Our culture & values
Stand-out personality
It’s no surprise that delivering pioneering, hugely influential and incredibly complex £multi-million deals is extremely pressurised. What is unusual is the culture we deliver them in.
Award-winning Asian aviation finance
Low-cost airlines in Asia are the fastest growing aviation sector. In the last five years alone no less than three Asian low cost carriers have made the kind of gigantic orders - over 100 aircraft each - seldom seen in the industry. The strength of our aviation practice, along with our links with the leading banks and lessors in aviation finance, put us at the heart of this soaring market. The deals we've steered include AirAsia's US$554m ECA supported financing for 16 Airbus aircraft which won Jane's Transport Finance Asia Debt Deal of the Year; and Tiger Airways pre-delivery payment facility for 20 A320s - the largest PDP facility in Asia in 2010 and winner of AirFinance journal's PDP Deal of the Year. As a result of completing so many landmark aviation deals, we also won Aircraft Finance Law Firm of the Year at the Jane's Transport Finance Awards 2010.
The Fiona Trust Fraud trial
In one of the largest ever fraud cases in the English courts, our defence of Dmitry Skarga and Tagir Izmailov successfully exonerated them of claims worth US$1bn. These were brought against them for alleged bribe-taking by their former employers, Fiona Trust, part of Russian shipping business, Sovcomflot Group. The judge dismissed all claims that Mr Skarga had undertaken unlawful transactions while he was Director General of Sovcomflot between 2000 and 2004, and that Mr Izmailov had accepted bribes in order to defraud the Russian shipping group, while President of Novoship, between 2001 and 2005. The claims against them were such that they had to seek asylum in the UK in order to defend themselves. The work our team did was praised by the judges of The Lawyer Awards 2011 for being 'tactically and legally excellent'.
$3.7bn Piramal Healthcare deal
Our team had already advised Mumbai-listed pharmaceutical company Piramal on acquisitions in the UK, the US and Germany when it asked us to act for it in this transformational disposal. One of India's leading entrepreneurial companies in any sector, not just pharmaceuticals,it was keen to invest further in its global pharmaceutical manufacturing businesses and to diversify. The sale of Piramal's generic branded prescription pharmaceuticals division to pharmaceuticals giant Abbott freed up the necessary funds. It was the highest profile M&A deal in India in 2010, the second largest takeover ever in India's healthcare industry and the fourth largest ever inward investment into India across all sectors. Following this transaction, Abbott became the largest pharmaceuticals company in India.
Amazon's acquisition of LOVEFiLM
A client since 2003, LOVEFiLM not only offers customers the benefits of DVD rental by post but is also a pioneer in digital film delivery. In just over seven years, it's become one of Europe's largest entertainment subscription businesses - and we got to know the business and its people thoroughly as it grew organically and through mergers. Amazon already owned 42% of LOVEFiLM when it made an offer to acquire all the remaining shares. We put together a team that included partners from our Corporate, Tax and Employee Incentives practices, as well as our Head of Competition, to drive the sale through. It's been enormously satisfying to act for our client right from when it was a small startup technology company to the final successful exit for its shareholders.
We see no reason why enjoyment and performance at work can’t go hand-in-hand. Openness, honesty, approachability and respect for each other characterises everything we do and runs through every aspect of the firm. It’s a culture that clients feel the benefit of too. We work with them to forge strong open relationships. In our experience, relationships based on candour, trust and ease in each other's company are the very best foundation on which to deliver and demonstrate great value on every piece of work.
What’s more, ours is an entrepreneurial business where partners enjoy the scope and freedom to develop their practices, just as you’ll be encouraged to develop your own skills and networks.
Our size is a big attraction too. You can get to know most people and you’ll never feel like you’re working for a faceless organisation.