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Acuity Law Welcome Three Partners In The Ramp Up For 2021

Acuity Law Welcome Three Partners In The Ramp Up For 2021

Acuity Law welcomes three new Partners to their growing full-service firm.

Adele Carter, Chief People Officer commented “We are delighted to welcome this year’s first round of talent to Acuity and very much look forward to working with them.”

Huw Roffe

Huw Roffe joins Acuity’s award-winning litigation team having previously worked for a well-known regional firm.  Huw brings with him significant litigation experience within the South Wales market.

Commercial litigator, Mike Allenby Smith also joins the firm’s highly regarded litigation team.  Head of Litigation, Hugh Hitchcock commented “Acuity’s litigation team has grown exponentially as a result of a number of high-profile litigation outcomes in 2020, and we are delighted to welcome Huw and Mike to the team.  The quality and depth of our litigation offering is truly exceptional, and we are excited for what lies ahead”.

Henry Clarke is the latest addition to Acuity’s highly ranked Corporate team.  Having trained with a magic circle law firm, Henry brings with him a wide range of corporate, commercial, and finance experience. 

Are you interested in a career with Acuity? Email our Talent team for more information.

Acuity advises Brickability on two acquisitions in a week

Acuity advises Brickability on two acquisitions in a week

Key Contact: Beverley Jones

Author: Tom Saunderson

Acuity Law is pleased to have advised long-standing client Brickability Group plc on their acquisitions of McCann Limited (McCann) and Bathroom Barn Limited (Bathroom Barn), both closing in the space of one week and building upon an already-impressive string of acquisitions by Brickability in 2020 (with McCann Roofing Products Limited and U Plastics Limited being acquired earlier in the year).

McCann is a haulage and logistics provider, which specialises in transporting building materials from factories in Europe to construction sites in the UK, providing Brickability with its own pan-European transport network. Bathroom Barn is a supplier of radiator valves, elements and traditional valves to distributors and retailers and will be integrated into Brickability’s “Towelrads business”.

Brickability CEO Alan Simpson has said “[the acquisition of McCann] is a significant deal for Brickability. By bringing McCann into the Group we are securing our supply lines and reducing the risk of Brexit-related delays to logistics and haulage post 1st January…” and that Bathroom Barn “is a perfect partner for our highly successful Towelrads business and adds significantly to our product offering in this area.”

Corporate partner Beverley Jones and senior associate Tom Saunderson led the transactions, with cross-departmental support from Ben Honour, Emma Hutchings and Chris Doherty.

Acuity Recognises Talent In December Promotions Round

Acuity Recognises Talent In December Promotions Round

At Acuity we value development and growth within our community and celebrate the recognition of the plethora of talent within our business.

We are coming to the end of an unprecedented year and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate those individuals who have excelled during these times by exemplifying the values and talent that we have at Acuity.

This achievement is truly a testament to their hard work and dedication. We are delighted to announce five promotions to close 2020 at Acuity Law. We would like to offer a well-deserved congratulations to:

Claire Knowles, Head of Employment at Acuity Law said: “We have been hugely impressed by the calibre of applications in the closing round of promotions for 2020. Congratulations to those promoted, it’s a true testament to your talent, grit and determination in what’s been a truly unprecedented year. We very much look forward to celebrating additional promotions within the Acuity Law community in 2021. Congratulations one and all.”

We are incredibly proud of the hard work and effort put in by our colleagues this year.

Their promotions are thoroughly deserved, we believe there is much more to come from them all, and that they will play an integral part in helping Acuity Law continue to grow from strength to strength.

Are you interested in a career with Acuity? Visit our careers page for Acuity’s latest vacancies and opportunities. 

Acuity Law welcomes two new solicitors to growing teams

Acuity Law welcomes two new solicitors to growing teams

We are delighted to welcome Daniel Evans and Katie Lane to the Acuity Law community.

Daniel Evans is joining our employment team as a solicitor. Daniel has previously trained and qualified with Foot Anstey and has worked at DAC Beachcroft and Royds Withy King post-qualification, bringing a wealth of expertise to the team. He is also a long-standing member of the Bristol Junior Chamber of Commerce.

