, developers, contractors, consultants and end-users across a wide range of sectors including retail, office, manufacturing, residential, energy and infrastructure. His work includes negotiating and advising on building contracts, bonds, guarantees, appointments, collateral warranties and construction aspects of funding agreements, development agreements and agreements for lease. His recent project experience includes: acting for a developer in relation to the development of a mixed office, residential and hotel scheme with a development value of £200 million; advising a distribution company on the construction aspects of its leasehold acquisition of a new 300,000 sq ft distribution hub; and acting for a developer in relation to a 350 unit build to rent scheme in Manchester.

Alexander Massey

With a background in accountancy, Alexander joined Shoosmiths in 2019 as a Solicitor. As part of the firm’s specialist tax team, Alexander is a Senior Associate providing assistance on: corporate tax issues in mergers and acquisitions; income taxes and reliefs; VAT, SDLT and CGT arising on property transactions; and VCT, EIS and SEIS reliefs as part of the firm’s award winning tax advantaged venture capital reliefs division.

Alistair Hayes

Alistair is a Senior Associate in the Banking and Finance team, based in our London office. Alistair specialises in asset based lending transactions, with a particular emphasis on acquisition and sponsor-led ABL financings. Alistair is also experienced in advising banks, financial institutions and large corporates in leveraged finance, asset finance and real estate finance transactions. Alistair's experience includes: advising RBS Invoice Finance and ABN AMRO on the provision of £100m receivables finance facilities to Pertemps Network Group; advising ABN AMRO on the provision of revolving plant and machinery facilities to Van Elle Holdings plc; advising Arbuthnot Commercial Asset Based Lending on combined receivables, inventory, plant and machinery, property and cash flow facilities to support Chiltern Capital's acquisition of mechanical contractor Doby Verrolec; acting for HSBC Bank in relation to the provision of £26m ABL facilities to CST Pharma; advising Investec Growth and Leverage Finance in connection with its provision of debt facilities to Southgate Global; acting for Shawbrook Bank Limited in respect of a number of asset based and commercial loan facilities to fund customer acquisitions and MBOs, including Hydromarque, Fargro and Retrac's employee ownership trust transfer; and advising a listed corporation in the utilities sector in connection with it obtaining RCF and CLBILS facilities from a major clearing bank. Alistair joined Shoosmiths in November 2019, moving to the firm together with partners Jon Bew and Natalie Barnes. He originally trained under Jon and Natalie at Irwin Mitchell LLP, qualifying in September 2019. Prior to commencing his training, he studied at King's College London and the University of Law.

Amardeep Vangar

Amardeep is a corporate solicitor with broad sector experience covering transactional and non-transactional corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity investments and general company law matters. She advises a wide range of clients including individual entrepreneurs, corporates, developers, private investors, joint ventures and property funds with considerable experience advising clients on corporate real estate transactions. Amardeep is responsive to her client’s needs and aims to achieve their objectives and goals in the most thorough and practical way possible, whilst adopting a pragmatic approach to complex legal issues. Her recent experience includes advising: the private equity firm LDC on its multi-million pound investment into Foundation SP a leading national children's care and education provider, on its various business acquisitions the shareholders of an online own-brand bike accessories and tools business on the sale of their company to Factory14 the shareholders of Procomm Site Services Ltd (a provider of portable modular accommodation in the UK) on its sale to Modulaire Group the shareholders of a UK insurance broker network on the sale of their company to a US private equity backed purchaser a global moving company, on its acquisition and expansion of a UK relocation business  

Anastasia Fowle

Anastasia is a partner specialising in the motorsport and automotive sector. She has a depth of experience in this multi-faceted sector: from IP, regulatory, litigation, international cross border matters, complex commercial and strategic arrangements and projects, end-to-end supply chain and privacy, together with extensive and sought after expertise in the world of motorsport (most notably F1). Anastasia's experience of private practice and general counsel in house roles, gives her a refreshing "both sides of the fence" perspective that enables her to cut through to commercial realities.  Having sat on the Executive Committee Board for an F1 Team, she has an acute understanding of the importance of delivering pragmatic, solution driven and commercially sensible advice.  Anastasia enjoys a unique and enviable position having worked with many F1 teams, F1 Drivers, Formula E Team and various motorsport and automotive clients. She currently also maintains legal in-house roles, active in motorsport and related activities. Her deep sector knowledge in this complex sector, means that she has a full hinterland of non-contentious and contentious experience including: intellectual property; complex commercial agreements; corporate transactions; digital media; commercial/corporate strategy (domestic and international); specialist sporting litigation; brand and reputation management; advertising and marketing strategies (often in conjunction with major sporting events); confidential information; licensing; sponsorship; endorsements; driver contracts; management contracts; motorsport regulatory advice; WADA regulatory matters; R&D and collaboration agreements; technical partnerships; complex data protection issues; compliance/audit; and litigation.  She initiates and conducts proceedings before the High Court, OHIM, FIA International Court of Appeal, UK Trade Mark Office and Nominet and works with UK Customs authorities with regard seizures of counterfeit goods.  She often works on cross border transactions for clients. Anastasia has spent time on secondment at Red Bull F1 race team, which, alongside her General Counsel role at Manor F1 race team and ROKiT Venturi Racing (Formula E Team) (current) has given her a great insight into the dynamics of a team and business operating within a competitive sporting environment. Anastasia is a Director of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association, the first non-driver to become a director of the GPDA since its inception in 1961. She sits on the board alongside Sebastian Vettel, George Russell and Chairman Alex Wurz. Recent highlights include: UK representative and member of the European Automotive Network leading on High Court trade mark infringement dispute on behalf of German automotive manufacturer (acting for both UK national sales centre and German OEM) representing former F1 World Champion driver in all his commercial projects working with leading premier league football team in relation to confidential commercial deal; working with Audi UK and Audi AG with regard ground breaking new project for the car sales market; advising leading global German car manufacturer (VW Group) on its UK IP, branding, technology and digital media, commercial and data protection matters and IP disputes. Providing strategic advice and solutions in relation to technical and legal issues arising as VWG strives to push the boundaries with new technology and enhance the customer journey experience; advising Mercedes UK, Nissan and Renault in relation to Commerical, IP and DP matters; advising on the Jules Bianchi litigation for the Manor F1 team and resultant settlement agreement; advising on the Maria di Villota case for the Manor F1 Team; working on complex High Court and Court of Appeal patent litigation and breach of contract matter on behalf of H&M (Stretchline Intellectual Properties Ltd v H&M Hennes & Mauritz UK Ltd ) [Stretchline Intellectual Properties Ltdv H&M Hennes & Mauritz UK Ltd [2015] EWCA Civ 516 (22 May 2015)]; advising British Amercian Tobacco in relation to various global commercial projects; providing strategic and commercial advice in relation to various global commercial and multi-supplier projects; acting for and advising various retailers, including H&M, The White Company, Dixons Carphone, Henkel, Nectar (Resident), United Talent Agency, Thorntons, LK Bennett, GAME, IKEA, RIXO, Ann Summers in relation to sponsorship, licensing, advertising, counterfeit matters and general commercial/data protection matters; appeal by Infiniti Red Bull Racing against the decision N°56 dated 16 March 2014 of the FIA Stewards of the 2014 Australian Grand Prix counting towards the 2014 FIA Formula One World Championship. Appeal before the International Court of Appeal [2014] (ICA-2014-01) (the “Fuelgate Litigation”); advising Henkel (and its associated brands, including Right Guard and Schwarzkopf) with regard TV rights clearances, music clearance, vlogger/blogger contracts, music licences/permissions for broadcast; acting for Global fast food restaurant chain (McDonald's) with regard UK intellectual property matters, including online and social media issues and reputational strategy; acting for leading global cereal brand in relation to multi billion pound bid to acquire United Biscuits; lead UK Counsel co-ordinating the securitisation of all IP of a borrower's European portfolio in relation to various major re-financing deals (value in excess of $1bn); Red Bull GmbH v Sun Mark Limited et al (High Court) (Red Bull GmBH v Sun Mark Limited and another [2012] EWHC 1929 (Ch), 17 July 2012.); co-ordinated worldwide IP due diligence and strategic advice on behalf of last round bidder regarding its multi billion dollar bid; acting for global motorcycle brand in relation to a serious breach of confidential information, which included an injunction claim against a well known motorcycle publication; obtaining immediate removal of online infringement and achieving successful outcome for client; advising hi-tech engineering company with regard potential large scale commercial dispute. Successful outcome for client; and advising a wide range of international and domestic clients active in the field of automotive, motorsport, manufacturing, retail, food and drink, technology, fashion, and media. Anastasia has an enviable list of clients who regard her as the “go to” person. Anastasia contributed a chapter to the book "Landmark IP Decisions of the European Court of Justice" (2008-2013).  

Andrew Brennan

Andrew heads Shoosmiths’ 20 strong national IP team.  He is recognised as a leading intellectual property lawyer who "knows his IP” and “provides solid, targeted and fast advice”. Clients find him approachable, pragmatic, agile and very user-friendly. Andrew’s practice covers all areas of intellectual property law, with a particular focus on the technology, engineering and consumer brand sectors.  He works for global tech companies and household brands through to pioneering SME’s and disruptive start-ups. Passionate about innovation, Andrew is recognised for his excellence in handling complex disputes with a technical element involving patents, confidential information and software.  He also helps technology clients in relation to their strategic R&D programmes and specialised IP commercialisation arrangements. Andrew's experience covers a range of technologies, including oil and gas well perforation, various waste to energy processes, robotics, photonic printing, supercontinuum lasers, friction stir welding, graphene filtration, sealed grafts, stroke detection equipment, autonomous vehicles, software and many more. In the consumer brand space, Andrew has handled countless trade mark and design disputes and licensing deals on behalf of well-known and up and coming brands. Recent work examples include: conducting multi-jurisdictional patent dispute regarding reactive shaped charges on behalf of global designer and manufacturer of gas and oil well perforating equipment; advising on patent and know-how licence dispute between two global engineering companies; handling international patent licensing programme on behalf of global photonic printing company; advising on complex pre-clinical and clinical milestone co-development and patent licensing agreement on behalf of US life sciences company; working as part of an international team to help one of the world’s largest vodka manufacturers enforce and protect a key trade mark; and advising numerous well known cycle brands in relation to brand protection, enforcement and licensing matters.

