Profile

h

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Sana joined BDB in 2011 and helps develop and deliver effective public affairs strategies for a wide range of clients.  She helps advise on all aspects of successful communication plans including media relations, reputation management, stakeholder engagement and political communications and works with a variety of clients, including those from the transport, retail and healthcare industries.
 
Sana also assists with the development of community consultation programmes and advises clients on all elements of stakeholder engagement at the local level. She has experience of producing Statements of Community Involvement for clients and is a member of the Consultation Institute.
 
Prior to joining BDB, Sana worked as a consultant for a leading political intelligence provider where she was responsible for delivering monitoring and research services for a dedicated portfolio of clients. She worked with legal regulatory bodies, charities and membership organisations falling within the home affairs, defence, foreign affairs and international development policy sectors.
 
Sana graduated with an MSc in Public Affairs and Lobbying in 2008 from Brunel University.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Jonathan is a public law specialist with extensive experience in legislative, regulatory, and related public law issues, including human rights matters.  Jonathan has extensive experience of advising on legislation, public policy and regulation, both within the UK and at the EU and wider international level.  He is recognised for his expertise in both The Legal 500 and Chambers' Guide to the UK Legal Profession.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Jonathan trained at Bircham Dyson Bell, qualifying in 2002 and promoted to partner in 2009.

Jonathan advises on a wide variety of commercial and constitutional issues affecting charities and is the first point of contact for many charity chief executives.  He has assisted a number of charities with Charity Commission schemes and other regulatory issues relating to their activities.  He has considerable expertise in the specialised area of NHS charity regulation and has worked with charities of all shapes and sizes in improving their governance systems and developing their legal frameworks.

Jonathan has developed particular expertise in advising charities operating internationally, in particular in helping overseas charities develop their franchise within the UK, often by a subsidiary or by a dual qualified charity.  Jonathan has also built up a significant practice advising on fundraising, direct mail solicitations and sponsorship opportunities.

Jonathan is recommended in Chambers UK Guide to the Legal Profession 2010 ("responsive and quick to find answers") and The Legal 500 directory 2011 ("excellent in every way") in Charity Law.  He is also recommended in The Legal 500 in the Education (Institutions) category ("has an excellent manner underpinned with strong knowledge"). Jonathan is a member of the Charity Law Association, trustee of a number of charities and frequent contributor to charities media debates.

Profile

Nick is a Roll 'A' Parliamentary Agent with over 25 years' experience of drafting, promoting and opposing legislation in Parliament and delegated legislation. During that time he has promoted infrastructure schemes across the UK, while acting as advocate at a number of inquiries and before Parliamentary Committees. His immense wealth of knowledge and ability has earned him praise in both The Legal 500 and Chambers UK: A Client's Guide to the UK Legal Profession. 

Nick is also personally committed to many of our long-standing private clients, advising on non-contentious family and charity work including tax planning and trusteeships.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Henry started at the firm in 2002. His practice focuses on landed estates and country houses, dealing with both conveyancing and property management and undertaking a considerable amount of development work. He also works closely with colleagues in the private wealth department assisting landed clients with their tax and trust planning. He is a trustee of a number of landed estates.

Profile

Mark has over 20 years experience in planning law, gained from working in both local government and private practice. He has advised upon numerous developments of many different kinds, ranging from large commercial developments and major infrastructure projects to much smaller matters.

As well as advising upon all aspects of planning law, Mark advises upon compulsory purchase issues, highways law and procedure and environmental law.

Mark is currently the General Editor of Butterworths Planning Law Service, the loose leaf encyclopedia that covers the whole spectrum of planning law and of Butterworths Monthly Planning Law Bulletin. He has also contributed to national guidance issued by English Heritage. Mark regularly speaks at conferences and seminars on current planning issues.

Profile

Penny's charity expertise includes setting up and advising charitable organisations, including educational trusts, chartered associations, professional bodies, heritage and conservation charities and private charitable trusts. She advises trustees on their fiduciary and regulatory duties, constitutional and governance issues, the setting of grant conditions and establishing systems for monitoring compliance, joint ventures and fund-raising. 

