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Charities
Howard Kennedy offers an international commercial focus alongside a strong private client team that caters to all manner of trust and estate matters.

Corporate Finance
Howard Kennedy’s “keenly priced” corporate practice comes into its own “when you need to be able to rely on the advice, but keep costs down, too”. Clients commend the team’s “interactive approach”. Over the year it has handled a number of retail sector acquisitions and disposals for clients such as Etam and the SRG Group. It is a byword for AIM work, acting mostly for companies and sometimes nomads. Lawyers recently handled the USD17 million flotation of Israel’s Vigilant Technology. The firm has a strong position in the VCT market, which is also a potent driver of AIM instructions. Alan Banes heads the team.

Defamation/ Reputation Management
The media litigation team at Howard Kennedy acts for a variety of producers, television companies, broadcasters and other media clients on libel and reputation management issues. Its client base includes Working Title Films; Reed Business Information; Channel Four Television and DreamWorks. The core partners are Susan Alsan and Sue Charles, who joined the firm in March 2006 from Olswang. Sources commended Aslan's hire as a great boost for the practice: “Any firm would be happy to have a professional, academic and analytical mind like hers on their team.” Similarly, Charles cultivates good working relationships with both clients and peers. She combines a strong technical understanding with an easy-going personality.

Employment
Andrea Nicholls, the head of employment at Howard Kennedy, continues to be praised for her incisive knowledge of the sector. She recently acted for Puccino’s coffee bar franchise on a multiparty employment tribunal claim brought by former directors and employees, including sex discrimination, unfair dismissal and breach of contract.

Media & Entertainment: Film & TV Finance & Production
The group is recognised most for its financial expertise and has handled a range of film projects for independent producers. Largely focused towards UK clients, it is active in television, both in co-production funding and in matters relating to licensing and rights issues post-broadcast. Hakan Kousetta is the undoubted star of the team and was described to researchers as “smart, astute and wise beyond his years.” He is “incredibly patient in negotiations and great to deal with.” He has handled a number of animation projects for television recently, including work relating to well-known superhero franchises. Brian Eagles and Leighton Lloyd both win kudos for their financing expertise, while Justin Stephenson is rated as “a superb banking lawyer.” The group’s clients include a selection of producers and financiers.

Real Estate
This firm is riding the crest of a very successful year property-wise and has established a good reputation in terms of creative investment advice and work on development projects. As well as a large commercial property group, it fields separate property development and finance teams, which, according to clients, are well integrated and valuable resources to be able to draw on. The group has been acting for a joint venture between Ballymore and Canary Wharf on the bid to acquire Wood Wharf for development purposes, and advising Sydney & London Properties on the purchase of three buildings at Euston station office campus for a consideration of £122 million.

Paul Springall heads the group and is well versed in development and funding, and even in the leisure sector.

The team has an impressive line-up of banks and property company clients on the books, including Allied Irish Banks; Ballymore Properties; Bank of Scotland; City & Docklands; Frogmore Estates; Land Securities; Roseberry Homes and London & Regional.

Private Client
This respected private client team continues to experience steady growth both in personnel and industry contacts. The arrival of Ian Rumens in January 2006 and Sue Carter in May 2006, both from Dawsons, has provided solid connections with the offshore world in Jersey and with the Inland Revenue. Clients include media figures; sports personalities; entrepreneurs; landowners; trust companies; accountants and IFAs. The team recently began acting for private banks SG Hambros Bank & Trust, Bank of Bermuda and Lloyds TSB.

Head of the department Jo Summers (née Goldby) specialises in complex tax-oriented work and asset structuring with an international dimension. Sources attest to her “skilful client-handling and straightforward approach.” Martin Davies heads the satellite international department and advises on multimillion-pound inward investments to the UK and strategic estate planning matters. He acts for private individuals in several jurisdictions, including senior members of the Saudi Arabian and British royal families.

Travel
This practice wins applause from clients in the shared leisure and timeshare industries, a niche area in which the team is highly regarded across Europe. The team drafts terms and codes of conduct for operators, as well as offering expertise on the establishment, acquisition and management of fractional and mixed-use leisure developments. An impressive register of recent cases includes advising on the drafting of documentation for a timeshare scheme for Macdonald Hotels.

Eric Gummers is a “meticulous and responsive” professional said to understand the international timeshare industry “inside-out.”

The team acted in collaboration with Leverguide on the acquisition of the entire share capital of hoteliers Elmville. It also acts for IFA Dubai on its large project on Palm Island in the Gulf. Further clients include Charm & More, Hapimag and RMI.

All Chambers references are from Chambers UK, A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession.

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