Andrew Bowden-Brown

Andrew is a Partner specialising in banking and finance litigation, asset based lending and alternative finance lending, cryptocurrency asset recovery and commercial litigation. Andrew regularly advises banks and other financial institutions on security and enforcement issues arising out of facility and / or security documentation. These issues range from complex multi-jurisdictional fraud claims to simple debt recovery matters, loss mitigation, contentious and non-contentious insolvency and asset recovery and tracing claims. In addition, Andrew has extensive experience of dealing with complex commercial and crypto asset recovery litigation. He works alongside leading asset recovery experts to ensure quick, commercial and pragmatic steps are taken to assist victims recover their misappropriated assets. Andrew is a member of the Shoosmiths' crypto working group. Andrew's expertise includes: advising on actions against clients and former clients of asset based lenders, banks and other financial institutions, including guarantors, warrantors and indemnifiers advising banks and other financial institutions on claims against them by current or former clients and any consequent reports to their respective regulatory bodies. In particular, Andrew has advised banks subject to numerous high-value claims for the alleged mis-selling of various financial products, including invoice finance, asset based lending, secured and unsecured finance, structured collars, swaps, simple collars and cap products advising numerous individuals and institutions on civil and criminal recovery options following theft of their crypto / virtual / NFT assets working alongside insolvency practitioners advising on fraud investigations, administrations, liquidations and provisional liquidations, actions against bankrupts, directors and third parties and obtaining relief under the Insolvency Act, such as wrongful trading, transactions at undervalue, preference and misfeasance advising on bespoke facility and security documentation in connection with prospective clients (including assisting credit committees), reviewing and amending intercreditor documents, undertaking security reviews and re-negotiating / taking new security during the course of a facility and assisting the business to create and maintain an “exit plan” for distressed or defaulting businesses advising on professional negligence claims against solicitors, accountants and other professional advisers Specialist areas include: asset based lending, invoice finance, fraud, commercial litigation, trade finance, supply chain finance, construction, insolvency and restructuring, director disqualification, debt recovery, cryptocurrency & digital asset recovery and professional negligence

Angus Evers

Partner

Barry Stimpson

Barry heads up Shoosmiths’ Investment Funds practice and is recognised in Chambers & Partners as a notable practitioner, with clients describing him as being "very responsive and highly knowledgeable of the sector", adding that he is "pragmatic and an excellent negotiator." His drafting skills and knowledge of hedge funds are further acknowledged in the Legal 500 directory. Barry’s experience as a funds specialist with City and international law firms extends to more than 30 years in advising clients on establishing real estate, venture capital, private equity and hedge funds and other investment structures, as well as on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and other corporate work. His work includes advising fund managers, investors and professional services firms on limited liability partnerships and partnership agreements and mergers. Barry was previously an investment banker at UBS, gaining experience in the real estate and listed funds sectors to bring an understanding of both the financial and legal drivers behind projects. Barry’s experience includes: • Advising a UK real estate manager on establishing 3 real estate funds • Acting for a UK asset advisor on over 20 real estate club deals • Establishing a private equity fund for a family wealth office • Establishing a credit fund for a UK and EU lending institution • Establishing 2 crypto currency funds in the Cayman Islands • Establishing a series of 3 BVI hedge funds on behalf of a UK fund manager

Becky Gray

Becky is a Senior Associate in the Commercial team at Shoosmiths, based in the Thames Valley.  She advises on a wide range of commercial and privacy matters across different sectors, including: supply agreements for goods and/or services; distribution agreements; contract variations; consultancy agreements; confidentiality agreements and general privacy work and advice.  Whilst training, Becky undertook seats in Real Estate, Commercial and Employment. Prior to her training contract, Becky worked as a paralegal for Panasonic Europe Ltd in a small in house legal team, providing practical and timely advice directly to business stakeholders on broad commercial matters. This experience has given her an invaluable insight into the type of legal assistance required by in-house legal teams and business, and the necessity for providing pragmatic and focused legal advice. Becky’s recent experience includes: reviewing various types of IT agreements, including software licensing, software development, support and maintenance, SaaS and systems implementation agreements; drafting a suite of documents for an innovative new car booking app, including both business and consumer terms of use, and a privacy policy for a local start-up company; drafting an agreement for the supply and ongoing support for a revolutionary new 3D printing solution for a UK university; undertaking an in-depth GDPR compliance audit for a known brand retailer business, producing and discussing with the business an onward action plan to enable the company to work towards GDPR compliance; working with an international construction company to review and update its GDPR compliance programme, including drafting and amending numerous policies and procedures and data transfer and sharing agreements; general privacy work including UK breach reporting, compiling cross jurisdictional Article 30 records, conducting DPIAs, drafting and amending data processing agreements and contract clauses, and reviewing and amending general data protection policies to ensure compliance with data and privacy legislation; and drafting a range of agreements facilitating the supply of products for UK brand name on an international basis; advising on a clothing donation, recycling and reuse agreement for large multinational retailer, maintaining direct communication with the business to progress finalising the agreement; and drafting a suite of documents for a start-up nanny agency business, including consumer facing terms and conditions.

Ben Pariser

Ben is a Partner and has worked extensively for residential, commercial and mixed-use developers throughout his career, as well as a number of local authorities, regional development agencies and registered providers. Ben’s development project work includes the drafting and negotiation of multi-phase, multi-conditional development agreements, collaboration and joint venture agreements (including public/private JVs), remediation conditions, overage provisions, land assembly, asset management, acquisitions and disposals. He regularly advises on the contractual framework and heads of terms at the project outset, then drafts and negotiates the various agreements, incorporating all necessary outputs, milestones, key performance indicators, clawback, security, overage and step-in provisions. He is adept at anticipating, identifying and thereafter mitigating public law and other risk factors such as state aid, vires, best value, procurement and governance issues. Ben's recent projects have included: •Working on behalf of a consortium of PLC residential developer in the strategic acquisition of a 3,000 unit new urban extension; •Working on behalf of a consortium of PLC residential developer in the strategic acquisition of a site for a 1,000 unit new neighbourhood; •Working on behalf of a PLC residential developer and a registered provider in their joint venture acquisition of a complex brownfield regeneration site from the HCA; •Working on behalf of a residential developer on a number of equity and debt funded acquisitions of immediate land. Ben has also advised high-street lenders in development projects and investment transactions, and so, when acting for the borrower or public sector partner, is adept at identifying the bank's likely requirements. Ben's experience includes mixed use regeneration schemes, hotels, restaurants, leisure facilities, offices, warehouses, supermarkets, industrial units, motorway service stations, residential / affordable housing developments and educational establishments.

Ben Churchyard

Ben is a Senior Associate in the Banking and Finance team, based in our London office. Ben specialises in acquisition and leveraged finance transactions, as well as having experience advising banks, financial institutions and corporates in relation to real estate finance and general corporate banking. Ben’s recent deal experience includes: advising Livingbridge Enterprises LLP in relation to the debt and equity restructure of one of its portfolio companies - a leading online energy and services provider to off-grid homes across the UK including Northern Ireland; advising a well-renowned challenger bank in respect of a multi-million pound cross-jurisdictional facilities agreement provided to an online shopping search engine operating in the UK, France, Sweden, Denmark, Cayman Islands, Germany, Turks and Caicos, The Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Norway; acting for an aerospace group in relation to its debt facilities from a US fund, alongside asset financing from a UK lender, including debt to equity conversion steps; advising a Five Arrows Growth Capital backed borrower in relation to a multi-million pound facilities agreement provided by Goldman Sachs in respect of its acquisition of Symposium Capital Ltd; advising Santander UK plc in relation to its acquisition finance facility to transport software provider Mandata; advising Alpha Group Bidco Limited (and NVM as sponsor) in relation to various loans provided by Thincats as part of the private equity backed MBO of Pareto Facilities Management Ltd; acting for British International Investment plc (the UK’s development finance institution) and Swedfund International plc in relation to their financing of Stichting Medical Credit Fund, a fund financing small and medium-sized healthcare facilities in Africa; advising a mid-market private equity firm in respect of debt funding received from a clearing bank to partly fund the acquisition of a care management technology business, alongside the investment provided by the private equity firm; and acting for Shawbrook Bank Limited in respect of a number of commercial loans to fund various acquisitions.

Bill Molloy

Bill advises in respect of outsourcing, large scale technology procurements, telecommunications; software development projects and intellectual property both contentious and non-contentious in the life sciences, media and communication sectors. Bill also specialises in heavyweight and high profile commercial dispute resolution and arbitration under the auspices of most of the institutional rules. He has extensive experience of resolving high value and complex commercial disputes often with a multi-jurisdictional remit for TMT, engineering, banking/finance and life science clients. He frequently advises on breaches of contract, termination rights, damages and injunctive relief. Bill is also recommended in the Legal 500 and was a contributor to "Outsourcing Transactions - A Practical Guide".

Brodie Thomson

Brodie acts for a wide range of clients, including corporates, private equity houses and management teams. She advises clients on matters including acquisitions, disposals, investments as well as undertaking portfolio advisory work. Recent experience includes advising: the management team of CLC Group Limited on an investment by H.I.G Capital; the Foresight Group on its sale of Protean Software Limited to Joblogic; Livingbridge in connection with a fundraise for an existing portfolio company; YFM Equity Partners on its follow-on investment into Unbiased; and the Clean Growth Fund on a number of its Series B and follow-on investments including in respect of Vector Photonics Limited, Open Utility Limited, Above Surveying Ltd and Kamma Limited.

Caroline Airey

  Caroline is a principal associate in the Tax team. Caroline advises on all aspects of corporate and business taxation, including in relation to mergers and acquisitions, property acquisitions and disposals. Caroline also advises on EIS and VCT qualifying fundraising.

Choisanne Man

Choisanne has a broad practice which focuses on investment acquisitions and disposals, development of residential led, commercial and mixed use schemes and general asset management work. Her experience is across all sectors including offices, shopping centres, retail parks, industrial, student accommodation, hotels and mixed use properties. She has particular experience in the acquisition and forward funding of developments to be used for mixed use, PRS and BTR. Choisanne acts for a spectrum of clients ranging from private and publicly listed property companies to investments funds, asset managers and high net worth individuals. She also acts for several well-known high street retailers on their occupier/tenant management work. Clients value her commercial approach and her ability to project manage and lead on large/high value transactions.

