Press Releases

Shoosmiths corporate restructuring & advisory group have advised administrators Interpath Advisory, on the sale of the majority of the business and assets of Joules Group plc and Joules Limited to a newly formed company which is a joint venture set up by NEXT plc (NEXT) and Joules founder, Tom Joule.The new company has acquired around 100 Joules stores, with approximately 1,450 employees across these stores ...

The Social Mobility Foundation has unveiled this year’s Social Mobility Employer Index, including Shoosmiths as one of 75 leading businesses leading the way on social change.The Social Mobility Employer Index was launched in 2017 and has become a leading authority on employer-led social mobility. It assesses and ranks UK employers on the actions they take to ensure they are open to talent from all social backgrounds ...

The new chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, has today unveiled the contents of the Autumn Statement. Our rail, corporate, pensions, employment, technology and tax experts give their views on the measures announced, below.Michelle Craven-Faulkner, partner and rail lead at Shoosmiths, said:  “A reliable, sustainable and well-connected rail network is pivotal to driving economic growth across the UK ...

Shoosmiths was named Legal Team of the Year at the EG Awards 2022.The awards brought together more than 700 real estate professionals for a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House hotel on 2 November 2022. The judges recognised the law firm’s real estate practice for its pre-eminent expertise and commitment to client excellence ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has donated a total of £49,690 from the Shoosmiths Foundation to JERICHO, a charity supporting employment opportunities for people experiencing inequality in the job market.The Shoosmiths Foundation was launched in 2021 to complement the law firm’s existing community investment programme, which supports local charity partners through staff fundraising and firm donations, staff volunteering and the provision of legal advice pro bono ...

LAW firm Shoosmiths’ specialist digital infrastructure team has advised Foresight Group LLP (Foresight), a sustainably led alternative asset manager, in a significant investment in F&W Networks Limited as it looks to support the roll out of F&W Network’s full-fibre-to-the-premise network.The funding will add to the 185,000 premises already benefitting from F&W Networks infrastructure and create additional local jobs across the South of England ...

Shoosmiths has supported Revolution Bars Group on its acquisition of Peach Pub Company.The law firm advised Revolution, which operates 69 bars across the UK, on the real estate aspects of the £16.5m deal that sees it acquire Peach and its collection of 21 premium pubs ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has been recognised as a leading firm in rankings released by directories, Chambers and Partners, and The Legal 500.Both Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500 are widely perceived by the legal sector as leading authorities on law firm benchmarking in practice areas by region or territory. The launch of the 2023 UK Guide from Chambers and Partners this week saw Shoosmiths ranked in the top six firms with the most Chambers rankings with a total of 69 ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has been recognised as a top firm for innovation in Europe by the Financial Times, which publishes research findings in its annual Innovative Lawyers Special Report.The report contains an index of firms, and articles which highlight innovations in the legal sector, and is the most widely respected published assessments for innovation in the law ...

A brand-new forum to support businesses across the North West to make a positive difference has been launched by three advisory firms: law firm Shoosmiths, accountancy and tax practice RSM and wealth manager RBC Brewin Dolphin.'Business Doing Good' is an informal roundtable organised by the trio which aims to help businesses use the strengths of the charity sector to ‘effect positive change’ and to add ‘real value through ESG (Environment, Social and Governance)’ ...

The largest research study ever undertaken into female entrepreneurship highlights in gender terms the disparity between male and female-led companies in Scotland and the rest of the UK.  Drawing on AI-powered live data from over 4.5 million businesses UK-wide and with the aim of creating a fairer future, key statistics from the accurate analysis by The Gender Index data reveal that while 16.8% of all active UK companies are female-led, the number is lower in Scotland (15.4%) ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has advised AIB Group (UK) plc on its funding of the acquisition of a purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) 999-bedroom Aura development in Liverpool.AIB’s funding enabled a joint venture between Tristan Capital Partners’ CCP 5 Fund and Bricks Group, buying the scheme for £110m from a group of the project’s original investors – who had originally rescued the scheme from administration in October 2020 ...

