The Legal 500

Work Department

Professional practices group.

Position

The professional practices group sits in Addleshaw Goddard’s corporate division and is the recognised leader in the UK in advising professional service firms. In addition to advising on a broad range of partnership and LLP issues, William also advises on partnership disputes, mergers and de-mergers, partnership downsizing and alternative business structures. William has led a large number of LLP conversions including those of a number of UK and US law firms, accountancy practices, patent and trade mark attorneys, architect practices and international property consultants and surveyors. He advised on the successful early adoption of an MDP structure for an independent associated law firm and is taking a lead role on the opportunities presented by the Legal Services Act 2007. Other areas of experience include advising professional partnerships and LLPs on their governance, structuring and internal arrangements, the management of distressed partnerships, as well as assisting in the use of partnerships and LLPs in finance, media, real estate and private equity with a particular emphasis on hedge funds and the advantages of the LLP as a business vehicle in that sector. Recent developments concerning age and other discrimination in professional firms are also major areas of instruction. William frequently lectures and commentates on all issues concerning professional service firms and is a committee member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners.

Career

Called to the Bar 1993; practised for 8 years prior to joining Richard Linsell at Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw LLP 2001; joined Addleshaw Goddard LLP as a partner in 2006. Head of the professional practices group 2011.

Education

Eastbourne College; Bristol University; Inns of Court School of Law (1993).

Practice Areas

Hedge funds; Partnership