“I am truly excited to be joining Acuity Law in such a forward-thinking team alongside market-leading lawyers. I look forward to working with all of Acuity’s clientele and assisting their businesses with all the opportunities and challenges that 2021 will present.”

Katie Lane joins Acuity’s litigation team from Meade King LLP bringing valuable expertise in commercial property disputes as well as general commercial disputes.

“I look forward to working with Acuity’s award-winning Litigation team. Their reputation is well-deserved, and I hope to support the team and contribute towards their future success.”

To connect with Daniel and Katie, visit their linked profiles for more information.

Are you interested in a career with Acuity? Visit our careers page for Acuity’s latest vacancies and opportunities. 

Acuity Win “Law Firm of the Year” at Wales Legal Awards 2020

Acuity Win “Law Firm of the Year” at Wales Legal Awards 2020

Last week, the Wales Legal Award winners were announced via a live streamed broadcast.

Acuity Law are delighted to have received Law Firm of the Year as well as Corporate and Commercial Team of the Year. It is a tremendous accolade that we are very proud to accept.

Being recognised as Law Firm of the Year is a credit to the dedication and hard work from our entire Acuity community during a year of much change and uncertainty. These achievements highlight Acuity’s continued growth and investment in its clients, services and people.

The Corporate and Commercial Team of the Year Award was judged on each teams ability to provide proactive, innovative advice to clients, evidencing excellence with work that has been recognised the business and legal community in Wales and beyond.

We agree that these qualities are reflected in the pioneering work from our Corporate and Commercial teams and we couldn’t be more proud of their dedication to clients and personal achievements. Congratulations to you all.

Acuity Partner, Rachelle Sellek commented:

“Acuity Law would like to give a huge thank you to Wales Legal Awards. We are delighted to have received awards for Law Firm of the Year and Corporate and Commercial Team of the Year. It has been a challenging year for the legal industry, and this is recognition of our amazing teams producing work that we are very proud of. Heartfelt congratulations to all of the winners, we are thrilled to be a part of the talent demonstrated in Wales throughout all the categories.”

For a full list of winners please visit – waleslegalawards.com

Acuity Law advises Portman Dental Care the acquisition of three practices

Acuity Law advises Portman Dental Care the acquisition of three practices

Key Contact: Jonathan Lawley

Acuity Law is delighted to have advised Portman Dental Care on the acquisition of three practices on the Isle of Man, with the purchase of Regent Dental on 11 August.

The acquisition of Regent Dental, comprising three practices situated within Douglas and Peel on the Isle of Man, is Portman’s first acquisition since the nationwide lockdown, its first on the Isle of Man and brings its total number of practices to 140.

With Acuity having acted for Portman since 2011 on the purchase of upwards of 100 practices in England, Wales and Scotland, completing Regent Dental was particularly satisfying given the tough challenges the dental sector has faced over the past five months.

Jon Lawley and Madeleine Chapman advised Portman on the purchase of Regent Dental and Andy Sloan, Business Development Director at Portman, said:

“We’re thrilled to have completed our first acquisition since lockdown, with Regent being a strategically important acquisition for the group as it takes us into a new territory. The team at Acuity is integral to our acquisition policy and we would like to thank Madeleine and Jon for their excellent support on this deal as always.”

We wish Portman and the team at Regent Dental all the best for the future and on this exciting new chapter on the Isle of Man.

Acuity’s Essential 10 Point Guide to the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

Acuity’s Essential 10 Point Guide to the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme

Key Contact: Adam McGlynn

Acuity Law work with a number of clients in the food and beverage industry. Following the announcement of the eat out to help out scheme, we have created this guide to help you navigate the scheme from how to register to requesting claims.

1. Announcement
On 8 July 2020 Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced the establishment of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (the Scheme) as part of his ‘Plan for Jobs’ speech. The next day gov.uk published a HM Treasury direction to HMRC, made under sections 71 and 76 of the Coronavirus Act 2020, which contained more specific instructions on the Scheme’s framework.

2. Purpose
The Scheme is designed to provide a discount to customers dining at qualifying restaurants (the Discount) to support financial recovery following the economic impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic and protect employees who might otherwise face redundancy.