In addition to her work for charities, Penny has a strong private client practice, in particular, providing tax planning for entrepreneurs and advising on the use of trusts in a commercial context.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

As Managing Partner of BDB, Jesper leads a team of highly skilled lawyers. He advises on all aspects of employment law including contracts and policies, as well as employment tribunal proceedings.  Before qualifying as a solicitor, Jesper worked as a human resources manager.

He has substantial experience of dealing with all employment and related commercial matters, as well as race, sex and disability claims.  This includes advising on case preparation, selection of counsel, interviewing witnesses and negotiating settlement.  Jesper will also advise clients on general employment disputes concerning allegations of unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

His involvement in non-contentious matters may include business transfers and large scale redundancy programmes, business re-organisation, changes in working practices and trade union agreements and recognition.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

Alastair frequently advises on complex issues of trust and charity law, assisting international businesses deploying staff to the UK, and investors arriving in the UK. He is also known for his work advising individuals on their estate and tax planning.
He is on the Court of the City of London Solicitors Company and was Master in 2004/5.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Andy specialises in construction and engineering, environmental and property disputes of all types (including the assessment of compensation following compulsory purchase and rating appeals) and for which he is recommended by the Legal 500. Andy has extensive experience of adjudications, arbitrations and litigation in the High Court (in the Technology & Construction Court or the Chancery Division). He acts for public sector bodies and owners of land and buildings.  

Current cases include acting in substantial disputes for (1) a local authority against an engineering contractor on a public transport project where the contract was let on an NEC standard form (2) a management contractor against the employer where the contract to refurbish a prestige London property was let on a JCT standard form and (3) one of the UK's major transport and infrastructure groups against a sewerage undertaker.

Andy is a member of the Society of Construction Law, the Property Litigation Association and the Compulsory Purchase Association. He has sat as a Deputy District Judge since 1997.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

John joined Bircham Dyson Bell as a family partner in October 1998, having previously been a partner in a niche family law practice. He has over 25 years' experience of all aspects of matrimonial work, with an emphasis on the resolution of complex financial and child related disputes, especially those with an international element. John is a long-standing member of Resolution (formerly the Solicitors' Family Law Association) and a trained collaborative lawyer. John is a member of two groups of Collaborative practitioners, one in London SW1 (www.resolution.org.uk/sw1group) and the other in Chelmsford, Essex.

Working closely with members of our Private Wealth team, John is frequently asked to advise in cases involving both onshore and offshore trusts. Increasingly he is engaged to negotiate and draft pre-marital agreements and advise on asset protection measures. He also has experience of advising on civil partnerships and related cohabitation and pre-civil partnership agreements.

John is a member of the firm's Individuals Group and also a member of the Contentious Trusts and Probate Team - he has a particular interest in claims brought under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975.

John has been recommended in recent editions of The Legal 500 and was listed as a leading lawyer in the Honours List for family and matrimonial lawyers by Citywealth. His reported cases include:-

- Clifford v Clifford [1985] FLR 732

- re M (Abduction) (Consent:Acquiesence) [1999] 1 FLR 171

- T v T (Child Abduction: Non-Convention Country) [1998] 2 FLR 1110

- Morgan & Anor v Cilento & Ors [2004] EWHC 188 (Ch)

- Wolff & Wolff -v- Wolff and Others [2004] Lawtel

- Robson v Robson [2010] EWCA Civ 1171

John is an avid ice-skater, occasional rock climber and sometime surfer.

Profile

David has experience in a wide range of commercial real estate matters covering landlord and tenant matters, transactional work, development, property management and property finance. He acts for a variety of clients including private and institutional investors, retailers, banks and clients in the public and not for profit sector, predominantly charities and housing associations.

David works closely with our Real Estate Litigation Team to provide a comprehensive service dealing with contentious as well as non-contentious matters and risk management issues for real estate clients especially those with mixed property portfolios.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

h

Profile

Elaine advises on all aspects of residential property transactions for both UK and overseas clients as well as banks, fiduciaries and investors. Advice may relate to sales and purchases, landlord and tenant matters and property finance. This work can involve liaison with Elaine's colleagues in the Private Wealth and Company/Commercial teams on complex tax and holding structures.

