Teacher Stern LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Teacher Stern LLP Offices
37-41 BEDFORD ROW
LONDON
WC1R 4JH
England
Teacher Stern LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Corporate and commercial > M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m Tier 3
Teacher Stern LLP‘s corporate and commercial practice is adept in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, private equity investments and exits, and joint ventures, as well as corporate restructuring, management buyouts, and corporate real estate transactions. Co-leading the team are David Ponsford and Kelly Whitfield, both of whom specialise in mergers, acquisitions, and disposals. Ponsford’s focus also extends to equity fundraising, shareholders’ agreements, reorganisations, and equity capital markets transactions. Claire Rollo stands out for her breadth of practice, covering M&A transactions, joint ventures and private equity deals, and corporate real estate. Other notable names in the group include Arran Brooker and Sing Li.Practice head(s):
David Ponsford; Kelly Whitfield
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘This team consistently delivers exceptional work while maintaining a remarkable ability to adapt to the specific needs of each client.’
‘The partners demonstrate exceptional responsiveness and a genuine willingness to share their extensive industry knowledge. Their collaborative and considerate approach, coupled with a practical focus, makes them an absolute pleasure to work with.’
‘David Ponsford is our go-to partner for corporate and M&A matters. He gives advice that truly advises and listens not only to the surface level questions but to the deeper level of clients’ needs.’
‘David is always responsive and knows how to coordinate different teams for cross-disciplinary matters, ensuring seamless collaboration.’
Key clients
Arena Online
Aurora Managed Services Group
Babbo Restaurant
Champneys
Civitas Sutton
CoreLogic
Continent 8
Duke & Dexter
Event Horizon Entertainment Limited
El Al Airways
Fidelity Energy
Fidelity Group
Football Writers Association
Ganfeng Lithium
Genius Sports Group
Gloucester Property Group
J2P Autos
Louder Entertainment Limited
Metroline
Moog Controls
Ostique Limited
PMY Group
Pozitive Energy
Sports Invest UK
Thackeray Estates
The Malachite Group Limited
The Sussex Trust
Wow Beauty
Wow Workspaces
Work highlights
- Advised on the sale of the business and assets of Event Horizon Entertainment Limited.
- Acted for Cardiff Road Estates Ltd on its business and asset sale of student accommodation in Cardiff.
- Acted for Louder Entertainment Ltd on the buy and build strategy for this independent music promotion and live entertainment business, acquiring numerous brands, together with a part share in a nightclub located in Brighton.
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 6
‘An excellent choice for mid-market commercial work’, Teacher Stern LLP‘s team is experienced in contractual, shareholder and partnership disputes. The team regularly handles fraud and misrepresentation actions, and contentious insolvencies. It also acts in insurance, commodities and education disputes, along with construction matters. Rohit Ralleigh, who ‘has a strong and broad understanding of commercial litigation’, joined the team in September 2023 hire from Axiom DWFM. Gillian Crotty joined from Shoosmiths LLP's Belfast office in the summer of 2024. Michelle Mollaghan and former practice co-heads Sarah Emerson and Clare Toomer, left the firm in January, March and June 2024, respectively.Other key lawyers:
Rohit Ralleigh; Lee Donoghue; Luke Turtle; Gillian Crotty
Testimonials
‘They are sensible, agile, and approachable.’
‘Clients’ time with Teacher Stern is always first-class.’
‘Teacher Stern are an excellent choice for mid-market commercial work.’
‘They have some very experienced litigators who have great client rapport.’
’Rohit Ralleigh is a very good solicitor. He is switched on, clever, responsive, and has a nice touch with clients, who respect the advice and support he gives. He writes straightforward and clear letters, which is a real skill that should not be underrated.’
‘Rohit Ralleigh has a strong and broad understanding of commercial litigation and good tactical instincts.’
‘Rohit Ralleigh has an excellent ability to understand clients and pursue their real objectives.’
‘Rohit Ralleigh is an experienced and skilled operator who shows great commitment to clients.’
Key clients
The Rind Foundation
Pozitive Energy
Various BOS SAM holders
Designer Group (Designer M&E Services)
Ebix
Aviv Holdings
Carter Backer Winter
Invescap (Lojj)
Lineten
Vape Supplier
Ape Properties
Yeoman Preston
Gravity Global
BDO
M J Advisory
Premier Exports London
Vindex
Minerva Recruitment
Edgewater Group
Work highlights
- Acted for Sandra Ncube in a multi-party and multi-jurisdictional fraud claim, encompassing allegations of fraudulent evasion of tax, misappropriation, and misapplication of the proceeds of fraud, among others.
- Represented 160 consumers in claims against Bank of Scotland (and its subsidiaries) for relief, in respect of a particular type of retail mortgage product known as a shared appreciation mortgage.
