Sherrards Solicitors LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Sherrards Solicitors LLP Offices
1-3 PEMBERTON ROW
LONDON
EC4A 3BG
England
Sherrards Solicitors LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers Tier 4
With demonstrable experience in the hospitality, leisure, and retail sectors, Sherrards Solicitors LLP works in conjunction with the firm’s corporate and commercial departments to provide support on the property elements of transactions. Practice leader Terry Fendt counts outlet high street retailers among his key roster of clients, while Shane Knight has a strong focus in the charity sector. Stephanie Kierans has experience advising on acquisitions and disposals arising out of the retail sector and Guy Morgan joined the team from Trethowans LLP in April 2023.Practice head(s):
Terry Fendt
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘An approachable team, with impressive experience acting for local authorities and charities.’
‘I trust Guy Morgan with complex and sensitive work.’
Key clients
Chokdee Ltd Trading as giggling Squid
Menkind Limited
Foodco UK Franchising Limited (Trading as Muffin Break)
Rituals Cosmetics UK Limited
DBD Distribution Limited
Central City Training Venues (CCTV)
Langney Trustees
What Stores limited
AM Coffee Retail Ltd
Robinson Webster
Work highlights
- Acting for a range of GPs in the purchase and/ or sales of surgeries around London, Norfolk and Hertfordshire.
- Advised MenKind Limited on a variety of commercial property work including renewals, lease re-gears, strategic break notices and re-locations.
- Advised Rituals Cosmetics UK Limited with their new lease at Battersea Power Station.
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 1
Praised for its ‘serious, rigorous, but inventive approach‘, the St Albans-based practice at Sherrards Solicitors LLP is proficient in dispensing advice on a variety of areas, including high-value asset disputes, white-collar defence, and trust disputes. Practice head Paul Marmor has extensive experience in international banking and finance disputes with the ‘rigour of a classic commercial litigator‘, while the ‘excellent and creative‘ Marta Grieve primarily handles matters relating to the CIS and eastern Europe regions. Karen Dobson leads on matters concerning contentious insolvencies and professional negligence claims, and the ‘excellent and extremely professional‘ Barney Laurence frequently appears before the High Court and the Commercial Court in restraint of trade injunctions within the franchising sector.Practice head(s):
Paul Marmor
Other key lawyers:
Marta Grieve; Karen Dobson; Barney Laurence; Charles Burrell; Greg Pooler
Testimonials
‘The team is highly responsive and demonstrates high levels of knowledge that bring about the right result in complicated matters. City levels of expertise.’
‘Having worked with Paul Marmor and Charles Burrell, I really couldn’t have asked for more attention to detail and responsiveness.’
‘Greg Pooler is very hard working and bright, a capable pair of hands, and someone to watch.’
‘Sherrards’ team is commercially very astute. From my perspective, they adopt a serious, rigorous, but inventive approach to commercial litigation. I have worked with them primarily on sanctions issues arising in the context of ongoing litigation and they have handled a series of novel issues with considerable astuteness. They may be a regional firm, but they provide a high-quality City-level service.’
‘Paul Marmor combines the rigour of a classic commercial litigator with ingenuity and adaptability when faced with novel problems. He is also a delight to work with.’
‘The team has a great combination of excellent skills, client focus, creativity, and aggressiveness. They really know the market they operate in and can quickly bring their expertise to support us in a very timely manner.’
‘Marta Grieve is an excellent and creative lawyer who listens to the client’s requirements and circumstances very attentively and finds the best solution for them.’
‘Barney Laurence is excellent, extremely professional, and able to easily explain complex legal concepts in a straight forward manner. He has a very practical sense of how best to support us.’
