smith partnership - firmwide brochure

Our Legal ServicesA guide to our Commercial and Private Client practice areas

PartnershipsBuilding

is what we’re all about

Smith Partnership was founded in 1987 by six friends who had a vision of a law firm that would treat its clients as real people. Since that time the firm has expanded and diversified from its roots as a high street firm but it has never lost that basic vision.

Today Smith Partnership offers a mix of services that include the full range of commercial services together with private client work from its linked network of eight offices across the East Midlands region.

The firm acts for a range of clients from SMEs to large public companies. Each client irrespective of size enjoys the same uncompromising level of service and commitment. The firm is proud of the fact that it maintains long term relationships with its clients and that referrals continue to be a major source of new business.

From its very beginning Smith Partnership has had a progressive culture which has built lasting relationships with clients and has driven growth and development.

The firm is proud of its reputation for openness and friendliness but it is also a firm of the highest professional standards, holding Investors in People Certification and being one of the first law firms in the UK to achieve Lexcel accreditation – the Law Society’s quality standard.

As important as these badges are as a recognition and a guide for new clients, they are only part of the story. The firm is committed to continuing to develop its services and products.

Whether this requires new methods of working – such as our web-based debt recovery system or bringing in specialised legal talent in new areas of law, Smith Partnership will continue to anticipate and serve the needs of its clients.

Smith Partnership is still managed by some of the people who founded the firm, and have been joined by a band of professionals who share their vision. This vision is centred on the needs of clients and has been the mainstay of the firm throughout its development.

Fashions in management and commercial culture have come and gone within the legal profession but Smith Partnership has always remained faithful to its vision.

This is because the vision of the firm is real and founded on belief in the value of people, both the people within the firm and its clients. Smith Partnership is not about the maximisation of profit at the expense of the client.

The firm’s professional advice and legal knowledge is unquestioned, as it is with many law firms, but we have always looked to give more. That’s why we have long standing relationships with clients. That’s the difference our clients have come to value and trust.

Commercial ServicesWe offer a comprehensive range of commercial services to businesses. We pride ourselves on offering honest, pragmatic advice in plain English. In short, Smith Partnership provides a truly comprehensive business support service to a wide and very diverse client base.

Commercial PropertySmith Partnership’s team of commercial property specialists is led by 3 partners. The team deals with a broad range of property transactions, including:

the acquisition and disposal of freehold and leasehold property the granting and renewal of leases of business premises property finance, including secured lending and pension fund transactions residential and commercial development transactions

Individual lawyers within the team have specialist expertise in the following sectors:

the airline industry residential and nursing care secured institutional lending commercial and industrial design and build procurement the licensed trade

We act for many ‘blue chip’ household name businesses and are regularly praised for our pragmatic approach. Because of our size, we can offer specialist expertise in all areas of property law, whilst being able to call upon the knowledge of other experts in the firm to deal with issues such as licensing law, planning law, environmental issues, employment issues and health and safety law.

Corporate & CommercialSuccessful strategic decision-making is the key to the growth and development of all businesses, and taking the right decision having had good professional advice is integral.

With our wealth of experience in Commercial Law, the services we offer include:

agency, distribution and franchise arrangements licensing, manufacturing and supply arrangements sale, supply and purchase of goods and services e-commerce IT agreements intellectual property

the Corporate services we offer include:

business acquisitions, disposals and mergers management buy-outs, management buy-ins and venture capital investment lending and security joint ventures, strategic alliances and shareholder relationships reorganisations and corporate restructuring exit strategies including retirement and succession planning company formation and company secretarial services partnership agreements

Employment LawOur team of specialist employment solicitors provide a comprehensive range of employment law and HR services. Whilst we are technical experts in this complex legal area, we believe that it is our responsiveness and commitment to providing employers with successful commercial outcomes that is the cornerstone of our service.

The employment team’s specialist advice service can be broadly split into four main areas:

‘One-2-One’ HR and employment law advisory service drafting of employment documentation employment tribunal representation in-house training services

Our services can be supplied at our traditional hourly charging rate, through our fixed cost packages or through annual subscription.

Debt RecoveryWe operate a highly specialised debt recovery service. We offer a full online service which allows Clients to follow progress on their matters via the internet, every step of the way. Clients can produce their own reports from the system which also updates them on costs as the case proceeds.

