ROYTHORNESBUSINESS

SERVICES

Supportingbusinessdecisions

Guidingbusinessgrowth

Our rangeof services

Knowledge and experienceRoythornes Business Team handles everything from complexmulti-million pound business transactions through to soletraders. Clients benefit from the knowledge gained over manyyears of experience in a broad range of commercial sectors andin undertaking work for government establishments and utilities.We are also experienced in undertaking a broad range ofinternational work.

Heavyweight expertiseRoythornes has an enviable reputation for its heavyweightcommercial litigation practice. The Team has commerciallitigation partners within its membership. This brings closer tothe negotiation table, the experience of disputes and claimsthereby assisting all lawyers in the Team to help steer clientsaway from future difficulties.

A real world viewWe have a commitment to adding value to our clients'businesses and are very aware that deadlines matter. Attentionto detail is important but so is maintaining a pace of progresswhich reflects a client's needs within the real world within whichthey operate. Our solicitors know that their task is to leadclients through stressful and complex processes by taking careto identify solutions and to facilitate, not frustrate, progress.

• Business rescue• Acquisitions and disposals• Management buy-outs/buy-ins• Company formation• Mergers, demergers and company restructures• Joint ventures• Franchises and franchise agreements• Partnerships• Shareholder/investor agreements• Intellectual property

• Distribution and Agency agreements• Funding and security• Company secretarial support• International ventures and agreements• Commercial agencies• Corporate governance• Directors' duties• Commercial contracts• Share incentive schemes• Business start ups

Our Business Team delivers a range of legal skills and experiencewhich supports client needs throughout the UK and beyond.

The Roy thornesBusiness Team

Specialist sectorsFoodWe have considerable knowledge of the food sector.This can be of particular help when dealing with businesssales, acquisitions and joint ventures.

PropertyRoythornes has a considerable team of property lawyerswhich acts for many major landowners, developers andsocial landlords.

InternationalRoythornes' client base is active around the world.Work undertaken includes commercial contracts, termsand conditions, agency and distribution agreements, brandlicensing, shipping and carriage agreements.

Business Rescue and InsolvencyOur team includes solicitors with considerable experiencein business rescue and insolvency work.

CharitiesRoythornes acts for and supports a number of charitieswho are active throughout the country.

RenewablesWe act for land owners, suppliers and consultants who areidentifying and implementing both large scale and smallerprojects within the renewable energy sector.

Warehousing and distributionWe have considerable experience advising end users,suppliers and systems integrators in the warehousingand distribution sector.

Recent work undertaken by the Business team• Acting for a large commercial property developer in its groupreorganisation and restructuring which included the refinancingof the group and a rights issue of shares.

• Advising a UK based company on agency agreements formarketing products through a European distribution network,granting agencies within specific territories for the sale ofproducts and the establishment of commission structures

• Advising a national homebuilder in the renegotiation of itsbanking facilities and funding arrangements.

• Working on the incorporation of a number of professionalfirms as limited liability partnerships and drafting thepartnership agreements.

• Negotiating and concluding the terms of a commercialmanufacturing and distribution agreement with a largeinternational food provider.

• Reorganisation and demerger of a large retail outlet to createtwo new standalone businesses.

• Drafting the terms of a commercial agreement between themembers of a co-operative organisation in the sugar beet sector.

• Advising on and implementing the buyback of shares in anumber of companies to enable shareholders to exit the

businesses and capturecapital payments fromthe companies in themost tax efficientmanner available.

• Acting at veryshort notice inthe purchase ofa failing schoolwhich was goinginto administration.The purchase wascompleted within aweek of taking initialinstructions.

• Guiding the remaining directorsthrough the process of the retirementof the founder shareholder and director of alarge insurance broker and then negotiating and drafting theterms of the purchase of a shareholding in the company by anational insurance broker.

• Specifically within the food sector, drafting the relevantdocumentation to enable producer organisations to beincorporated and recognised by the RPA to enable grantaid to be paid to them.

What wedo

Roythornes is a top 200 law firmwith a strong reputation. From fouroffices we act for a wide range ofbusinesses and individuals, taking apragmatic and business focusedapproach to the challenges they face.

Services for Businesses• Business rescue and insolvency• Business sales and purchases• Company start-ups• Compromise agreements• Debt recovery• Distribution/agency agreements• Dispute resolution and litigation• Employment for businesses• Environment• Planning for business• Property development• Restructuring

Specialist Sectors• International• Food• Agriculture• Charities• Social Housing• Environmental

Offices:Nottingham 0115 948 4555Spalding 01775 842 500Peterborough 01733 558 585Newmarket 01638 561320

www.roythornes.co.uk

This publication is for guidance only and doesnot constitute legal advice. You should alwaysseek professional advice before makingdecision of a legal nature. Roythornes LLPis a limited liability partnership registeredin England and Wales under numberOC343074. We are regulated by theSolicitors Regulation Authority. Registeredoffice Enterprise Way, Pinchbeck, SpaldingPE11 3YR. We use the word ‘Partner’ to referto a member of the LLP or an employee orconsultant with equivalent standing andqualifications. Refer to www.roythornes.co.ukfor additional legal information.February 2012.

Meet theTeamPeter Bennett has been a partner at the firm since1981and has extensive experience in dealing with awide range of commercial issues and contractsincluding cross-border work. Peter advises the teamin connection with partnership issues, shareholderdisputes and employment law, and has wide experienceof commercial agencies. He has a particularunderstanding of the agricultural and food sector.t : 01775 842559 e: peterbennett@roythornes.co.uk

Deborah Brown has been committed to corporateand commercial work since qualifying as a solicitor.She became a partner of the firm in 2011. Deborah'swork involves a full range of corporate services butworth a mention is her knowledge and experience ofmerger, demerger and restructuring and her particularexperience in the food and farming sectors.t: 01775 842583 e: deborahbrown@roythornes.co.uk

Martin Jinks qualified as a solicitor in 1993 andbecame a Roythornes partner in 2011. He is a corporateand commercial lawyer with significant experience in awide range of transactional and non-transactional work.Martin brings a highly practical and commerciallyfocused approach to the handling of client issues.Martin has particular expertise in the outsourcing ofservices and the implementation of large-scaleautomation projects.t: 01775 842636 e: martinjinks@roythornes.co.uk

John Cameron has an employment case loadproviding comprehensive advice on developing policiesand procedures including restructuring andorganisational change. Acting for both employers andemployees gives him a unique and valuable insight intoemployment issues. He often acts in employmentlitigation and as a result can provide assistance andguidance as to what pitfalls there are when draftingsuch policies and procedures.t: 01775 842564 e: johncameron@roythornes.co.uk

Mike Matthews joined the firm in 2010 and providesvaluable back up to the team to add depth to the workthey undertake. His experience covers working with awide range of businesses from sole traders to largecommercial concerns.t: 01775 842606 e: michaelmatthews@roythornes.co.uk