Surrey Lawyer Local NewS

GBH Law Assists with the Sale of Regional Accountancy Practice Wise and Co to Shaw Gibbs Limited

Denise Herrington, Kathryn Shaw, and Helen Stone acted on behalf of Sharmini Woodings, Mark Dickinson, Steve South, and Steve Morgan, partners of Wise and Co, in connection with the merger of their business with Shaw Gibbs Limited, a leading accountancy practice based in Oxfordshire.

Wise and Co is a well-known practice that has operated from its offices in central Farnham, Surrey since the 1970s, with a focus on serving clients in Surrey, Sussex, and Hampshire.

In a statement regarding the merger, Sharmini Woodings, current Managing Partner of Wise and Co, expressed her excitement, stating “The merger is an exciting opportunity for both Wise and Co and Shaw Gibbs Limited. By combining our resources,

expertise, and client bases, we will be able to offer more comprehensive and tailored services to our clients. We are thrilled to be joining forces with such a well-respected firm.”

She further added, “Throughout the acquisition process, the team at GBH Law provided exceptional legal support. Denise Herrington and her team ensured that everything ran smoothly and efficiently, and their attention to detail was outstanding. We are grateful for their expertise and guidance throughout this entire process.”

GBH Law is proud to have played a role in this acquisition, which will undoubtedly lead to exciting new developments for the merged business. ■

Richard Hughes

Moore Barlow Leads Deal to Open New Restaurant for Michelin-Star Chef

Southeast law firm Moore Barlow has advised on the lease of a new restaurant in Soho for Michelin-starred chef Tomos Parry. Mountain, on Beak Street in Soho, will be a new wood grill and wine bar that combines Spanish influenced cuisine and executive chef Parry’s Welsh heritage.

His cooking is led by long standing relationships with the fishermen and farmers in Wales and Cornwall whose guiding principle on sourcing from the ground in the morning to on the grill in the evening has been the backbone of Brat's approach for the last years.

Moore Barlow acted for tenant Super 8 Restaurant Group, which is operated by Brian Hannon and Ben Chapman. The group also operates the Michelin-starred Brat in Shoreditch as well as Brat Climpsons Arch, Smoking Goat and Kiln in Soho.

The transaction was led by Richard Hughes, partner in the commercial property team at Moore Barlow.

Commenting on the deal, Richard said: “Mountain is a really exciting project, bringing together the UK’s best chefs, an award-winning restaurant group in Super 8 and a prime location in central Soho. Hospitality is rebuilding after a challenging few years and the number of opportunities and appetite for investment in new ventures is expanding all

the time. New launches like this are essential to driving the sector forward and its continued recovery. It was a pleasure to work with Brian and his team.”

Brian Hannon, CEO and co-founder of the Super 8 Group, said: “The UK has one of the world’s most vibrant and varied food cultures and is home to world-class chefs and restaurants. Another opportunity to work with Tomos would have been hard to pass up and we’re grateful to everyone involved in the deal that helped to make it happen.

“Moore Barlow has been a consistent and trusted partner to us for some years and the team’s support through this process was invaluable. We’ve come to rely on their level-headed, conscientious work and this is what they delivered for us again on this deal.”

Set to open in Summer 2023, Mountain has already been named on the Evening Standard’s list of London’s most exciting new restaurant openings.

Richard Hughes is based in Moore Barlow’s London office in Cheapside, one of the six the firm has across the Southeast of England including Guildford, Southampton and Richmond

The firm’s commercial property team supports clients in London and along the M3 corridor, as well as around the South Coast. ■

Stevens & Bolton Announces Round of Promotions, Alongside a New Partner

Guildford-based law firm Stevens & Bolton has announced the promotion of Matthew Peto to Partner to further bolster the firm’s growing private client practice. Matt’s promotion brings the total number of all-equity partners at Stevens & Bolton to 46 following five successful lateral Partner hires over the past 12 months, including Gareth Walliss who joined Stevens & Bolton’s private client team from Shoosmiths last year.

Commenting on Matt’s promotion James Waddell, Managing Partner, said: “We are delighted to welcome Matt to our all-equity partnership. Matt’s career at Stevens & Bolton is going from strength to strength and I am really excited about what Matt can contribute to the success we are seeing in our private client teams.”

The announcement follows the firm’s 12th consecutive year of growth and is part of a wider round of internal promotions, which also sees two new Managing Associates and four new Senior Associates being promoted. ■

Senior Appointment and Office Opening Set to Bolster Moore Barlow Surrey Footprint

Southeast-based law firm Moore Barlow has made a key hire for its Surrey commercial property team and also announced a move to a new office in Richmond to boost its offering to clients across the region. Rupeena Shoker joins the business’s 26-strong commercial property team from North Hampshire firm Lamb Brooks LLP, where she was partner and head of commercial property.

Rupeena trained and qualified at K&L Gates in the City and has extensive experience in all aspects of high value commercial property work – including corporate-support property work, the acquisition, letting and disposal of commercial properties and all landlord and tenant matters.

The new hire comes as the firm looks to open a new office in Richmond in the autumn, in a move that will see it close its two current premises in the town and relocate 52 employees to a larger, 6,500 sq. ft. unit that will provide its people and clients with a new space focused on flexible and collaborative working.

Commenting on the moves, Ed Whittington at Moore Barlow said: “Rupeena brings a wealth of experience in handling complex commercial property matters and critically, will build on the services we provide to our clients in the sector, as we advise them on the constantly evolving real estate and workplace landscape.