3. Eligibility
A ‘Qualifying Restaurant’ will be eligible under the Scheme if it has been registered with the local authority as the location of a food business since 7 July 2020. This includes restaurants, cafés, canteens, public houses, dining rooms, and similar venues which sell food for immediate consumption at a dining area on the restaurant’s premises. The owner of the Qualifying Restaurant (the Qualifying Person) will be eligible to register to the Scheme.

4. “A dining area on the restaurant’s premises”
Apart from the obvious assumptions of being a place to eat owned by the business, the guidance places importance on two crucial elements when evaluating whether this criterion is satisfied: Permanence and Primary Purpose. The dining area must be a permanent feature of the business which can include al fresco seating and shared food courts provided the seating arrangements are not merely temporary. The dining area must also be primarily for the purpose of dining and, therefore, separate from, and not merely incidental to, the other services provided by the business.

5. Excluded Businesses
Following the logic of paragraphs 3 and 4 above, Government guidance excludes the following businesses:
• Businesses that only offer takeaway;
• Businesses that only cater for private functions;
• Businesses that only provide room service;
• Mobile businesses such as mobile food vans and trailers; and
• Businesses that only provide supplementary dining services.

6. Registration
A Qualifying Person may register their Qualifying Restaurant with the Scheme through the Government Gateway at anytime on or before 31 August 2020 using the following details:
• Government Gateway ID and password;
• The name and address of each establishment;
• The business’ bank account number, sort code, and registered address;
• VAT registration number, if applicable;
• Employer PAYE scheme reference number, if applicable; and
• Corporation Tax or Self-Assessment Unique taxpayer reference.

7. Qualifying Sales
The Discount will be applied to sales of food and non-alcoholic drinks which are sold for immediate consumption at a dining area on the restaurant’s premises every Monday to Wednesday in August 2020. Following the logic of paragraphs 3 – 5 above this will exclude sales such as takeaways, private party functions, and food which is incidental to another business, such as food provided with flights or accommodation.

8. Calculating the Discount
The Discount offered to customers is 50% off of the price of the Qualifying Sale after the deduction of (1) any other discount the business offers and (2) any service charge payable. The Discount is capped at £10 per diner (being a person who participates in eating and/or drinking) but the Discount can be applied to the overall bill.

9. Claims
Claims can be made on a weekly basis from 7 August until 30 September 2020 but Qualifying Persons will have to wait 7 days after registration before making their first claim. HMRC payments will be made within 5 working days from claim submission and will be treated as taxable income. The business will need to track and record:
• The total number of customers who have used the scheme;
• The total value of transactions; and
• The total amount of discounts given.

10. Promotion
Promotional posters and a ‘table talker’ are available from gov.uk to help businesses promote their participating with the Scheme but branded promotions are also encouraged.

For more information or advice regarding the scheme and how we could help you, please contact adam.mcglynn@acuitylaw.com

Acuity Law advises on two digital marketing agency acquisitions

Acuity Law advises on two digital marketing agency acquisitions

We are delighted to have advised the shareholders of creative agency, DPC on their acquisition by UP.

UP THERE, EVERYWHERE (UP) is a Swedish cloud-based brand and digital marketing services agency with hubs in Stockholm, Uppsala, Hamburg, Amsterdam, London and New York. Their global client base includes names such as Jenoptik, Galderma, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Polaroid.

The Digital Parent Company (DPC) is a creative, digital agency that develops web and e-commerce solutions from their offices in Guildford, south of London. DPC’s clients include innocent (drinks), Kelly’s Storage, the BVA (British Veterinary Association), Colas, and The London School of Economics (LSE).

The two companies have already been building their business relationship, working on several joint ventures recently.

For more information please click the link here.

We have also advised the shareholders of Further Digital Marketing on their acquisition by Gravity Global.

Gravity Global works with clients around the world, developing branding and creating marketing campaigns. Further are an agency who specialise in data analysis, content marketing and SEO; the acquisition aims to grow Gravity’s existing expertise including organic search, content marketing, and digital performance analysis.

Further’s 35 employees based in Norwich will coordinate with Gravity Global’s London office over the next few months to focus on performance marketing and digital capabilities.

For more information please click the link here.

The Acuity team leading on these transactions was Tessa Laws, James Hardy and Adam Williams.

