The modern business world is increasingly global, challenging and driven by the demands and expectations of the consumer.

Any successful modern law firm operating in this environment must have within it teams of skilled specialist lawyers supported by efficient administrative staff, armed with the latest technology.

If, like Wedlake Bell, your clients range from multinational FTSE 100 corporations to wealthy individuals, this is a necessity and not an option. At Wedlake Bell, however, we never lose sight of a long-held belief: that a law firm should offer its clients people who are knowledgeable, commercial, effective and straightforward. We never forget that you have an enormous choice of alternatives. The only service acceptable to us is that of the very highest quality. That is why we strive to retain only the very best lawyers as our partners and fee earners; and the most efficient, dedicated and helpful support staff to assist them. I genuinely believe that we have succeeded in achieving this and that our clients enjoy the very best of all worlds: expert lawyers who are a pleasure to work with and who give sound commercial advice.

Those of you reading this who are already clients of the firm will, I am sure, appreciate and endorse this. For those of you for whom Wedlake Bell is merely another law firm, this necessarily short booklet will, I trust, give you a flavour of what we can do for you and how we would go about it. We would like to hear from you. If you have any questions, or would like to talk about how Wedlake Bell can help you achieve your goals please do contact me. We will be happy to help you.

David Earl Senior Partner dearl@wedlakebell.com 020 7395 3000

We provide the legal services that all businesses need. How we do it, is what makes us different.

Our skills Our expertise covers the core legal needs of business and its owners and managers: Capital equity and debt: raising and realising Assets real and intellectual: acquiring, protecting and exploiting People employment and reward: ownership and succession Risks and disputes managing, protecting and resolving Tax business and personal: planning and minimizing Our ethos Relationships are fundamental to success and everything we do is rooted in that belief. We know that to provide the best legal advice we need to understand your business and the commercial drivers that affect you. Building a long term relationship is the best way to achieve this understanding.

Our focus Our expertise is focused on sectors that drive the economy. AIM Charities Consumer Trade and Retail E-commerce Finance and Banking Government Healthcare Media, Publishing and Technology Natural Resources Outsourcing Property Sport and Leisure Telecommunications Transport and Logistics How we operate Each client team is balanced to match your requirements. You will not have to wade through layers of gate-keepers to reach someone with the level of experience you need. Partners take a pro-active, hands-on approach and experts from complementary teams are always available on specific issues. We will never involve lawyers whose role you do not understand.

International alliances As an English commercial law firm our services relate to English law, but our outlook and client base is international. We established the Trans European Law Firms Alliance (TELFA), a grouping of European law firms, to provide our clients with support from legal specialists across Europe. Our association with Fredrikson & Byron, a leading law firm in the United States, gives us direct access to US legal advice. We also have close connections with law firms and other professional service firms in the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. Knowledge sharing Throughout the year we issue regular information bulletins, organise seminars and provide bespoke training courses for clients. Teams also host industry forums and provide the media with expert advice relating to readers enquiries. Our experts are regularly quoted in both the national and the specialist trade press.

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We provide a complete range of corporate services to help companies achieve their strategic and financial objectives.

Corporate Our Corporate lawyers act for public and private companies and their advisers, ranging from corporations and UK subsidiaries of foreign multinationals to owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs and venture capitalists: Mergers and Acquisitions, both public and private Public equity IPOs, placings, open offers, rights issues, secondary issues AIM Private equity MBOs and MBIs Business and asset purchases and sales Joint ventures, both national and cross-border Restructurings and reorganisations General company law advice, including corporate governance Banking The Banking team provides a comprehensive service for corporate borrowers and lenders with emphasis on property and acquisition finance: Structuring financial transactions, both bilateral and syndicated Drafting and negotiating loan agreements and security documents Insolvency advice

Corporate Tax Whatever our clients commercial objectives, the Corporate Tax team will advise on the most efficient and feasible way to achieve them: Tax structuring of corporate transactions Planning for property transactions including VAT and SDLT Tax planning for management, entrepreneurs and employees Personal tax planning and structuring Indirect Taxes Stamp Taxes International structures and cross border transactions Business Recoveries The Business Recoveries team acts for insolvency practitioners, banks and asset based lenders, creditors, companies and directors: Administration Liquidations Receivership Company Director disqualification Asset Recovery Debt Recovery

We work with one purpose to help clients achieve their commercial objectives.

