The Legal 500

Based in central London, this highly regarded firm specialises in corporate and commercial work (and notably inward investment, assisting overseas businesses establish themselves in the UK), employment, commercial property and business immigration. It has an association with an accounting practice, Oury Clark Accountants. International human rights underpin the firm’s pro bono practice (the firm having been a former pro bono law firm of the year in The Lawyer Awards).

The firm: Oury Clark Solicitors was established in the mid-1990s in association with Oury Clark Chartered Accountants. It has focused on developing its corporate client base, which increasingly reflects companies in the technology sector. Business clients range from small and medium-sized businesses to larger limited, quoted and unquoted companies.

The firm is ideally placed to give advice in the business world and provide clients with a uniquely integrated service, which is effectively a ‘one-stop shop’ for legal and accounting requirements. The practice has a pragmatic and dynamic approach and its goal is to become a leader in the field of advising overseas companies entering the UK/EU market. It has a number of strategic relationships with firms based in the US, Europe and South-East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Types of work undertaken: Corporate commercial and financial services (both domestic and cross-border), including corporate structuring, corporate governance, M&A, private equity, venture capital, intellectual property, shareholder agreements, partnership agreements, franchising, licensing, joint ventures, MBOs and MBIs, as well as a full range of commercial contracts, terms and conditions of sale, and intellectual property matters.

Employment expertise covers the full range of employment law advice for both employers and individuals, both contentious and non-contentious. This includes ‘softer’ human resource issues in the workplace. The employment team drafts contracts and policies for employers and assists with all aspects of implementing these and also advises on business restructuring and management change. All aspects of employment litigation are undertaken in this rapidly changing legislative landscape for both respondents and claimants.

Business immigration expertise includes advice to foreign businesses establishing a presence in the UK, established businesses, business individuals and high-net-worth individuals. Advice covers identifying an appropriate visa, drafting visa documentation, the application process, extensions and a change of status, as well as determining overall strategy.

Intellectual property expertise includes all aspects of patent, trade mark and copyright protection and commercialisation.

Commercial property expertise includes acquisitions and disposals, site acquisitions and development, as well as commercial leasehold transactions, planning and environmental issues, and property security lending.

Corporate governance and corporate responsibility are areas of expertise. The firm, in conjunction with the Business Standards Institute, has produced a Guide to Corporate Social Responsibility.

The firm has, for years, been a leading international provider of pro bono assistance to the vulnerable. Examples include representing overseas capital and non-capital defendants in the Caribbean region.

Breakdown of work %
Corporate 40
Employment 25
Business immigration 15
Commercial property 15
Human rights 5

Number of UK Partners 4

Number of other UK fee-earners 9

Total staff 14