Collyer Bristow LLP > London, England > Firm Profile
Collyer Bristow LLP Offices
140 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
LONDON
SW3 1HY
England
Collyer Bristow LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers Tier 3
Under the leadership of Michael Grace, Collyer Bristow LLP's real estate practice is home to a dedicated housebuilder department which thrives in respect of mixed-use and residential developments. The team is equipped to support at every stage of projects, from acquisition and finance through to eventual disposal, and is also adept in single asset and portfolio transactions, property management matters and commercial lettings. As for the corporate occupier service, it has advised a number of regulatory bodies and motor industry participants on office moves of late and owing to the firm's connections in the Far East, continues to act for a number of banks on the full suite of headquarter-related mandates.
Practice head(s):
Michael Grace
Other key lawyers:
Alex O’Connor; Stephen Gawne
Key clients
Aldersgate Investments Ltd / Motcomb Estates Ltd (Reuben brothers)
Bewley Homes plc
Chase New Homes Ltd
Crest Nicholson plc
EDHEC Business School
Equus Software
GMS Estates Ltd
Ipsus Developments Ltd
Lochailort Investments Ltd
Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd / Be Living Ltd
Workman LLP
Private client > Family Tier 4
Collyer Bristow LLP deals with an impressive array of financial remedy and nuptial contracts. Many of its cases are high-value involving complex financial structures and foreign jurisdictions. The team, under the leadership of Toby Yerburgh, is experienced at dealing with cases involving onshore and offshore trusts, property and company structures as well as substantial pensions. The group regularly deals with family businesses, entrepreneurs and professionals. Its four partners (three of whom are Fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers) have a wealth of experience in dealing with complicated domestic and international divorce cases involving financial and child-related applications.
Practice head(s):
Toby Yerburgh
Other key lawyers:
Philippa Dolan; Michael Drake; Tanya Roberts; Bethany Meyrick
Real estate > Commercial property: development Tier 4
Under the leadership of Michael Grace, Collyer Bristow LLP's real estate practice is home to a dedicated housebuilder department which thrives in respect of mixed-use and residential developments. The team is equipped to support at every stage of projects, from acquisition and finance through to eventual disposal, and is also adept in single asset and portfolio transactions, property management matters and commercial lettings. As for the corporate occupier service, it has advised a number of regulatory bodies and motor industry participants on office moves of late and owing to the firm's connections in the Far East, continues to act for a number of banks on the full suite of headquarter-related mandates.
Practice head(s):
Michael Grace
Other key lawyers:
Rory Macpherson; Alex O’Connor; Jonathan Wiese; Stephen Gawne
Key clients
Aldersgate Investments Ltd / Motcomb Estates Ltd (Reuben brothers)
Bewley Homes plc
Chase New Homes Ltd
Crest Nicholson plc
The Deltic Group
EcoWorld London Holdings Limited
GMS Estates Ltd
Ipsus Developments Ltd
Lochailort Investments Ltd
Sutton Harbour Holdings plc
Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd / Be Living Ltd
Work highlights
- Acting for Aberfeldy New Village LLP (a joint venture between EcoWorld London and Poplar Harca) in connection with continuing site assembly, funding, development and sales of phase 3 onwards at Aberfeldy New Village in East London.
- Acting for the Kew Bridge Gate Development SPV in connection with its mixed-use development consisting of commercial units, approximately a thousand residential units and buy to let apartments.
- Acting for Willmott Dixon on its acquisition, development and sales at sites in Reading, Sevenoaks and Cheshunt with a combined gross development value of almost £200m.
Dispute resolution > Banking litigation: investment and retail Tier 5
Collyer Bristow LLP's conflict-free banking and financial disputes practice is a popular choice for claims against banks and counts foreign exchange disputes among its specialist areas. The 'top-quality' Janine Alexander is experienced in financial markets litigation including derivatives disputes, as well as property and development finance disputes. 'Rain-maker' Stephen Rosen leads the practice while head of the dispute resolution group Robin Henry is another name to note for derivative contracts disputes and misselling claims.
Practice head(s):
Stephen Rosen
Other key lawyers:
Robin Henry; Janine Alexander; Robin Henry; Craig Deuchrass
Testimonials
‘Collyer Bristow’s banking litigation is at the front line in battles against banks. They are usually conflict-free to act against banks. They have a deep knowledge of the new developments in the financial industry and upcoming matters that will be litigated. To the extent necessary, they include in their team a member of their regulatory team to analyse the impact of financial regulations on the investor’s right toward the opposing financial institution.’