Commercial Litigation & Dispute ResolutionOur aim when advising Clients is to focus on the issues that are really important to them. Identifying our Client’s goals and the outcome they would prefer is pretty much the first question we ask. Understanding our Clients’ aims means that we can tailor our advice to give the best possible chance of achieving a successful outcome. The advice we offer includes:

Property litigation Intellectual property litigation including copyright and passing off Construction litigation Internal business disputes between shareholders in a business Mediation & alternative dispute resolution

Business DefenceThe last ten years have seen a vast increase in criminal legislation which directly affects business. When problems do arise the survival of your business and your own personal liberty could well depend on your choice of representation.We can offer advice and representation in many areas including:

Fraud and White collar Crime HM Revenue and Customs Health and Safety Trading Standards Corporate Manslaughter Food and Product defects DBERR and Directors Duty Local Authority Investigations & Prosecutions

Private Client ServicesOur Private Client teams are geared to helping you plan for the future, and to guiding you through difficult or awkward times. We offer a full range of legal services to help you manage some of the most important events in your life from moving house to making a Will.

Wills and InheritanceYour Will is one of the most important documents you will sign in your life. It protects not only your legacy and finances, but also offers protection for your children and grandchildren.

Our specialist team deals with all aspects of Wills, Trusts and Probate, including:

Preserving AssetsLiability to care feesContesting a WillAdministration of an estateTransfer of propertyLasting Powers of Attorney

Residential PropertyOur Residential Property team handles all aspects of of the transaction process.

From the sale or purchase of your property, to a remortgage or the transfer of equity, you can be assured that the staff at Smith Partnership will carry out your instructions with efficiency, speed and accuracy.

Home Information Packs (HIPs) are now mandatory on all houses being marketed for sale, and it is the vendors’ responsibility to provide one. We have the expertise to provide your HIP for you.

Family and MatrimonialStatistics show that relationships are breaking down at an increasing rate. At such times taking legal advice can seem an intimidating prospect. We provide a friendly, approachable and professional service. We aim to be as accessible as possible for the genuine concerns and problems that arise - an understanding ear when you need it the most.

We can also offer methods of dispute resolution alternative to Court proceedings where appropriate, such as collaborative law and mediation. We encourage a conciliatory approach to resolution of disputes as far as the situation allows.

Our specialist team includes accredited members of the Law Society’s Family Law Panel and Resolution (previously Solicitors Family Law Association).

Community Care & Mental HealthOur specialist Community Care team has extensive experience in issues such as:

Closure of Residential Care HomesClosure of Community HospitalsProvision of grants and facilities in the homeProvision of care in the homeObtaining/Challenging Local Authority assesmentsJudicial Review

ChildrenChildren matters can be both highly sensitive and highly complex. When dealing with such matters you will need the best legal advice available.

Our breadth of experience allows us to advise you quickly and we explain legal jargon to you in a manner you can understand. We pride ourselves in achieving our principal goal in ensuring you accomplish the best result possible.

We represent children, guardians, The Official Solicitor, central government agencies such as CAFCASS, parents and other carers of children in all aspects of children’s litigation.

Personal InjuryOur PI team prides itself on its successful track record of handling a variety of personal injury claims, be they complicated road traffic accidents involving multiple injuries or a fall in the street involving a minor injury,

We have special expertise in dealing with:

Injuries at workTripping or slippingRoad traffic accidentsAccidents on holidayVibration white finger, RSI and industrial disease claimsAsbestos exposure claimsFatal accidentsCriminal Injuries Compensation Authority claims

Medical NegligenceGrowing numbers of people are consulting solicitors over what they believe to be ineffective, inappropriate or late treatment.

Common examples are:Misdiagnosis Dental negligence Delay in treatment Dispensing prescriptions incorrectly Retained objects Claims arising from cosmetic surgery

We can also assist with non-compensation matters, either through the NHS complaints procedure or with complaints to the G.M.C or other appropriate professional body

Employment law for individualsOur team of specialist employment solicitors provide advice to employees on a range of employment law matters including:.

Reviewing contracts of employment/ service agreements Advice on the effect and enforceability of restrictive covenants Redundancy Wrongful and unfair dismissal Discrimination and harassment Transfer of employment Compromise agreements Representation at Employment tribunal

Burton upon Trent158 High StreetBurton upon TrentStaffordshireDE14 1JE

T: 01283 742 020F: 01283 742 040e: [email protected]

10 Pocklingtons WalkLeicester LE1 6BN


Derby

Leicester

Stoke on Trent

Swadlincote

4th Floor, Celtic HouseHeritage GateFriary StreetDerby, DE1 1LS

88/90 The StrandLongtonStoke on TrentStaffordshire ST3 2PB

22 High StreetSwadlincoteDerbyshire DE11 8HY




www.smithpartnership.co.uk

25 WardwickDerbyDE1 1HA


14 York RoadLeicesterLE1 5TS


45 High StreetBurton upon TrentStaffordshireDE14 1JP


smith partnership - firmwide brochure

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