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Freeths - Law firm

Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure

A refreshingly clear approach

What is involved?

What sets our team apart is our dedicated focus on working solely for operators of pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and drinks and leisure businesses. We can offer your hospitality business an in-depth understanding of the particular challenges you face, and the reassurance that we speak your language.

Visit our specialist Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure website to find out more

Our passion for the industry is what underlies the longstanding relationships we have with many hospitality & leisure businesses and our vision is to be the leading legal supplier for the sector in the UK. We understand the commercial pressures driving your business – such as securing the right site, opening on time and delivering value for money.

 

Why choose Freeths?

  • Over 30 years’ experience of working with some of the biggest names in the drinks, hospitality and leisure sector
  • A team focused on nothing but advising businesses in the sector, meaning we are not distracted by other demands
  • Our extensive knowledge of the regulatory regime means we truly understand your day-to-day operational concerns
  • You can benefit from the wide ranging expertise and resource of our national team of specialists
  • A variety of pricing models offer you budget certainty
Leo Skinner - PartnerFor further information please contact:
Leo Skinner
Partner
T: 0345 271 6755
E: leo.skinner@freeths.co.uk

In addition to our knowledge of the industry, you will benefit from a multi-disciplinary team – whether you are buying or selling sites, facing property disputes, commercial agreements, employment issues, dealing with regulatory or licensing issues, planning new developments, or looking for finance to allow further growth. What is unusual about our team is that our lawyers are well versed in business issues beyond their core areas of expertise – which means they can handle all aspects of a transaction, providing you with a truly seamless service.

You’ll be in good company if you work with us; our client base ranges from start-ups/SMEs and regional pub groups to large national restaurant, hotel and pub and late night operators, as well as brewers and drinks companies.

Meet the team

Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure Lawyers


Lisa Gilligan
Managing Partner

0345 272 5723

Jonathan Hambleton
Managing Partner

0345 271 6750

Christopher Ainsworth
Partner

0345 271 6757

Mohammed Alam
Partner

0345 340 4215

Simon Barker

Simon Barker
Partner

0345 634 2583

Iain Bowler
Partner

0345 030 5767

Adam Boyd
Partner

0345 271 6773

Mark Brown
Partner

0345 271 6764

Robert Bruce
Partner

0345 128 6958

Francis Dalton
Partner

0345 128 6954

Heather Davies
Partner

0345 050 3619

Image of Tim Foley

Tim Foley
Partner

0345 340 4202

Nigel Gardner

Nigel Gardner
Partner

0345 128 6969

Image of Chris Holwell

Chris Holwell
Partner

0345 050 3667

Oliver Jackson

Oliver Jackson
Partner

0345 128 7985

John Jeffreys

John Jeffreys
Partner

0345 126 3761

David Marsden

David Marsden
Partner

0345 404 1757

Andrew Maxwell

Andrew Maxwell
Partner

0345 128 6997

Rebecca Sawbridge

Rebecca Sawbridge
Partner

0345 634 2589

Christopher Sing
Partner

0345 017 1345

Leo Skinner
Partner

0345 271 6755

Nick Sutton
Partner

0345 077 9567

Laura Tracey - Employment Lawyer

Laura Tracey
Partner

0345 166 6349

Natalie Drought
Director

0345 271 6752

Jude Mladek
Director

0345 166 6304

Lucy Walford
Director

Roger Gough
Consultant

0345 030 5718

Paul Bownes
Managing Associate

0345 404 4142

Isobel Callaghan

Isobel Callaghan
Managing Associate

0345 404 4175

Tom Holden
Managing Associate

0345 271 6772

Tristan Milner
Managing Associate

0345 030 5803

Gary Munro
Managing Associate

0345 271 6760

Selina Norris
Managing Associate

0345 050 3563

Kaleigh Brown
Senior Associate

0345 030 5858

Emma Kelly

Emma Kelly
Senior Associate

0345 077 9580

Eleanor Kerr
Senior Associate

0345 271 6731

Tristan Sharples
Senior Associate

0345 271 6737

Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure

Amy Weir
Senior Associate

0345 404 1725

Emma Dye
Associate

0345 271 6746

Aamir Hussain
Associate

0345 128 7989

Samantha Keegan
Associate

0345 128 7965

James Lapham
Associate

0186 578 1291

Amy Platt
Associate

0345 166 6267

Image of Samantha Turner

Samantha Turner
Associate

0345 271 6736

Related news
More related news, articles and events for Drinks, Hospitality & Leisure
Testimonials

"Always accessible and gives an immediate response."

