Clients

Our clients vary from UK and international public and private companies to banks, funds, small businesses, entrepreneurs and wealthy families.

Here are just of few examples of our work:

Number one adviser to AIM clients

LG has been named as the top legal advisor to AIM clients in the latest Hemscott AIM Advisers Rankings Guide (July 2011).  It is the 13th consecutive quarter LG has led on its own when rankings are calculated by market cap of clients. 

Additionally, LG is the number one ranked law firm by market cap of clients and total number of clients in the guide's FTSE AIM UK 50 and FTSE AIM 100 tables. 

Supreme Court victory for LG

The UK Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed an appeal by Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy estate following a legal battle with a group of Australian noteholders - ultimately upholding the supremacy of English law where the parties agree that it is to govern their contractual relations. 

The Belmont Australian investor group - who comprise of 29 Australian companies, government bodies and chariries - are noteholders in Lehman's Dante Collateralised Debt Obligation (CDO) programme, which had a total overall value in the region of US$12.5 billion at the time of Lehman's bankruptcy.  LG Banking investors, said: "English law means what it says and can be relied up in English law governed financial products and instruments."

LG launches joint venture in Dubai 

While we have long been known for our international private client work, the creation of the Family Business Advisory Group in Dubai has given LG a unique joint venture offering in the region.  The Gulf's most successful family-owned businesses can now access a range of advisory services under one roof. 

These include succession and estate planning, governance and mediation for families in business and high net worth family entrepreneurs in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Middle East and North Africa region.

Dubai-based LG partner Tim Casben said: "Clients can now access family governance and succession planning advice that they simply cannot get elsewhere in the region."

LG advises Cape Plc

LG has recently advised Cape plc on its step-up from AIM to the main market of the London Stock Exchange and its simultaneous restructuring which has put in place a new offshore parent company for the Cape Group.  Cape is an international leader in the provision of industrial services principally in the oil and gas, power generation, chemical, minerals and mining sectors, employing 18,000 in 28 countries.  It listed on AIM in 2003, at which time group turnover was £231.9 million.  By 2010, its turnover had increased to over £650 million. 

Restructuring saves jobs and ensures continuation of building works at the Olympics site

Financial services group Smith & Williamson has been advised by LG on the restructuring of one of the largest scaffolding companies in the country, Benchmark Scaffolding Limited. 

The restructuring, involving turnaround investor RCapital, saw the historical business go through an administration process. The restructuring has helped save over 350 jobs and ensured the continuation of vital building works at the Olympic site in Stratford.
LG Restructuring and Insolvency partner Steven Cottee said: "This was a complicated transaction involving a number of disciplines (restructuring, construction, real estate, employment and tax) and it was conducted in a very short time frame. The result has been the saving of over 350 jobs and the continuation of work at the Olympic site at a critical time".

LG has recently been involved in the administration of a number of high profile businesses in the construction sector and is well known for its restructuring work.

LG advises on the acquisition of the Manchester Evening News Arena

We advised leading property developer and investment company Development Securities plc on its purchase of the Manchester Evening News (MEN) Arena Complex for £62.2 million. Specifically, we advised on the acquisition and banking aspects of the transaction, including purchasing the issued shared capital in the owning companies by way of a share purchase agreement. Matthew Weiner of Development Securities plc said: "We have been pleased to instruct LG to act for us in this challenging project involving the acquisition and refinancing of this world class arena. We have instructed LG over a number of years and once again have been delighted with the quality of service."

LG advises BMW UK Pension Scheme on largest ever longevity insurance deal

Our pensions team provides legal and regulatory advice to all sections of the pensions industry. We recently advised the trustee of the BMW (UK) Operations Pension Scheme on a major longevity insurance transaction covering its 60,000 pensioners. The Scheme has put in place a long-term insurance contract with Deutsche Bank's specialist unit Abbey Life to provide the Scheme with a hedge to remove longevity and other demographic risks. This deal is the largest transaction of its type to date.