Elaine also advises clients on all aspects of the various Leasehold Reform Acts including lease extensions, collective freehold claims, individual house freehold claims and the Right to Manage legislation.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

h

Profile

Graeme is a public affairs and communications specialist with over 10 years experience in political and corporate roles. His expertise includes the development and delivery of corporate communications strategies, including public affairs, consultation and reputation management issues. 

Coming most recently from a role at Network Rail, his work has included planning communications, lobbying and stakeholder management on major investment progammes, raising their profile and building advocacy for multi-million pound developments. He has also worked on media relations and crisis communications programmes as part of wider corporate communications work.

Previous roles include that of select committee clerk at the Scottish Parliament and the New South Wales Parliament in Australia, managing wide-ranging inquiries into government policy across transport, health and justice portfolios.

Profile

g

Profile

Neil is a commercial and property litigator with special interests in intellectual property and insolvency. This requires him to act for companies, charities and individuals in asserting or protecting their rights. A number of Neil's cases are well known including Meretz Investments v ACP & Ors (on economic torts) and Kelly v The Commissioner of Police (on public interest immunity).

His experience in litigation has lead to his strong advocacy of alternative dispute resolution and he has participated in many cases. Neil is a member of the Property Litigation Association and the Society of Construction Law.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Nick advises on the authorisation of major economic infrastructure, whether in the transport, energy, waste or water sectors, and associated environmental and planning issues. He is also head of our public law group and regularly advises local authorities and other public bodies on their powers and obligations, constitutional matters, and information rights and privacy. This includes advising on the devolution settlement in Wales.

Recent highlights include acting for the Government on High Speed 2; the Infrastructure Planning Commission, Network Rail and National Grid on a number of Development Consent Orders; Nottingham City Council on extensions to its tram network and its innovative workplace parking levy; the Environment Agency on the proposed creation of a Single Environmental Body for Wales; Transport for London on its powers and duties under the Localism Act; and a harbour authority which was accidentally abolished by primary legislation and needed to be reconstituted.

Nick is also the firm's training principal.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

Christopher has lived on agricultural estates for most of his life and is an excellent advisor to landowners and those with farming interests.  One of his key strengths is explaining complex legal issues, giving simple, practical advice and solutions to everyday, and often once-in-a-lifetime, problems encountered by farmers, landowners and their families.

He deals with buying and selling land, landlord and tenant problems and tenancy restructuring, as well as advising tenants and landlords on tax-related land issues. He has developed an unrivalled working knowledge of farm business tenancy legislation, which he helped to develop and draft, as well as European issues including the mid-term review of farm income support payments.

Christopher also sits on the Country Landowners Association Legal and Property Rights Sub-Committee helping to advise on new legislation and legal problems of national concern.  This role allows him to give update seminars to farming groups, organisations and land agents, and he regularly attends agricultural shows to offer legal clinics.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

Brian advises a range of industry sector employers on day-to-day employment and human resources considerations, and board room issues.  He works with employers in many industry sectors including rail, transport, airline, information technology, property and leisure, together with professional service firms such as surveyors, management consultants, architects and accountants.

Brian also advises extensively on the employment aspects of commercial transactions, major projects and outsourcing agreements, with particular emphasis on the application of the TUPE regulations.

Brian enjoys sharing his experience with the profession and has written and lectured widely in relation to employment law issues; he is the author of the RIBA Employment Good Practice Guide, and the RIBA Model Students employment contract.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Nick, our Head of Contentious Trusts and Estates, practices in two areas:  i) contentious trusts (both commercial and private) and estates and ii) high stakes multi-jurisdictional commercial disputes.  He is a solicitor in England and Wales, a barrister in Ontario and British Columbia and an attorney in the Cayman Islands.

Nick speaks and writes regularly on litigation and contentious trusts and estates including recent contributions to the Financial Times, the Financial Times Adviser, and Spears Magazine.    