"Very proactive and always responds quickly."

"Freeths always meet their deadlines on work with a time frame."

"Freeths don't overcomplicate things...their advice is in plain English and is accessible."

"The detailed exceptions report highlights any points with potential financial impact...this is a very helpful and efficient way of reporting."

"We recognised Leo as an expert in hospitality and the restaurant/bar sector and he demonstrated to us it is a reputation well earned. Leo is thorough and provides sound commercial advice as well as providing us with a timely service."

(Managing Director, Gondola Group)

"I have worked with Heather for over 20 years delivering multiple turn key developments of internationally branded hotels (IHG, Hilton and Radisson). She is much more than a lawyer; she is proactive, solves problems and gives me answers, all in a commercially focused way. She always makes herself available when required and never lets me down."

(Alastair Cattrell, MD Wylam Investments Limited and VEC Envisage Group Limited)

"Sources highlight new department head Christopher Sing for his ‘outstanding client service, tactical ability and expertise.’ Although best known for his background with clients in the education sector, his recent experience includes advising on cases concerning industries such as finance and leisure."

(Chambers & Partners)

"'Highly experienced corporate lawyer' Jonathan Hambleton is held in high regard for both his strong sector knowledge in the leisure and hospitality industry and his private equity expertise. One client reports: 'He provided expertise and outstanding advice from a corporate perspective, helping guide us through complex corporate challenges that definitely improved our business'."

(Chambers & Partners)

Notable Work
  • Acquisition of hotel development sites, both freehold and leasehold, including many individual sites for Premier Inn.
  • Advised Carlsberg UK Limited on the acquisition of London Fields Brewery.
  • Acting for Wells & Young’s on the acquisition of the Courage, Directors, McEwans and Youngers beer brands from Heineken.
  • Acting for the owner in the removal of Vince Power from the Kensington Park Hotel in Notting Hill following a two week trial. The case received press coverage in the Guardian and Evening Standard, as have some of the other cases Freeths have been involved in.
  • Acting for the administrators of a group of companies in the UK beverage industry operating off-license stores trading under various high-street brands. Freeths advised on the trading and ultimate disposal of over 150 stores to over 8 separate purchasers (Winerack, Victoria Wines, the Local).
  • Various matters at London’s O2 arena (including two refinancings, a joint venture for a new 452-room hotel, the development of the roofwalk and proposals for the new designer outlet village).
  • Acting on a number of conditional acquisitions of sites for hotel developments, guiding and advising throughout the conditional period, managing the funding and construction process and advising on the management and disposal either by way of property or corporate structure.
  • Acting for the owner in connection with the development of what will be Europe’s first new build Radisson Red hotel in Scotland. This was on the agreement with the brand owner Carlson Rezidor for the management and operation of the hotel.
  • Acting for an investor on the sale of a pub listed as an Asset of Community Value and general advice on the moratorium period under s95(1) of the Localism Act 2011.
  • Advising national and regional brewers and pub companies on competition issues and the regulatory framework including the statutory code for tied pubs and the voluntary code of practice, Article 101 TFEU and the associated block exemption.

Client service

‘Doing the right thing’ is at the heart of Freeths. Find out more about our excellent client service and the strong set of values that guide the way we work.

Our values

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Talk to us

Freeths are a leading national law firm with 13 offices across the UK. If you have a query about our services or just want to find out more, why not give us a call?

Contact: 03301 001 014

Choose an office:

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