Legal news: DLA Piper; Pannone; Ward Hadaway & more
A RESTRUCTURING team from DLA Piper’s Manchester office acted for EY partners Tom Jack and Sam Woodward who were appointed as administrators of the women’s fashion retailer, Internacionale last week.
DLA Piper team led by partners Martin Keates and Rob Russell, dealt with the pre-pack sale involving 114 stores nationwide to Internacionale UK Limited and in the process all 1,550 employees were transferred to the purchaser including those at the 18 stores that were closed at appointment.
Martin Keates, partner at DLA Piper stated: “The UK retail sector has been hit hard by the on-going recession and Internacionale has unfortunately suffered along with many other retailers.
“The size, experience and strength in depth of our restructuring practice allowed us to complete the sale transaction in a remarkably short timescale.”
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THE conveyancing department at law firm Pannone is on a recruitment drive after seeing new instructions soar by more than 400% since this time last year.
The team is part of Pannone’s Affinity division which provides white label services to a range of intermediaries including new entrants into the legal market place and high street retailers offering legal services.
The Manchester firm’s team, led by partner Daniel Hickey, has recently recruited four additional solicitors and four conveyancing assistants and is taking on a further six conveyancers and assistants in the coming weeks.
Mr Hickey said: “We have ambitious plans for the aggressive growth of our conveyancing department in what is still a highly fragmented legal market where consolidation is inevitable. The signs are that the housing market is improving and this should help fuel our growth plans.”
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LINDER Myers advised on Altrincham-based CalderpeelFGP architects’ joint PFI transaction for the construction and operation of 11 fire stations in Stoke and Staffordshire.
Paul Willan, a corporate partner at the firm’s Manchester office led the deal, and said: ““CalderpeelFGP is a long established client and we are pleased to have completed financial close on this £70m transaction which will involve the design, new build and maintenance of a number of fire stations.
“CalderpeelFGP has positioned itself as the go-to architects for fire stations having previously worked on four fire stations in Gloucestershire and others in Dorset. It demonstrates that the North West has the talent to win work anywhere in the country.”
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LAW firm Ward Hadaway advised long-standing client Allied London on a pre-let deal which will see media buying agency MediaCom moving offices in Manchester from Castlefield to a new building at Spinningfields.
Construction is due to start soon on the 17,000 sq ft office at 1 Hardman Street that has been let solely to MediaCom.
Brian Green, consultant in the property department at Ward Hadaway, led the firm’s team advising Allied London on the MediaCom agreement.
He said: “This is a real landmark deal in terms of the next phase of development at Spinningfields for Allied London so we are delighted to have helped to play a part in it.
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BRABNERS has advised Texas-based Bristow Helicopters Limited on its sale of its remaining 50% share in Hampshire subsidiary of FB Heliservices to Cobham for £74m.
FB Heliservices provides training, helicopters, engineering support and specialist manpower to military and government agencies worldwide.
Brabners corporate partner, David Bowcock led the team which also included partner Liz Graham, senior associate Colin Bell and associates Mark Morrell and William Ngan. City of London firm Allen & Overy advised Cobham.
