Bishop & Sewell LLP — England

About

Based in central London, Bishop & Sewell has a reputation for excellence in fields including landlord and tenant, residential and commercial property, private client, employment, corporate and commercial work, family law, litigation and dispute resolution. The firm: We were established in 1979 and moved to our current location in 2010. We merged with the long-established London practice of Monro Wright & Wasbrough on 1st February 2021. The firm acts for entrepreneurs, investors and small to medium-sized businesses, together with individuals and families. We believe that a good solicitor is approachable, innovative and open, helping to identify attainable goals and the best strategy to reach them. As a result we have built enduring relationships and continue to act for a number of our original clients. We are commercially minded and each specialist area is partner-led to ensure delivery of a client-focused, highly personalised service. Within each practice area works a team of talented lawyers with a passion for being the best at what they do. The practice has expanded steadily and as well as serving clients in London and the South-East, we are increasingly instructed by clients nationwide and internationally. - Types of work undertaken Property: advising on property law is at the heart of Bishop & Sewell. Founded on property work, we take pride in simplifying the complex property process, providing services covering every aspect – from landlord and tenant, purchase and sale, development and financing, to rental and enfranchisement. Our advice aims to add value to owners, occupiers, investors and developers of both commercial and residential property. Family and divorce: constructive advice is offered in all areas of family law, including matters with international aspects. Wherever possible, the firm seeks to resolve issues outside the courts, but if necessary conducts court proceedings vigorously. Expertise includes divorce and civil partnership dissolution, financial claims on divorce, pre and post-nuptial agreements, cohabitation and separation agreements, children issues, and domestic protection. Commercial: our client’s benefit from clear advice on the day-to-day aspects of running a business including trade, commercial transactions, consumer law, contract law, data protection and intellectual property. Corporate: our team advise on all aspects of setting up and growing a business including incorporation and formation, mergers and acquisitions, restructuring and reorganisation, raising capital, shareholders' rights and dissolution or liquidation. Banking and finance: we advise financial institutions, family offices and specialised lenders on all aspects of corporate lending, acquisition finance, structured finance, project finance, commercial real estate and development finance, as well as borrowers on the best way to structure and navigate raising finance. Sports law: as a trusted adviser for both organisations and individuals we take care of our clients through a blend of everyday support and tailored advice on governance matters, disputes, commercial opportunities, intellectual property, brand protection, marketing, merchandise, sports finance and wealth protection. Employment: a team that represents both employers and employees. For employer clients, services include day to day HR advisory support, contract and policy drafting and Employment Tribunal litigation. For employee clients, advice is provided on unfair dismissal, discrimination, whistleblowing, restrictive covenants, disciplinary and grievance matters and settlement agreements. Litigation and dispute resolution: Our extensive litigation and dispute resolution services cover many legal subjects, but we deal only in areas in which our personnel have exceptional expertise. These are:- landlord and tenant disputes; other residential and commercial property matters; contract and tort litigation (personal and commercial); other company/commercial disputes: insolvency (both personal and corporate – for both creditors and insolvency practitioners); contentious probate issues (with a particular expertise in dealing with vulnerable clients); presumption of death/missing persons cases; professional negligence; debt recovery Private client: trusts, tax and estates legal services are primary areas of expertise at the firm, including giving advice on the most effective way to transfer property. The firm assists in setting up will trusts and helping with their administration, as well as the application of inheritance tax. Services cover all aspects of will drafting, tax advice, winding up and administration of estates, deeds of family arrangements, powers of attorney, and creation and administration of trusts in the UK and offshore. ### Languages - Arabic - Flemish - Romanian - Russian - Spanish - Punjabi - Welsh - Czech - French - German - Greek - Gujarati - Hindi - Italian - Chinese (Mandarin) - Polish ### Memberships - Law Society - Chambers & Partners ### Staffing Figures - 18 Number of Partners - 74 Number of Fee-earners

Office locations

Practice areas

Lawyers in this office

Charlie Davidson

Residential Property

Chris Macartney

Partner and member of the Landlord & Tenant team · Landlord & Tenant

David Little

Partner · Corporate / M&A

Dipak Vaghela

Partner, dealing with all aspects of residential work ranging from sales and purchase of freehold and leasehold properties to lease extensions and buy to let matters. He also deals with all aspects commercial property matters, including the sale and purchase of property portfolios, investment, property finance and landlord and tenant work. He has many years’ experience in dealing with all aspects of residential conveyancing, and also work relating to commercial property, including the sale and purchase of property portfolios, investment and property finance and landlord and tenant work, including advising on leases, licenses and lease renewals. Before joining Bishop & Sewell LLP, Dipak was a senior associate at Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP. · Real Estate

Helen Langworthy

Partner and member of the Private Client team · Private Client

Ian Pope

Consultant Solicitor · Litigation

Julienne Coffey

Partner and a member of the Residential property team · Real Estate

Karen Bright

Partner and head of the Litigation & Dispute Resolution team · Litigation

Laura Cotzias

Family & Divorce

Lee Stafford

Partner, advising individuals and businesses, on a variety of disputes. Particular specialism in acting on professional negligence and fraud claims for banks, building societies and specialist lenders. Experience in managing a busy mortgage repossession department. Other types of matters dealt with include partnership disputes, shareholder disputes, disputes about land, including claims for adverse possession, various types of contractual disputes, consumer rights claims and debt recovery claims. Handling claims at all stages in the litigation process including pre-action and after the issue of proceedings, including lots of experience of dealing with Court hearings and appeals and also multi-party mediations and settlement meetings. · Litigation

Mark Chick

Mark heads up the Landlord and Property team · Landlord & Tenant

Nicholas Barlow

Nicholas is a Partner and Head of the Private Client team · Private Client

Nick Potter

Nick heads up the business and commercial property team. Nick has gained expertise in a wide variety of property matters including all aspects of acquisition and disposal, both leasehold and freehold titles, the financing and preparation of properties for onward development and sale, auction sales, commercial lease renewals and disposal of your business and its premises. · Real Estate

Ossie Swaine

Ossie is a partner and team leader in the residential property team, specialising in the sale and purchase of high-value central London properties, and has a formidable reputation in this sector. Having trained at Howard Kennedy, Ossie joined Bishop & Sewell LLP, since which time he has specialised in all aspects of residential conveyancing, now particularly acting in the sale and purchase of high-value central London properties. He deals with both freehold and leasehold properties and acts for banks and other lenders in respect of purchases. Ossie prides himself on being able to build up a rapport with his clients quickly by being able to explain and advise accurately and clearly in relation to even the most complicated aspects of the law in this area, and by always acting with their best interests at the forefront of his mind. · Real Estate

Philip Rutter

Partner and Joint Head of the Family & Divorce team · Family & Divorce

SM

Sofia Maxwell

Associate Solicitor · Family Law

Stephen Bishop

Stephen is Managing Partner and leads the Residential Property team. · Real Estate

Thom Wilkinson

Partner and a member of the Property team · Real Estate