Business legal solutions

Transcription

1 Oﬃces in Bromley Kings House, Business legal solutions Widmore Road, Bromley, BR1 1RY Telephone Beckenham High Street, Beckenham, BR3 1BN Telephone West Wickham 73 Station Road, West Wickham, BR4 0QG Telephone TW Business A5 Brochure FAW.indd /11/ :04

2 How to contact us Our range of business services Kings House QUEENS ROAD To Bromley North Station WIDMORE ROAD LONDON ROAD Odeon Thackray Williams MARKET SQUARE CHURCH ROAD KENTISH WAY Intu Bromley South Station HIGH STREET Churchill Theatre BROMLEY Not-for-profit organisations Specialist advice for schools, medical practices and charities including regulatory bodies and charitable incorporated organisations. 2 Debt recovery Improve your cash flow by employing us to collect your debts. We are costeffective, efficient and tenacious. 6 Our business Services are located at our Bromley head office. You can any of our solicitors directly from our website at or alternatively clientservices@thackraywilliams.com Commercial property 3 Including acquisitions and disposals, land development, business leases and licensing for any type of business. Employment services A comprehensive service for businesses advising on employees and their rights. 7 Head Office Kings House, Widmore Road, Bromley, BR1 1RY Telephone Fax DX Bromley 8 Office hours 8.30am-6.00pm (switchboard and Bromley reception) Train stations Bromley North 0.2 miles Bromley South 0.4 miles Car parking Meters in Queens Road Pay & display in Intu (previously known as The Glades) Bus routes 126, 208, 227, 261, 314, 336, 354, 358 Corporate and commercial 4 Including business startups, commercial contracts, buying and selling businesses, secured funding, business turnaround, insolvency and re-organisations, IT and e-commerce. Commercial disputes 5 Including contractual disputes, building disputes and possession proceedings. Also a mediation service. Leasehold property management 8 Sale of freeholds and extending leases of residential property. Thackray Williams business news Keep up to date with legal issues that may impact on your business. Register to receive our newsletter by visiting our website or asking your Thackray Williams contact. 3 1 TW Business A5 Brochure FAW.indd /11/ :04

3 Not-for-profit organisations Commercial property Schools, medical practices and charities including regulatory bodies and charitable incorporated organisations Our work in this area includes incorporation and registration, constitutional advice, advice to Trustees on duties generally and remuneration, mergers and rationalisation strategies, contractual arrangements with third parties, employment and property portfolio management. We assist charities in their dealings with the Charity Commission and other regulatory authorities. This may involve working collaboratively with the Commission to prepare new governing documents for charities and obtaining necessary consents and authorities. Schools Our employment team offers an HR retainer service to advise schools on the myriad of employment issues that can arise. We work with schools to agree a bespoke service tailored to the school s individual needs. This may mean agreeing a fixed termly fee for expert legal services. Not only does this offer schools value for money but it provides peace of mind and often prevents employment issues from escalating. Schools may from time to time need to consult our commercial property team. We also offer a debt recovery service for schools. Medical practices Our company team offer specialist advice to medical practices by assisting with the drafting and negotiation of partnership agreements, the formation of companies, property matters relating to the practice and employment advice. We also advise on specialist wills and ownership structures for business owners. Our specialist team of property lawyers has a commonsense, no-nonsense approach to getting results. We know the market inside out and believe there is a solution to every problem. We provide a bespoke service and work to your deadlines. Commercial real estate We provide a complete range of services to We act for commercial and private the house-building industry. We have clients from retailers to fast-growing considerable experience in fundamental entrepreneurial businesses, developers areas affecting land development including and investors. We have the capacity to planning and infrastructure agreements and handle substantial workloads and work to advise on the impact of restrictive covenants tight deadlines. and other third party rights on development schemes administrative law matters. Commercial lease transactions We act for both landlords and tenants, Bank finance local and national in the granting and We act for a number of major banks renewal of business leases. providing independent advice where there is substantial funding involved. We investigate Commercial investment properties title on behalf of the bank, address any We know the importance of effective title issues or defects with the borrower s management of property assets which is solicitors and take all necessary steps to key to successful financial performance. perfect the bank s security. We build long-term working relationships with our clients. Telecommunications Land development We have a specialist Telecoms team We represent a number of developers in advising on mast sites throughout connection with residential and commercial the South East. We have successfully developments in London and the South East. renegotiated landlord s agreements achieving rental growth in some cases of more than 200% and updated statutory compliance affording the Landlord necessary protection against the perceived health risks associated with masts. 2 3 TW Business A5 Brochure FAW.indd /11/ :04

