Sarah Riding > Gowling WLG > Birmingham, England > Lawyer Profile

Fielding one of the largest corporate and commercial practices in the region, Gowling WLG consistently handles big-ticket international transactions for a formidable line-up of public and private sector entities. Corporate chair Chris Towle spearheads the firm’s US sales and UK indirect real estate practices, handling cross-border REIT transactions and restructuring for some of the market’s biggest investment managers. Stuart Young heads up both the corporate finance and automotive sector groups, while automotive manufacturing lead Ragi Singh works with a number of electric vehicle companies on a steady flow of acquisitions. Sharon Ayres is highly experienced in investment structures and joint venture agreements, while Amar Adatia heads up the solvent structuring and group reorganisation desk. On the commercial side, David Lowe is reputed for his ‘knowledgeable, practical and solution-driven’ approach to logistics agreements and procurement strategies, most notably in the food and retail arenas. The ‘outstanding’ Sarah Riding is well-versed in all manner of contract arrangements, regularly assisting clients from the worlds of manufacturing, automotive, energy and sport. Principal associate Caroline McNally is also recommended. All named lawyers are based in Birmingham.

The sizeable team at Gowling WLG advises retailers across all legal disciplines including handling competition, construction and IP matters. The team is co-led by John Coldham and Jocelyn Paulley, who moved into the role in March 2022; the pair took over from former head Chris Hunt, who focuses on real estate mandates. Coldham is well regarded for his expertise in both IP strategy and litigation, while Paulley acts for both established retail brands and start-ups, and leverages her data protection knowledge to oversee digital infrastructure mandates. Kate Swaine is also recommended for IP work and Sarah Riding handles commercial matters.