Nick's career highlights include representing a former Prime Minister in varied litigation connected to allegations of corruption and representing Transocean and its captive insurer in litigation connected with the Deepwater Horizon spill.  He is an accredited specialist in contentious trusts and disputes by ACTAPS, a director of the Cayman National Cultural Foundation, and formerly an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Western Ontario.

Nick is ranked by Chambers Global 2012 as a leading lawyer in three categories:  i) Private Client: Contentious Trusts, ii) Dispute Resolution, and  iii) Private Client.

Chambers Global 2012 noted that: "New team head of contentious trusts and estates, Nicholas Holland recently joined the group from Solomon Harris. His practice continues to have strong links with the Cayman Islands and he also regularly acts for Canadian clients." and that "Nicholas Holland is a recent addition to Bircham Dyson Bell from offshore firm Solomon Harris, and continues to handle a range of offshore-related disputes."

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

John combines a wide range of corporate finance, corporate and commercial experience, both domestic and international, for public and private companies in a variety of industries with a specialist knowledge of water industry matters.

He is a member of Water Section of the Government and Infrastructure Group, where we act for a significant number of major companies including water and sewerage companies, water only companies, and companies providing contractual, research and other supporting services for the UK water industry.

John has had over 30 years experience of advising Clients in the water industry where he is a recognised leader. He has extensive experience of regulatory matters with all of the regulatory bodies concerned - DEFRA, OFWAT, the EA and the DWI. He has advised on a variety of issues arising from each of the price reviews since privatisation, on interim determinations and voluntary adjustments and on the notification of events under the Water Quality Information Direction.  He has dealt with acquisitions, mergers and transfers of water companies, and advised on a raft of day to day issues affecting many companies.

In the competition field he has advised on a wide variety of competition issues affecting the industry including disputes before the Competition Commission, inset appointments and the implementation and consequences of the WSL regime.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Benjamin trained as a commercial solicitor and soon developed an interest in information management and intellectual property. He put all these skills to good use whilst working in-house for a leading charity early in his career.

In recent years his practice has focused on the commercial aspects of information management and intellectual property providing advice to a number of commercial and public sector organisations. He developed a comprehensive data protection audit facility and also assists organisations to structure data protection, freedom of information and human rights policy and practice. Benjamin also assists clients to help keep their information confidential.

He has particular interest in trade marks and copyright, and this has lead to his involvement in the widening of trade mark types that can be registered and all aspects of brand protection.

Utilising his past experience working for a charity, Benjamin continues to act for a number of charities providing commercial and governance advice in addition to information management and intellectual property advice.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

James advises UK and international clients on a broad range of work, with a particular focus on estate planning, trusts and taxation. He acts for individual clients and trustees resident within or outside the UK, including non-UK domiciliaries taking up residence in the UK.  He also advises executors and administrators on the administration of estates, particularly in an international context.  James' work in cross border estate planning and succession law frequently involves liaising with a client's professional advisers in other jurisdictions.  A fluent French speaker, James currently heads the firm's French Group. 

James is a member of the EU Committee and of the Cross Border Estates Steering Committee of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and has lectured extensively in the UK and overseas on trusts and taxation.

Profile

Prior to joining Bircham Dyson Bell, Bruce had previously spent over ten years as a corporate lawyer with Clifford Chance and Linklaters (including two years spent working in south-east Asia). He has extensive experience of a wide variety of transactions for private and public companies, including substantial domestic and international acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and group reorganisations.

Profile

Mark is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants with over 20 years post qualification experience gained primarily within professional service firms, the banking sector and consultancy industries. Prior to joining Bircham Dyson Bell, Mark provided Accounting, Finance, IT, HR & Operational Management Consultancy Services to small, medium and large companies worldwide.

He has previously held the positions of Group Finance & Operations Director for Maples and Calder (2005 - 2009) and Group Finance Director for Mourant Group (1998 - 2004). Before that Mark was a Vice President at Chase Manhattan Bank, based in various international locations, providing internal accounting, financial and systems support to all offices in the EMEA region.

Mark is a member of the firm's Management Board.