Chris Moakes

Chris is a Partner who joined the firm in 2019 as a Tax Manager to focus on the enterprise investment scheme (EIS) and venture capital trusts (VCT) tax practice. Chris has extensive experience advising a wide range of investors and investee companies on structuring and implementing tax efficient investments, reorganisations and exits in compliance with the EIS and VCT regimes. In addition Chris has substantial experience of advising VCT's on their compliance obligations to ensure that they continue to meet the range of qualifying conditions which must be considered on an ongoing basis. Chris has a general corporate tax background and has previously provided corporate tax advice to companies ranging from start ups to multinational groups on both one-off business transactions, relevant changes to the tax legislation/environment and on-going tax compliance obligations. His recent experience includes: advising a number of EIS and VCT investors including the Livingbridge (Baronsmead VCTs), Octopus Investments and Puma Investment Management on the impact on their existing and proposed investments of recent and forthcoming changes to the EIS and VCT regime; acting on a wide range of EIS and VCT compliant transactions, including obtaining advance assurances from HMRC and providing opinions to investors on whether a company would qualify under the schemes; advising on VCT mergers to ensure continued compliance with the VCT regime, including negotiating with HMRC; advising a VCT on how to implement a complex restructure of an existing investment so as to ensure continued compliance with the VCT regime whilst securing the future of the investee company, including negotiating with HMRC; advising a range of companies ranging from multinational groups to start ups on the corporate tax compliance obligations as well as any changes to the tax environment that could impact them. Chris is an ACA chartered accountant having trained at PwC in their tax department.

Chris Pritchett

Chris is a commercial Energy and Mobility partner, with nearly 20 years' experience in the sustainability sphere. With specialist knowledge of battery storage, solar, EV infrastructure and wind, Chris regularly advises funders, asset owners, developers and contractors on renewable energy projects and the trading and procurement of renewable power. From PPAs and optimisation agreements to commercial frameworks for energy and EV developments, Chris has worked on some of the most exciting UK and international energy and mobility developments.  He is also a keen advocate for innovation in the energy and mobility space  and is passionate about working on new commercial models to drive ever quicker towards Net Zero, from voluntary carbon offset schemes, local energy markets and a host of data-driven flexibility projects. Chris also takes an active role in the development of energy policy, and was a steering group member of the Government's Energy Data Task Force as well as chairing the Electricity Storage Networks Markets and Revenues Group. He was also included in The Lawyer's HOT 100 for his pioneering work in battery storage and EV Charging.  

Chris Mills

Chris is a banking and finance partner specialising in real estate finance. Chris has more than a decade's experience in advising borrowers, financial institutions and sponsors on a wide range of national and cross-border debt financings, including syndicated and bilateral loans, across a wide range of industry sectors. Chris also has experience in acquisition and leveraged finance, as well as asset-based lending. Chris' clients include a number of major UK clearing banks, as well as alternative lenders, debt funds, debt brokers and corporate borrowers. Recent transactions include: advising a large corporate borrower in regard to its lending of up to circa £100 million from a global asset management owned SPV in regard to the acquisition and development of an industrial platform located in London; advising a major UK clearing bank in relation to is lending of circa £20 million to a corporate borrower for the purposes of re-financing existing borrowings in relation to a portfolio of properties across London; advising an alternative lender in respect to their lending of mezzanine finance to an Abu Dhabi borrowing entity to, amongst other things, refinance the acquisition of a famous hotel in Edinburgh; and advising a major UK clearing bank in relation to its lending of a £10 million development finance facility to a corporate borrower for the purposes of financing the development of a former garden centre in Hertfordshire.

Dan Sharman

Dan is a Partner in the Corporate Tax team in London. Dan specialises in advising on all types of employee incentive arrangements, ranging from share options, share ownership (particularly growth shares), cash-based schemes and employee benefit trusts. In addition to handling share options work, he also advises clients on all areas of employment tax, including internationally mobile employees and the tax efficient structuring of bonuses and termination payments. Dan is dual qualified as both a solicitor and a chartered tax adviser.

Dan Stamford

  Daniel qualified as a solicitor in March 2021 and was promoted to Senior Associate in March 2023, having joined the firm as paralegal in 2017 and undertaking a training contract in the London office in September 2019. Daniel advises on all aspects of commercial real estate including asset management and real estate investment acquisitions and disposals, and has experience acting for landlords, tenants and portfolio holders of both freehold and leasehold properties. Daniel also has expertise in advising on all aspects relating to data centres including providing support for operators and developers and he is a member of the Data Centre team at Shoosmiths.

Daren Allen

Daren is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team and has over 30 years experience in acting for financial institutions, large corporations, Governments and individuals in relation to complex investigations, litigation, regulatory enforcement proceedings and legal and regulatory compliance. Daren regularly advises clients on matters relating to fraud, bribery, corruption and money laundering. He assisted the Ministry of Justice in drafting the Guidance on the Bribery Act 2010. he has also advised the Joint Money Laundering Steering Group on the Guidance Notes for the financial services sector. Notable cases/matters include: • acting for the Bank in N v The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC [2019] EWHC 1770 (Comm) and in NCA v N and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC [2017] EWCA Civ 253; • acting for the Bank in Property Alliance Group Limited v The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC in the first major Court of Appeal decision on LIBOR manipulation and Interest rate hedging products [2018] EWCA Civ 355; • acting as a Section 166 skilled person in connection with the widely publicised mis-selling of Interest Rate Hedging products to non- sophisticated customers, including designing the methodology of the file reviews, designing customer communications, recruiting and training a team of file reviewers, reviewing customer files, attending skilled persons forums at the FCA and determining redress for customers; • advising a large international Bank on anti-money laundering compliance across 22 jurisdictions; • advising on proposed deferred Prosecution agreements; • advising over 60 individuals in relation to a complex FCA investigation into a firms anti-money laundering systems and controls; • advising a payment services firm on its anti-money laundering systems and controls following an FCA visit and advising on subsequent VREQ; • acting for the bank in the seminal case of Jayesh Shah & Another v HSBC Private Bank [2009] EWHC 79 (QB), and [2010] EWCA Civ 31, [2011] EWCA Civ 1154, [2012] EWHC 1283(QB) in a US$300 million claim brought by two former customers. The claim arose out of the Bank's alleged wrongful delay in processing four payment instructions and refusal to provide information, due to (1) its making of authorised disclosures to the relevant authorities under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 when it suspected money laundering and (2) the tipping off provisions in the Act. This is the leading case in relation to Banks and their obligations to file Suspicious Activity Reports and the outcome received a significant amount of commentary; and • acting for the bank in Stone and Another v National Westminster Bank and Paul Aplin [2013] EWCH 208 (CH). This case was a claim against the Bank arising out of a significant Ponzi scheme and has been widely reported.

Dean Cooper

Dean is an experienced senior lawyer in the firm's real estate team, with broad knowledge acquired over many years working with clients on commercial real estate transactions and which includes acting for investors, occupiers, developers and lenders. His experience includes advising on all aspects of commercial property related matters, including: purchasing, selling and managing investment properties; landlord and tenant matters; letting of shops, offices and industrial units; acting for large corporate occupiers; acquiring and structuring sites for commercial and residential development, as well as coordinating teams on the end unit sales process. Some particular examples of Dean’s wide experience include: acting for large industrial investment funds on acquisitions, disposals (including £150m portfolio), and asset management of large portfolios of industrial estates; acting for a large logistics operator in acquiring a new 150,000+ sq. ft. facility at London Medway pursuant to a development agreement for lease; acting for a large transatlantic financial services operator in the taking of new London headquarter premises in Paternoster Square; advising and acting for a large PLC on the disposal of its £100m+ Manchester office portfolio; acting for overseas investors in the acquisition of £60m+ plus office building in Mayfair; advising residential developers on the acquisition and structuring of residential development sites; acting for a substantial private investment and development company in its acquisition, development and forward sale of sites including for electronic vehicle charging and self-storage facilities; advising alarge property developer in connection with its proposed £150m PBSA scheme; and providing corporate support on the acquisition of care homes, acting on the real estate aspects of those business acquisitions.  

Denise Stephens

Partner

Elizabeth Ward

Elizabeth joined Shoosmiths as a Partner in 2023. She specialises in all aspects of private equity transactions and PE portfolio company matters including advising sponsors and management teams on M&A, due diligence and equity arrangements. She has previously held the role of General Counsel with two private equity portfolio companies which included responsibility for M&A, ranging from extensive buy and build and integration projects, to exits, refinancings and management equity. Most recently, Elizabeth worked alongside Shoosmiths in the legal team of leading PE investor, Rothschild & Co (Five Arrows Principal Investments) where she advised on a number of buyout and growth equity transactions including major cross-border investments into N2Y, Mintec, Agribriefing and Kpler.  

Emma Foulds

  Emma is a principal associate real estate lawyer with experience of a variety of commercial real estate matters including disposals and acquisitions, landlord and tenant work, general management of industrial and office properties and working with clients who have international real estate requirements. Her recent experience includes: advising McKay Securities Plc on all aspects of managing various properties within its portfolio; advising a provider of a new chain of high class gym facilities in relation to leasing new sites across London; and advising a client with international real estate requirements, co-ordinating with other members of the World Service Group.  

Gary Assim

Gary is the senior partner in the firm's national Retail and Intellectual Property and Creative Industry Groups in which he has built up strong reputations on both a national and international basis. He specialises in resolving disputes especially those to do with anti-counterfeiting, with particular emphasis on parallel importing.  Over the past few years he has been involved in leading cases for H&M, Jimmy Choo and Dr Marten's relating to patents, trade marks, copyright and design right advice including (clients identified in bold): • Stretchline Intellectual properties Ltd v H&M Hennes & Mauritz [2015] EWHC 3298 (Pat); • J. Choo (Jersey) Ltd v Towerstone [2008] EWHC 346; �� R Griggs Group Ltd v Evans [2005] EWCA Civ 11; and • Mackie Designs Inc. v Behringer Specilaised Studio Equipment (UK) Ltd RPC (1999). He acts for clients across a broad range of sectors, but is especially well known in the clothing and footwear and automotive industries. He has written articles for the New York Law Journal, International Commercial Litigation and various national and international trade press as well as being a well known commentator on television and radio on intellectual property rights. Recent accolades include being named Client Choice Awards winner for IP by The International Law Office for the years 2014 to 2018, included in the World Trade Mark Review's WTR 1000 from 2012 to 2018, awarded the Intellectual Property Magazine Innovation prize in 2010, named in the International Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers from 2009 to 2018, the Top 100 list of The Most Powerful and Influential People in Fashion in 2008 and The Lawyers Hot 100 in 2007. He is passionate about intellectual property, especially in relation to consumer brands, hence his love of fast cars, gadgets and anything sporting.  He is best known for having advised H&M, Jimmy Choo, Chloe and Dr Martens as well as setting up the mentoring scheme for the British Fashion Council (organisers of London Fashion Week) to help their NewGen and Fashion Forward designers.  The Times commented, after the Chloe case against Topshop, that Shoosmiths were "the legal label to die for"! He also leads the firm's international relationships and travels extensively meeting with clients, intermediaries and law firms.  He was on the board of the international network the World Services Group between 2013 and 2017 and was its Chairman between 2016 and 2017.   He is a member of the IBA and INTA and attends both conferences regularly. Prior to reading law at Durham University, Gary spent three years with Lombard North Central plc gaining commercial experience and an understanding of how in-house legal teams operate.  He was articled with Travers Smith Braithwaite in London where he qualified and gained experience in commercial litigation and intellectual property for nine years.

