Teacher Stern LLP

Partner in corporate/commercial department. Claire advises mainly family/owner/manager businesses on a wide range of matters. Claire’s work examples include: • commercial contracts: IT contract documentation for outsourcing/cloud computing/disaster recovery business division commenced by existing client of the firm; • advising upon contract documentation for appointment of technical partners, suppliers and approved manufacturers by precious metal manufacturer; • contract documentation for specialist sales company operating in the retail convenience sector; • customer contract documentation for International Wi-Fi access provider; terms and conditions of trading for various businesses in a variety of different industry sectors. M&A/other: • advising purchaser of League One Football Club on takeover from previous owner and financial restructuring and subsequent sale; • advising on acquisition of manufacturer and distributor of character gift items on behalf of the UK’s largest watch company; • advising on acquisition of majority shareholding in national alarm monitoring business. • Shareholder/joint venture agreements: Facility agreements and re-financing packages.

Claire Gibson

Claire is head of the Legal 500 ranked Real Estate Finance team and has a wealth of experience in general lending and security matters including complex intercreditor arrangements. She acts for a wide range of UK and international financial institutions, as well as a variety of borrowers, in relation to domestic and cross-border finance transactions on a bilateral, club or syndicated basis. Claire’s particular expertise is property finance and corporate lending. Claire has a wealth of experience in drafting and reviewing the full suite of lender standard form loan and security documentation. Claire also regularly deals with senior funding lines for her lender clients borrowing from institutional lenders as well as participators and investors funding underlying facilities with end borrowers. This involves Claire advising on various structures (such as senior loan agreements and participation agreements); security arrangements (either with security trustees; sub-charges; charges over bank accounts; and/or assignments of the underlying borrower security package) and identifying the inherent potential risks with such structures. She always seeks to improve her client’s position whilst respecting the commercially agreed terms and aligned interests of the parties. Claire’s clients value her commercial advice combined with her technical knowledge and guidance. She ensures she has an in depth understanding and knowledge of our client’s business objectives to ensure she achieves this. She is driven, committed, personable, and always aims to exceed client expectations when it comes to service delivery and deadlines. Claire works proactively with all parties to a transaction to achieve a smooth closing. Her clients appreciate her responsiveness and attention to detail. Claire is a trusted advisor to many leading property and finance professionals in the market. This reputation is demonstrated in the client testimonials she has consistently received since being listed as a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 in 2016. Testimonials Legal 500 2023 500 directory: ‘Teacher Stern’s team, led by Claire Gibson, has advised us on real estate finance for the last couple of years on various deals. The team is of the highest calibre for this sector in the London market. They are very professional and always responsive. All matters were dealt with, with attention and great flexibility. The team has proven to consist of highly skilled professionals, all of whom have very extensive knowledge of legal issues and an actual understanding of our needs, making it possible for them to provide advice and solutions, which are always individually tailored for the issues and goals in hand.’ ‘Claire Gibson is our well-trusted advisor. Claire helps us resolve challenges that we, and our business, face. Claire is highly praised for providing the highest quality advice.’ ‘Phil Berry and Claire Gibson both offer a wealth of knowledge in their field. Clients are central to the team’s work ethos, and they are undoubtedly people you want to have in your corner. 2022 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “understands what her clients need; she combines her wealth of knowledge with a commercial outlook to deliver a stellar service time and again.’ 2021 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson “has a wealth of knowledge in her field; her commercialism and dedication to her clients sets her apart from others” 2020 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is ‘pragmatic, commercial and a pleasure to deal with.’ 2018/2019 Legal 500 directory: Claire Gibson is praised for her ‘unparalleled professionalism and diligence’. 2017 Legal 500 directory: The ‘super-efficient’ Claire Gibson is ‘always on top of things’. 2016 Legal 500 directory: recommended figure of the ‘top-notch’ Claire Gibson.