Key clients
Vital Electronics Limited
HBL Bank UK Limited (formerly Habibsons Bank)
Aurora Leasing Limited
Cambria Automobiles Limited
Winkworth Estates & Lettings
Villa Plus
Berry Recruitment Limited
111 Skin Limited
The Jewellery Channel Limited
ParentPay Limited
Work highlights
- Advising a Chinese manufacturer and exporter of food products around the world, which suffered a fraud. The firm is pursuing this against multiple defendants, with injunctive relief and actions in multiple jurisdictions including England, Hong Kong and the BVI.
- Representing an international bank which is claiming $24m from a customer and its guarantors. This has included injunctive pre-action relief and dealing with an anti-suit injunction, being fought through the High Court, including Summary Judgment proceedings, applications for Security for Costs, and considering the impact of sanctions on the parties in this multi-jurisdictional case.
- Acting for a leading international cosmetics business in two matters. In the first it suffered a fraud by its former finance director, and the second case involves a failed distribution agreement.
Employment > Employment: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 1
The ‘very knowledgeable‘ Mark Fellows leads the St Albans-based team of ‘exceptional individuals‘ at Sherrards Solicitors LLP. With a ‘very good mixture of skills and experience‘, the practice handles the full range of employment disputes concerning sex and disability discrimination, and unfair dismissals. Fellows advises owner-managed businesses and global companies within the pharmaceuticals and retail sectors on the drafting of restrictive covenants and Employment Tribunal proceedings. Joanne Perry left the firm in March 2023.Practice head(s):
Mark Fellows
Other key lawyers:
Emma O’Meara
Testimonials
‘The employment team are thoroughly professional and knowledgeable. Highly approachable and easy to deal with.’
‘Mark Fellows is very knowledgeable and thoroughly professional. He cuts to the real issue at stake and offers a balanced and objective view of potential solutions. Mark is approachable and without doubt, goes above and beyond in terms of support.’
‘The team have a great positive, friendly, and open presence in the community.’
‘I’ve found this practice to be very down-to-earth and professional. At every stage, they have been accommodating. I’ve had total confidence in the team from the start, due to first-class communication and relevant advice.’
‘The team at Sherrards are exceptional individuals. They offer pragmatic, non-judging advice and guidance. Those who make up the team are individually very strong, offer their own perspectives, and operate with strategy and the big picture in mind.’
‘Mark Fellows and Emma O’Meara do an incredible job. They are both excellent at ensuring we keep our brand compliant, whilst being able to simplify any complex regulations. Mark and Emma are always accessible and always go above and beyond to make sure we have the support we need.’
‘The team has a very good mixture of skills and experience, providing a sound platform for effective advice. They have an excellent collaborative approach and cover a wide range of matters, including employment, benefits and immigration, enhanced by being part of an international alliance.’
‘I enjoy working with Mark Fellows as he is always quick to grasp the commerciality of the situation and offer alternative routes to a solution. He never railroads towards a particular path.’
Key clients
Air Business Limited
Winkworth Franchising plc
F H Bertling Limited
B3 Living Limited
Alpi UK Limited
TOCA Social
Work highlights
- Advised the head office of Winkworth on matters involving the franchisees, which are separate entities.
- Advising Alpi, an international freight and logistics business, on non-contentious matters, including policies, procedures, and recruitment; and contentious matters including Employment Tribunal claims, internal disciplinary and grievances.
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 1
The team at Sherrards Solicitors LLP provides ‘excellent advice and support‘ on a broad variety of matters, including obtaining and re-sealing foreign grants, and the establishment of disabled trusts. Nicole Marmor leads the St Albans-based group, often assisting non-domiciled clients with drafting wills and setting up discretionary, excluded property and bare trusts. ‘Very knowledgeable‘ associate Aisling Kelly has broad experience spanning lasting powers of attorney, the administration of estates, and obtaining probate.Practice head(s):
Nicole Marmor
Other key lawyers:
Charles Burrell; Louise Stradling; Aisling Kelly
Testimonials
‘The team are knowledgeable, very supportive, attentive to our timescale, and give us both excellent advice and support throughout a difficult situation.’