‘Janine Alexander is a top-quality solicitor with an acute sense of business and full knowledge of the industry. Sharp analysis and solution-minded. Always a pleasure to work with her.’
‘We have been working together with Robin Henry (Partner) and Craig Deuchrass (Senior Associate). They are both very diligent in their decision-making process. They carefully weigh the pros and cons of different potential strategies always having the “risk/reward ratio” in mind.‘
‘Very short response time. Quick in composing a team of true experts in their respective fields. Collyer Bristow understand to put together the right team of experts for each individual case.‘
‘Innovative, think outside the box, variety of interesting work. Driven, and leaves no stone unturned to do best for client.’
‘Janine Alexander, partner. Highly intelligent, terrier-like in her pursuit of angles to benefit her client. Hard-working and indefatigable. Stephen Rosen, for many years a partner, now a consultant. Rain-maker. Assiduous in ensuring that clients are happy. Careful, and wishes to explore every avenue & facet of a case.’
‘Stephen Rosen works very hard at the relationship with us. He and his colleagues are always available to explain matters clearly and succinctly. We enjoy their innovative hospitality in the form of viewings in their private gallery (until COVID hit!) which is also a good opportunity to meet the Collyer Bristow wider team.’
‘The Partner we have worked with the most is Stephen Rosen. He is always very engaged in the work himself, while also ensuring he gets the best out of his team. Most of all, he always puts the client first, making sure the project team is providing value at every stage before proposing fresh avenues of work. Stephen is always faultlessly polite and good fun to work with.’
Key clients
Quanteus Group
Salzgitter Mannesman GmbH
Priorite Energie
Musst Holdings Limited
Napier Park Global Capital
Trattamento Rifiuti Metropolitani SpA
Work highlights
- Acted for Salzgitter Mannesmann in a £1.4m claim against Natwest Markets over ‘dividend stripping’.
- Acted for Trattamento Rifiuti Metropolitani (TRM) in a dispute with BNP Paribas involving interest rate swaps and competing interpretations of English, Italian and EU law and the jurisdiction of the English and the Italian courts to hear disputes where the parties agreed different exclusive jurisdiction clauses in separate agreements.
- Acted for Napier Park Global Capital (as junior bondholders in a Collateralised Loan Obligation structure) in a dispute with Barings (UK) Ltd, the Collateral Manager, as to whether an incentive fee was payable to Barings under the loan structure.
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 5
Collyer Bristow LLP is well known for its banking litigation expertise, but the firm also has a substantial commercial disputes offering, which focuses on complex, high-value disputes that frequently contain international features. Richard Viegas leads the commercial disputes team, which includes Jeff Roberts, who represents high-net-worth individuals and large corporations in shareholder and boardroom disputes. Janine Alexander has notable experience of disputes involving interest rates and credit derivatives, investment mis-selling, LIBOR fixing and complex property and development finance.
Practice head(s):
Richard Viegas
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Musst Holdings
Sami Wadi Sidawi
Harrington Scott
Bench Walk Advisers
Pramod Mittal
MUSST Holdings
Work highlights
- Instructed by Pramod Mittal to oppose a £140m bankruptcy petition presented against him by Moorgate Industries UK, the claim relating to a complex and long-running dispute involving companies in Bosnia and the Isle of Man.
- Assisted Sami Wadi Sidawi, a high-profile UAE businessman, with the defence of a complex trusts claim.
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 5
Real estate > Property finance Tier 5
Collyer Bristow LLP is active in advising Far and Middle Eastern clients on London real estate finance transactions, as well as acting for borrowers and lenders regarding secured lending transactions and property developments. Michael Grace leads the team, while Alex O’Connor is skilled in advising on mixed-use developments and Rory Macpherson has expertise in the residential sector.
Practice head(s):
Michael Grace
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘This team is well organised and responsive and covers the whole range of property issues.’
‘Exceptional personal service and out of hours contact when needed.’