Shoosmiths has been named as a supplier on the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) Public Sector Legal Services Framework, following a competitive tender process.The law firm has been appointed to the General Service Provision Lot 2 in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on the CCS Public Sector Legal Services Framework (RM6240). Although Shoosmiths has been appointed to the CCS previously, this is the first time that Northern Ireland has been included as part of its remit ...

Shoosmiths scooped the prestigious award for Law Firm of the Year at the Legal Business Awards in London last night.The firm was also shortlisted for Legal Technology Team of the Year for its AI Contract review platform, Cia®, after winning the award the previous year. Shoosmiths was shortlisted alongside six other firms, Allen & Overy, Bird & Bird, gunnercooke, Latham & Watkins, RPC and Reed Smith ...

Law firm Shoosmiths is enhancing its crypto assets advisory services with the appointment of specialist lawyer Matt Green, as the firm’s blockchain litigation lead and senior associate.Matt joins the firm from Brandsmiths, where he dealt with a catalogue of urgent injunctions, including the precedent setting seminal AA v Persons Unknown Re Bitcoin case, and has developed proven industry best practices on tracing and returning crypto funds ...

The new chancellor has today revealed a ‘new era of growth’ after unveiling the contents of the mini-budget. Our financial services, corporate, tax pensions and real estate experts give their views on the measures announced, below.Stephen Dawson, partner and head of Shoosmiths’ financial services sector, said: “Described as a mini-budget, this announcement on tax cuts and regulatory reform is fixed on turning the UK economy from stagnation into growth ...

Shoosmiths has advised Third Space on the acquisition of two new landmark locations.The law firm supported the fitness and health club operator on adding two new clubs to its roster, with the top-of-the-range facilities set to open in Wimbledon and Battersea in 2023. Acquiring 70,000 sq ft of health and fitness space across the two sites, these new clubs form the latest part of Third Space’s expansion plans ...

Shoosmiths has advised Proximity Data Centres on its latest acquisition in Milton Keynes, adding a tenth data centre to its rapidly expanding portfolio.The milestone deal sees Proximity, one of the UK’s fastest growing regional data centre companies, open a new 3.2 acre facility in Milton Keynes, with 3 MW of available power ...

Shoosmiths has added to its real estate division with two new senior hires.The law firm welcomes partner Patrick Duffy and legal director Emma Tonge to its Manchester office, with the duo bringing a combined 50 years of legal experience. Both Patrick and Emma arrive at Shoosmiths from Addleshaw Goddard. Their specialisms include advising on large-scale regeneration schemes, including residential and commercial development matters, as well as real estate funding and investment ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has announced partner Tom Hall as head of office for Sheffield. Tom, a real estate specialist who joined Shoosmiths in 2017, spearheaded the firm’s efforts with fellow real estate partner Kellie Hatton to establish a presence in the city which has now expanded into a flourishing office based at City Estates’ Speedwell Works development in Sheffield’s cultural industries quarter ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has today launched its first formal employee bonus scheme as part of a refreshed reward strategy ...

Shoosmiths has signed the British Property Federation’s (BPF) Net Zero Pledge.The law firm is backing the initiative, which involves uniting the real estate industry in tackling carbon emissions from the built environment and achieving net zero by 2050. Shoosmiths joins a range of developers, investors, lenders, architects and agents in committing to three core principles ...

LEADING law firm Shoosmiths has strengthened its dispute resolution and litigation group by welcoming a new partner to its Leeds office.Jonathan Mills joins the firm from Addleshaw Goddard LLP where he worked as a legal director. Jonathan specialises in finance litigation and acts on behalf of a wide range of banks and finance houses on high value litigation work ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has today announced its year end results for FY 2021/22 in the firm’s annual Impact Report.The firm has achieved another year of record financial results in relation to its revenue, profit and profit per equity partner (PEP). Revenue increased eight percent year-on-year to £181.8m, net profit also increased by nine per cent year-on-year to £60.7m and PEP increased by 3 per cent to £675,000 ...

Law firm Shoosmiths has announced the new head of its mobility sector.Jonathan Smart, a partner in its advisory services division, is taking over the role from Robin Webb who has recently become the new head of Shoosmiths’ national commercial practice.  Now leading the sector, Jonathan will oversee Shoosmiths’ growth across automotive, rail, aviation, marine, logistics and the future of transport ...