‘They are fully interested and engaged in not only finding us the best outcome but also guiding through timings and process. We felt that we had someone on our side that was both batting for us as well as thinking ahead of the game to influence the future outcomes.’
‘Aisling Kelly is clearly very knowledgeable, and is able to answer all our questions with sound advice. Most importantly, Aisling has natural empathy and sensitivity when dealing with what can be a difficult subject for people to discuss. Would certainly use her again and recommend her to others.’
‘Aisling Kelly and her team were friendly and on the ball all throughout the process. Aisling is brilliant at explaining what would happen. Her empathy shone through and made this difficult and stressful process easier than originally expected. She stayed in touch throughout and everything was dealt with promptly.’
‘The team is knowledgeable, communicates in an understandable way, willing to look at matters from different angles.’
‘Charles Burrell stands out for his wide knowledge, and enthusiasm to search for options. Working with him feels like we are not only instructing a reliable firm, but that we have welcomed a great team member.’
‘Nicole Marmor is a very pleasant person to work with. She has a strong sense of knowing what is expected by her clients. At the same time, she is correct and understanding. Nicole knows how to deal with people, firmly, but at the same time she is unimposing.’
Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 2
Sherrards Solicitors LLP‘s team uses its ‘wealth of experience‘ to advise owner managed businesses, and clients in the entertainment and hospitality sectors on franchising matters. Leigh Head and Jean-Paul Da Costa jointly head up the practice from St Albans and London respectively. Praised for his ‘steely focus on getting the job done‘, Head is ‘absolutely excellent‘ at advising on private equity transactions and corporate restructurings. In St Albans, Kiall Bagnell primarily assists privately owned SMEs and multi-unit franchisees on M&A issues.Practice head(s):
Leigh Head; Jean Paul Da Costa
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Sherrards is excellent, we have found them accurate and attentive to our needs. They are engaging and quick to respond, and utilise the correct level of expertise.’
‘The Sherrards team are down to earth, pragmatic and focused on getting the deal done. They are professional yet approachable and I very much enjoy working with them.’
‘Kiall Bagnell is a pleasure to work with.’
‘Leigh Head is an experienced, pragmatic lawyer with a steely focus on getting the job done. He is absolutely excellent.’
‘Very responsive and helpful; their advice is extremely useful. They give clear and helpful options, and help us to resolve issues quickly.’
‘The team never over complicates what they do or how they describe what they have done, keeping the whole process transparent and without mystery.’
‘The partners have a wealth of experience across a range of areas, are focused on providing practical advice, and are proactive.’
Key clients
Winkworth Franchising Limited
Screwfast Foundation Limited
Cambria Automobiles plc
Mediashare (ER Productions) Limited
Village Underground
One Sky Flight LLP
Work highlights
- Advising Winkworth Franchising Limited on acquisitions and disposals of franchisee sites, reviewing and updating the sales, lettings and property management franchise agreements for roll-out across the network.
- Advising Gift Universe on targeted company acquisitions as part of a wider strategic restructure of the group, and the establishment of an employee ownership trust.
- Advising ER Productions on Project Night, the acquisition of a specialist pyrotechnics company which was a strategic purchase for ER productions to complement its existing lighting and effects offering.
Real estate > Commercial property: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 2
Sherrards Solicitors LLP‘s ‘professional, helpful and patient‘ St Albans team assists a variety of clients in the hospitality and leisure sectors with the renewal of temporary leases. Practice head Terry Fendt has extensive experience in acting for high street retailers, while Stephanie Kierans acts for restaurants and private landlords on investment matters. Working out of both the London and St Albans offices, senior associate Shane Knight is ‘considerate, attentive and responsive‘ when advising small property developers and charity sector clients on property investment portfolios. Senior associate Caroline Turner joined the team from Burlingtons Legal LLP in November 2022.Practice head(s):
Terry Fendt
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The Sherrards team is professional, helpful and patient.’
