Working with clients such as rolling stock owning companies, freight operators, and rolling stock manufacturers, the rail team at Freeths LLP is equipped to handle work across the sector. Tom Johnson and Michael Bray jointly head up the team. Johnson advises a range of clients on rolling stock procurement, leasing, and maintenance and modification. Bray works on the real estate aspects of rail-related deals, with expertise in handling infrastructure matters for both public and private clients. Iain Bowler offers the team experience in handling a spectrum of transactions.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- Freeths’ full-service rail team is very experienced and provides an excellent all-round service on high-profile rail-sector matters, operating in a coherent and collaborative manner.
- Tom Johnson is proactive and commercial, able to communicate and negotiate very effectively.
- Very experienced and able to be commercial when required.
- Growing a team with strong experience in the transport sector from an array of backgrounds. Client service is really great and can adapt and scope work to achieve billing certainty and meet client commercial needs.
Key clients
- Porterbrook
- GB Railfreight
- Hitachi Rail Limited
- Related Argent
- Transport for London
- Rail for London
- Stadler Rail
- London St Pancras Highspeed / HS1
- Various Local Authorities and Transport bodies
- Crown Commercial Services Ltd.
- Walsall Council
- Travis Perkins Group Plc
- International Public Partnerships Limited (INPP)/ Amber Infrastructure
- iLecsys Group (Trading) Limited
Work highlights
Advised Porterbrook on the acquisition of rail financier Corelink Rail Infrastructure Limited and other associated group companies from Infracapital.
Advised Hitachi Rail on the manufacture and maintenance of a brand-new fleet of battery hybrid trains to be manufactured by Hitachi Rail, financed by Angel Trains and leased to Grand Central Railway Company Limited.
Advised International Public Partnerships Limited on the sale of part of its investment in Angel Trains to a vehicle managed by Arjun Infrastructure Partners.
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Practice head
Tom Johnson; Michael Bray
Other key lawyers
Iain Bowler