Colin Richman

Head of Property Litigation. Acting for commercial investors and asset managers on enforcements, lease renewals and rent reviews on single units and multi-tenanted schemes including shopping centres and office blocks. Advising developers on site and vacant possession strategies. Acting for secured lenders, fixed charge receivers and administrators on enforcements and receiverships over single and portfolio properties. Main clients include Mars Capital Finance Limited and Anglo-Dutch BV

David Ponsford

David is a corporate partner with has extensive experience advising companies, entrepreneurs and shareholders on the acquisition & disposal of businesses, fundraisings, joint ventures & shareholders’ agreements, group reorganisations, commercial arrangements and equity capital markets transactions on the London Stock Exchange. At any one time David is advising clients on various acquisitions and disposals. As David acts for both buyers and sellers he is well placed to anticipate issues which commonly arise and to ensure that M&A transactions runs smoothly. David spends a considerable amount of time gaining a strong understanding of his clients’ businesses and their commercial objectives, which helps him to provide clear commercial advice tailored to each client’s business needs.

David Salisbury

Joint managing partner and head of the corporate/commercial department. David’s broad transactional experience includes acquisitions, disposals, take-overs and mergers, asset sales/purchases, joint ventures and company restructuring. He also advises clients on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including company/partnership formation, partnership/shareholders agreements and employment issues. David has particular experience in the field of sport, acting amongst others for prospective purchasers of Premiership and Football League clubs in takeovers. He is also at the forefront of the development in England of the investment in and transfer of the economic rights of sportsmen and women. For property investor clients, he has particular expertise in the disposal and acquisition of corporate and similar structures.

David Irwin

Joint managing partner and head of real estate department. Dealing with all aspects of commercial property transactions including acquisitions and disposals; development and investment, secured lending and financing. Highlights include the purchase of a bank’s city HQ for private investors, acquisition and disposal of a number of shopping centres often via complex corporate structures; hotel acquisitions and advising on SDLT issues.

Eytan Weisz

Eytan is a partner in the real estate team and his practice covers a variety of real estate sectors including real estate investment, acquisitions and disposals, landlord and tenant, asset management, and development. Eytan’s clients include offshore companies, family trusts, investment funds, lenders, borrowers, developers, restaurateurs, retailers and high net worth individuals. Eytan has particular experience acting for investors in student accommodation and residential development projects.

Gillian Crotty

Gillian is a Partner and joint Head of the firm’s Commercial Litigation team. Gillian advises on a wide range of commercial and real estate disputes with a particular emphasis on financial services litigation. Gillian’s recent instructions include: Acting on behalf of an international accountancy firm in injunction proceedings following its appointment as Administrators of a major UK retain company; Acting on behalf of a large UK renewable energy company in proceedings surrounding the sale of a wind farm for a sum in excess of £100 million; Acting on behalf of a global Bank Plc in the successful settlement of a £1 million professional negligence claim against a valuer; Acting on behalf of a global fast food brand in relation to its property portfolio litigation strategy following the Coronavirus outbreak; Acting on behalf of a UK Building Society in the successful strike out of a multi-million pound claim against the Society; Acting on behalf of a number of UK shopping centre Landlords in disputes relating to their property portfolios. Gillian has specialised in commercial litigation since qualification and became a partner in her previous firm in 2012. Gillian joined Shoosmiths as a partner in June 2018. Gillian is qualified in both Northern Ireland and England & Wales so this enables Gillian to provide her clients with cross-jurisdiction litigation advice.

Jack Rabinowicz

Jack is head of the commercial litigation team. He specialises in high-value cross-border litigation and arbitration claims and has represented a number of nation states, blue-chip and other significant corporate clients together with a number of high-net-worth individuals. His experience in commodity litigation and high-value contractual disputes means he is rarely instructed on litigation worth less than £10m.

Jim McKeever

Jim joined Teacher Stern as a partner in May 2013 as part of the merger with Butcher Burns, where he had been a partner since 2003. Jim has many years’ experience of advising on a wide range of property and landlord and tenant issues, acting for both landlords and tenants. Jim has particular expertise in the niche and technical area of the law of leasehold enfranchisement (purchase/sale of freeholds and extension of leases of flats and houses), having specialised in this field since qualification in 1992 and in particular since the significant expansion of leaseholders` rights in relation to flats introduced by the Leasehold Reform Act 1993. He acted for the successful leaseholders in the Court of Appeal in 41-60 Albert Palace Mansions (Freehold) Ltd v Craftrule Ltd [2010], which gave tenants of adjoining blocks of flats greater flexibility and opportunities in collectively purchasing the freeholds of their blocks. He also acted for the tenant in Boss Holdings Limited (Appellants) v Grosvenor West End Properties and others (Respondents) [2008] in its successful appeal to the House of Lords concerning the definition of a house under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967. Jim also has expertise in the related area of rights of first refusal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. Jim additionally advises both landlords and tenants in all other areas of residential landlord and tenant issues, including: service charge cases, disputes concerning breaches of covenant, possession and forfeiture proceedings and possession actions under the Housing and Rent Act legislation. Whilst Jim’s practice area is predominantly in relation to residential property he also advises in relation to commercial landlord and tenant issues including lease renewals under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