4 Corporate and commercial Commercial disputes Our services We help our clients achieve their objectives by providing responsive, informed advice in a commercial and cost-effective way. We advise all types and sizes of businesses ranging from individual entrepreneurs to large companies - at all stages in the business cycle. And when appropriate, we call on the expertise of specialists in other departments in the firm such as employment, commercial litigation and commercial property. Our corporate team works closely with the commercial property unit. By working together and sharing information, we are able to give our clients cost-effective input on all relevant areas. Robert Goddard Managing Partner What we do n Business start-ups n Sales and purchases of business assets and companies n Shareholders agreements and joint ventures n Bank finance and security advice n Management buy-outs and buy-ins n Advice to company directors in difficult trading conditions n Standard terms and conditions of sale and purchase n Financial restructuring insolvency n Partnership advice n Franchise, distribution and agency agreement n IT and e-commerce n Construction and development arrangements We cover all areas of civil litigation dealing with both litigious and non-litigious aspects of the law including mediation and alternative dispute resolution through to actions in the civil courts. We also have expertise in conducting cases in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals. Areas of particular expertise include: Examples of the sort of work we do for business clients: n All types of property dispute n General contract disputes Contesting a damages claim n Possession proceedings We acted for a house building company n Company, shareholder & director disputes in defending a damages claim from a purchaser. After mediation, the amount n Building/construction disputes of damages that had to be paid by n Professional negligence claims our client was 80% less than the n Debt collection original claim. Over many years we have forged close working relationships with Counsel acting in Dispute between directors areas of contested work. The department has We were instructed in relation to well established, friendly and approachable accusations of breach of directors staff and our clients are always kept up to duties, and mediation allowed the date with the progress of their case. parties to resolve the dispute without causing unnecessary damage to their Mediation service professional relationships. The Courts are increasingly requiring parties to resolve disputes by mediation. The success rate for mediation is very Claim for breach of contract high and statistics show that over two We were able to successfully mediate thirds settle effectively. a claim for unpaid monies due under a service contract. We were able to Mediation has the advantage of resolve the matter at mediation with reducing costs where a mediated full confidentiality between the parties, settlement is achieved, and making avoiding the need for a public hearing. it possible to continue business relationships with parties with whom you are in dispute. 4 5 TW Business A5 Brochure FAW.indd /11/ :04