‘Shane Knight has been a pleasure to deal with throughout all the transactions we have had. From 30 years of experience in real estate trading, we have never seen such a unique individual, who is so considerate, attentive and responsive.’
‘Shane Knight is always on top of his responses, he builds a great working relationship with his clients. Shane is ready to go that extra mile for his clients.’
‘Shane Knight always tries to understand each client individually and has a different approach to each one of them.’
Key clients
Chokdee Ltd (trading as Giggling Squid)
Menkind Limited
Foodco UK Franchising Limited (trading as Muffin Break)
Rituals Cosmetics UK Limited
DBD Distribution Limited
Central City Training Venues (CCTV)
Langney Trustees
What Stores limited
AM Coffee Retail Ltd
Robinson Webster
Work highlights
- Acting for Giggling Squid on its new acquisitions of sites around the UK.
- Acting for MenKind Limited on renewals, lease re-gears, strategic break notices and re-locations.
- Acting for Rituals Cosmetics UK Limited with its new lease at Battersea Power Station.
South East > Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
Sherrards Solicitors LLP‘s team uses its ‘wealth of experience‘ to advise owner managed businesses, and clients in the entertainment and hospitality sectors on franchising matters. Leigh Head and Jean-Paul Da Costa jointly head up the practice from St Albans and London respectively. Praised for his ‘steely focus on getting the job done‘, Head is ‘absolutely excellent‘ at advising on private equity transactions and corporate restructurings. In St Albans, Kiall Bagnell primarily assists privately owned SMEs and multi-unit franchisees on M&A issues.Practice head(s):
Leigh Head; Jean Paul Da Costa
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Sherrards is excellent, we have found them accurate and attentive to our needs. They are engaging and quick to respond, and utilise the correct level of expertise.’
‘The Sherrards team are down to earth, pragmatic and focused on getting the deal done. They are professional yet approachable and I very much enjoy working with them.’
‘Kiall Bagnell is a pleasure to work with.’
‘Leigh Head is an experienced, pragmatic lawyer with a steely focus on getting the job done. He is absolutely excellent.’
‘Very responsive and helpful; their advice is extremely useful. They give clear and helpful options, and help us to resolve issues quickly.’
‘The team never over complicates what they do or how they describe what they have done, keeping the whole process transparent and without mystery.’
‘The partners have a wealth of experience across a range of areas, are focused on providing practical advice, and are proactive.’
Key clients
Winkworth Franchising Limited
Screwfast Foundation Limited
Cambria Automobiles plc
Mediashare (ER Productions) Limited
Village Underground
One Sky Flight LLP
Work highlights
- Advising Winkworth Franchising Limited on acquisitions and disposals of franchisee sites, reviewing and updating the sales, lettings and property management franchise agreements for roll-out across the network.
- Advising Gift Universe on targeted company acquisitions as part of a wider strategic restructure of the group, and the establishment of an employee ownership trust.
- Advising ER Productions on Project Night, the acquisition of a specialist pyrotechnics company which was a strategic purchase for ER productions to complement its existing lighting and effects offering.
Sherrards Solicitors LLP > Firm Profile
Sherrards is a law firm made up of talented lawyers and an excellent wider team that keeps the whole place running smoothly.
Our philosophy is to keep things straightforward. Advice is pragmatic and cases are handled with little fuss. We find this refreshingly obvious approach attracts clients tired of people making things more complicated than they need to be.
We work out of two offices in London and St Albans and increasingly work from anywhere in the world.
An overview of our departments
Real estate: Respected lawyer Terry Fendt leads the commercial property team. Commercially savvy solicitors, they handle complex property transactions, including joint ventures and finance agreements, acquisition and disposal of retail and investment property, hotels, restaurants and pubs, property development (commercial and residential) and management work. Asha Ngai and Caroline Vernon lead the residential real estate team, much of which has an international and high-net-worth element.