Graham Burnett-Hall

Graham is a leading patent litigator, recognised by major legal directories, with over 25 years of experience. He is ‘noted for his ability to handle highly technical mandates’ and loves his work at the interface of technology and the law. He is adept at rapidly assimilating new scientific and technological developments and providing legal advice in a clear and straightforward manner. Whilst in the majority of cases a dispute will be resolved without recourse to the courts, should legal proceedings be necessary Graham ensures that the case is prepared thoroughly but efficiently for trial and always with the determination to secure a successful outcome. Graham ‘has a highly diverse offering’ and his clients operate in all areas of technology, with a strong track record in pharmaceuticals, biotech and medical devices and other fields such as electronics, telecommunications and engineering. Graham studied chemistry before becoming a lawyer and this scientific background is an asset that he puts to good use when working with clients, their R&D teams, and scientific experts. As well as patent issues, Graham frequently advises on other intellectual property rights such as designs, trade secrets and confidential information, copyright and database rights, and on the strategic use of intellectual property assets to achieve commercial goals. The disputes Graham advises upon are frequently multi-jurisdictional and Graham has considerable experience of litigation with parallel proceedings running across Europe and in other important jurisdictions worldwide, such as the USA and China, instructing and coordinating with specialist lawyers in each country. Graham is a solicitor advocate and in appropriate cases he appears as junior counsel, working alongside leading counsel. Examples of Graham’s past cases include: Representing a global pharmaceutical company in UK Patents Court proceedings, part of a multinational patent dispute concerning RSV vaccines based on the RSV prefusion F-protein. Acting for a major Indian manufacturer of trans-catheter aortic heart valves in a multi-national patent dispute, with parallel EPO opposition proceedings alongside proceedings in multiple European courts, including the Unified Patent Court. Conducting UK Patents Court proceedings on behalf of a German client, a leading company in simulation and validation, regarding electronic interfaces used in the testing of electronical control units, in particular in the automotive sector. Acting for a multinational biotech company in patent infringement and revocation proceedings concerning the glycosylation profile of antibodies, with parallel proceedings in the UK and Germany. A technically extremely complex dispute at first instance and at appeal concerning rights under a drug development contract to a candidate drug for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, including entitlements to milestone payments under the contract. Representing a medical device manufacturer in a patent dispute in the UK Patents Court and Court of Appeal relating to atrial septal occluders, with parallel proceedings in Germany that reached the German Supreme Court. Acting for a UK telecommunications company in multiple patent infringement and revocation proceedings concerning graphical user interfaces. Other past cases have concerned matters as diverse as interleukin-23 inhibitors for the treatment of psoriasis, air fryers, wound dressings, cryptography, insulin-like growth factors and potato harvesting equipment. These include cases that have become legal authorities on issues such as priority rights and indirect infringement. Graham trained and qualified at Lovells (now Hogan Lovells) before joining a specialist intellectual property law firm, where he worked for 20 years, becoming a partner in 2007. He joined Shoosmiths in April 2024. He has been recognised by a number of the leading legal directories, including The Legal 500, IAM Patent 1000, Who’s Who Legal, and is listed as an ‘Patent Star’ by Managing IP.

Hamish Corner

Hamish specialises in commercial, IT and data privacy law, including all aspects of technology, media and licensing arrangements, in particular software agreements (including SaaS, licence and implementation projects and outsourcing); EU data protection requirements, including GDPR; franchising, merchandising and co-branding agreements; as well as collaborations and joint ventures. His clients include growing businesses in the technology, media, retail and sports sectors. They range from start-ups and early stage growth companies, to scale-ups and privately held mid-sized and large corporates, in the UK, Europe and the US.

Hannah Farley

Hannah is a principal associate pensions lawyer, who advises both trustees and employers on a wide range of pensions issues. Experience includes: drafting consolidation rules and scheme documentation; advising on buy-ins/buy-outs, including drafting/reviewing benefits specifications and reviewing associated member communications; advising on the closure of pension schemes to future accrual, including where there is a final salary link; advising on the winding-up of a scheme; advising on the employer debt and apportioning the debt under a flexible apportionment arrangement; providing support and training to trustee boards on compliance with their obligations under the General Data Protection Regulation; advising trustees on GMP equalisation and equalisation methods; advising on pensions issues on corporate transactions; advising on incentive exercises; reviewing investment management agreements and administration agreements; and providing training to trustee boards on current legal issues. Before becoming a pensions lawyer, Hannah practised as an employment lawyer at Stewarts Law in London, advising employees and employers on employment law issues. Hannah is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers and committee member of the Thames Valley branch of the PLSA.

Hannah Field

Hannah Field is a partner in the Dispute Resolution and Litigation team at Shoosmiths and a corporate/commercial litigator with over 20 years’ experience across a breadth of complex cross-border and domestic disputes, with particular areas of expertise which include, shareholder disputes (of all manner, such as minority shareholder disputes both for the majority and for the minority shareholder), general transactional and commercial disputes issues (such as pre-emption disputes, SPA or shareholder agreement issues, breaches of warranty, earn outs, confidentiality disputes, jurisdiction disputes etc); regulatory investigations; director/fiduciary duties; cross-border insolvencies; and financial disputes. The disputes vary in nature arising from issues such as: breach of contract, misrepresentations, unfair prejudice, contractual interpretation matters, fraud etc. Hannah has acted on some of the highest profile disputes in the UK and internationally across a breath of sectors, including numerous private equity firms, funds, major corporates and commercial entities, start-ups, technology clients, high net worth individuals and banks. Hannah spent a number of years at US firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges where she became partner and later co-head of the London International Dispute Resolution department. She then joined White & Case before moving to Goodwin Proctor to assist with the build out of their disputes team in London. Hannah’s clients have included Providence Equity, Bain, Advent, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Bain Capital, iTunes, Facebook, Yodel, Four Seasons, Access Industries, CVC, ETF, Novator, Antin, Elliott, Get Living and GSO Capital. As part of her impressive corporate/commercial practice, Hannah has acted on some of the largest shareholder disputes in the Courts, such as securing victory for the Barclay Brothers and their associated entities concerning the ownership of Claridges, The Connaught and The Berkeley. Hannah has advised on litigation for some of the largest insolvencies/restructurings such as Lehman Brothers, Worldcom, Kaupthing Bank and Paragon. She also has experience in contentious intellectual property and tax matters, including having acted for Ingenious Media (producer of major films such as Life if Pi and Avatar) relating to one of the most high profile and complex tax cases ever litigated in England. Hannah has been recognised for her commercial and corporate litigation work across Chambers and Partners, The Legal 500 and London Super Lawyers.

Hayley Capani

Hayley is a Legal Director in the London office of the Shoosmiths Corporate Restructuring and Advisory team. Hayley advises on both contentious and non-contentious restructuring and insolvency matters and has extensive experience in contentious insolvency matters, acting for office holders, banks and other creditors on a broad range of matters relating to administration, administrative receivership, provisional liquidation, liquidation and a range of cross-border issues. Hayley’s contentious matters include: advising the administrators of LBHI2 (a Lehman group company) in relation to a directions application in relation to the ranking of circa $8.3bn of subordinated debt; advising a group of opposing creditors who successfully challenged a proposed scheme of arrangement issued by Sunbird Business Services Limited in relation to $15m of debt; advising the administrators of the Castlebeck care home group (which previously ran the Winterbourne View care home); advising the administrators on the administration and liquidation of the UK subsidiaries of the Swiss Petroplus group; advising syndicates of banks in relation to potential international enforcement options against the failed Dubai based private equity fund Abaaj as well as (on a separate matter) the Saudi-based Algosaibi-business, Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Brothers Company; and advising Canadian lessors in relation to the administration of the English airline, Flybe Hayley's non contentious experience includes: advising a syndicate of banks on contingency planning in relation to a restructuring of a substantial PP/PFI road infrastructure project  in the UK  

Ian Reid

Ian Reid (Partner) Ian is a highly experienced British construction lawyer, who has worked around the world and advised on projects ranging from major urban redevelopment schemes in London’s docklands, city centre office buildings, one of the world’s largest liquified natural gas projects in Queensland Australia, oil rigs in the North Sea, rail infrastructure projects, mining projects in Australia’s outback, super prime residential and hotel schemes  and the development of luxury resorts in the South Pacific.  Before becoming a lawyer, Ian trained as an architect in the UK and worked for architectural practices in Canada. Since becoming a lawyer Ian has  worked for several of London’s leading law firms and also a leading Australian practice. Ian practices both non-contentious (front end) and contentious (back end) construction law. He typically provides developer clients will a "full life cycle" or "cradle to grave" service, advising on procurement routes at the inception of a project, drafting and negotiating all forms of construction and related contracts, providing legal handholding and legal project management advice throughout the build period and then acting in construction disputes (whether they be in adjudication, arbitration, expert determination or court proceedings) in the event things do not go as planned. Ian was Lawyer Monthly’s UK Construction and Engineering Lawyer of the Year 2019, Acquisition INTL’s Most Outstanding Construction Lawyer 2019, ACQ5’s Construction Lawyer of the Year 2019, Corporate INTL’s Construction Lawyer of the Year in the United Kingdom 2021.  He is also featured in the Global Law Experts 2021 handbook.

Isaac Bordon

Isaac is a Partner based in the London office and has experience in all aspects of real estate, with particular emphasis on investment, development and occupier work. He advises a wide range of clients on their real estate transactions and strategy and often leads multi-practice teams of lawyers on complex deals. Isaac acts for landlords and tenants, institutional UK funds, local authorities and private equity houses, family offices and overseas investors. He works with clients specialising across all asset classes, and his work has incorporated the office, retail, leisure, educational, industrial, logistics, data centre, residential, hotel, and student accommodation sectors. Isaac has a special interest in environmental matters and sustainability in the built environment. He also has extensive experience of the London office market and the trends which have influenced and affected the way that office space is being occupied.