Key clients
Arab National Bank
Bangkok Bank PCL
Hampden & Co. PLC
Handelsbanken PLC
Weatherbys Private Bank Limited
Aldersgate Investments Limited
Bewley Homes plc
Chase New Homes Ltd
Crest Nicholson plc
Ipsus Developments Ltd
Lochailort Investments Ltd
Willmott Dixon Holdings Ltd
Be Living Ltd
Work highlights
- Acting for Willmott Dixon on the funding, acquisition, development and sale of sites in Tower Hamlets, Reading, Sevenoaks and Cheshunt.
- Acting for an entity within the Ipsus Development wider group on a joint venture with a pension fund in connection with the acquisition, funding and development of a site in Caversham.
- Acting for Aberfeldy New Village LLP in connection with the continuing site assembly, funding, development and sales of phase 3 onwards at Aberfeldy New Village in East London.
Collyer Bristow LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Collyer Bristow LLP is a long-established central London law firm. We provide high quality, individually tailored legal advice, often with a cross-border aspect, to a portfolio of international and domestic clients including commercial businesses, wealthy individuals and families, and ambitious entrepreneurs.
Clients choose Collyer Bristow because they appreciate individuality, creativity and collaboration. They recognise that their needs may be unique and more complex, or that in progressing with their legal issue they value a more engaged and personalised service from their lawyers. They recognise that the Collyer Bristow approach is one of building understanding, trust and relationships with clients; the firm takes time to build relationships and to understand the commercial objectives behind every transaction or dispute. This allows the firm to operate more strategically on behalf of its clients and to best support the achievement of the outcomes they desire.
The firm has a particular reputation for its business, dispute resolution, private wealth, and real estate services.
Types of work undertaken
Private wealth: Tax and estate planning: the private wealth department includes a strong tax and estate planning team which advises on wills, tax planning and structuring, trusts, probate, and charities. It has particular expertise in residence, non-domicile and offshore matters, powers of attorney and Court of Protection work, and trust and probate litigation.
Family: the firm’s family team handles the full range of issues including divorce, separation, civil partnership and cohabitation, the preparation of pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and complex disputes involving financial issues or those concerning children. The nature of their work is cross jurisdictional as well as UK based.
Media and privacy: the team is a leader in the media and privacy field having been involved in high-profile defamation and privacy claims, including acting for over 200 victims of the phonehacking scandal. The team has represented prominent figures including David Tennant, Colin Jackson, Meg Mathews as well as many sports personalities. It also handles harassment and cyber-stalking disputes.
SMEs: Commercial dispute resolution: the innovative commercial dispute resolution team has substantial experience advising organisations on issues regarding breach of contract, partnership and shareholder disputes, professional negligence claims, civil fraud, and trade disputes. It is known for its strategic excellence. Clients include FIAMM Energy Technology S.p.A., Musst Holdings, and Pramod Mittal.
Banking and financial disputes: The team brings years of experience to dealing with complex disputes relating to financial instruments. Clients are often referred by domestic and foreign law firms with conflicts of interest. The work of the team includes benchmark manipulation, structured finance, FOREX, securitisation, and cryptocurrency as well as disputes over bank lending. Clients include Napier Park Global Capital and Salzgitter Mannessman GmbH.
Competition and anti-trust: Advice is provided on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Where there is infringement of competition law, we can assist with stand-alone claims or following on from a regulatory decision of infringement. Advice is provided to clients on compliance with competition law and the investigation of potential non-compliance. Work includes compensation claims against the truck manufacturers cartel.
Real estate: the real estate team acts for property owners, investors, developers, funders, landlords, and tenants dealing with all real estate transactions, from multimillion-pound portfolio acquisitions to individual sales, commercial lettings, property management, and real estate disputes. Clients include GMS Estates and EcoWorld London.
Intellectual property and data protection: the firm has a strong reputation for intellectual property with work covering protection of brands, negotiating commercial agreements, resolving disputes as well as litigation concerning patents, design rights, trade marks, copyright and confidential information. The team is also experienced in advising businesses on data protection and compliance with UK GDPR, as well as assisting with responses to subject access rights and data breaches. Clients include Sanrio UK, Stannah Stairlifts and Wirth Research.
Employment: The employment team provides commercial advice to companies in managing their everyday HR issues and dealing with disputes, which can involve Employment Tribunal and High court litigation. The team deals with matters involving unfair dismissal, discrimination, TUPE, breach of contract, whistleblowing, flexible working, equal pay, and business immigration. Clients include Addison Lee, Perrett Laver, Total Media, Asos.com, Cashplus Bank and Mercuri Urval.