- Acted for Alice Goh in a $20m fraud action, arising from an investment involving various jurisdictions and entities.
Real estate > Property finance Tier 6
‘Professional, responsive, efficient and personable’, Teacher Stern LLP acts for both lenders and borrowers in a variety of property transactions. Operating as part of the wider banking and finance group, the team is led by Claire Gibson, who was promoted to practice head in May 2023. Praised for her ‘wealth of commercial and technical knowledge‘, Gibson’s key workstreams include negotiating loan agreements and amending facilities agreements. Phil Berry, praised for his ‘unparalleled experience’, and Heledd Jones – ‘the ideal combination of responsiveness, efficiency, experience and decency’ – also come highly recommended.Practice head(s):
Claire Gibson
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Teacher Stern LLP are a great partner, who we have worked with to achieve a number of key operational objectives in respect to our legal requirements. They really listen to and engage in a proactive and practical way with our needs, taking an efficient approach which provides high quality results. ’
‘Heledd Jones is our key contact and we highly value her approach, which combines practicality with subject expertise without compromising on the human elements that are crucial to building and maintaining strong and effective professional relationships. We have found Heledd to be responsive and to anticipate the roadblocks we might face with clarity and pace.’
‘Offer an impeccable service to their clients. The team are professional, responsive, efficient and personable; all round, a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Phil Berry brings his unparalleled experience to each transaction.’
‘Claire Gibson has a wealth of commercial and technical knowledge, using her skill set to go above and beyond for her clients.’
‘Heledd Jones is a real asset to the team. Knowledgeable, pragmatic and hard-working.’
Heledd Jones is a pleasure to work with. The ideal combination of responsiveness, efficiency, experience and decency. She is our go-to property finance lawyer.’
Key clients
Brydg Capital Limited
Emirates NBD Bank
Marcus Cooper Group
Burger & Lobster
Limecourt Finance & Investments
Century Capital
Englander Group
Kenfin Holdings Limited
Westcity Property Group
Elyseum Finance S.C.A.
PRMO Properties
Aviv Holdings
Spring Finance Limited
Landbay Partners Limited
Work highlights
- Advised an LLP borrower company on a circa £35,000,000 loan from Secure Trust Bank to refinance a recently completed mixed-use development in London.
- Acted on behalf of the Marcus Cooper Group in connection with a multi-million-pound (£) facility from a Lux private bank, secured over properties in prime central London.
- Represented Emirates NBD Bank in connection with a circa £3,000,000 loan for one of its high-net-worth customers with the obligors located in the BVI and Saudi Arabia.
Employment > Immigration
Teacher Stern LLP > Firm Profile
Teacher Stern LLP is a full-service commercial law firm with an offering that includes all aspects of real estate work, corporate/commercial transaction, dispute resolution, employment and immigration, private client and tax.
The firm: Teacher Stern was founded in 1967 in London and was created, and now grows and thrives, as a full-service commercial law firm. Currently with over 90 fee-earners, the firm is enjoying organic growth and is confident that this will continue.
Teacher Stern is a firm that punches significantly above its weight. It is fiercely independent and collegiate, and rates and values its hugely talented and business-minded pool of lawyers with proven business acumen and staff. Its client base includes UK and international corporates, entrepreneurial companies of all sizes and high-net-worth individuals both resident and non-resident in the UK.
It is a top-class entrepreneurial firm with a multi-disciplined approach, introducing ideas from a new perspective. Clients value its business acumen and plain-speaking advice. Its vision is to be the pre-eminent legal advisers to entrepreneurial businesses such as corporates, decision-makers and their funders.
Types of work undertaken
Commercial: whether clients are looking for guidance on a major strategic issue or simply a quick answer to a day-to-day matter, Teacher Stern’s commercial team will act speedily to provide advice that’s based on insight, knowledge and understanding. The commercial deals it puts together are highly innovative in their approach, and specifically designed to help capture the next opportunity. Areas covered include contracts, employment, intellectual property and media.
Corporate: whatever the corporate transaction, the team at Teacher Stern can be relied upon to resolve issues with its proactive approach, its commitment to deliver, and its swiftness to respond that ensure it completes deals on time. Areas covered include AIM, banking, corporate restructuring, joint ventures/shareholder agreements, MBOs/MBIs/earn outs, partnerships and LLPs, real estate, sales/purchases/M&A, and venture capital/private equity.
Corporate tax: Teacher Stern applies technical expertise and innovative thinking together with a meticulous understanding of client’s business to provide a practical and bespoke solution in every case that has a real monetary value, whether by reducing risk or by enhancing returns. It advises on all aspects of UK business taxation, with particular strengths in tax planning of corporate and real estate transactions. Its tax advice is always succinct, pragmatic and robust. Its corporate tax experience covers all areas of business activity, mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, joint ventures, private equity/venture capital structures and work outs.