James Benedick

James is a real estate lawyer with wide experience of acting for, landlords, tenants, pension funds, property companies and financial institutions. He has extensive experience of all aspects of commercial property and, in particular, investment transactions. James’ experience includes sales, purchases and asset management of multi-let offices, retail parks and industrial estates. James also advises on real estate aspects of corporate and finance transactions. His recent project experience includes advising: a real estate investment company on the acquisition of prime London office and residential premises for £10.25 million with a view to converting to extending and converting to sole residential use; a multinational corporation on all matters connected with the management of their UK real estate portfolio, including a mixture of new lease acquisitions in retail parks and outlets as well as new concept stores in a range of high profile locations; a high profile British retail and commercial bank on the property aspects of a £15.9 million loan in respect of a shopping centre purchase; a pension fund on the sale of West End offices premises to an international investment company for £15.75 million; and on the property aspects of a disposal by a human resource consulting firm of a wholly owned subsidiary to a national logistics company for £5 million.  

James Cullingworth

  James is a Principal Associate in the London real estate team and advises on all aspects of commercial property, including, acquisitions, disposals, lettings and development. James acts for landlords, tenants and developers in a variety of sectors and his recent experience includes: acting for major institutional landlords in relation to industrial, office and retail properties across the UK; acting for a healthcare client on acquisitions, sale and leasebacks and the development of medical centres; and acting on a joint venture for a 160k square metre development in Cheshire.  

James Spencer

James is a partner in the banking and finance group of Shoosmiths’ London office with over 20 years experience and expertise in a wide spectrum of finance and structured finance transactions. James is primarily focused on the following areas of practice: advising banks, debt funds and other alternative lenders on the structuring and origination of a wide variety of syndicated and bilateral commercial real estate loans, including whole loans, senior loans , mezzanine loans and A/B loans, for both investment and development transactions across a range of asset types, including office, retail, logistics, student accommodation, hotels and BTR; advising lenders, loan servicers and borrowers on the work out and restructuring of stressed and distressed commercial real estate loans; and representing loan agents and servicers on their appointments to a variety of finance, structured finance and securitisation transactions, including CRE, CMBS, shipping, leverage, aviation, NPLs portfolios, loan on loan and warehouse lines. James has been recommended for property finance by Legal 500 since 2016.

Joseph Mazzucca

Partner

Karen Mortenson

Karen is a Principal Associate and has over 12 years’ experience advising clients on all aspects of employment law. She provides friendly, responsive and commercial advice, helping make her clients’ lives easier whether she is managing senior hires and exits, advising on employee relations or drafting employment contracts and other documents to protect the business. In addition to helping clients operate their “business as usual”, Karen has considerable experience advising buyers, sellers and investors on the people side of corporate transactions. She also regularly designs and implements TUPE and collective redundancy consultation programmes and where necessary will robustly defend or prosecute claims in the High Court or Employment Tribunal. Karen’s recent experience includes advising: a hotel group on the people aspects of the sale of four high-end luxury hotels for circa £1 billion; a leading global relocation and moving service provider on the employment aspects of a complex multi-jurisdictional acquisition; US in-house counsel on the successful closure of a high profile UK business; the majority shareholders in relation to an unfair prejudice claim; and a number of senior executives in relation to their employment and its termination. .

Kat Hornsby

Kat is a principal associate in the corporate team based in the London office. Kat advises on a wide range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, investments, venture capital, corporate governance and shareholder arrangements. Kat acts regularly for investors, entrepreneurs and management teams in a wide range of sectors.  

Katie Yorke

Katie is a Legal Director in the corporate team, based in the London office. Katie advises national and international clients on a diverse scope of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions (domestic and cross-border), private equity investments and disposals, fundraisings, corporate governance, joint ventures and shareholder arrangements. Katie has particular expertise in multi-jurisdictional matters and helps manage Shoosmiths’ international relationships in the World Services Group (WSG) and the International Bar Association (IBA). Katie also has experience in acting for AIM and Main Market listed companies, nominated advisers and brokers on reverse takeovers, initial public offerings, secondary fundraisings and regulatory compliance. In 2018, Katie co-authored Thomson Reuters’ annual regulatory overview of UK Equity Capital Markets. Key recent and historic transactions include: advising FPE Capital and management on the sale of TNP to Node4 (backed by Providence Equity Partners); acting for Universally Speaking, a leading localisation and quality assurance provider in the gaming sector, on its strategic investment from Phoenix Equity Partners; advising management on the sale of global prototyping and specialised manufacturing group, Goodfellow, to Battery Ventures, with subsequent reinvestment; acting on the share sale of a UK-headquartered international innovation group, with simultaneous Dutch and US group divestments; acting for a Cayman-based entity and its shareholders on a US$160million disposal of its joint venture interests in Cyprus, Dubai, Turkey and Africa to its German co-shareholder under English law; working with the UK arm of a US-headquartered group on a US$120million acquisition of an international technology and IP group based in Australia, Asia and the UK; advising a Saudi Arabian group of companies on a new joint venture and related arrangements with its German partner under English law; and advising the selling shareholders of Indigo Planning on its sale to Canadian-listed global services firm, WSP.

Khan Kassam

Khan has experience drafting and negotiating building contracts, consultant appointments, development agreements, facility agreements, sub-contracts, bonds, guarantees and collateral warranties. Khan has advised and continues to advise a broad range of clients including banks, UK and overseas funds, developers, housing associations and local authorities in respect of the design and construction of commercial property, residential property and education sector developments.

Kieran Cummins

Kieran is an Associate in the Banking and Finance team, specialising in asset based lending. Kieran advises banks, financial institutions and corporate borrowers in relation to their transactions, both international and domestic, including receivables finance, plant & machinery loans, revolving inventory loans, property loans and cashflow term loans. Kieran also has experience advising banks and financial institutions on real estate finance transactions.  

Kiran Desai

Kiran is a Partner and Head of Brussels office with extensive experience advising on competition law, both UK and EU, as well as EU compliance law generally. He has worked on matters covering many sectors and in the past few years has been particularly active in relation to the TDT sectors and technology aspects of other sectors, such as automotive. In recent years he has focused on competition and EU regulatory law issues concerning local markets mergers, technology and data.  He has advised clients in relation to the UK/EU interface as a result of Brexit and in relation to broader UK trade law matters, including sanctions advice.  Kiran is a member of the firm's India Business Group and regularly advises Indian corporations. Kiran is qualified to practice in England & Wales as well as Brussels, the latter allowing his advice to benefit from legal privilege when advising clients on sensitive EU competition law issues. Kiran is a recognised author and speaker on competition law, in particular the technology sector. He is the standing contributor to the UK competition chapter of Competition & Regulatory Law Review, published by Lexxion. He also writes regularly on topical subjects, typically with a business angle rather than a purely descriptive account of the legal development. Examples of Kiran’s experience include: advice to a client subject to a cartel allegation by the UK's FCA that was using its concurrent competition powers in an esoteric activity in the financial sector. advice to a client subject to the double cartel investigation by the UK and EU competition authorities into the the recycling of cars and vans. multi-jurisdictional merger control advice for an Indian HQ'd client in relation to the acquisition of a Scandinavian based target business, advice and support for client in relation to a voluntary NSI Act application that was subject to an in-depth investigation, production of a report for a leading Chinese technology producer proposing a methodology to examine the government effects of removing its products from the market as regards competition law and cybersecurity law, a second phase merger investigation with divestments in Germany for a leading European cinema exhibitor, a study in relation to tobacco price rules for a global tobacco company, litigation before the European Court of Justice on behalf of the several leading UK companies appealing the European Commission’s CFC State aid decision, a study for the European Commission, where he was the lawyer addressing the competition and regulatory aspects, including liability and insurance of changes to the structure of air transport navigation, in particular the data aspects of such changes, competition compliance and strategic advice for an ad hoc group of suppliers concerning certain downstream issues, sanctions advice to a sports business in relation to its broadcasting agreement with a national broadcaster, advice to a sport association about a possible competition complaint to the European Commission re the conduct of a sport organising body. Examples of Kiran’s articles include: The CMA's report into AI foundation models, European Competition and Regulatory Review, Volume 7 (2024), Issue 4 Competition, Big Tech and Retail Financial Services - A Regulator's Discussion Paper, European Competition and Regulatory Review, Volume 6(2023), Issue 1 Follow-on Damages Actions: An Example of When They Might Not Occur?, European Competition and Regulatory Review, Volume 6 (2022), Issue 4 National Security and Investment Act 2021: Eight Months Review, European Competition and Regulatory Review, Volume 6 (2022), Issue 3 Facebook / GIPHY merger - The end of BigTech's spending spree? European Competition and Regulatory Review, Volume 6 (2022), Issue 1 Changing Competition Law for the Digital Sector, European Competition and Regulatory Review, 1/2021 (Vol. 5) https://core.lexxion.eu/article/CORE/2021/1/0 UK State Aid Rules Post-Brexit, European State Aid Law Quarterly, (2020, No.4). The UK Competition and Markets Authority’s report, Online platforms and digital  advertising, in context, European Competition and Regulatory Review, 3/2020 (Vol. 4) https://core.lexxion.eu/article/CORE/2020/3/9 Antitrust M&A: 4 to 3 mergers might be back on the strategic table, EY Law, June 2020 The sharing economy: legal fragmentation might lead to harmonization of the law, EY Law, June 2020 EU State Aid – An overlooked element of transaction strategy, EY Law, May 2020 COVID-19: State Aid as Part of Your Financial Solution – The Questions to Ask, EY Law, May 2020 EU Competition Rules: Covid-19 Crisis Response EY Law, April 2020 Chemicals Industry: Competition Rules and State aid: Key Developments, EY Law, March 2020 A Major Strategy Initiative – EU Data – Competition & Industrial Policy, EY Law, February 2020 Data ownership and monetization are core issues of a recent competition complaint, EY Law, September 2019 Examples of Kiran’s speaking engagements include: 2023 August 8, Competition and employment laws overlap, podcast 2023 April 28, ESG practical points for business, episode 1, Five actions for the coming months, podcast 2022 November 22, UK-India commerce: Competition and bilateral investment, podcast with Khaitan & Co 2022 November 1, NSI Act - nine months review, Shoosmiths webinar with DRD Partners 2020 October 9, Forum Europe, Cyber-Security Salons, Global Outlook 2020 May 2, EY Forensics and Vaish Associates Advocates, Competition in India and Abroad 2019 September 20-21, Prague EU Law Days, Competition Law and the 4th Industrial Revolution 2019 June 17, EY Law, M&A client seminar, Competition Law 2019 May 23, EY global M&A partners meeting, London, EU & Competition Law Hot Topics for M&A lawyers 2018 IBC Advanced EU Competition Law, Brussels, Blockchain: Competition Law Challenges 2018 September 25, EY global webcast, Navigating tomorrow’s automotive industry legal challenges 2018 July, EY global tax conference, New York, Legal Aspects of Brexit 2018 June 7-8, Prague EU Law Days, Competition Law and Innovation 2018 February 14, EY global webcast, Navigating routes to market in an era of change

Laura Board

Laura is a partner in the tax department and heads up the firm’s corporate tax practice. Laura has a wealth of experience advising a broad range of clients on corporate tax matters including M&A transactions, reorganisations, demergers and multi-jurisdictional tax planning. In addition, Laura advises on real estate tax, EIS and VCT qualifying fundraisings and has a particular expertise in advising on the taxation of image rights.  