“More broadly, our business has long-focused on embedding a peoplefirst culture and our move to the new premises on Sheen Road reflects this, providing a more flexible and collaborative working space that better suits how we want to work with our colleagues and clients.” ■

Stevens & Bolton Hires New Corporate Partner

Guildford-based law firm, Stevens & Bolton has announced the appointment of new partner Jonathan Steele who joins the corporate practice from Charles Russell Speechlys, continuing its recent run of lateral hires.

Jonathan is an accomplished corporate transactional specialist, offering expert advice on a wide spectrum of matters including mergers and acquisitions, corporate investments and restructurings. He has particular industry expertise in the healthcare, technology and media sectors, working with clients that range from early-stage growth companies to listed public companies.

Jonathan’s arrival comes at a time of considerable growth for the firm and adds to the five high-profile lateral hires made by the firm over the past 12 months, Sarah Cardew from Irwin Mitchell, Caroline

Delaney from Rosenblatt, Andy Williams from Charles Russell Speechlys, Gareth Walliss from Shoosmiths and Heidi Sawtell from Talbot Walker. It also follows the recent internal promotion to partner of Matthew Peto in the firm’s private client practice, bringing the total number of partners in the all-equity partnership to 47.

Commenting on Jonathan’s arrival, James Waddell, Managing Partner, said “The Stevens & Bolton corporate practice continues to go from strength to strength, with one of the largest mid-market M&A teams outside the City and a particular specialism in executing buy-and-build strategies for corporate acquirers. Jonny is a great addition to our really strong corporate partner bench, and we are delighted to welcome him to the firm.” ■

Polly Cross, Ben Loosemoore, Ed Whittington and Charlotte Brackley

Amandeep Khasriya

QUARTET OF NEW PARTNERS ANNOUNCED AT MOORE BARLOW

Southeastlaw firm Moore Barlow has named four new partners across its personal injury, real estate and corporate practices.

Major trauma specialist Amandeep Khasriya has been made a partner in the personal injury team. Amandeep has 14 years’ experience dealing with high-value and serious injury cases and also heads up the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee. She is also vice chair of the Law Society’s Women Solicitors Network.

The firm also confirmed that Charlotte Brackley and Ben Loosemore in the property practice have joined the partnership. Charlotte, in Moore Barlow’s highly-regarded rural property team, has 20 years’ experience acting for high-net-worth individuals, private companies and trusts, predominantly buying, selling and financing farms, estates and large country houses with land. Ben is a land development specialist acting predominantly for housebuilders and investors.

The fourth new partner, Polly Cross, works in the corporate practice where she leads the department’s company secretarial team and specialises in advising companies in relation to director and

shareholder meetings, share transactions, articles of association, directors’ duties and statutory company law requirements.

A further 13 lawyers across the firm have been promoted to associate and senior associate.

Ed Whittington, Managing Partner at Moore Barlow, said: “Amandeep, Charlotte, Ben and Polly bring a wealth of expertise to the partnership, bolstering the level of specialist knowledge we have in our senior team.

“Investing in our people and offering them remuneration that’s more than just a salary - through training, career development and a nurturing culture - is fundamental to our model. These four promotions demonstrate that our approach is working and showcase the strength of expertise available across our business.”

Moore Barlow employs nearly 500 people with offices in Guildford, Southampton, Woking and Lymington, Richmond and the City. ■

DMH Stallard Guildford Family Team

DMH Stallard LLP, Guildford Office Expand their Family Law Practice with New Team Members

Staff and Partners at award winning law firm DMH Stallard LLP, have welcomed new colleagues into their Family Team at their Guildford office.

Partner of the Guildford DMH Stallard LLP Family Team, Samantha Jago, welcomed Amber Matheson and Jessica Da Silva in October 2022. Amber joined the firm as a newly qualified Solicitor with over 6 years legal experience and is steadily growing her client base and network. Jessica is the team’s Paralegal, and the firm is very proud to have her continue her career with them as a Trainee Solicitor from September 2023.

The team has recently welcomed Lauren Moir and Michelle Davies, who joined the firm from a Surrey Legal 500 practice in June 2023. Lauren has joined as an Associate Solicitor and comes with a strong local profile and client following. Michelle joins the team as a Paralegal with over 23 years’ experience in the legal profession.

Commenting on the hires Samantha Jago said; “I am very proud to be part of the growth and success of the family team at the DMH Stallard LLP Guildford office. I was recruited by the firm almost 4 years ago to grow a family team at the Guildford office and it is wonderful to see that ambition realised.

The growing family team is able to continue to support and complement the work of the firm’s other practice areas by providing first class support and legal advice to clients as they face the challenges that flow from a relationship breakdown.

DMH Stallard LLP is a wonderful place to work, and I look forward to seeing the new recruits excel in their careers with the firm.”

DMH Stallard LLP not only offers family law advice at its Guildford offices but also its offices in London, Gatwick, Crawley, Horsham, Brighton and Hassocks. The firm continues to go from strength to strength through its mergers and lateral hires. The firm are established leaders in all areas of legal expertise, as recognised in the Legal 500 and Chambers publications, and as is further evidenced by the numerous legal awards they have won. DMH Stallard LLP are always looking for new talent to join their firm, so please do go to their website at www.dmhstallard.com to find out details of current vacancies.■