Corporate and commercial: Covering a full range of corporate and commercial work, the team has additional expertise in IP, media and entertainment and charity law. Jean-Paul da Costa and Leigh Head lead the team providing a partner-led service, committed to finding a tailored, commercial and cost-effective solution for their clients.
Dispute resolution and litigation: Paul Marmor leads the litigation team which provides responsive services to manage the risks and maximise the strength of their client’s position.
Employment: Mark Fellows leads the team with partner Joanne Perry who supports clients through all stages of the employment relationship with a focus on creating and maintaining a sound legal framework for employers.
Private wealth: The team handles Wills, tax, and probate matters, UK and international succession planning and high-end residential property.
International: Sherrards has an international focus with China and Asia, and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, French and German teams. The teams provide legal services to UK SMEs looking to export overseas and foreign companies and high-net-worth individuals setting up in the UK.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Managing Partner | Alasdair McMillin | alasdair.mcmillin@sherrards.com | 01727 738902 |
Commercial property | Terry Fendt | terry.fendt@sherrards.com | 01727 738922 |
Commercial property | Stephanie Kierans | stephanie.kierans@sherrards.com | 01727 738923 |
Corporate and commercial | Jean-Paul da Costa | JeanPaul.Dacosta@sherrards.com | 020 7478 9018 |
Dispute resolution | Paul Marmor | paul.marmor@sherrards.com | 0207 4789010 |
Employment | Mark Fellows | mark.fellows@sherrards.com | 01727 738976 |
Corporate and commercial | Leigh Head | leigh.head@sherrards.com | 01727 738937 |
Personal tax, trusts and probate | Nicole Marmor | nicole.marmor@sherrards.com | 01727 738989 |
Residential Real Estate | Asha Ngai | asha.ngai@sherrards.com | 02074953035 |
Residential Real Estate | Caroline Vernon | caroline.vernon@sherrards.com | 020 3795 0036 |
Employment | Joanne Perry | joanne.perry@sherrards.com | 01727 738920 |
Property disputes | Michael Lewis | michael.lewis@sherrards.com | 01727 738980 |
Dispute Resolution | Barney Lawrence | barnaby.lawrence@sherrards.com | 01727 738975 |
Dispute Resolution | Karen Dobson | karen.dobson@sherrards.com | 01727 738906 |
Corporate and commercial | Kiall Bagnell | kiall.bagnell@sherrards.com | 01727 738914 |
Corporate and commercial | Laurel Zhang | laurel.zhang@sherrards.com | 02074789916 |
Dispute Resolution | Greg Pooler | greg.pooler@sherrards.com | 01727 738993 |
Immigration | Melissa Vangeen | melissa.vangeen@sherrards.com | 07733 889559 |
Commercial property | Jonathan Peet | jonathan.peet@sherrards.com | 020 7478 9028 |
Employment | Emma Peacock | emma.peacock@sherrards.com | 0203 795 0024 |
Dispute Resolution | Matthew Ball | matthew.ball@sherrards.com | 0207 4789 015 |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Matthew Ball | Matthew Ball is a Partner in the Dispute Resolution team and is… | View Profile | |
Jean-Paul Da Costa | Jean-Paul originally qualified as a Barrister in Lincoln’s Inn before moving on… | View Profile | |
Mrs Marta Grieve | Marta joined Sherrards as the Head of The Eastern Europe and Central… | View Profile | |
Mr Charles Hodder | Charles has over 25 years’ experience in commercial property and advises clients… | View Profile | |
Michael Lewis | Partner | View Profile | |
Paul Marmor | Partner and head of litigation & dispute resolution, Paul focuses on substantial… | View Profile | |
Alasdair McMillin | Managing Partner of Sherrards since 1995 and instrumental in the major growth… | View Profile | |
Asha Ngai | Partner, Residential Real Estate | View Profile | |
Emma Peacock | Emma is a Partner in the Employment department and is based in… | View Profile | |
Jonathan Peet | Consultant | View Profile | |
Gregory Pooler | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Gregory Pooler | Senior Associate | View Profile | |
Caroline Vernon | Partner, Residential Property | View Profile | |
Xueying (Laurel) Zhang | London based Solicitor Xueying (Laurel) Zhang heads up the firm’s China and… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 19 Number of other UK fee-earners : 50Languages
Mandarin Chinese Russian French GermanMemberships
IBA The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) Alliott Global AllianceDiversity
Whether it’s providing legal advice or supporting our team and implementing change, Sherrards is beautifully straightforward.