Jonathan Cantor

Partner in litigation department dealing with all aspects of real property and landlord and tenant disputes with an emphasis on commercial property dispute resolution. Reported Cases include: Cohen v Nessdale Limited 1982; Re Busytoday Limited 1992; Mason v Total Fina Elf2003; Popely v Popely 2004; Popely v Heltfield Properties Limited 2005.

Jonathan Warren

Jonathan is an experienced property litigation specialist whose practice encompasses all aspects of real property litigation, landlord and tenant related litigation, advice, risk analysis and ADR. His practice encompasses all aspects of the property litigation spectrum. Landlord and Tenant Over the years he has developed a specialism for difficult disputes relating to the interpretation of leases, contested lease renewals, break notices, arrears recovery and tenant insolvency. In addition to this he is regularly instructed to act for clients in their day to day management work relating to arrears recovery, forfeiture, dilapidations and consents. He is works collaboratively with clients and their managing agents in order to ensure that problems are identified and resolved at an early stage. Where litigation is unavoidable he ensures that swift decisive action is taken in order to ensure that problems are resolved with the least fuss possible. Real Property He is often relied upon by clients when complex disputes arise in respect of land. In this regard he is regularly called to give advice in respect of seller or buyer default in respect sale and purchase contracts. He has been involved in a number of high profile cases relating to the enforceability, interpretation and modification of restrictive covenants relating to land. His experience is often called upon when it comes to dealing with trespassers on land too. Working closely with enforcement agents he is adept at getting vacant possession quickly and efficiently. Residential Property Management Jonathan has been instructed by some of the largest property management companies to act on their behalf in respect of the management of residential blocks of flats and estates. As a result of the experience gained he is now regularly retained by tenants to act on their behalf when problems arise. Reported Cases Clear Call Limited v. Central London Investments Limited [2016] EWCA Civ 1231 (admissibility of evidence in business lease renewal); Theodossiades v. Smith [2015] EWCA Civ 581 (discharge of restrictive covenants); Hicks v. 89 Holland Park (Management) Ltd [2014] EWHC 2962 (Ch) (injunctions);

Kelly Whitfield

Kelly is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with broad transactional expertise in a wide range of sectors. Kelly advises on all aspects of private company mergers, acquisitions, investments and disposals acting for both buyers and sellers and has experience in working in, amongst others, the transport, property investment and management, media and advertising, manufacturing and healthcare sectors. Kelly also handles certain financing arrangements, including debt/equity conversions, convertible loan note and invoice discount financing, and advises on a broad spectrum of commercial contracts, including complex manufacturing and distribution agreements, white label licensing agreements, shareholders’ agreements and limited liability partnership arrangements. Another area of Kelly’s expertise is employee benefits, in particular share schemes (both HMRC approved and unapproved schemes) where she has spent much time developing this area of practice around the concept of using an analytical approach to create effective business solutions for clients that genuinely contribute to improved performance across their business. Together with the rest of the employment team, Kelly works with our clients to fund cost reductions, ways to improve motivation and performance and attain staff retention targets through arrangements such as share option schemes, flexible working and salary sacrifice schemes. Kelly has: • acted as one of the lead advisors on the acquisition by Metroline Limited (a wholly owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Corporation) of 31 bus routes operated from five separate bus depots in West London from First Group plc for a consideration of £57.5 million • advised on a complex joint venture arrangement between two significant healthcare providers collaborating to provide comprehensive specialist treatments to patients at single geographical locations • acted as the lead corporate advisor on a complex restructuring and refinancing of an extensive London based property holding and management business for a family owned and managed enterprise • acted for the trustees of a significant London based property portfolio on its restructuring from a trust arrangement into a limited liability partnership structure • advised on the sale of a corporate entity operating a central London based hotel • acted on the investment into a successful South Kensington based patisserie venture Kelly leads the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility team which is comprised of employees from all aspects of the firm creating an enthusiastic and imaginative team of people that are passionate about making a difference in the community. Kelly and the CSR team have been involved in baking cakes, rowing dragon boats on the river Thames and painting walls to name but a few. Kelly also heads up Teacher Stern's training team and is responsible for overseeing the training of all staff. In particular, Kelly is responsible for monitoring the training provided across the firm to its legal advisors and ensuring that the continuing competence requirements are met and that all staff receive a wide range of training and support to enable them to provide their skills to the highest possible level both to clients and others within the firm.

