Bishop & Sewell LLP

King's Cross, London WC1 - Solicitors and Legal Services for banking, mergers and acquisitions, commercial property, litigation, dispute resolution and employment for private and corporate clients

Bishop & Sewell LLP is a successful, progressive central London based practice which provides an extensive range of legal services for private and corporate clients. The firm’s client base includes entrepreneurs, investors, private individuals, property developers and landlords, private and quoted companies and banks.

Established in 1979, the firm continues to expand its main practice areas supporting a growing private and commercial client base. Bishop & Sewell LLP is known for its friendly, responsive and professional culture, backed by a commercial approach to problem solving.

We aim to provide practical and effective high quality cost effective legal advice for a wide range of clients in relation to their personal and business requirements.

Each specialist area is partner-led, delivering modern, highly personalised services and supported by well co-ordinated teams of versatile and talented people. To achieve client goals, the firm’s focus is on understanding matters in the broader context of the client’s business or personal affairs. Developing strong, personal relationships with clients is core to the firm’s approach.

The firm offers a wide breadth of corporate and commercial legal advice, including banking, mergers and acquisitions, commercial property, litigation, dispute resolution and employment.

For the private client, services include company, high-value residential conveyancing, tax, trusts and probate, wealth management and a growing family law service with a expertise in divorce, property, financial and children disputes.

To contact us you can email any individual direct from the People section, complete the Enquiry form or please feel free to telephone the number on the left and ask to speak to the Chief Executive or any Partner.

Bishop & Sewell LLP has a wealth of experience in assisting clients with all their property needs. Our high quality personal service aims to provide practical solutions tailored to meet your individual requirements. We keep you up-to-date with developments throughout the transaction so that you always have the facts on which to make decisions.

We manage all legal aspects of buying and selling residential property including:


Freehold and leasehold
Joint ownership agreements
Buy to let
Right to buy
Planning matters
Remortgaging
Landlord and Tenant
Property Management
Individual and Collective Enfranchisement
Lease Extensions
Buying and selling of second homes and holiday homes
Legal advice on equity release
“Lock out” agreements

As part of our conveyancing service we also advise on mortgage and financial arrangements and act on behalf of all the major building societies and lending institutions.

Our clients seek advice on a wide range of family and domestic disputes. We aim to provide pragmatic and cost effective solutions and to resolve disputes. We are keen to explore opportunities for settlement without recourse to the courts but where the interests of the client demand it; we conduct court actions vigorously with a robust yet flexible approach in accordance with the Law Society’s Family Law protocol and the Resolution Code of Practice.

We are aware that the breakdown of marriage and other relationships need both careful and sensitive handling by us and others involved in the process. The firm is committed to solicitor advocacy and, where required, we also instruct specialist members of the Family Bar. The firm’s family law partner is a member of the Law Society Family Law Panel and Resolution and is a trained Collaborative lawyer and a Solicitor Advocate (all proceedings).

We have experience in:


the breakdown of marriage and other relationships
the issue of divorce proceedings
advising with regard to financial settlements on divorce and separation and other property disputes
advising on contact and residence disputes and other matters relating to children
advising on paternity disputes
advising on adoption
claims made under the Inheritance [Provision for Family and Dependants] Act 1975

It is our aim to advise clients so that they can make informed decisions and resolve their problems in a constructive and conciliatory manner enabling them to move on towards a happy, secure and stable future.

The firm’s commercial property team undertakes a wide range of commercial property work including development, investment and property finance.

The team acts for a wide range of clients from owner/occupiers, investors, banks and pension trustees and can assist clients with a variety of commercial property requirements from the purchase, development and plot sale of a large-scale residential or commercial development to granting or taking a lease of a comparatively small office unit. We also act regularly for investors in the acquisition and disposal of property portfolios and individual commercial investment properties.

Our historic links with a range of banks means that the commercial property team act regularly for commercial lenders. The team advises in relation to perfection and enforcement of security and often acts for receivers and insolvency practitioners.

Having close links with both the landlord and tenant and the litigation departments means that we can advise in cases of tenant default, actual or anticipated breaches of lease, dilapidations, forfeiture and the recovery of commercial premises and/ or rent arrears. Our aim is always to assist clients in navigating a path through what is often a technical and complex area of the law with a view to obtaining a commercially justifiable result.

The firm’s landlord and tenant department also services a range of property litigation requirements including the negotiation and renewal of commercial leases under the provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.

The team acts regularly for both landlords and tenants and the team’s position and focus gives them a unique ability to be responsive to a complete range of commercial property requirements.

Examples of the services we offer include:-

Commercial leases
Lending and security
Investment purchases
Renewal of leases
Dealings with existing leases (subletting, assignment, etc.)
Site acquisition
Plot sales
Acquisition and disposal of investment portfolios
Property security

Our company and commercial practice offers a broad range of corporate, commercial and ancillary financial advice that is typically required by both small and large businesses, including commercial contracts, insolvency and reorganisations, intellectual property, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, private equity finance, shareholders’ agreements and arrangements, stock exchange and securities regulation and taxation. Recent transactions for the corporate practice include advice regarding a range of acquisitions and disposals on behalf of, and to, substantial private companies and listed public companies plus the listing of one of the world’s first carbon-credit-based investor products.