Commercial The Commercial team protects clients interests and manages risks: Contract negotiation and drafting Domestic and European competition law Licensing, manufacturing, supply, distribution, agency and franchising agreements Service agreements Data protection, freedom of information and confidentiality law E-commerce and website terms and conditions Brand management and IP We specialise in the development, protection and enforcement of brands and intellectual property: Trade marks Copyright and database rights Registered and unregistered designs Marketing, labelling and regulatory issues Sponsorship, product placement, image rights, merchandising and endorsement Advertising, promotions and games Domain names

Information Technology Our IT specialists advise on the full range of technology agreements and have particular expertise in matters relating to software and services, data and outsourcing: Software licensing and support Outsourcing and service level agreements Software development and services Hardware procurement and maintenance Database exploitation and protection Risk management and project planning Media Our lawyers are experts in all aspects of media law, including printed and broadcast materials, software and digital media: Defamation Copy clearance Privacy and confidentiality Human rights and data protection Advertising and presentation in the media

We advise on all property-related matters from structuring tax-efficient transactions, planning and building developments, buying, selling and constructing properties, to resolving disputes.

Commercial property The Commercial Property team advises investors, banks, developers, owners and occupiers on tax-efficient property investments and asset management: Sales and purchases Lettings Joint venture, development and forward funding structures Planning applications Related dispute resolution

Construction We act for clients at every stage of the construction life-cycle, from planning to procurement, funding, construction and completions to dispute resolution: Commercial and residential property development Sports stadia Infrastructure and engineering projects Contract drafting and negotiation Due diligence and risk reviews for funders Dispute resolution

Residential Property Our residential property team regularly acts for individuals, couples, investors, developers and property companies across the spectrum of residential property work: Sales and purchases of UK residential property Buy-to-let and portfolio sales and acquisitions Co-habitation and shared ownership agreements Leasehold and freehold enfranchisement and tenancy agreements

The Employment and Pensions teams provide stand-alone advice on all aspects of employment and pensions law as well as supporting other teams across the firm.

Employment Our employment specialists provide pragmatic advice on every aspect of employment law for organisations, groups and individuals, including: Drafting and updating contracts and employers hand-books Advising employers on dismissals, disciplinary and grievance procedures, sickness, absences and discrimination issues Acting for individuals on contracts, remuneration, disclosures and terminations TUPE issues, business reorganisation, transfers and share sales Collective agreements and industrial relations Tribunal claims and appeals

Pension and Share Schemes We act for trustees, sponsoring employers and scheme members on all legal issues relating to pensions schemes: Attending and advising at trustee meetings Establishing, amending and winding-up schemes Full range of documentation from deeds of appointment to complex merger agreements International arrangements Pension Ombudsman and Court disputes Dealing with the Pensions Regulator and the Pension Protection Fund We also advise on the setting up of tax-efficient employee share schemes.

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Our tax, trust and estate lawyers form one of Londons best established and most experienced private client teams.

Personal tax and wealth protection We provide first-class advice to individuals, families, trusts, charities and estates. Our service covers all matters relating to the planning and administration of estates, trusts, wills and tax for both UK and non-UK domiciliaries: Tax planning Inheritance tax, capital gains tax, post-death planning, double tax treaties and tax protection Will drafting, probate and estate planning Court of protection and attorneyship Creation and administration of UK and off-shore trusts Asset protection for UK and non-UK individuals Cross-border issues of estate devolution and inheritance

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The ideal is to head off potential problems before they develop, but its a fact of life that disputes occur.

Dispute resolution Whatever the issue, in any sector, our litigators are adept at resolving disputes with the minimum of cost and disruption to clients businesses. General commercial disputes Construction Property Energy Intellectual property and brands Media Information technology Outsourcing Employment Pensions Insolvency Financial services Sport and Leisure Retail

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www.wedlakebell.com

52 Bedford Row London WC1R 4LR | Tel 020 7395 3000 | Fax 020 7395 3100 DX 166 London Chancery Lane | www.wedlakebell.com