The Legal 500

This is a niche corporate law firm based in Dudley, primarily dealing with corporate and commercial work, together with employment, commercial property and litigation. Its client base includes European and Anglo-US companies as well as regional and national clients, and individuals.

The firm: Hawkins Hatton was formed in December 2005 with the single ambition of creating a different type of practice; one that not only delivers the desired results for clients, but puts the smooth running of their business at the forefront of everything the practice does. The firm sets out to provide a true legal partnership based on a refreshingly different and commercial approach. Its client base includes a number of banks, notably RBS and HSBC, and a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Now with four partners and 20 staff, the firm is continually expanding and operates out of purpose-built premises at Castlegate Business Park in Dudley, which enables it to facilitate corporate transactions. In the past year, the firm has taken on two new trainees, and hopes to take on a further two trainees by the end of 2011. The managing partner has brought fresh ideas to the firm, as well as a new direction which has led to the rebranding of Hawkins Hatton as a boutiqiue corporate practice. This reflects the positive developments and shows Hawkins Hatton is a forward-thinking practice focused on providing excellent services for clients.

Types of work undertaken: Hawkins Hatton provides a full range of company and commercial services. It is known particularly for private equity work for management teams, management buyouts, sales, mergers, acquisitions and disposals for shareholders of small and medium-sized enterprises, and a broad range of day-to-day corporate work, including restructuring of companies and related tax issues. Services include drafting of sale and purchase agreements, disclosure letters, tax deeds, loan notes and ancillary matters. Commercial contract expertise includes agency and distribution, consultants, franchises, guarantees, intellectual property, joint ventures, partnerships, shareholder agreements, terms of business, technology/IT and mortgage securitisation for banks and other financial bodies.

Employment support services are a specialism for businesses of all sizes and sectors, including helping to manage all types of internal change and dealing with terminations. Advice is given to ensure that watertight contracts and procedures are in place to minimise the risk of involvement in tribunal claims. Recruitment procedures are handled, as well as drafting employment contracts, executive service agreements and staff handbooks, including disciplinary and grievance procedures. Advice is given on restructuring, change in management, TUPE and redundancy.

Commercial property expertise includes large-scale site acquisitions and disposals, property development, property finance and investment, corporate support for major transactions and commercial leases. The firm has a new addition to its commercial property team, joining from a large regional practice. Hawkins Hatton can now offer clients advice on a broader range of specialist areas, including property investment and finance, development schemes, compulsory purchase issues, construction, and commercial leases for clients including landlords and tenants, public companies, banks, private companies, developers and investors.

A wide range of complex and high-value litigation is expertly handled by the expanding commercial litigation department, which routinely deals with injunctive proceedings, breaches of directors’ duties, derivative claims and serious white-collar fraud claims on behalf of both claimants and defendants. In the last 12 months the commercial litigation department has enjoyed noteworthy successes. Insurance litigation continues to be a key feature of the department. The firm is a keen advocate of alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration, in appropriate cases.

Hawkins Hatton will continue to expand, broadening the range and depth of experience that it provides to clients.

Breakdown of work %
Corporate  65
Commercial property  20
Litigation  10
Employment  5

Number of UK partners 4
Number of other UK fee-earners 10