5 Debt recovery Employment services Bad debts and slow payers are a common problem in business. Don t drain your resources further by turning to a debt-collecting agency. Take advantage of our highly effective, streamlined system. What we do Costs No debt is too small or too large. All Apart from the initial registration fee our you have to do is send us a copy of the fees are largely geared to being chargeable relevant invoices. We process the claim only on collection of the debt. Because of and a demand letter is sent immediately this policy we have every incentive to secure to the debtor requesting payment within the debt. seven days. In default of payment court All court fees and fixed costs are recoverable proceedings will be instigated incorporating from the debtor on successful conclusion a claim for interest, costs and fees. of the action. Even if defended our Debt In commercial matters we claim enhanced Recovery and Litigation department have rates of interest and costs on your behalf the resources to pursue the action to trial. under Late Payment Legislation, which serve to make the whole process even more Don t let your bad payers become cost effective. bad debtors. Each step in the process from judgment to enforcement - is taken automatically We have proven expertise in the at the earliest opportunity to enhance the collection of service charges and prospects of recovery. ground rents for housing associations, property management companies and landlords. We act for Bakers Basco in its national bread tray recovery programme. Baker Basco was formed by Allied Bakeries, Find Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons and Warburtons. Our employment law team prides itself on Employment HR services its ability to bring you up-to-the-minute This is a seamless and integrated solution to advice in the constantly changing arena of all people management issues be they legal employment law. Employees and workers or otherwise. Making use of this could not now have more rights than ever before and be simpler. our expert team can help you find your way n Ring us with any people query, be it legal through the maze of regulations, in addition or HR related. to providing cost-effective, responsive and professional advice. n If it is a legal matter one of our solicitors will respond. If it is a wider HR matter one of Besides helping you to resolve any problems, our HR advisors will call you back. we can assist you with your paperwork, such as contracts of employment, handbooks and n A fixed annual fee will enable you to tap into policies. Our aim is for you to get the most a helpline that can respond to any HR or legal from your business by supporting you in issues and will also provide you with access managing your workforce. to any relevant forms or draft letters etc. We can help you with the following areas of employment law n Advising directors and senior n Maternity/paternity/adoption employees leave rights n Collective agreements n Part-time Workers Regulations n Compromise and severance n Redundancy negotiations agreements n References n County Court and High Court claims n Restraint of trade/confidentiality n Discrimination claims including: clauses/injunctions age, disability, sexual orientation, n Sickness and sick pay race, religion n Transfer of undertakings (TUPE) n Drafting, amending and reviewing n Working Time Regulations employment contracts n Wrongful or unfair dismissal claims n Employment Tribunal claims n Equal Pay Act claims n Flexible working requests n Health and safety We offer a specialist service for independent and academy schools. 6 7 TW Business A5 Brochure FAW.indd /11/ :04

6 Leasehold property management Our range of services for private clients Our experience is such that we have the confidence and expertise to ensure that your rights and interests as the freeholder are recognised and protected and that the common pitfalls under the legislation are avoided. Accident or injury claims Personal injury, clinical negligence and No Win, No Fee where possible. Employment issues Contracts of employment, employee disputes, discrimination, compromise and severance agreements, unfair dismissal. Commonly asked questions from landlords of property divided into leasehold flats: n What do I need to do if I want to dispose of my interest in the building? n What are my rights and obligations as a freeholder? Whatever your needs, we can advise you on your rights, the tenant s rights, and on the procedure, timescale and the likely costs involved. We are members of the Association of Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners. Dispute resolution Disputes involving landlord & tenant, property, boundary issues, consumer issues and contested debt recovery. House/property sales and purchases All sale and purchase transactions including re-mortgages and transfer of equity. n What do I do if I receive a notice from my tenants stating that they have a statutory right to buy my freehold or to extend their lease? n Am I being adequately compensated for the potential loss of my freehold? How can we help? The law has become increasingly complex in answering these questions, so much so that we have established a separate department dealing solely with this highly specialist area of the law. Whether it is possible to proceed by agreement with the tenants, whether a Notice of Claim has been served on you or it is necessary to pursue your rights through the courts or the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber), our department has the experience and expertise to assist you and provide you with a complete service. Freehold services We advise on disposals of freeholds/ ground rents at auction and by private contract. To maximise your profit, we will endeavour to ensure that as much of your legal costs as is possible, are borne by the buyer. We advise landlords on all legal matters that can be encountered in property management such as the provision of deeds of covenant, licences to assign and consent to alterations. We work closely with our debt recovery and litigation department to provide a comprehensive service. Design Silk Pearce Divorce and relationship problems Including divorce and separation, arrangements for children, financial settlements, prenuptial agreements and injunctions. Elderly issues, powers of attorney and nursing home fees Including wills, inheritance tax planning, powers of attorney and the management of the affairs of the elderly. Leasehold enfranchisement Advice to residents of blocks of flats (and other residential property) on joint purchase of freehold and lease extensions. Wills, trusts and probate Including probate administration, creation and administration of trusts, contentious probate. 8 9 TW Business A5 Brochure FAW.indd /11/ :04