Profile

Siân heads the Family Team. She qualified at Bircham Dyson Bell and became a partner in 1998. She has been acting for clients on a full range of family matters since 1991. She has particular experience in advising couples entering marriage or a relationship on the terms of a pre nuptial agreement, pre civil partnership agreement, or cohabitation agreement. Siân also advises divorcing clients with complex financial arrangements, often involving assets in more than one country or trust structures.

From an agricultural background, Siân has a particular interest in advising clients with landed or sporting estates and farms.

She has advised on paternity disputes and a full range of issues involving children, including disputes over their education, names, religion, medical care and where they should live. She has also advised in international children disputes.

Siân is recommended in the Legal 500 and is a member of Resolution, Justice, the International Bar Association and the London Litigation Solicitors' Association. Siân has appeared on Radio Four and Sky News and regularly deals with the media.

Siân also advises clients on general civil litigation disputes, including personal injury, inquests, contractual disputes and licensing.

Siân enjoys countryside pursuits, travelling to unusual parts of the world and driving sports cars.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

As head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team, Richard handles all types of commercial litigation, including judicial review and defamation, acting for both businesses and charities.

He has been involved in several major cases including a claim for breach of service contract and fiduciary duty, defending a major corporation in a multi-million dollar lawsuit, as well as numerous judicial reviews involving major public bodies.

Profile

Jo joined the firm in 2006 and has extensive experience gained within leading professional service firms and consultancies, identifying and developing skills and capabilities essential for achieving business goals.  A thought leader in people development but with a pragmatic, results orientated style and a successful record of delivering development initiatives that make a difference to both a business and the individual.

Jo was Senior Manager UK and EMEIA Legal Performance and Learning for Arthur Andersen.  Before that, Jo was National Head of Performance Development for DLA. 

Jo practised as a Corporate Solicitor until 1990.   Following this, Jo was a Senior Lecturer in Law.   Jo served as the Law Society Council Member for Education and Training for four years, and Chair of its Training Committee, and was also a member of the Standards Board. She is a member of the Management Board.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Stephen advises many wealthy individuals, structuring the holding of their assets through trusts and private companies to achieve the clients' aims of preservation and protection of assets.  He also advises executors, trustees and beneficiaries on their duties, powers and rights in relation to trusts and estates.  He is actively involved in personal pension issues related to estate planning. 

On the international side, Stephen advises on domicile and residence issues and the creation and variation of offshore structures for UK and non-UK clients.  He also specialises in charity law, primarily giving advice to trust-based charities and their trustees on constitutional issues, assets and investment powers. 

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Nick specialises in the commercial aspects of infrastructure and other projects including procurement, contracting and funding (such as PPPs and PFIs), particularly in the field of transport.  He acts for public sector bodies, contractors and service providers.  He advises on what it takes to deliver projects in the current economic climate including procurement and funding. 

Recent highlights include advising Merseytravel on its vertical integration project to take over part of the rail network from Network Rail and Treasury Holdings on the procurement and funding of the Northern Line Extension.  Nick has closed a variety of significant projects including the £220m Leeds Oncology PFI Project for Catalyst Healthcare (2004),  the procurement of the Merseyrail Electrics local concession (franchise) for Merseytravel (2004), the £335m bond financed Peterborough Hospitals PFI projectand the £178m Phase 1 of the Leeds Building Schools for the Future project (2007).  Nick advised on the £1bn McGill University Hospital project in Montreal, Canada.  He is currently advising Merseytravel on its rolling stock project. 

Nick speaks and writes regularly on infrastructure matters and is editor of the PFI Process chapter of Butterworths PFI Manual.  He is UK country correspondent of the European Public Private Partnerships Law Review and publishes a regular PPP E-Review.  He also edits part of the transport chapter of Butterworths Competition Law Encyclopaedia.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Practice areas - Infrastructure Planning, Legislation, Public and Environmental Law, Private Client and Charities

Ian acts on statutory consents for nationally significant infrastructure projects in the transport sector (road, rail, tram, guided bus, ports and harbours).

As a Parliamentary Agent, he drafts, promotes and opposes Bills, orders and other forms of legislation and advises on the workings of Westminster, Whitehall, the Scottish Parliament and the devolved assemblies.