Our firm is not perfect. But we try to do the right things. We run an active diversity and inclusivity programme and take care to ensure our behaviour has a positive impact on the environment and wider society.
We know that in order to give the best advice to our clients, we need to work with a diverse range of people who each bring their own perspectives and experience to the table.
To make sure we do better (because we can always do better), our current initiatives include:
- To provide a working environment where our people can bring their whole selves to into the workplace.
- Identify areas of the firm that we need to improve diversity and create initiatives to address and implement change.
- Maintaining the gender balance in our partnership which is currently 9:10
- Creation of the Sustainable Sherrards committee which works hard to make the Firm more environmentally sound.
- Support our LGBTQ+ colleagues and community by sponsoring the Hertfordshire Pride festival and ensuring an established Pride network which provides opportunities for collaborating on business development initiatives in the community for our LGBTQ+ staff and clients.
- Establishing a workplace committee to represent a variety of demographics including age, gender, religion, race, disability & LGBTQ+
- The Sherrards book club to focus on black authors in 2022 to ensure representation and build better perspectives on racial disparity.
Client Testimonials
CLIENT: Andy Laurillard
COMPANY/FIRM: Chokdee Ltd t/a Giggling Squid
TESTIMONIAL: “Giggling Squid has grown from one restaurant in 2002 to over 30 and we need a law firm who can keep pace with us. Stephanie Kierans and the rest of the lawyers at Sherrards have done just that. They provide excellent commercial advice and are quick to respond to all our needs”.
CLIENT: Doug Bates
COMPANY/FIRM: Intelligent People
TESTIMONIAL: “Sherrards are a warm and friendly team who not only offer expert advice but execute brilliantly. As a small business, we occasionally have debt to chase or need legal counsel on other matters, we have a 100% record with Sherrards and will continue to use them for the foreseeable future. Highly, highly recommended”
CLIENT: Robert McGregor
COMPANY/FIRM: McConnell Group
TESTIMONIAL: “We have worked with Kiall, Leigh and corporate the team for a number of years and they always provide concise and commercial advice. They have a collaborative; personable approach and we thoroughly enjoy working with them.”
CLIENT: Eve Gonsalves
COMPANY/FIRM: Energie Property UK limited
TESTIMONIAL: “Energie have worked with Sherrards as the business has expanded. The team at Sherrards are down to earth, approachable and on hand to provide assistance where required. They work with us and our franchisees to help make the club acquisition process as seamless as possible.”
CLIENT: Josh B
COMPANY/FIRM: Private Individual
TESTIMONIAL: “Last year my wife and I instructed Sherrards Solicitors as the conveyancer for both house sale and house purchase. They were extremely efficient, gave great advice and kept us regularly updated throughout the whole process. We found them a pleasure to deal with and would highly recommend them.”
CLIENT: Martin G
COMPANY/FIRM: Private Individual
TESTIMONIAL: “I have been very pleased with the service we have received from Sherrards Solicitors in both London and from the St Albans office. As I am domiciled overseas (in far off New Zealand) but have family interests in the UK, Sherrards have been extremely helpful with a property transaction and a trust deed which went very smoothly and achieved an excellent outcome.”
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers
Firm Rankings
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
- Employment > Employment: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx