Our offering and experience
We help our clients operate internationally, across a number of jurisdictions and legal disciplines. Here’s how we can help you.
Business services
- Corporate finance – Our corporate finance team provides advice on public and private cross-border M&A, listings and private equity investments.
- Banking & Finance - In addition to the core acquisition finance practice, our lawyers advise on all aspects of credit transactions as well as on restructurings and structured finance transactions.
- Financial services - The group provides advice on the formation and structuring of many types of funds including private equity funds, real estate funds, hedge funds, listed funds and retail/regulated funds. We also have extensive experience in international share trading platforms and financial regulatory matters. Much of the work is international and we work closely with law firms in US, European and offshore jurisdictions.
- Commercial dispute resolution – International businesses create an increasing number of cross-border disputes which require robust and co-ordinated advice arising out of corporate acquisitions, shareholder and director issues and the protection of intellectual property. Our commercial dispute resolution group has substantial expertise advising overseas clients or working in overseas jurisdictions.
Employment, Immigration and Pensions teams - Our Employment group advises corporate clients, professional services organisations and financial institutions on both contentious and non-contentious issues. We have particular expertise in issues arising from immigration matters. - IP, technology & commercial team – Our team advises on all aspects of intellectual property, technology, commercial and media law. Clients include a broad range of individuals, suppliers, users and intermediaries in private and listed companies in the UK and overseas.
- Corporate tax group - Much of our work has a tax dimension, and this team advises quoted and privately owned companies and the people who run them. We have built up an extensive track record in advising on the tax challenges faced by serial entrepreneurs, privately owned companies and companies doing business internationally.
Examples of our international business experience
Corporate restructuring
Advising a telecoms company on its international reorganisation, including the establishment of a European holding company, the transfer of its IP to a new European IP company and related fund raising from existing investors.
International mineral exploration and extraction
Advising on four placings on the London Stock Exchange of mineral resources exploration and extraction companies based in Asia and Africa.
Company flotation – aircraft leasing
Advising a Singapore based aircraft leasing company on its £70m AIM flotation, with aircraft operating under lease in Australia.
Financial services - European Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF)
Advising a US based multilateral trading platform on the formation of its European trading platform. This was a major and complex project involving a team of 40 lawyers from various specialist groups within the firm.
Demerger of international consulting business
Advised long-standing client PA Consulting on the demerger of its ventures business from the main consulting business. This complex and intricate transaction involved a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement, a ‘section 110’ demerger and a series of court approved reduction of capital as well as shareholder and regulatory approvals across PA’s worldwide employee shareholder base.
US$100 million securitisation programme
Advising a major European company on a cross-border US$100 million securitisation of its UK receivables portfolio arranged by a US bank, co-ordinating advice from US, Swiss, Bermudian and Scottish legal teams.
Global data protection policies
Advising several major US headquartered multinationals on their global data protection compliance policies and procedures, co-ordinating global legal teams and liaising with in-house counsel.
Immigration policy – international educational group
Advising the world’s largest private education company, with 14 subsidiaries and non-profit organisations and 26,000 employees operating in 51 countries. The Immigration team lobbied directors of the UK Border Agency and policy units on their new language learning products for visitors. We also prepared sponsorship registration applications for various entities across a complex international structure.
Private client services
Ranked as one of the top 10 private client practices in the world, Speechly Bircham’s private client team are pre-eminent in contentious and non-contentious international private client work and count some of the world's wealthiest individuals, entrepreneurs and families as our clients.
Examples of our international private client experience
International tax, trust and estate planning:
- The restructuring of family trusts and companies worth $1 billion plus for one of South America's wealthiest industrial families.
- Structuring UK trophy property acquisitions for some of the wealthiest international families.
- Advising on the cross border US/UK tax implications, the pre-nuptial agreement and property acquisition for an American heiress from one of the wealthiest US families moving to the UK.
- Advising on the establishment of Private Trust Companies for families living in various countries
If you would like more information on our international capabilities and experience, please contact: charles.gothard@speechlys.com
Real estate, construction and engineering services
Our real estate lawyers have extensive experience across all the various types of transactions involving the ownership, development, investment in and financing of real estate for corporate occupiers, listed property companies and property entrepreneurs around the world. We act on major domestic and international construction and engineering projects, whether for development and infrastructure programmes. We are also experienced in international construction arbitrations and disputes conducted under English law.
Examples of our international real estate and construction experience
Major Gulf Investor
Acting for a new overseas investor client in the acquisition of a substantial property in Belgravia.
International head office relocation
Acting for one of the world’s largest private education companies on the relocation of their HQ to refurbished offices in London and the exit strategy from their previous HQ.
Middle Eastern motor racing circuit
Advising on F1 and other race series held at the circuit and on commercial agreements.
If you would like more information on our international capabilities and experience, please contact: tim.raper@speechlys.com