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www.thackraywilliams.com
Business legal solutions
Offi ces in –
Bromley
Kings House,
32-40 Widmore Road,
Bromley, BR1 1RY
Telephone 020 8290 0440
Beckenham
225-235 High Street,
Beckenham, BR3 1BN
Telephone 020 8663 0503
West Wickham
73 Station Road,
West Wickham, BR4 0QG
Telephone 020 8777 6698
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Our business Services are located at our Bromley head offi ce.
You can e-mail any of our solicitors directly from our website
at www.thackraywilliams.com or alternatively e-mail
Head Offi ce
Kings House,
32-40 Widmore Road,
Bromley, BR1 1RY
Telephone 020 8290 0440
Fax 020 8464 5282
DX 119600 Bromley 8
www.thackraywilliams.com
Offi ce hours
8.30am-6.00pm
(switchboard and Bromley reception)
Train stations
Bromley North 0.2 miles
Bromley South 0.4 miles
Car parking
Meters in Queens Road
Pay & display in Intu (previously known as The Glades)
Bus routes
126, 208, 227, 261, 314, 336, 354, 358
How to contact us Our range of business services
Intu
KingsHouse
BromleySouth Station
ChurchillTheatre
MARKETSQUARE
QUEENSROAD
Thackray Williams
Odeon BROMLEY
To BromleyNorth Station
LONDON ROAD
HIGH STREET
CH
UR
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RO
AD
WID
MO
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OA
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KENTISH WAY
Not-for-profi t organisations
Specialist advice for schools, medical
practices and charities including
regulatory bodies and charitable
incorporated organisations.
Commercial property
Including acquisitions and disposals,
land development, business leases
and licensing for any type of business.
Corporate and commercial
Including business startups,
commercial contracts, buying and
selling businesses, secured funding,
business turnaround, insolvency and
re-organisations, IT and e-commerce.
Commercial disputes
Including contractual disputes,
building disputes and possession
proceedings. Also a mediation service.
Debt recovery
Improve your cash fl ow by employing
us to collect your debts. We are cost-
eff ective, effi cient and tenacious.
Employment services
A comprehensive service for
businesses advising on employees
and their rights.
Leasehold property management
Sale of freeholds and extending
leases of residential property.
Thackray Williams business news
Keep up to date with legal issues that
may impact on your business. Register
to receive our newsletter by visiting
our website or asking your Thackray
Williams contact.
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Commercial propertyNot-for-profi t organisations
Our specialist team of property lawyers has a commonsense, no-nonsense approach to
getting results. We know the market inside out and believe there is a solution to every
problem. We provide a bespoke service and work to your deadlines.
Commercial real estate
We act for commercial and private
clients – from retailers to fast-growing
entrepreneurial businesses, developers
and investors. We have the capacity to
handle substantial workloads and work to
tight deadlines.
Commercial lease transactions
We act for both landlords and tenants,
local and national in the granting and
renewal of business leases.
Commercial investment properties
We know the importance of eff ective
management of property assets which is
key to successful fi nancial performance.
We build long-term working relationships
with our clients.
Land development
We represent a number of developers in
connection with residential and commercial
developments in London and the South East.
We provide a complete range of services to
the house-building industry. We have
considerable experience in fundamental
areas aff ecting land development including
planning and infrastructure agreements and
advise on the impact of restrictive covenants
and other third party rights on development
schemes administrative law matters.
Bank fi nance
We act for a number of major banks
providing independent advice where there is
substantial funding involved. We investigate
title on behalf of the bank, address any
title issues or defects with the borrower’s
solicitors and take all necessary steps to
perfect the bank’s security.
Schools, medical practices and charities including regulatory
bodies and charitable incorporated organisations
Our work in this area includes incorporation and registration,
constitutional advice, advice to Trustees on duties generally and
remuneration, mergers and rationalisation strategies, contractual
arrangements with third parties, employment and property portfolio
management.
We assist charities in their dealings with the Charity Commission and
other regulatory authorities. This may involve working collaboratively
with the Commission to prepare new governing documents for
charities and obtaining necessary consents and authorities.
Schools
Our employment team off ers an HR retainer service to advise
schools on the myriad of employment issues that can arise. We
work with schools to agree a bespoke service tailored to the
school’s individual needs. This may mean agreeing a fi xed termly
fee for expert legal services. Not only does this off er schools
value for money but it provides peace of mind and often prevents
employment issues from escalating.