Acuity close on sale of Tripleplay

Acuity close on sale of Tripleplay

Acuity are pleased to have advised the shareholders of Tripleplay Services Holdings Limited (Tripleplay) on their sale to Uniguest, a US-based cybersecurity technology solutions business providing highly secure, fully managed engagement technology solutions to the hospitality, senior living, specialty retail, education and corporate sectors.

A market leader in the development and delivery of IPTV, digital signage, and video streaming solutions, Tripleplay have offices in the UK (headquarters), USA, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Portugal, and the UAE. Under the Uniguest umbrella, Tripleplay adds a great deal of strength to Uniguest’s position in the digital signage and IPTV space by the integration of Tripleplay with ONELAN, the company purchased by Uniguest in June 2018.

With the support of existing management teams Steven Rickless – CEO of Tripleplay – will lead the combined ONELAN and Tripleplay teams.

Corporate partners Steve Berry and Phil Pugh, together with associate Tom Saunderson led the Acuity team, with support from Adam Williams, Ben Honour and Rachael Russell.

Phil Pugh, Corporate Partner at Acuity Law said “the success of the transaction was the result of a real team effort, with colleagues in our Corporate, Property, and Employment departments respectively providing support throughout. The multijurisdictional element presented an additional layer of complexity to an already highly technical and challenging deal. We’d like to wish Steve and the rest of the Tripleplay team every success in the future.”

For more information, please contact Phil Pugh or Tom Saunderson in our corporate team.

Acuity Law steals the show at inaugural Wales Legal Awards

Acuity Law steals the show at inaugural Wales Legal Awards

Leading commercial law firm Acuity Law took centre stage at the inaugural Wales Legal Awards on Friday 17 May 2019, scooping two prestigious awards.

Acuity won the award for commercial litigation team of the year and the overall award for legal team of the year, confirming its reputation as a dominant practice for disputes work. It was also a finalist in the category for corporate and commercial team of the year.

Founded by Charlotte Leyshon of Lux Family Law in partnership with the Wales Fast Growth 50 and Grapevine Event Management, the Wales Legal Awards celebrate the best talent in the legal profession in Wales and recognise the significance of the legal sector to the Welsh economy. The legal community is not only a growing part of the increasingly important financial and professional services sector, it also ensures that the wider business community grows and flourishes in an increasingly global marketplace through the high quality of services it provides.

The first national awards of their kind, the initiative attracted an esteemed panel of independent judges and industry leaders from a range of organisations, including The Legal 500 UK, Thompson Reuters Practical Law and the Law Society, as well as in-house legal counsel, barristers and solicitors practising across various sectors outside of Wales.

Working across the firm’s three UK offices, the litigation team at Acuity Law has grown significantly, doubling in size since its creation just over two years ago and taking additional office space at its Swansea base.

Regularly instructed in multi-million pound and high-profile commercial disputes, the team’s workload covers all types of commercial litigation, with particular specialisms in contractual disputes, director and shareholder disputes, professional negligence, property disputes, intellectual property disputes, construction litigation, defamation and reputation management.

Accepting the awards at the glittering ceremony held in Cardiff, Hugh Hitchcock, partner and head of the firm’s litigation team, said: “Our success as a destination litigation practice comes down to the home-grown talent in our team who through our skill set and core values are consistently delivering results and added value for our clients. It’s incredibly exciting to be celebrating our achievements in a vibrant legal marketplace that competes at a national and international level.

“The work we are doing and the clients we are attracting is testament to the strong legal services market in Wales.”

Acuity Law has doubled in size in recent years and last year advised on over 100 UK-based transactions with an aggregate value of over £1.5 billion. Rated by the independent legal directories as a top tier firm for corporate transactions and real estate work, the firm has landed a raft of awards in the last year – in January 2019 it was named law firm of the year at The Legal 500 Awards 2019, its corporate team was named legal team of the year at the Wales Dealmakers Awards in September 2018 and its real estate team scooped the coveted title of property law firm of the year at the Wales Property Awards in June 2018 for an unprecedented three years in succession.

Through its office in Soho and growing London presence, the firm’s offering includes a unique hybrid consultancy model for talented lawyers who want full back office support and access to a team of junior lawyers without the restraints of traditional employment.

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