Matthew Cranton

Matthew heads our Employment and Immigration practice, advising on all areas of employment law, both contentious and non-contentious, and both business and personal immigration matters. Matthew is a highly experienced lawyer, praised for his attention to detail and his focus on offering commercial and pragmatic solutions to his clients with a clear and friendly clear approach. Employment Matthew has a varied portfolio of clients, incorporating FTSE 250 companies, global businesses, SMEs, start-ups, charities, family offices and private individuals. His experience has covered numerous sectors, including retail, healthcare, recruitment, professional services (including financial services), technology, telecommunications and property investment. Matthew is experienced in all aspects of employment law, including: Employment tribunals and appeals Disciplinary and grievance procedures Alternative dispute resolution (including mediation) Termination of employment Redundancy consultations and restructures Settlement agreements Employment contracts Bonus / Commission schedules Post-termination restrictive covenants TUPE transfers Staff handbooks and policies LLP member departures Matthew regularly assists on the employment aspects of complex corporate and property transactions, providing commercial advice to assist both buyers and sellers in ensuring compliance with regulations and a smooth transition for employees, as well as advising directors and senior executives in respect of their service agreements or severance packages. Matthew advises numerous companies on day to day HR issues, identifying and addressing issues at an early stage to limit the risks of litigation. Matthew has extensive experience in handling Employment Tribunal claims, for both claimants and respondents, covering issues including discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal, as well as successfully appealing against adverse Employment Tribunal decisions in the Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT). Matthew also has experience in handling employment-based claims in the civil courts, particularly in respect of breach of contract. Matthew has particular experience in resolving disputes regarding alleged breaches of post-termination restrictive covenants prior to proceeding to litigation, taking a reasoned, commercial approach with a focus on achieving the client’s preferred goals. Highlights include: achieving compensation at the Employment Tribunal in a complex case regarding the transfer of employment of a dismissed CEO to a phoenix company in the EU following administration of the UK company; succeeding at the EAT in overturning the Employment Tribunal’s decision regarding a significant bonus for a former CEO of a fintech company; negotiating in pre-tribunal mediation to achieve significant compensation for a top-level surgeon in respect of a breach of contract by an NHS Trust; establishing liability in a complex whistleblowing claim against an investment management company. Immigration Matthew’s experience includes advising global listed companies, HNW individuals, and private individuals on all aspects of business and family immigration: Sponsor licence applications and management (including Sponsorship Management System) Points Based System visas Family visas Naturalisation EU Settlement Scheme Administrative reviews Appeals to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Clients continue to instruct Matthew due to his personable approach and focus on addressing issues early in the process to ensure applications are clear and robust at the submission stage, maximising chances of success and pre-empting legal points to support any subsequent appeal processes. Highlights include succeeding with complex Tier 1 (Investor) applications at both initial and extension stages in which prescribed evidential requirements were not met; assisting a company with reinstating an A-rated sponsor licence following a suspension by undertaking a top-to-bottom review of HR systems and liaising with the Home Office; numerous successes at First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), keeping couples and families together.

Phil Berry

Phil is an expert in real estate finance with heavyweight experience in acting for a spectrum of lenders and borrowers. He is very well regarded by his clients for providing sound commercial advice as well as having the technical knowhow. Clients have commented that he is “business orientated and pragmatic”. Phil is very proactive in driving deals towards closing and identifying complex issues, which have the potential to delay or even break the deal, at an early stage and finding solutions to overcome them. An expert in property finance, Phil acts for banks and building societies on commercial property matters and both advises on, and drafts, security documentation.