He advises more widely on public and environmental law issues.

Ian is known for his personal commitment to many longstanding private clients in the field of non-contentious family work, including wills and inheritance tax planning.

Ian advises charities as general counsel on strategic issues, governance and other problems and on legal developments in the sector.  He is himself a trustee of a number of grant-making charities.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Peter specialises in corporate and commercial law, advising public and private companies on, amongst other things, acquisitions, joint ventures, reorganisations, equity and debt fundings and flotations.  He values building close relations with owners of privately held companies, helping them to grow their businesses and achieve an exit.  He has a background in science and intellectual property, which have been used to advantage in advising clients in the healthcare and technology sectors, with particular recent emphasis on the outsourcing of NHS and private hospital services.

Profile

Judith specialises in UK and international trust and estate planning, advising both trustees and beneficiaries.  She acts for a number of families whose wealth is held in groups of trusts.  She frequently advises on trust restructuring in order to meet the needs of different generations.

Judith also acts for non-UK domiciliaries who require advice on domicile and residence issues in the context of their international tax planning. 

She is a contributor to Tolleys  'Planning and Administration of Offshore and Onshore Trusts' and is recommended in Chambers UK:  A Guide to the UK Legal Profession.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

David is experienced in advising public authorities, trade associations and corporate bodies on all forms of legislative procedure. He is a specialist in EU law and procedures, including public procurement, competition, grants and loans, tax and excise duties. 

David is also a specialist in transport infrastructure schemes, including rapid transit and port infrastructure and acts for various harbour authorities. His work with environmental law issues includes advising on environmental impact assessment relating to town and country planning, transport and other infrastructure authorisation. Other planning work encompasses compulsory acquisition and compensation.

David also advises on competiton law, including public procurement, statutory monopolies, Articles 101 and 102 of the EU Treaty, domestic competition law and state aid. He also advises on public law, including freedom of information and human rights.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Elizabeth specialises in tax, probate, trusts and estate planning for UK families and non UK domiciliaries.  She has particular interests in complex probates, especially those with an international dimension, structuring trusts for the long term management of death in service benefits and the related inheritance tax issues.  She acts for a wide range of clients including those with inherited wealth, city professionals and lottery winners and acts as a trustee of  various trusts. 

Liz's contentious experience includes a leading case on domicile, Morgan v Cilento, and advice to individuals and charities in connection with disputed wills and applications for statutory wills. 

Liz also contributes regularly to journals such as Trusts and Estates Law & Tax Journal and Private Client Business. 

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

h

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

Robbie advises on a wide range of government and infrastructure issues and as Head of Major Projects he is also responsible for the firm's business development in that area.

He has over 20 years' experience of successfully promoting and opposing a wide range of infrastructure and other major projects such as ports, railways, roads, urban transit systems and water projects, advising both public and private sector promoters and objectors.

Robbie is a member of the Government's non-party political Planning Sounding Board, which advises on a wide range of planning policy issues.

He speaks and writes frequently on government and infrastructure issues, in particular co-editing Butterworths Planning Law: A Practical Guide to National Infrastructure Projects, written by Bircham Dyson Bell. He is Secretary of the National Infrastructure Planning Association.

Robbie is hugely popular with clients and has featured in The Lawyer's 'Hot 100'.

Profile

Simon specialises in property litigation, including both commercial and residential property disputes and leasehold enfranchisement claims.  Simon also handles commercial disputes and deals with insolvency related issues and professional negligence claims. 

Simon is recommended in the Legal 500 and often speaks and writes on litigation related subjects, including in the Property Law Journal, the Merger and Acquisitions Journal and Flat Living.  Simon is a member of the Property Litigation Association, the London Solicitors Litigation Association and the Professional Negligence Lawyers Association. 

