2015 Legal Awards

http://www.acquisition-intl.com/2015-legal-awards M&A awards 106 LEGAL awards ~ Best Corporate Law Firm - South West Richard James is a corporate law specialist adept at helping businesses grow and achieve their ambitions, with a wealth of experience in advising businesses and individuals on commercial transactions. James previously with a UK top-50 international law firm, based in the City of London and now a Partner at award-winning South West law firm Solicitors Title LLP. We spoke to him to find out more. I enjoy helping clients achieve their ambitions and, in doing so, have worked with small businesses and entrepreneurs, as well a number of household names within the UK. The feedback I have received from my clients have acknowledged my can-do attitude as well as helping clients to effectively challenge their thinking as they work on successfully growing their businesses. Working with a multitude of local businesses, as well as for clients in London and across the South Coast, we find that experience gained in much larger law firms brings real depth to the advice we give. I take time to understand what clients are really trying to achieve, which helps ensure that the advice they get best suits their needs and helps us build long-term business relationships. My approach is one of working closely with clients to understand their business and what is important to them in a deal, appreciating that solutions to problems and clear advice is what clients need to be able to confident- ly take what are often difficult commercial decisions. As for my experience, I am a specialist in corporate and business law, including franchising, and have led and advised on UK and international deals for clients ranging from start-ups to household names. Among these include stationary retailer Pukka Pads, global brand FujiFilm, healthcare group Alliance Boots and Photo-Me International Plc. My sector and industry experience includes: technology and media, franchising, retail, healthcare, food and drink, energy and utilities and not-for-profit. Recent projects I have been involved in have included the £3m management buy-out MBO of a national IT supply company. I also advised Australian and New Zealand recruitment group Retailworld Resourcing on its inward investment in to the UK through franchising Furthermore, I was also involved in the sale of the entire issued share capital of Stoberry Lettings Ltd to Coun- trywide Plc. I also advised on commercial contracts for clients entering in to deals with Credit Suisse, MTV Europe and Farnborough International. Additionally, I advised on commercial licensing for the EpiQuest Live infection control and prevention system, which will be rolled out in hospitals throughout the UK. Among the major deals I have been involved in include the £81m acquisition of Bairds Pharmacy Group by Alli- ance Unichem Plc and the disposal of a paper processing business by Swedish Merchant Bank SEB for € 120m. I have been Partner and Head of Corporate, Solicitors Title LLP since 2013. Prior to this, I was Senior Solicitor at Dyne Drewett (now Mogers Drewett LLP) from 2009 – 2013. Other companies I have worked for include Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, Rawlison Butler LLP and Mundays. At Dyne Drewett, I led the corporate commercial practice until 2012, growing the client base and expanding the services offered by this practice within the Dorset and Somerset areas. At Watson, Farley & Williams LLP, I was lawyer for their international corporate group, with particular exposure to corporate joint ventures, mergers and shipping law. Notable projects I was involved in included private equity transactions, joint ventures concerning retail development and shipping assets, as well as a worldwide due diligence exercise involving one of the world’s largest shipping organisations and M&A transactions for various entities, including an international merchant bank. In terms of my academic experience, I was admitted as a Solicitor of the Superior Courts of England & Wales in 2005. I completed my Post-graduate diploma in Legal Practice at the College of Law in Guildford and com- pleted and LL.B. (Hons), Law degree in the University of Southampton. Company: Solicitors Title LLP - Richard James Email: [email protected] Web: www.solicitorstitle.co.uk/solicitor/richard-james/ Telephone: +44(0)1935 385963 Solicitors Title LLP