Corporate and commercial: the corporate and commercial team has expertise in commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and shareholder agreements, funding, regulatory matters, company reconstructions, insolvency and corporate recovery. Clients cover a wide range of sectors and include Manolete Partners and the Moulton family office. The team’s work also includes activities related to art and culture. Film composers David Arnold and David Julyan are clients.
Other offices: London, Geneva
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior partner | Daniel Simon | ||
| Chief Executive | Phillip Palmer | ||
| Arbitration | Stephen Rosen | ||
| Banking and financial disputes | Stephen Rosen | ||
| Construction | Jonathan Pawlowski | ||
| Corporate and commercial | Sharon Fryer | ||
| Data protection | Patrick Wheeler | ||
| Dispute resolution | Robin Henry | ||
| Employment | Tania Goodman | ||
| Family | Toby Yerburgh | ||
| Fintech | Nigel Brahams | ||
| Financial services | Stephen Rosen | ||
| Insolvency | Steven Heffer | ||
| Intellectual property | Patrick Wheeler | ||
| Media and privacy | Steven Heffer | ||
| Private Wealth | Peter Daniel | ||
| Real estate | Michael Grace | ||
| Real estate litigation | Michael Grace | ||
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Janine Alexander | Partner: Janine is a commercial disputes lawyer and primarily acts for investors,… | View Profile |
 | Ragavan Arunachalam | Ragavan is a Senior Associate in our Corporate and Commercial team with… | View Profile |
 | Tim Bamford | Partner: All aspects of intellectual property disputes including patents, trademarks and copyright, media… | View Profile |
 | Charles Braithwaite | Partner: Charles’ main areas of expertise are corporate and commercial, intellectual property… | View Profile |
 | Peter Daniel | Partner: Peter’s work covers a broad range of tax and estate planning… | View Profile |
 | Philippa Dolan | Philippa Dolan is a partner in the family law department. She is… | View Profile |
 | Michael Drake | Partner and Senior family & divorce lawyer. He handles all areas of matrimonial… | View Profile |
 | Tania Goodman | Partner, Head of Employment Law & Dispute Resolution | View Profile |
 | Mr Michael Grace | Head of Real estate | View Profile |
 | William Hancock | William is a partner in the Tax and Estate Planning team. He… | View Profile |
 | Robin Henry | Partner: Robin’s main areas of expertise are financial services, financial disputes and… | View Profile |
 | Alex O'Connor | Partner – specialising in developments, secured financing, energy centre leases, joint ventures,… | View Profile |
 | Jonathan Pawlowski | Partner and Head of Construction | View Profile |
 | Howard Ricklow | Partner: Howard is a member of our Corporate and commercial team. He… | View Profile |
 | Rhory Robertson | Dispute Resolution Consultant with over 30 years experience in Commercial Litigation. Rhory specialises… | View Profile |
 | John Saner | Partner in Tax & Estate Planning Department specialising in wills, trusts, probate,… | View Profile |
 | Paul Sillis | Partner: Paul is a member of our Corporate and Commercial team. He… | View Profile |
 | Daniel Simon | Senior Partner of Collyer Bristow and a partner in the Tax and… | View Profile |
 | Richard Viegas | Partner and Head of Commercial Litigation practice. Rich’s practice covers a wide… | View Profile |
 | Patrick Wheeler | Partner and Head of Intellectual Property, specialising in contentious and non-contentious IP… | View Profile |
 | Toby Yerburgh | Partner and Head of the Family team. Toby specialises in family and… | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 36 Number of other UK fee-earners : 88Memberships
IBA (International Bar Association) Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP)Diversity/Community
The firm places great value on all of our employees. We celebrate diversity and respect the unique and distinctive qualities of our colleagues. We believe everyone has the right to enjoy an inclusive working environment which encourages professional and/or personal development free from discrimination or harassment. It is important for everyone to understand workplace behaviour and its implication on the working environment. Our Diversity and Inclusion policy details the firm’s approach to equal opportunities and covers discrimination, harassment/bullying and victimisation.
The firm is committed to promoting gender equality. We have established a professional network called Higher which elevates women and champions equality in the workplace. Its activity is driven by a diverse internal committee.
- Real estate > Commercial property: corporate occupiers