Andrew is a Corporate Partner based in Belfast and advises on a broad range of Corporate transactions and advisory work, leading on acquisitions, disposals, investment and reorganisations. Dual qualified to act in Northern Ireland as well as England and Wales, Andrew specialises in Venture Capital, Private Equity and M&A, often with an International dimension. He has particular expertise in energy, technology, manufacturing, agri-food and logistics.
Emma is a Senior Associate in our Employment team. After qualifying, she worked for leading employment teams in Edinburgh and Glasgow, providing employment support on corporate projects and reorganisations as well as day to day advice on the full range of employment law issues (including employment contracts and directors’ service agreements; TUPE; individual and collective redundancies; COVID; disciplinary, grievance and absence management; equal opportunities; employment litigation and settlement negotiations).
Emma is a Senior Associate in the Litigation and Dispute resolution team in the Belfast office and specialises in various aspects of commercial litigation including banking litigation, contract disputes, secured and unsecured recoveries from consumers, corporations and other commercial entities, defended and complex mortgage proceedings. She also deals with bankruptcy and insolvency actions. Emma acts on behalf of various leading banks, lending institutions, debt purchasers and asset finance companies.
Grainne is a banking and finance senior associate based in the Belfast office. Grainne acts for borrowers, banks, private equity and financial institutions across a variety of transactions to include debt finance including real estate finance and asset-based lending, acquisition finance and general corporate lending. Recent transactions include: acting for a large UK bank on a real estate acquisition and development facility of over £11,000,000; acting for a major motor financing company in relation to various real estate and corporate acquisitions and restructures; advising on the finance aspects of a £10,000,000 investment from a private equity investor to leading construction supplies company; advising a major UK high street bank on the refinancing of its existing facilities with a number of borrowers; and regularly advising major UK and Irish banks on the Northern Irish aspects of English Law or Irish Law governed transactions
Grant is a corporate lawyer with significant experience of a wide range of corporate matters including M&A, private equity and venture capital investments (acting for both investors and investee companies), buyouts, joint ventures, demergers, restructures and the provision of general corporate law advice to shareholders and directors. Grant has particular expertise in the technology and sustainability sectors, leading on some of the largest and most complex deals in the Northern Ireland market. Grant was awarded 'Emerging Dealmaker of the Year' at the Northern Ireland Dealmakers Awards 2021 for his 'dedication to the investment community locally and his ability to open doors for investment funds outside Northern Ireland' Grant is qualified in Northern Ireland and England & Wales.
Russell is a Senior Associate within the Financial Services team at Shoosmiths based in our Belfast office. He joined Shoosmiths in February 2018. Russell specialises in consumer finance, small and medium ticket asset finance, regulated consumer debt sales (for both sellers and purchasers) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulation and authorisation. Russell is dual-qualified in both Northern Ireland and England & Wales so he can provide financial services advice to clients in both jurisdictions. Examples of Russell's experience include: a'segoe ui symbol' , 'lucida grande' , 'helvetica' , 'arial' , sans-serif ; font-size: 14px;">dvising a start-up consumer funder on an innovative range of legal expenses funding products including drafting regulated consumer credit documents (both fixed sum loans and running account credit agreements) and regulated mortgage contracts; drafting hire purchase documentation for a start up motor finance lender; advising a variety of financial services companies (both lenders and brokers) on their applications for FCA authorisation including advising on their ongoing compliance with the FCA rules; drafting various consumer and dealer terms and advising on the customer sales journey for the launch of an online used car website; and afira sans' , 'ubuntu' , 'oxygen' , 'oxygen sans' , 'cantarell' , 'droid sans' , 'apple color emoji' , 'segoe ui emoji' , 'segoe ui emoji' , 'segoe ui symbol' , 'lucida grande' , 'helvetica' , 'arial' , sans-serif ; font-size: 14px;">ssisting numerous household names (solo-regulated firms) with their implementation of the Senior Managers and Certification Regime.
Sarah advises on all aspects of real estate law including commercial lettings, acquisitions, disposals and property development. Sarah has particular expertise in acting for house builders in relation to all stages of the development cycle and regularly advises landowners and developers in relation to site fine agreements and section 76 agreements. She also has significant experience in acting for developers in relation to social housing developments, including design and build agreements and "off the shelf" transactions. Sarah is also highly experienced in acting for landlords and tenants in relation to all aspects of commercial leasing and acts for several national retailers. She also has significant expertise advising parties in relation to the business tenancy legislation and represents both landlords and tenants at the Lands Tribunal in relation to business tenancy applications and rent disputes. Recent experience includes: Acting for a major retailer in relation to a lease renewal for its flagship store in Belfast City Centre and providing strategic advice in relation to the business tenancy legislation; Acting for the developer of a retail scheme at Belfast International Airport including the acquisition of the site by way of long lease, the grant of occupational leases to the retailers, the grant of a lease to a petrol forecourt operator and the ultimate disposal of the scheme; Acting for a national retailer in relation to the grant of agreements for lease, leases and re-gears etc. in relation to all NI matters; Acting for one of the largest house building companies in Northern Ireland in relation to their entire real estate portfolio including the acquisition of residential and mixed use sites and drafting and negotiating development and disposal agreements.