52 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON, WC1R 4LR, ENGLAND
- Tel:
- Work 020 7395 3000
- Fax:
- Fax 020 7395 3100
- DX:
- 166 LONDON CHANCERY
- Web:
- www.wedlakebell.com
- Email:
What we say about the firm's legal practice in London
Corporate and commercial
Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Wedlake Bell LLP is a third tier firm,
Wedlake Bell LLP has moved to boost its corporate presence in the City, hiring Edward Craft from Nabarro LLP. The team acted for AIM-listed company Elektron on a takeover and £3.4m raising.
Within VAT and indirect tax VAT and indirect tax
Human resources
Within Employment, tier 7
Wedlake Bell LLP’s three-partner team advises the likes of Aquascutum, Diageo and Hyatt on UK employee matters. It assisted Convergys Corporation on the sale of its HR management division to Northgate Arinso in 2010. ‘Advice is simple and practical, and translatable into the work place’.
Within Pensions, tier 6
Wedlake Bell LLP advises clients such as the Dairy Crest Group Pension Fund, Kawasaki Pension Scheme and the Natixis Pension Schemes. Clive Weber has ‘excellent technical knowledge and experience’.
Private client
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4
Wedlake Bell LLP has a highly capable private client practice which includes the ‘approachable and experienced’ Robert Dolman; Fay Copeland; practice head Eleanor Metcalf; Emma Loveday; and Charles Hicks. The team is ‘always courteous, reassuring and efficient’, and advises on the full range of private client matters including personal tax, trust structuring, cross-border probate and succession planning.
Real estate
Within Commercial property, tier 5
Wedlake Bell LLP’s ‘knowledge of all aspects of the real estate sector is excellent’, and its clients include Warburg-Henderson KAG and Athos/Carlyle. Justin Lewis-Vivas heads a strong team; David Earl has ‘in-depth knowledge – to find such expertise in a medium-sized firm is rare’; Malcolm Macfarlane provides ‘a good balance of commercial understanding versus legal detail’; Philip Matthews’ ‘breadth of knowledge is among the very best’; and John Fluker is ‘a good man to have in your corner’.
Within Construction, tier 5
Wedlake Bell LLP represents several subsidiaries of Bupa, and advised new client KIRKBI Real Estate Investments on the demolition and refurbishment of a 12-storey office block in central London. Suzanne Reeves ‘provides sound advice whatever the value or complexity of the issue’.
Within Property finance, tier 4
Wedlake Bell LLP’s flourishing practice acted for Warburg-Henderson KAG on a £112m acquisition financing, and for longstanding client Bank of Scotland on restructuring an £88m facility for a care home portfolio. Hilary Platt’s ‘strengths include knowledge, commercialism and speed of response’, and Matthew Lindsay is ‘well connected and commercial’.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Brand management, Wedlake Bell LLP is a third tier firm,
‘A sagacious leader who secures excellent results’, Wedlake Bell LLP’s Adrian Heath-Saunders helped longstanding client Which? in setting up its recommended provider scheme. Mike Gardner ‘focuses on the commercial goals’, and Jonathan Cornthwaite has an ‘excellent eye for detail’. Alice Gould advises BMW and de Vere hotels.
Within Franchising, Wedlake Bell LLP is a third tier firm,
Adrian Heath-Saunders at Wedlake Bell LLP is advising Jaeger on its franchise arrangements in Russia and the UAE.
Within Intellectual property, tier 5
Wedlake Bell LLP’s team is led by the ‘commercial, analytical’ Mike Gardner, who successfully represented Which? in the High Court. It also handles Which? Best Buy licensing deals. Jonathan Cornthwaite has ‘an excellent eye for detail’.
Within IT and telecoms, tier 5
At Wedlake Bell LLP, the ‘quick, responsive, commercial’ Anna Cook successfully represented De Beers in the biggest case in the Technology and Construction Court in 2010. The team features ‘outstanding negotiator’ Christoff Pienaar.
Further information on Wedlake Bell LLP
Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Wedlake Bell LLP in other jurisdictions.
London
Offices in London WC1R and London WC1R
- Corporate and commercial : M&A: smaller deals up to £50m
- Human resources : Employment
- Human resources : Pensions
- Private client : Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate : Commercial property
- Real estate : Construction
- Real estate : Property finance
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Brand management
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Franchising
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : IT and telecoms
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) : Intellectual property