A key choice for various luxury hotels, restaurant chains, leisure retailers, the team at Howard Kennedy LLP advises clients on a host of matters, including acquisitions, disposals, labour issues and disputes. Practice co-head Lydia Christie advises on strategic HR issues including GDPR compliance as well as disciplinary, grievance and redundancy procedures. Fellow co-head Anthony Hunt regularly advises on M&A within the hotel sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘All lawyers we have worked with know and love the sector which makes their advice so much better.’

  • ‘The team at Howard Kennedy are so efficient, they are able to explain technical clauses in simple terms. It makes transactions incredibly efficient.’

  • ‘The team are personable and slick. They have a hunger to get transactions completed quickly and accurately.’

  • ‘The team have a good varied number of professionals that can handle any hospitality issue. They are totally professional and to the point in everything that I have dealt with them on.’

  • ‘A strong team who has a deep understanding of the hospitality scene in UK. Their commercial awareness combined with their understanding of the law allows them to provide to tailor their advice to our needs.’

  • 'Proactive in their work, ensuring our interests are protected despite the counterparty's heavy pressure. We rest easy knowing that this team has our corner. ’

  • ‘The team regularly host events to bring like-minded hospitality professionals together to share ideas, and for the Howard Kennedy team to provide employment updates.'

Key clients

  • Burger King
  • Pizza Hut
  • PureGym PLC
  • Lina Stores
  • Miscusi
  • Tortilla PLC
  • Prezzo
  • The Administrators of Le Pain Quotidien
  • Padella
  • Michels & Taylor

Work highlights

  • Advising PureGym on their roll-out programme including acquisitions and asset management.
  • Advising Burger King on the roll-out of their UK expansion programme.
  • Advising the administrators of the Le Pain Quotidien restaurant group on the marketing of its lease portfolio following the collapse of the business.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Lydia Christie, Anthony Hunt