Schools may from time to time need to consult our commercial
property team. We also off er a debt recovery service for schools.
Medical practices
Our company team off er specialist advice to medical practices
by assisting with the drafting and negotiation of partnership
agreements, the formation of companies, property matters relating
to the practice and employment advice. We also advise on specialist
wills and ownership structures for business owners.
Telecommunications
We have a specialist Telecoms team
advising on mast sites throughout
the South East. We have successfully
renegotiated landlord’s agreements
achieving rental growth in some cases
of more than 200% and updated
statutory compliance aff ording the
Landlord necessary protection against
the perceived health risks associated
with masts.
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What we do
n Standard terms and conditions of sale
and purchase
n Financial restructuring insolvency
n Partnership advice
n Franchise, distribution and agency
agreement
n IT and e-commerce
n Construction and development
arrangements
n Business start-ups
n Sales and purchases of business assets
and companies
n Shareholders agreements and
joint ventures
n Bank fi nance and security advice
n Management buy-outs and buy-ins
n Advice to company directors in
di� cult trading conditions
Corporate and commercial Commercial disputes
Our services
We help our clients achieve their objectives
by providing responsive, informed advice in
a commercial and cost-eff ective way.
We advise all types and sizes of businesses
– ranging from individual entrepreneurs
to large companies - at all stages in the
business cycle. And when appropriate,
we call on the expertise of specialists in
other departments in the fi rm such as
employment, commercial litigation and
commercial property.
We cover all areas of civil litigation dealing with both litigious and non-litigious aspects of
the law including mediation and alternative dispute resolution through to actions in the civil
courts. We also have expertise in conducting cases in the Leasehold Valuation Tribunals.
Areas of particular expertise include:
n All types of property dispute
n General contract disputes
n Possession proceedings
n Company, shareholder & director disputes
n Building/construction disputes
n Professional negligence claims
n Debt collection
Over many years we have forged close
working relationships with Counsel acting in
areas of contested work. The department has
well established, friendly and approachable
staff and our clients are always kept up to
date with the progress of their case.
“Our corporate team works closely with the
commercial property unit. By working together and
sharing information, we are able to give our clients
cost-eff ective input on all relevant areas.” Robert Goddard Managing Partner
Mediation service
The Courts are increasingly requiring
parties to resolve disputes by mediation.
The success rate for mediation is very
high and statistics show that over two
thirds settle eff ectively.
Mediation has the advantage of
reducing costs where a mediated
settlement is achieved, and making
it possible to continue business
relationships with parties with whom
you are in dispute.
Examples of the sort of work we do
for business clients:
Contesting a damages claim
We acted for a house building company
in defending a damages claim from a
purchaser. After mediation, the amount
of damages that had to be paid by
our client was 80% less than the
original claim.
Dispute between directors
We were instructed in relation to
accusations of breach of directors
duties, and mediation allowed the
parties to resolve the dispute without
causing unnecessary damage to their
professional relationships.
Claim for breach of contract
We were able to successfully mediate
a claim for unpaid monies due under
a service contract. We were able to
resolve the matter at mediation with
full confi dentiality between the parties,
avoiding the need for a public hearing.
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What we do
No debt is too small or too large. All
you have to do is send us a copy of the
relevant invoices. We process the claim
and a demand letter is sent immediately
to the debtor requesting payment within
seven days. In default of payment court
proceedings will be instigated incorporating
a claim for interest, costs and fees.
In commercial matters we claim enhanced
rates of interest and costs on your behalf
under Late Payment Legislation, which serve
to make the whole process even more
cost eff ective.
Each step in the process – from judgment
to enforcement - is taken automatically
at the earliest opportunity to enhance the
prospects of recovery.
Debt recovery
Bad debts and slow payers are a common problem in business. Don’t drain your resources
further by turning to a debt-collecting agency. Take advantage of our highly eff ective,
streamlined system.
Costs
Apart from the initial registration fee our
fees are largely geared to being chargeable
only on collection of the debt. Because of
this policy we have every incentive to secure
the debt.
All court fees and fi xed costs are recoverable
from the debtor on successful conclusion
of the action. Even if defended our Debt
Recovery and Litigation department have
the resources to pursue the action to trial.
Don’t let your bad payers become
bad debtors.
We have proven expertise in the
collection of service charges and
ground rents for housing associations,
property management companies and
landlords.