Dispute resolution: Teacher Stern has an excellent track record of success in dispute resolution. The members of its dispute resolution team are tough and commercially sensitive litigators who all have one thing in common: their determination to win. The specialist team is expert in the following areas: commercial disputes, commodities, insolvency, intellectual property, landlord and tenant, secured lending, and technology and communications.
Employment/employee benefits: employment legislation changes all the time. Teacher Stern guides clients through the legislative maze, giving instant answers to questions and solving any problems relating to employment and employee benefits.
Immigration: the firm provides specialist advice to a wide range of high-net-worth individuals, private clients and corporate clients on personal and business immigration. It advises on all aspects of UK immigration, naturalisation and European rights of free movement, providing clear and practical guidance. It manages the process from start to finish, providing a thorough and reliable service designed to achieve a successful outcome in a timetable that suits its clients.
Private client: although Teacher Stern is primarily a corporate law firm, it also has a strong private client base comprising high-net-worth individuals. Specialist teams throughout the firm provide legal expertise to private clients in the following areas: employment advice, residential, sport, and wills and inheritance tax.
Property: Teacher Stern boasts a well respected and experienced team of over 35 lawyers, with expertise in acquisition/disposal; asset management; development and construction; finance; and residential.
Other expert groups include education, intellectual property, media, sport, and technology and communications.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Managing Partner | David Salisbury | [email protected] | |
| Head of Property and Joint Managing Partner | David Irwin | [email protected] | |
| Employment | Matthew Cranton | [email protected] | |
| Immigration | Matthew Cranton | [email protected] | |
| Commercial Litigation | Rohit Ralleigh | [email protected] | |
| Commercial Litigation | Gillian Crotty | [email protected] | |
| Banking & Finance | Claire Gibson | [email protected] | |
| Property Litigation | Nazia Hussain | [email protected] | |
| Private Client | Elizabeth Jones | [email protected] | |
| Commercial and technology | Frank Jennings | [email protected] | |
| Corporate | David Ponsford | [email protected] | |
| Corporate | Kelly Whitfield | [email protected] |
Lawyer Profiles
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Phil Berry | Phil is an expert in real estate finance with heavyweight experience in… | View Profile |
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Vanessa Cassidy | Vanessa is a partner in the property department at Teacher Stem LLP… | View Profile |
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Matthew Cranton | Matthew heads our Employment and Immigration practice, advising on all areas of… | View Profile |
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Gillian Crotty | View Profile | |
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Claire Gibson | Claire is head of the Legal 500 ranked Real Estate Finance team… | View Profile |
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Suzanne Hamer | Suzanne is the assistant Head of the Residential Real Estate Department. Suzanne… | View Profile |
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Victoria Hodges | Victoria is a commercial property lawyer with property finance expertise who specialises… | View Profile |
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David Irwin | Joint managing partner and head of real estate department. Dealing with all… | View Profile |
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Jim McKeever | Jim joined Teacher Stern as a partner in May 2013 as part of… | View Profile |
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David Ponsford | David is a corporate partner with has extensive experience advising companies, entrepreneurs… | View Profile |
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Jack Rabinowicz | Jack is head of the commercial litigation team. He specialises in high-value… | View Profile |
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Rohit Ralleigh | Rohit acts for commercial clients and high net worth individuals in a… | View Profile |
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Russell Raphael | Partner in real estate; over 20 years of acting for landlord/developers and occupiers.… | View Profile |
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Colin Richman | Head of Property Litigation. Acting for commercial investors and asset managers on… | View Profile |
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Claire Rollo | Partner in corporate/commercial department. Claire advises mainly family/owner/manager businesses on a wide… | View Profile |
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David Salisbury | Joint managing partner and head of the corporate/commercial department. David’s broad transactional experience… | View Profile |
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Jonathan Warren | Jonathan is an experienced property litigation specialist whose practice encompasses all aspects… | View Profile |
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Eytan Weisz | Eytan is a partner in the real estate team and his practice… | View Profile |
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Kelly Whitfield | Kelly is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with broad transactional expertise… | View Profile |
Solicitor Profiles
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Oliver Azzuri | Involved in all sectors of property development and investment, Oliver has broad… | View Profile |
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Keith Browne | Keith is a specialist non-contentious construction and engineering lawyer with extensive experience… | View Profile |
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Nazia Hussain | Nazia joined Teacher Stern’s property litigation team in January 2008 and has… | View Profile |
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David Phillips | David has a broad commercial and residential real estate practice. He is… | View Profile |
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Michael Reiner | Michael joined the firm in February 2017 and advises on a broad… | View Profile |