Lauren Conroy

  Lauren is a principal associate banking and finance solicitor, undertaking a wide range of debt finance work, including real estate finance and acquisition finance, acting for borrowers, banks and financial institutions.   Having studied law at the University of Leicester, Lauren joined Shoosmiths in 2012 as a legal assistant in the Wealth Protection team.   Lauren completed the LPC with distinction in 2013 at the University of Law, Birmingham.   Lauren qualified in September 2016 having completed her training contract with Shoosmiths, during which time she undertook a secondment to the Commercial and Private Banking Legal team at The Royal Bank of Scotland plc.

Lawrence Renny

Lawrence is a senior associate in the Corporate Practice Group based in our London and Thames Valley office. Lawrence focusses on private equity and M&A transactions advising private equity houses, corporate entities and management teams. Recent transactions include advising: LDC and management on the sale of CIPHR to ECI LDC on its investment into Foundation SP Five Arrows Growth Capital on its investment into Biophorum RLDatix (and its sponsors Five Arrows Principal Investments and TA Associates) on its acquisition of Allocate Software from Hg Capital and Vista Partners Mobeus Equity Partners and management on the sale of Blaze Signs to Elaghmore LLP The management team of Talking Talent on the investment by Bridges Fund Management The founders and management team of Churchill Contract Services on the minority investment by ESO Capital FPE Capital LLP and the management team on the sale of Nav 365 People to Node 4 supported by Providence Equity Partners and subsequent reinvestment by management into Node 4

Lee Sennett

Lee is a Partner in the corporate department's restructuring and insolvency team.  Lee’s practice covers a broad range of formal and informal corporate restructuring and insolvency matters.  He regularly acts for lenders, creditors, insolvency practitioners, corporates and directors. He advises on all types of restructuring situations, accelerated M&A and formal corporate insolvency procedures (administration, liquidation and receivership). Lee has particular expertise in the retail sector having advised in connection with the administrations of Monsoon Accessorize Limited, Harveys and Bensons for Beds, Cath Kidston, TM Lewin and Bounty.  In addition, Lee also has expertise in the peer to peer lending market having been part of the wider team advising the administrators of Lendy Limited (and its associated company Saving Stream Security Holdings Limited) and on the CVA of Wellesley Finance Plc. Lee has also advised in relation to the following: • the administration and disposal of the business and assets of Laundrapp Limited; • the administration and disposal of the business and assets of Honestjohn.co.uk Limited; • the administration and disposal of the business and assets of UK Window Group Limited; • the administration of Monarch Aircraft Engineering Limited; • the purchase of the business and assets of the Potting Shed Bar and Restaurant Group; • the impact of the insolvency of entities such as Wrightbus, Drayton Manor, Nuconnect on certain clients. Prior to joining Shoosmiths in 2019, Lee was a Partner at Ince & Co where he advised on a number of cross border shipping and energy restructurings including: • advising a Middle-Eastern client on a multi-billion-dollar reorganisation of its shipping, marine services and logistics group; • advising an international oil and gas client on a complex multi-layered agreement comprising a US$400m debt liability, the transfer of over 30 vessels, refinancing of existing facilities, a debt for equity swap and renegotiation of existing trading documents; • advising a group of ship owners on the impact of the CVA of Plexus Cotton Limited.

Liam Phillips

Liam advises on all aspects of commercial real estate including data centre (acquisition/disposal, development and management), real estate investment acquisitions and disposals, development, hotel and leisure, retail, real estate finance and management of investment portfolios. He has particular expertise in advising on all aspects relating to data centres including acting for operators, developers and occupiers and has acted as interim in-house general counsel for the leading large-scale, carrier neutral data centre provider in Europe and Asia-Pacific. His clients include a number of data centre providers and investors, hotel chains, mixed use developers, property investors, high end retailers and restaurant groups. Liam is named as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 and is described as having "a very good understanding of the commercial challenges facing the property market, and his advice is tailored to resolving the commercial issues" as well as being “a valued business partner." He regularly contributes to trade and legal press having articles published in Data Center Dynamics, Data Europe and Data Center Solutions, as well as contributing to industry reports such at the BroadGroup.

Lisa Faragher

Lisa is a Senior Associate in our corporate department based in the London Office.   Lisa advises on a wide range of corporate matters, including share and asset acquisitions and disposals, private equity investments and venture capital investments. Lisa also provides general advisory and transactional services to corporate businesses in relation to shares, corporate restructures as well as bespoke shareholder, partnership and joint venture agreements.   Lisa provides commercially focused legal support to a variety of clients including large corporates, high tech companies and owner-managed businesses.  

Lucy Sanderson

Lucy is a senior associate working with a variety of clients including insolvency practitioners, banks, asset based lenders, private companies and company directors, providing advice in all aspects of restructuring and insolvency. Lucy advises insolvency practitioners in connection with all transactional and contentious matters arising from their appointment. Lucy assists on complex corporate restructurings including the implementation of Company Voluntary Arrangements (CVAs) and has experience acting both for buyers and sellers of distressed business including pre-pack administration sales. Lucy also has experience preparing and advising on various insolvency related court applications. As regards creditor advisory work, Lucy advises lenders in connection with the validity of their security and their enforcement options. Lucy's notable experience includes: acting for office-holders in relation to varied matters arising from their appointment to Digme Fitness Limited, Bounty Joy Limited, Axminster Carpets Limited, Keyair Limited, Monarch Aircraft Engineering Limited and Elite Sports Group Limited, including advice in relation to asset sales and transactions, collections, property, employment and regulatory matters and claims against former directors and/or officers; acting for the purchasers of assets from insolvent estates, including for the purchaser of the business and assets of boutique fitness outfit Frame, and in an accelerated sale and purchase transaction of the Oasis and Warehouse group and the onward sale of the retail brands to Boohoo; managing the complex and contentious cross-border administration of, a freight forwarder, Allseas Global Project Logistics Limited on behalf of its administrators.  Assisting in connection with the administration of an international mining group, including advising on (i) cross-border asset sales, (ii) a distribution to unsecured creditors and returning the Company to solvency, and (ii) the successful response to an unfair harm application brought by a director of the company seeking to exercise management powers in preparation for the end of the successful administration; advising directors including the board of a group of online gift retailers in relation to the group’s liquidity challenges and their duties in this regard; advising the former directors of a company in relation to the defence of a £4 million transfer at an undervalue claim; and assisting in connection with the implementation of a number of retail CVAs (Monsoon Accessorize Limited, Accessorize Limited, Abokado), acting in connection with the high-profile legal challenge of the CVA of a well-known high street retail chain and acting for a number of creditors in a High Court trial, successfully appealing the rejection of their claims in a CVA,  

Matt Douglas

  Matt is a Senior Associate advising on a wide range of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, venture capital, shareholders' agreements, corporate advisory and restructuring. Matt has experience acting for large private companies, institutional investors (PE and VC), management teams and owner managers in a variety of sectors including technology, healthcare, education, transport and infrastructure, media, and finance. Matt’s recent deal experience includes advising: ·        private equity firm LDC on a multi-million-pound investment into Foundation SP limited; ·        Chevron Traffic Management on multiple M&A deals, including the acquisitions of Camps Highways Limited and Highway Barrier Solutions Limited; ·        Compass Community, a leading national children’s care and education provider, on various M&A transactions; ·        the shareholders of FWD Training Limited on the sale of the company to professional services and technology firm, Davies Group; and ·        the management team of digital forensics business, Forensic Analytics Limited, on its growth capital funding from Mercia Asset Management. External quote

Matt Green

Matt, Senior Associate, is the Blockchain Litigation Lead at Shoosmiths and is a lawyer specialising in Crypto, Technology, Blockchain and Intellectual Property.  His practice is designed to service businesses utilising blockchain technology, recovering crypto assets and advising on copyright, trade marks and data. Having set the precedent in common law jurisdictions worldwide that crypto assets are property in 2019 following payment of a ransom in Bitcoin (see AA v Persons Unknown Re. Bitcoin), Matt has developed proven best practices in tracing and recovering stolen or misappropriated crypto assets across multiple jurisdictions for businesses and individuals. He has built a catalogue of successful High Court decisions, freezing crypto assets via interim injunctions and securing their return. Matt’s background is in intellectual property and technology and he has advised on creation of NFTs considering copyright/ trade mark issues, for record labels to members clubs and beyond. He has also advised on trade mark disputes including against Amazon in the Court of Appeal and for Sky in the High Court, and works with clients in the technology, fast moving consumer goods, fashion, entertainment and music sectors, on commercial, intellectual property and litigation matters. Advising on regulation, Matt has worked with Premier League football clubs, leaders in the world of boxing, and from fintech firm to start ups, on adoption of tokenisation, FSMA and FCA issues and implementation of stable coins. He is featured advisor on THE CAKE, a directory for trusted Blockchain, De-Fi and NFT experts, and is a contributor to several publishers, writing on digital asset recovery, including for Bitcoin Magazine and Blockchain Industry Review. He has also co-written an academic paper entitled “Decentralised Autonomous Organisations: The Future of Corporate Governance or an Illusion”

Matt Nixon

Matt is a Legal Director in the Planning Team, based in London. Matt is an experienced planning lawyer and advises on all aspects of planning, highways and compulsory purchase law.  He has experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters, including complex section 106 agreements, highway agreements and stopping-up, compulsory purchase, environmental impact assessments.  Matt has gained significant experience in both making and defending judicial reviews and statutory challenges. Matt's recent experience includes: advising the applicant on all aspects of a proposed development for a significant film studio located in the greenbelt, including application review (EIA development); advising on a comprehensive mixed use redevelopment comprising up to 1,524 residential units at the former Westferry Printworks site on the Isle of Dogs, London.  Including a three week public inquiry, subsequent legal challenge and redetermination process, including negotiating a number of complex section 106 unilateral undertakings; advising the developer on the negotiation and agreement of a section 106 agreement of a phased outline scheme for up to 1,152 residential units and commercial space in central London; advising on all aspects of a comprehensive town centre redevelopment to provide up to 1,867 residential units and retail/commercial floorspace; acting for a land promoter in successfully defending the adoption of the Guildford Local Plan and Wycombe Local Plan by way of statutory challenge following a challenge to greenbelt release; lead advisor acting for a developer as part of a consortium challenging the decision of a local authority to proceed with the adoption of a Neighbourhood Plan, including claim for Interim Relief; advising on the planning aspects of numerous portfolio disposals and due diligence exercises, including purpose built student accommodation, industrial sites and development opportunities for a range of sites across the country.