Rohit Ralleigh

Rohit acts for commercial clients and high net worth individuals in a wide range of commercial disputes. He has significant experience of worldwide freezing injunctions, jurisdiction challenges and security for costs applications and is accustomed to acting for international clients and frequently acts for clients from South Asia, CIS and the Middle East. Rohit, who ‘has a strong and broad understanding of commercial litigation’, joined the team in September 2023 hire from Axiom DWFM.

Russell Raphael

Partner in real estate; over 20 years of acting for landlord/developers and occupiers. Acts for a range of investors and developers. Notebly Englander Group over a range of assets including development and sale of the Holborn Links Estate. Acts on various Shoreditch and city developments and for private owners of various properties let as Virgin Active clubs. Advises tenants such as Boost Juice Bars, Lola’s Cupcakes and Lola's Bakery.

Siobhan Parish

Siobhan is a commercial property solicitor with experience in advising both individuals and companies across a broad range of sectors, including retail, leisure and manufacturing. Her experience covers a variety of commercial property transactions, including landlord and tenant matters, acquisitions and disposals, real estate support for secured lending matters and the due diligence aspects of corporate transactions. Recent work includes: • Advising restaurant and retail clients in relation to their property portfolios and expansion across the UK, including a chain of American style diners and two London-based sushi chains • Advising a London based property investment and development company in relation to their portfolio of commercial properties, including office, retail and leisure spaces and dealing with purchases, sales and lettings • Advising an offshore investor in relation to their acquisition of seven multi-tenanted industrial estates • Advising a property management company on various commercial lettings and general portfolio management matters • Advising a landlord client in relation to the management of a regional shopping centre, including acting for the landlord on lettings to a variety of retailers and café/restaurant outlets • Advising on property due diligence aspects of short and mid-term loans secured by way of commercial and development property

Suzanne Hamer

Suzanne is the assistant Head of the Residential Real Estate Department. Suzanne deals with all aspects of buying and selling residential real estate, and regularly advises a broad range of clients purchasing high-value residential properties in London. Her clients include UK based and international high net worth individuals including footballers, investors, developers and companies. Suzanne also advises on the management of residential real estate portfolios and has experience in property enfranchisement work

Vanessa Cassidy

Vanessa is a partner in the property department at Teacher Stem LLP and has a wide range of experience in dealing with all aspects of commercial property including: the acquisition, disposal, development and funding of commercial and residential property; advising both landlords and tenants on commercial leases and lettings including assignments and renewals; advising high street retailers and restaurant chains on portfolio purchases and sales; advising private clients and developers on sales and purchases of development blocks or parcels of individual units; advising banks, lending institutions and bridging finance companies on secured lending transactions; and advising investment and development companies on development of sites Alongside her commercial property expertise, Vanessa also has extensive experience in all aspects of residential property work, with an emphasis on high value transactions.

Victoria Hodges

Victoria is a commercial property lawyer with property finance expertise who specialises in sales, purchases, refinances, secured lending and all types of landlord and tenant work. She also deals with high value residential property sales and purchases for clients whose portfolios include both commercial and residential properties, and advises in relation to Stamp Duty Land Tax issues. Victoria acts for a wide variety of clients including offshore companies, unit trusts, family trusts, funds, lenders, borrowers, developers, retailers, restaurant operators and high net worth individuals. Recent work includes: • Advising both sellers and buyers in relation to the sale and purchase of all sorts of commercial properties, including by way of auction. • Advising landlord clients on a wide range of management matters in relation to their commercial property portfolios. • Advising a landlord client in relation to the management of a central London shopping centre, including acting for the landlord on lettings to a variety of household name retailers and restaurants. • Advising restaurant clients in relation to acquiring existing leases and taking new leases of prime location premises, as well as in relation to the sale of restaurant premises. • Advising buyers in relation to the purchase of high value residential properties in central London for investment purposes. • Advising on the borrower side in relation to the refinancing of property portfolios with institutional lenders. • Advising on the lender side in relation to short and mid-term loans secured by way of commercial, residential and development property.

Legal 500

Our Team

FAQs

Marketing Resources

Newsletters

Contact us