England - London • Industry focus

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP

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The international and multi-disciplinary hospitality and leisure team at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP has significant sector knowledge of the food and beverage, consumer brands, and hotels and hospitality areas. The team covers the full range of legal services and is particularly well versed in marketing and branding, sponsorship, and enforcement issues, as well as occupier services, relevant litigation, and employment harmonisation and restructuring. The trio of lawyers heading up the team consists of: Michael Powner, an employment expert who handles the relationship with Wagamama and Caffe Nero; commercial contract specialist Jason Saiban, who leads the firm’s tech, consumer and sport group; and Lee Medlock, head of the real estate team. Investors, commercial developers and corporate occupiers regularly instruct Louise Ward, who has recently advised on theatre and research park developments, and the sale and leaseback of leisure clubs. Mark White has significant experience in the investment and corporate occupier sector.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'The CRS team have a long history within our sector which remains relevant, deeply respected and just as importantly, up to date. Their knowledge of the issues we face encourages us to think differently in addition to simply being there for the law. Our business is stronger as a result of their partnership.'
  • 'Mike Powner and Jason Saiban are exceptional partners. In addition to their legal knowledge they are thoroughly decent people to do business with and fun to boot.'

Key clients

  • Caffe Nero Group Limited
  • Ascot Racecourse
  • Wagamama (part of The Restaurant Group)
  • Honest Burgers
  • Greggs
  • Gulf Air
  • Silversea Cruises
  • Hapimag
  • Royal Caribbean Cruises
  • Stonegate
  • David Lloyd Leisure Limited
  • Cote Brasserie

Work highlights

  • Advising Caffe Nero on a key new partnership with Waitrose, which involved negotiating a licensing and supply agreement with Waitrose which expanded Caffe Nero’s at-home retail range to all UK Waitrose stores and covered the supply of Caffe Nero coffee beans for the Waitrose in-store coffee offer (relaunched having been withdrawn at the peak of Covid-19).
  • Advising David Lloyd Leisure on all aspects of the acquisition of land for development as a new club on Urban & Civic's Radio Station Rugby scheme, as well as providing advice on construction documentation for the new club.
  • Continuing to advise British restaurant chain Côte Brasserie on a range of matters, including recently being instructed to advise on management of its real estate portfolio, which is made up of close to 90 sites.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Michael Powner, Jason Saiban, Lee Medlock

Other key lawyers

Louise Ward, Mark White