Matthew MacLachlan

Matthew is a commercial litigator, primarily advising multinationals. He is dual-ranked by Legal 500 as a Key Lawyer for Commercial Litigation (London Dispute Resolution) and for Data Protection, Privacy and Cybersecurity (London Risk Advisory) in 2024. Matthew also leads Shoosmiths' cyber and contentious privacy practice. He acts on major data incidents, often on a global scale. He has published industry-leading guidance in this area, including Privilege in Cyber Investigations (PLC Practice Note (Maintained)) and in the Privacy & Data Protection Journal. Recent experience includes: Acting on an emergency basis for a major property management company in the wake of a ransomware incident resulting in system compromise and major data loss. Advising on regulatory liabilities, litigation risk, liability to counterparties and securing coverage from insurers. Advising two defendant multinationals facing $70 million Commercial Court claims from selling shareholders following the sale of an underlying target. The claims involve complex share issuance mechanisms and loss modelling. Acting for a major motor services company on an emergency basis following a national data incident. Coordinating regulatory response, liaising with counterparties, advising on mass notifications to data subjects, and defending ongoing class action litigation. Advising two major insurers in Commercial Court proceedings concerning a $140 million tower of insurance. Insurers faced $70 million claims concerning class actions and regulatory fines arising from US cyber claims. Essex County Council v UBB Waste (Essex) Limited [2020] EWHC 1581 (TCC): acting for the claimant in its successful £1 billion High Court claim for breach of a PFI contract against the operator of a major waste treatment facility. Advising an ultra-high net worth individual in his defence of £600 million High Court proceedings for breach of warranty and misrepresentation as part of a sale of his business interests.  

Michael Winter

Michael is a Principal Associate in the corporate team and based in the London office. Michael has experience advising on a wide range of corporate matters including venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, shareholder arrangements and corporate restructures. Michael provides commercially focussed legal advice to a variety of clients including investors, management teams, large corporates and owner-managed businesses. Michael's recent experience includes: advising XYZ Reality on its Series Seed and Series A financings; acting for JamJar Investments on its Series A investment in Believe in Science (Urban Legend); acting for a data intelligence company on its equity financing and subsequently advising the management team on its sale; acting for Pi Labs, a leading proptech VC, on various equity investment rounds; advising a medtech company on its various equity financings and subsequently advising the management team on its sale; acting for real estate group, Impact Capital Group, in relation to its corporate restructures, general advisory and transactional services; and acting for an award winning house builder on its corporate acquisitions of various development sites.

Michelle Morgan

Michelle is a Principal Associate and has over 14 years' experience as an employment lawyer in large practices in the Thames Valley, most notably Freeths. She qualified as a solicitor in 2005. Michelle acts for a wide range of corporate and individual clients, across a number of sectors; she has particular expertise in the education sector, regularly advising independent schools and academies on employment-related matters, as well as the transport and food sectors. Michelle advises on all aspects of employment law, and she has considerable experience of a broad range of employment issues, including: drafting and advising on contracts of employment and directors' service agreements, drafting and negotiating settlement agreements, advising on restrictive covenants, guiding employees and employers through redundancy processes, as well as the usual day to day ‘HR’ type issues that arise for both employers and employees, such as disciplinaries, grievances, sickness absence, maternity and discrimination. She also advises on bringing and defending employment proceedings in the Employment Tribunal, as well as the steps that can be taken to avoid litigation. Michelle also has considerable experience in corporate support work; assisting the corporate team with the employment elements of transactional matters. Michelle often trains Human Resources professionals and client managers on employment law issues. She delivers seminars both in house and externally. With her training hat on, Michelle writes articles for the local and national press as well as industry publications. Michelle is named in the Legal 500 as a Recommended Lawyer.

Mike Lockton

Mike is a Principal Associate who specialises in Asset-Based Lending based in our London office. Following qualification into Hammonds' (now Squire Patton Boggs) ABL Litigation team in 2009, Mike has been advising clients across the invoice finance and alternative lending sectors ever since, most recently having headed up Francis Wilks and Jones' Banking and Finance offering, before joining Shoosmiths' expanding team in March 2023. The instructions Mike receives vary broadly from standard commercial debt recoveries to guarantor actions to fraud-based claims in both the civil and insolvency courts.  Although Mike works mainly on contentious issues, he also advises his client base on various operational aspects of their facilities where they seek to mitigate risk, including but not limited to carrying out supply contract reviews and assisting with the variation of facility and security documentation. In addition, as a lot of his instructions are linked to insolvency events, Mike is well-known amongst a number of the key insolvency practitioner contacts in the ABL industry. Mike's expertise includes: advising financiers on enforcement action against clients or former clients and any associated guarantors, warrantors and / or indemnifiers. undertaking large scale collect-outs of sales ledgers on behalf of either financiers or insolvent businesses. advising on and dealing with complex commercial debt recovery claims pursuant to supply contracts - either B2B or on behalf of invoice financiers. advising on and preparing bespoke facility and security documentation to assist with the management of risk in relation to ongoing facilities, including supply contract reviews and facility variations, including, where necessary advising upon any managed "exit plan" for distressed or defaulting businesses. Specialist areas include: asset based lending, invoice finance, fraud, commercial litigation, trade finance, supply chain finance, insolvency and restructuring and debt recovery.

Natalia Tombs

  Natalia is a Legal Director in our corporate department advising on all aspects of corporate law, including national and international mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganisations, joint ventures, shareholders' agreements, investments and general corporate advisory mandates. Natalia spent six years practicing in the Middle East. She has experience in corporate transactions in that region, as well as advising clients on foreign direct investment in the United Arab Emirates. Recent experience includes advising: - Havenvest Private Equity, RIMCO Investments and management sellers on their sale of Help AG, a cybersecurity company operating in the Middle East, to Etisalat*; - Australian online travel business Webjet Limited on its USD 173 million purchase of UAE based Destinations of the World*; - GFH Financial Group BSC, a Bahrain-based investment group,  on its acquisition of 85% of The Entertainer group, a leading mobile e-commerce platform*; - Kerzner International, a leading international developer and operator of ultra-luxury resorts and residences on its joint venture with private equity firm, Dolphin Capital Investors, for the development and management of a luxury tourism project in Greece*; peat;">- a Middle East government entity on amendments to its country's Companies Law with a view to improving governance and its World Bank doing business ranking*; - on the acquisition of a healthcare company in Dubai and Abu Dhabi*; and - a leading global corporation on a pre-sale internal review and re-organisation of a large division of the company in the Middle East*. *Denotes experience at a previous firm.

Nick Holland

Partner

Nick McCarthy

Nick is a partner in the corporate team at Shoosmiths London specialising in advising public and private companies on capital investments, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions. He is ranked by the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading individual. Nick regularly guides companies on public M&A, acts for private equity houses and nominated advisers and brokers in the ECM market he is noted for adept handling of AIM transactions.

Oliver Pilkington

Oliver is a partner in the corporate team in the London office.  He specialises in equity capital markets transactions, advising public companies and other market participants on a variety of matters including IPOs and secondary fundraisings.  Oliver also has broad experience advising on private company fundraisings, domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other corporate transactions

Prakash Kerai

Prakash supports organisations on their technology and FinTech arrangements. He advises on the legal & contractual aspects of buying, selling, using, and exploiting all types of technology – software, hardware, data, and related services – e.g. software licensing, data licensing, SaaS and hosting arrangements, development projects, implementation projects, outsourcing deals. He has been advising on FinTech arrangements since he started his legal career - and has deep sector knowledge and experience.  In addition to supporting financial services businesses on procuring FinTech (including BankTech, InsurTech, and RegTech) solutions, he works closely with new entrants in the FinTech space, helping them to navigate FinTech issues and successfully launch their offerings.  He has held in-house legal roles including more recently as the interim General Counsel of a digital challenger bank. Prakash works closely with Shoosmiths' highly regarded financial services and data protection teams.

Prakesh Kerai

Prakash supports organisations on their technology and FinTech arrangements. He advises on the legal & contractual aspects of buying, selling, using, and exploiting all types of technology – software, hardware, data, and related services – e.g. software licensing, data licensing, SaaS and hosting arrangements, development projects, implementation projects, outsourcing deals. He has been advising on FinTech arrangements since he started his legal career - and has deep sector knowledge and experience.  In addition to supporting financial services businesses on procuring FinTech (including BankTech, InsurTech, and RegTech) solutions, he works closely with new entrants in the FinTech space, helping them to navigate FinTech issues and successfully launch their offerings.  He has held in-house legal roles including more recently as the interim General Counsel of a digital challenger bank. Prakash works closely with Shoosmiths' highly regarded financial services and data protection teams.

Richard Baker

I am a construction and engineering lawyer with wide ranging experience of contract drafting and dispute resolution. I have previously worked in-house at the contractor, Taylor Woodrow (now part of Vinci) and at US consultant, AECOM, where I gained an insider’s perspective on the industry. I have acted for developers, contractors, consultants and public bodies on a wide range of projects undertaken in the UK and abroad. This has involved giving strategic advice at the start of a project (procurement, risk analysis, drafting of contracts, framework agreements, bonds warranties and other ancillary documents), providing ad hoc commercial guidance as the project progresses, through to resolving, where required, complex disputes via negotiation, mediation, adjudication, arbitration and litigation. Examples of contract drafting include: Strategic review of a developer’s approach to procurement, including drafting a suite of bespoke contracts and amendments; All aspects of the construction procurement for a multi-phase, award-winning residential scheme including a bespoke contract “call-down” agreement; Coordinated procurement of contractor and large consultant team for a major hotel/ residential development; Risk appraisal of consultant appointments and frameworks for domestic and international projects in oil & gas, urban master-planning, aerotropolis and hotel developments. Examples of dispute experience include: Successful defence of three concurrent adjudication claims, including defeating one on the ground of the adjudicator’s lack of jurisdiction; Successful defence (following mediation) at a TCC trial of a claim by the production architect on a flagship regeneration project, arising from a letter of intent; Concurrent arbitrations up and down the contract chain against an employer and a subcontractor, arising from complex concrete defects in the diaphragm walling of the A406; Obtaining trial judgment in client’s favour in relation to claims arising from his oral contract for hotel renovation works.