We act for Bakers Basco in its national
bread tray recovery programme. Baker
Basco was formed by Allied Bakeries,
Find Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts &
Sons and Warburtons.
Employment services
Our employment law team prides itself on
its ability to bring you up-to-the-minute
advice in the constantly changing arena of
employment law. Employees and workers
now have more rights than ever before and
our expert team can help you fi nd your way
through the maze of regulations, in addition
to providing cost-eff ective, responsive and
professional advice.
Besides helping you to resolve any problems,
we can assist you with your paperwork, such
as contracts of employment, handbooks and
policies. Our aim is for you to get the most
from your business by supporting you in
managing your workforce.
We can help you with the following areas of employment law
n Maternity/paternity/adoption
leave rights
n Part-time Workers Regulations
n Redundancy negotiations
n References
n Restraint of trade/confi dentiality
clauses/injunctions
n Sickness and sick pay
n Transfer of undertakings (TUPE)
n Working Time Regulations
n Wrongful or unfair dismissal claims
n Advising directors and senior
employees
n Collective agreements
n Compromise and severance
agreements
n County Court and High Court claims
n Discrimination claims including:
age, disability, sexual orientation,
race, religion
n Drafting, amending and reviewing
employment contracts
n Employment Tribunal claims
n Equal Pay Act claims
n Flexible working requests
n Health and safety
Employment HR services
This is a seamless and integrated solution to
all people management issues be they legal
or otherwise. Making use of this could not
be simpler.
n Ring us with any “people” query, be it legal
or HR related.
n If it is a legal matter one of our solicitors
will respond. If it is a wider HR matter one of
our HR advisors will call you back.
n A fi xed annual fee will enable you to tap into
a helpline that can respond to any HR or legal
issues and will also provide you with access
to any relevant forms or draft letters etc.
We off er a specialist service for
independent and academy schools.
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Leasehold property management
Commonly asked questions from landlords
of property divided into leasehold flats:
n What do I need to do if I want to dispose
of my interest in the building?
n What are my rights and obligations as
a freeholder?
n What do I do if I receive a notice from
my tenants stating that they have a statutory
right to buy my freehold or to extend
their lease?
n Am I being adequately ‘compensated’ for
the potential loss of my freehold?
How can we help?
The law has become increasingly complex in
answering these questions, so much so that
we have established a separate department
dealing solely with this highly specialist area
of the law.
Whether it is possible to proceed by
agreement with the tenants, whether a
Notice of Claim has been served on you
or it is necessary to pursue your rights
through the courts or the First-tier Tribunal
(Property Chamber), our department has the
experience and expertise to assist you and
provide you with a complete service.
Our experience is such that we have the
confidence and expertise to ensure that
your rights and interests as the freeholder
are recognised and protected and that the
common pitfalls under the legislation
are avoided.
Whatever your needs, we can advise you
on your rights, the tenant’s rights, and on
the procedure, timescale and the likely
costs involved.
We are members of the Association of
Leasehold Enfranchisement Practitioners.
Freehold services
We advise on disposals of freeholds/
ground rents at auction and by private
contract.
To maximise your profit, we will
endeavour to ensure that as much of
your legal costs as is possible, are borne
by the buyer.
We advise landlords on all legal matters
that can be encountered in property
management such as the provision of
deeds of covenant, licences to assign
and consent to alterations.
We work closely with our debt recovery
and litigation department to provide a
comprehensive service.
Our range of services for private clients
Accident or injury claims
Personal injury, clinical negligence and
‘No Win, No Fee’ where possible.
Dispute resolution
Disputes involving landlord & tenant,
property, boundary issues, consumer
issues and contested debt recovery.
Divorce and relationship problems
Including divorce and separation,
arrangements for children, financial
settlements, prenuptial agreements
and injunctions.
Elderly issues, powers of attorney
and nursing home fees
Including wills, inheritance tax
planning, powers of attorney and the
management of the affairs of the elderly.
Employment issues
Contracts of employment, employee
disputes, discrimination, compromise
and severance agreements, unfair
dismissal.
House/property sales and purchases
All sale and purchase transactions
including re-mortgages and transfer
of equity.
Leasehold enfranchisement
Advice to residents of blocks of flats
(and other residential property) on
joint purchase of freehold and lease
extensions.
Wills, trusts and probate
Including probate administration,
creation and administration of trusts,
contentious probate.
Desi
gn S
ilk P
earc
e
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