The Legal 500

Royds is a 17 partner firm, with a refreshingly collegiate culture and a partner-led commitment to its clients. It has teams in all areas of commercial law – where it is particularly well known for employment, retail property and dispute resolution – and, unusually for a City firm; private client and family law.

The firm: The lawyers regularly work with public and private companies, banks and financial institutions, wealthy individuals, entrepreneurs and charities. Royds’ breadth of experience – particularly in representing the business community and funding providers – means that its clients benefit from its understanding of the perspectives of all parties on transactions and advisory work.

Royds’ cross-group teams pool the firm’s skills and resources to focus on the specific needs of clients in particular sectors – retail, aviation, inward investment, jewellery and luxury goods, charities and publishing. There are often international aspects to the firm’s work – particularly in the area of disputes – and Royds’ membership of the Interleges network of overseas law firms (established in 1989) (www.interleges.com), means that clients are supported by a select group of lawyers in key jurisdictions across the globe. The firm also acts as privy council agents for the Government of Mauritius.

Types of work undertaken: The firm’s cross-group teams are drawn from all five of its practice areas – corporate and commercial, property, dispute resolution, employment, and family and private client.

Corporate and commercial: the team undertakes the full range of transactional deals, as well as advising on the ongoing contractual, regulatory and compliance issues faced by clients. It has particular experience in banking, intellectual property registration and licensing and agency and distribution agreements. Significant instructions in 2010 came from State Bank of India, Bank of India, Crosby Capital and a state-owned European electricity producer.

Property: retail organisations are at the heart of the commercial property practice with major clients such as Monsoon, Smyths Toys and EAT. Royds also acts for a number of other clients with extensive property portfolios and the team has particular expertise in all areas of landlord and tenant work.

Dispute resolution: the firm’s litigators have extensive experience of all forms of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution. The team has particular expertise in insolvency-related disputes, property litigation, intellectual property and brand protection. Significant clients include Christie & Co, Rotary Watches, Air India, Seafrance and Gecko Trading, while Royds is also the official lawyers to the British Jewellers’ Association and its 900 members. The firm also has expertise in managing complex personal injury and permanent health insurance claims.

Employment: a two partner led, dedicated team advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law, representing both businesses and employees. The team acts for long-standing clients such as Action for Children, Design Council, East and EAT. It has particular expertise in protecting business secrets, confidential information and TUPE aspects of business transfers.

Family and private client: the family and private client teams were combined in 2010 to further enable the firm to meet its commitment to provide its expanding client base with a comprehensive partner led service. Royds’ new dedicated wealth protection unit provides comprehensive advice on measures to protect clients’ wealth, including trust and tax planning (both on and off-shore). Expert family lawyers advise on all of those issues that arise from time to time, drawing on their considerable experience over many years of representing company directors, celebrities, entrepreneurs, and international business people. The residential conveyancing team will look after property transactions from the City or Surrey offices.

Breakdown of work %
Corporate and commercial 14
Property 20
Dispute resolution 25
Employment 16
Private client and family 25

Number of UK partners 17
Number of other UK fee-earners 24