Richard Follis

Richard Follis was appointed Shoosmiths first General Counsel on 1 May 2021. Reporting to the CEO, he has particular responsibility for compliance, quality and risk. He is the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and Money Laundering Compliance Officer. He is also tasked with scoping the firm's GC function and establishing a team to oversee governance and enterprise risk management in support of the firm's ambitious growth plans. Richard joined Shoosmiths in 2006 as a Partner and head of clinical negligence. He became a board member in 2013 on appointment as Practice Group Head of the firm's Access Legal consumer offering. Latterly Richard became head of our Personal Advisory Division. For very many years a noted practitioner in the field of clinical negligence, he was ranked as 'Senior Statesperson' in the 2020  edition of Chambers UK. Richard served as President of the Birmingham Law Society in 2006 and, having been an AvMA panel member since 1991, was appointed an Honorary Panel Member in 2021.

Ryan Fordham

Ryan is a partner in the construction and engineering team at Shoosmiths. He specialises in drafting and negotiating construction and engineering contracts based on industry standard forms such as FIDIC, ICC, IChemE, JCT, MF/1, NEC3/4 and PPC2000 and bespoke forms including EPC, EPCM (offshore and onshore) and FEED contracts, as well as framework agreements, pre-construction services agreements, professional appointments, security and other ancillary construction and engineering documents. Ryan's expertise includes providing construction procurement and project and transaction advice to developer, contractor, sub-contractor, consultant, landlord, tenant, investor and funder clients across a broad range of sectors including office, hotels, prime residential, retail, mixed use, healthcare, utilities, energy and infrastructure. His recent project experience includes advising: the developer of a of 12,000 sq ft development of commercial and retail space, as well as 111 apartments arranged over 1 to 8 storeys, in Bermondsey, London; a fund manager in their head office relocation to a new landmark office building in central London; the developer of a block of 130 residential flats in Birmingham; a JV developer in relation to various sets of works at two business parks in the Home Counties; the operator on the construction aspects of its adoption and operation of the utilities infrastructure for Google’s new £1bn London headquarters in King’s Cross; and a sub-contractor in its tender negotiations for multiple sub-contract packages on Phase One of HS2. Prior to joining Shoosmiths, Ryan was the head of construction and engineering at Travers Smith.

Ryan Steed

  Ryan qualified as a solicitor in September 2017 and was promoted to Legal Director in May 2023. He works within the Real Estate practice group based in the London Office. Ryan has experience acting for landlords, tenants and portfolio holders in the acquisition and disposal of both freehold and leasehold properties. Ryan has gained experience in a wide range of real estate matters, including: assisting on the due diligence of a portfolio acquisition of over £100 million for a property investment client; subsequently acting in aspects of portfolio management for the above mentioned client including acquisitions, disposals and lease renewals as we retained this work following the acquisition; acting for a range local pension scheme providers and their clients in the acquisition/sale and lease-back of numerous properties; and acting for a number of significant occupiers in the United Kingdom in respect of its property portfolio, including lease renewals.    

Sam Tyfield

I am a corporate M&A lawyer with significant experience in the financial services sector. I have been Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of a high frequency trading firm. My practice involves advising clients in the trading industry (exchange-listed and over-the-counter), particularly those which trade algorithmically, in all aspects of their businesses. I have considerable experience in financial services regulation. I assisted the EU legislature in drafting parts of the current EU-wide financial services rules and regulations as well as responding to numerous consultations on other aspects of those rules and regulations with non-legal industry working groups and associations.

Sarah Buxton

Sarah is a legal director in the tax team.  She advises domestic and multinational clients on a wide range of transactional and advisory tax matters.  She has extensive experience providing tax advice in relation to domestic and international corporate and real estate transactions.  She advises corporate and individual clients on the tax implications of share and asset disposals and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and cross-border tax structuring. Her recent experience includes: advising BT Group plc on the carve out from BT and sale of non-core division, BT Fleet Solutions, and a long-term outsourcing arrangement to continue management of BT’s own fleet with Aurelius Group, a pan-European investment group. Advising Energizer Holdings, the St. Louis-based maker of batteries and portable lighting products on its $938.7 million acquisition of Spectrum Brands Holdings´ global auto care business, which includes the Armor All, STP and A/C Pro brands. Advising RGL Forensics, a leading global financial investigations firm, on its merger with Baker Tilly, creating one of the largest single firms focused on financial investigations. Providing tax advice to Wireless Telecom Group, Inc., (a leader in advanced wireless communications solutions) in connection with the acquisition of CommAgility Ltd (a developer of embedded signal processing and RF modules for 4G and 5G mobile network. Acted for eClinicalWorks, LLC (a leader in healthcare IT solutions) assisting in respect of its expansion into the EU and contractual arrangements with Specsavers (who utilise eClinicalWorks’ international private cloud). Acted for Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK on the simultaneous acquisition of CAPS Consortium Ltd, which promotes data standardisation throughout the car industry and provides connectivity to the CAPS Service, a secure information connection for the repair industry and Bodyshop Management Solutions Ltd, which designs, develops and maintains software products and hosts the CAPS Service.  

Sarah Moss

Sarah is a Senior Associate in the Privacy and Data team at Shoosmiths. Sarah advises clients across different sectors on all aspects of UK and EU data protection law including international transfers, data breaches, data sharing agreements, marketing and cookies, policies and procedures and data subject rights.  She is a practical lawyer, who enjoys assisting clients navigate the complex world of data protection. She has undertaken a number of client secondments over the years which enables her to see issues from a client's perspective and provide pragmatic legal solutions. Additionally, Sarah holds a CIPP/E certification from the International Association of Privacy Professionals, evidence of her comprehensive understanding of European data protection law and the ability to practically apply it. Before joining Shoosmiths, she spent several years advising clients based in the UK’s ‘Silicon Valley’ on data protection matters. 

Selina Cullen

Selina is a Senior Associate and manages the Client Services Department based in Thames Valley. The team are responsible for dealing with all new enquiries for the Private Advisory Division, from signposting leads to the relevant departments, to undertaking client and matter inception, and compliance checks. Having joined in 2001, Selina has over 15 years’ experience leading teams in a customer service environment.

Sherif Malak

Sherif is the Head of Privacy & Data at Shoosmiths, where he leads over 20 dedicated privacy advisers. His legal career began as a member of the legal team that gave Harry Potter a digital home, and since then he has supported businesses to bring their digital and data driven projects to life. He has over a decade of experience assisting clients to manage privacy, compliance and other data risks in all areas relating to the use and exploitation of data, including through the use of emerging online technologies and business models. Sherif delivers privacy compliance programmes and manages or supports data protection functions for a range of organisations. His practice has a strong focus on the technology, automotive, retail/FMCG and market research sectors, with a particular emphasis on the use of new technologies, including adtech, AI and blockchain. His recent collaboration with key contacts in the adtech industry was recently referenced in the UK ICO’s paper on adtech and shortlisted for Best Innovative Privacy Project at the inaugural PICCASO Privacy Awards. He is recommended in the Chambers UK legal directory and the UK Legal 500 specifically in the field of data protection and privacy. Sherif’s strengths lie in providing clear and commercially-astute advice, informed by exceptional experience in an area where there is often a shortage of pragmatism.  He sits on the Research Advisory Board of the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) and is a founder of the.JPA.club, a programme that brings together aspiring privacy professionals.    

Shruti Goel

Shruti is a Senior Associate in the Privacy and Data team with 10 years’ data protection experience in private practice and in-house. She advises on all aspects of international data protection compliance for clients in a multitude of sectors with a focus on artificial intelligence, ad tech, health data and international transfers. During a two year secondment as Senior Privacy Counsel at a FTSE 5 company she advised the product and development teams on a wide range of goods and services.  

Steve Barnett

Steve is a partner in the corporate team at Shoosmiths specialising in advising companies and investors on venture and growth capital investments, mergers and acquisitions and other corporate transactions, mainly in the technology sector. Prior to joining Shoosmiths in March 2017 Steve was a member of the Technology Companies Group in the London office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where he regularly completed 20 - 30 investment and other transactions per annum. Examples include: Acting for a money transfer service provider on its series A and series B investment rounds which raised around $140m in aggregate. Acting for a machine learning company on its significant series A investment round. Acting for a company in the online advertising sector on its series seed and series A investment rounds. Acting for a US-headquartered fintech impact investor on various investment rounds. Acting for a UK-focussed institutional seed investor on various investment rounds. Acting on numerous angel investment rounds. Acting for a cloud services provider on its sale to private equity.

Susie Wakefield

Partner, Head of Commercial Insurance

Thomas Morrison

  Thomas is a retail financial services and regulatory lawyer with over 22 years of experience gained in Edinburgh and London, both in private practice and inhouse at a major UK bank and an international private bank. Thomas advises on all areas of retail and SME financial services law, including: payment services; current and savings accounts; cash management solutions and client money; personal loans and overdrafts; mortgage lending; credit cards, charge cards and store cards; fairness of consumer contract terms and plain English; telephone, online and mobile banking and digital journeys; commercial contracts with financial services elements; outsourcing in financial services; and retail regulatory compliance.  

William Seymour

Will is a Partner in real estate with wide experience of all transactional real estate matters, including extensive experience advising on: investment sales and acquisitions for institutional investors; residential, commercial and mixed-use developments for developers; all aspects of portfolio management for commercial landlords and occupiers; and the real estate aspects of corporate and finance transactions. His recent project experience includes advising: on the £600m sale of two major designer retail outlets in Cheshire Oaks and Swindon; an institutional investor on a £90m multi-let retail sector disposal and a distressed shopping centre sale for £80m; a major house builder and commercial developer joint venture on a landmark city centre regeneration scheme; a listed residential developer on an agreement for a substantial rural housing scheme and construction of new secondary school; on the acquisition, ongoing asset management and potential mixed-use development of a regional shopping centre; and head office acquisitions and lease regears for several major corporate occupiers.