Simon has experience in all levels of Court work, including the House of Lords (now the Supreme Court) and the Court of Appeal; he also deals with cases in other dispute resolution forums, such as the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal, Arbitration and Mediation.  Highlights include the reported House of Lords decisions of 26 Cadogan Square Limited v Cadogan and Cadogan v Pitts and Wang - leasehold enfranchisement; Haq v Island Homes Housing Association Limited (Court of Appeal) - landlord and tenant proprietary estoppel; W H Smith v Wyndham Investments Limited - original tenant liability; Bircham & Co Nominees (No 2) Limited v Worrell Holdings Limited (Court of Appeal) - options and rights of pre-emption; Stimpson and Others v National Landlords Association and Others (High Court) - derivative actions under the Companies Act; Redcard and Others v Williams and Others (Court of Appeal) - contract dispute; GHI Limited v ICTS (UK) Limited (Court of Appeal) -  joint ventures; Abbott & Barwick v Price (High Court) - partnership dispute; Sir Richard Sutton's Settled Estates v Goldcrest Investment Holdings Limited (High Court) - contentious rent review.

Profile

Michael has acted for commercial clients, including banks and investment funds, in a wide range of areas focusing on corporate finance and banking related transactions, as well as commercial and residential property development, regeneration and financing.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

Bob leads teams acting for commercial clients with property portfolios, handling acquisitions, disposals, lettings, development, and general management issues.  These clients include a major oil company, a leading packaging company and a national transport infrastructure owner. 

As a member of our Major Projects Group, he has acted on land aspects of a wide range of projects, including acquisition of land and related rights and covenants for cable car, guided bus, light and heavy rail and tram projects.

In the course of these activities, Bob has developed specialisms in dealing with contaminated land and in compulsory purchase by general vesting declaration.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

John specialises in town and country planning matters: whether non-contentious e.g. general advice and the drafting and negotiation of section 106 obligations, highway and other infrastructure agreements; or contentious e.g. appeals by way of public local inquiry and challenges of planning decisions in the courts.

In addition, he advises on related development matters, the stopping up, diversion or other closure of highways, and compulsory purchase and compensation issues.

John is a member of the City of London Law Society (Planning and Environmental Law) Sub-Committee.

Profile

Helen heads the Private Wealth Department. She specialises in tax and estate planning for both UK and non-UK domiciled clients and in trust and tax advice for onshore and international trusts on a wide range of issues, including restructuring, responding to legislation in relevant jurisdictions and advising on more contentious situations. She has a particular interest in heritage property. She acts for individuals, families, trustees and beneficiaries, and often acts as trustee or executor.  She works particularly with clients in the offshore trust jurisdictions, Europe, the Middle and Far East and the US.

Helen contributes frequently to private client journals and speaks at conferences and workshops. She led the Bircham Dyson Bell contributing team to the STEP Practical Guide to the Transfer of Trusteeships.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

k

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

Andrew has acted on a wide range of commercial real estate matters including acquisitions and disposals, investment, development, landlord and tenant, corporate support and secured lending. 

Andrew now specialises in commercial investment work, including tax efficient structuring and providing real estate advice for the Major Projects group.

Profile

Hugo joined Bircham Dyson Bell in 2001 and was made a partner in 2011. He specialises in trust and tax planning, acting principally for wealthy UK families and their trustees, often owning private family businesses or landed estates. He also acts for international clients and trust companies, with a niche practice advising on the structuring of Shari'a compliant asset holding vehicles for Middle Eastern clients.

Hugo has previously been recognised by Private Client Practitioner as one of the "Top 35 under 35" and is mentioned in The Legal 500 2010.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

h

Profile

John is Senior Partner at BDB.

John specialises in residential landlord and tenant, especially leasehold reform cases (for both landlords and tenants) for both flats and houses. He has acted in all forms of non-contentious property matters, including retail and other lettings and investment property.

John is a leading practitioner for clients in the specialist leasehold reform field; for landlords he has dealt with a substantial number of  such transactions for the Crown Estate, as well as the Anstruther Estate and Petersham Estate , and for leaseholders he is a "go to" adviser for properties on the Cadogan, Grosvenor, Wellcome Trust, Howard de Walden and other principal central London estates. 

John has been recommended in The Legal 500 for leasehold enfranchisement and is listed in Legal Experts.

Profile

??????????????????????????????