Amongst the areas of law and the types of commercial contract which we regularly advise upon are:

Agency & Distribution
Business Finance
Business Organisation
Competition
Consumer Credit
Data Protection
Employment
Franchising
Information Technology
Intellectual Property
Joint Ventures & Profit Sharing Arrangements ~ domestic and international
Leasing & Hire
Mergers and Acquisitions
Outsourcing Agreements ~ domestic and international
Partnership Agreements including LLP
Pensions
Private Equity / Venture Capital Transactions
Sale and Purchase of Businesses and Shares (of Companies)
Sale of Goods and Terms of Service

We have considerable experience in advising overseas individuals and companies who wish to establish businesses in the UK or to use the UK and/or UK registered companies as part of their international operations.

We are used to dealing with complex structures, communicating over time zones, and we have the flexibility to be available when and where our advice is required.

For many years we have acted for non-resident individuals wishing to establish a temporary or permanent home in the UK, as well as those who, having been here for many years, need to shelter their assets from UK inheritance taxation.

Companies coming to the UK:

Setting up a branch office
Setting up a UK company
Acquiring a UK company
Acquiring property to carry on the business
Investment property
Joint ventures
Technology transfer agreements
Employing local staff
Exporting profits
Product liability
Planning and environmental law

Individuals coming to the UK:

Inheritance tax planning
Personal taxation
Pensions and incentives
Immigration and employment procedures
Buying or renting a home
Movement of capital
Property for investment
Dealing in stocks and shares
Insurance matters
Personal and family problems

We have extensive banking, debt finance and insolvency expertise, through our association with and work for a number of banks and corporate clients based in the United Kingdom and internationally.

Our work encompasses the negotiation and documentation of all asset-based financial transactions, including company and property acquisitions and project financing. Among other significant transactions in 2006, the firm advised a syndicate of international banks involved in financing an £80m acquisition.

Our work areas include:


Development Finance
Syndicated loans
International and domestic lending
Mortgages and other secured lending
Private and off-balance sheet funding
Guarantees and comfort letters
Security documentation
Negotiation and drafting
Insolvency – liquidation, receivership, administration and bankruptcy
Voluntary arrangements
Reservation of title
Advising directors and partners of insolvent businesses
Advising secured and unsecured creditors
Possession proceedings
Sale and purchase of businesses in receivership or liquidation
Restructuring businesses in difficulty

The long term provision for family and protection of family assets is of ongoing concern to our clients. Our role is to advise on the most effective devolution of property and prepare wills and other documents.

We have considerable experience in advising on the setting up of will trusts, their administration and the application of inheritance tax to estates.

We advise on optimum tax planning both before and after death. We are able to act as executors and have wide experience in the winding up of estates in accordance with clients' wishes.

The Trusts, Tax + Estates department includes qualified members of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners.

Will drafting
Tax advice
Winding up and administration of estates
Deeds of family arrangement
Enduring powers of attorney
Advice on intestacy
Creation and administration of trusts both in the United Kingdom and offshore
Living wills

We understand that a person's job is a key part of their life. And that for employer a happy and effective workforce is essential to a successful business. As a result employment law issues demand close attention.


In this fast developing area of law our aim is to cater for all your needs and help you meet the challenges you face as a business or as an employee. We advise on all aspects of employment law from the commencement of an employment relationship to its termination and beyond.


Our employment lawyers work closely with the firm's commercial and litigation departments providing commercial and practical solutions to employment problems, performing Tribunal or court action if necessary.


We have extensive experience in advising employer clients on how to limit the risk of employment claims and resolve workplace disputes. We also use this knowledge to benefit our employee clients whose employers are not so well advised, assisting them in maximising termination packages or bringing Tribunal claims.


For employers we:


Lead you through the recruitment process
Prepare employment contracts specifically tailored to the needs of your business
Draft restrictive covenants and advise on enforcement
Advise on achieving a "fair dismissal"
Assist with employee work permit and visa applications
We produce employee handbooks and provide guidance on the application of policies including disciplinary and dismissal, grievances, maternity and family leave.


We can give guidance to employers and employees on:


Redundancy procedures
Statutory consultation obligations
TUPE Regulations
Conduct of unfair dismissal and discrimination claims
Negotiation and advice on employment contracts
Advice on termination/compromise agreements
EMPACT Employment Protection Scheme
EMPACT allows clients to receive our employment law services in a totally new manner and is made up of three components and is designed to enable your business to fix its annual legal spend dealing with employment law issues. EMPACT includes an audit of your current employment practices and procedures, a telephone advice line connecting you with a qualified solicitor, and insurance protection against the legal fees and compensation costs associated with a claim brought against your business. Further information regarding EMPACT is available on request via email lq@bishopandsewell.co.uk.

Our dispute resolution department provides high quality and cost effective legal advice to our clients on a broad range of contentious matters. Our approach is efficient and solutions focussed. We assist our clients to resolve matters through arbitration, the courts or alternative dispute resolution. We also advise on innovative ways to minimise risks of future disputes.


The firm has experience in advising on both domestic and international commercial disputes. Our clients include banks, public and private companies, government agencies, foreign and commonwealth law firms, professional service firms and individuals.


Our advocates appear in the English courts and other forums on a regular basis to ensure the firm provides a seamless service from the preparation of a client's case to its presentation and conclusion and when necessary have access to the expertise of the English Bar.

Areas of Expertise

Commercial Litigation
- commercial contracts
- company law / shareholder disputes
- guarantee claims
- insolvency / personal bankruptcy
- professional negligence
- banking
- injunctions
- probate disputes

Property Litigation
- landlord and tenant
- mortgage and general possession claims
- leasehold enfranchisement
- boudary disputes

Arbitration
- including LCIA, ICSID, ICC

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