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Paul acts for a wide range of public bodies, NGOs and commercial entities. A large part of his practice involves the planning, authorisation and implementation of major development projects, especially in relation to urban transit and rail schemes, ports and waterworks. Many of these require special statutory powers and he has promoted and opposed a large number of Parliamentary Bills, compulsory purchase, harbour, transport and works and water orders for that purpose, acting as advocate on occasion.

Paul also advises on the constitution, governance and regulation of public bodies, including the application of freedom of information, human rights, procurement and competition requirements.

In addition, Paul is a Roll 'A' Parliamentary Agent and advises on all aspects of Parliamentary procedure as well as drafting and promoting or opposing legislation.

Paul has been writing a blog on the Public Bodies Reform Act - this can be viewed here.

Profile

Stuart is a public affairs and communications specialist advising clients on all elements of their public affairs strategies including political and corporate communications and reputation management.  His work also includes consultation and planning communications and he has worked on a number of high profile media relations and crisis communications programmes.

Stuart is an honorary research fellow at the University of Aberdeen and is the author of several books including 'New Activism and the Corporate Response' and 'Public Affairs in Practice' (for the Chartered Institute of Public Relations). 'New Activism and the Corporate Response' was called a book that "every aspiring business leader should read" by MIS Asia.  Stuart regularly writes and lectures on a range of business and political issues.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

John has extensive experience in corporate law, in particular corporate finance and corporate transactions, for both quoted and unquoted companies.

His public company experience includes:

- advising on transactions governed by the City Code, including takeovers (recommended and hostile), take private transactions, reverse takeovers and company mergers, often effected by scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act;

- advising on the obtaining of Panel whitewashes and Code waivers;

- advising AIM and PLUS quoted companies on floatations, secondary fund-raisings acquisitions and boardroom issues and their continuing obligations under market rules and other regulations; and

- advising quoted companies on reorganisations/restructurings including capital reductions approved by the Court.

He has also advised on a large number of private financings (venture capital and tax effective investments such as EIS), corporate acquisitions and disposals and joint ventures.

John has been closely involved in the development and expansion of Lexwork International, of which he is the European Chairman.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Guy has over 20 years' extensive experience advising many corporate and individual clients on general commercial matters.  This includes strategic advice on acquisitions and sales of businesses. 

He advises on day-to-day problems in employment law and has experience in immigration law.  He also advises on general commercial contract issues.

Guy was elected as Managing Partner effective from 5 September 2005.

Profile

Paul advises on the structure and execution of mergers and acquisitions of private companies, joint ventures and other business structures.  He also advises on all kinds of commercial contracts. He speaks French and has extensive experience of advising overseas clients.

Paul provides guidance on a wide variety of bilateral lending and security arrangements, as well as on performance bonds and guarantees.  He also advises on security over cashflows and other receivables.

Paul works with charities on a wide variety of commercial, constitutional and regulatory issues. His recent work includes charity mergers and reorganisations and a variety of commercial projects.

Profile

Angus has several years' experience of promoting and opposing major infrastructure projects in the fields of transport, water and energy.  He has drafted authorising legislation and objections, addressing many of the issues which arise during the process such as planning and compulsory purchase, and has coordinated counsel and witnesses when promoting and opposing cases at different times. He is acting on some of the first projects to be promoted under the Planning Act 2008 infrastructure authorisation regime, and since July 2009 he has been posting a blog on the implementation of the regime, available to view here.

Angus is a member of the editorial board of the Compulsory Purchase Procedure Manual published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, and has processed several compulsory purchase compensation claims relating to infrastructure projects. Angus is also experienced in advising public bodies on their powers and duties.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

Simon specialises in charities, tax planning, investment property for charities and the resolution of potentially contentious issues arising out of wills, trusts and co-ownership of property for charities and private clients.

Simon has lectured on charity trusteeship and charities in the context of tax-planning.  He is also a member of the Charity Law Association and the Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Practitioners. 

He also sits on the advisory board of the European Association for Planning Giving.  Simon has helped to pioneer the development of real property investment pooling schemes for charities and advised in the creation of the Absolute Return Trust for Charities, the first common investment fund of hedge funds.

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh

Profile

ffhfjhjgvjgh