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Lawrence Kelly

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I qualified in 1990 and, after partnership in a major West End firm of solicitors, formed Lawrence Stephens with Steven Bernstein and Stephen Messias in 1997.

I am a Solicitor Advocate and am qualified to appear in all UK courts. I have a wide range of expertise in commercial litigation and dispute resolution, acting for a diverse range of clients including high profile entrepreneurs, international clients in the fields of sport and entertainment and their agents, company directors, shareholders and corporate entities of all sizes.

I am recommended in the 2024 edition of the Spear’s 500 guide in their corporate, litigation and dispute resolution section.

Examples of my areas of practice include:

  • Breach of contract claims
  • Professional negligence
  • Individual and corporate insolvency (including IVA, CVA and business restructuring)
  • Breach of directors’ duties
  • Shareholder disputes
  • Partnership disputes
  • Civil fraud and asset tracing/recovery (including crypto assets)
  • Intellectual property (including copyright, trademarks and passing off)
  • Regulatory and compliance (including Financial Conduct Authority/PIA)
  • Spread betting/CFDs and other gambling disputes
  • Sports tribunal matters (including Rule K arbitrations representing players and Registered Intermediaries)
  • Contentious probate
  • HMRC enquiries
  • Criminal investigations, including fraud and private prosecutions

I have acted as an accredited supervisor within the Legal Services Commission Specialist Fraud Panel and am a former member of the VHCC Appeals Panel.

I have two children and live in London and Kent.  My non-legal interests include skiing, hiking, sailing, cookery and art. 

Gregory Palos

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I am a Director and Head of the Real Estate Finance Department.  I have over 30 years’ experience working for clients within the UK and internationally in the acquisition of property investments, development sites and owner occupier acquisitions and leases.

The Lawrence Stephens Real Estate Finance department represents banks and other financial institutions in the regulated and non-regulated sectors.  Both my team and I have extensive experience in real estate, secured lending, bridging and property finance acting for a wide range of companies, developers and investors.  I also regularly act for operators in the hotel and leisure sectors.

Highlights to date include acting on behalf of a bank in respect of a £30m facility to a renowned hospital charity, a £28m facility secured against 115 properties and acting for a borrower in respect of £30m senior debt facility.

Prior to joining Lawrence Stephens, I ran my own practice in the West End of London, which eventually merged with Lawrence Stephens in 2004.  I am married with three children, five grandchildren and live in North London.  My interests include cooking, fine wines, eating out with friends, country sports, golf and supporting Arsenal.

Experience highlights

  • Acting on behalf of a financial institution in respect of a facility of £20m to a national charity acquiring a mixed use property in West London for £40m
  • Advising a property developer in connection with the acquisition of a mixed-use block for £9.5m, assisting with the application for permitted development to convert five floors of offices into 35 apartments and the application for planning permission for the construction of five duplex apartments on the top floor of the building, the extension of the retail element and the construction of 12 mews houses at the rear of the building
  • Acting on behalf of a bank in respect of a £30m facility to a renowned hospital charity
  • Acting in the administration of a national fashion retailer with an estate of 250 retail units, disposing of 125 commercial units and assisting the administrator in the disposal/management of the remaining units
  • Acting in the acquisition and financing of the roof and airspace above a block of flats, the construction of eight apartments and their off-plan sale (with a GDV of £4.5m)

Bradley Lee

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

Having qualified in 1998, I advise corporate entities and private individuals on all areas of corporate and commercial law.

With a particular focus on owner-managed businesses, SMEs, private equity and start-ups, I act on disposals, acquisitions, joint ventures and investments across a broad range of sectors including, property, media, digital marketing, financial services, construction, beauty and cosmetics, restaurants and leisure.

I also have significant experience in drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial contracts such as shareholders’ agreements, articles of association, debentures, legal mortgages, charges over shares and agreements relating to consultancy, partnerships, share options, distribution and supply, franchises, equipment hire, licensing and loans.

In addition, I have a particular specialisation in advising on the corporate aspects of underlying property-related matters, having acted for numerous clients in this area.

I’m an avid football fan (player, spectator and FA-qualified referee) and follower of many other sports.  I’m also a cinema-goer, pub quiz enthusiast and love to travel to far-flung places.

Experience highlights 

  • Advising a serial entrepreneur in relation to various investments including technology start-up companies and property joint ventures
  • Acting for property developers in relation to various joint ventures concerned with the development of a mix of commercial and residential units within Greater London
  • Acting for buyers and sellers in respect of numerous  ‘corporate wrapper’ companies (both in the UK and offshore) where the respective company’s sole asset is property, including the sale of one such company whose sole asset was an apartment in the prestigious One Hyde Park development
  • Acting for the buyer of a series of nursing care homes in North London
  • Acting for the sellers of an owner-managed digital marketing company to a PLC

James Lyons

Posted on: February 7th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

With nearly 25 years’ experience advising on corporate transactions, I pride myself on providing the same personable and conscientious level of service to a range of clients including entrepreneurs, management teams, SMEs, private equity funds and larger private and public companies.

My expertise also extends to managing corporate elements of real estate transactions and advising not-for-profit bodies on constitutional matters. My clients operate in sectors including media, technology, manufacturing, healthcare and catering.

I advise on mergers and acquisitions, equity fundraisings, shareholders agreements and joint ventures, corporate re-organisations, director duties, corporate governance and all matters of company law.

My clients appreciate my personable nature, careful attention to detail, patience, responsiveness and commercial pragmatism. I have been ranked as a Recognised Practitioner for Corporate M&A Mid-Market (London) in Chambers and Partners.

It is important to me to develop strong relationships by combining good quality technical advice with clarity of explanation and (where possible) good humour to maintain perspective and make the process as smooth as possible for all involved.

Much of my spare time is spent acting as chauffeur to my three boys and attending to their sporting needs. When I’m not watching one son play football, managing another of my son’s football teams or walking the dog, I’ll go for a run to escape them all. I’m also a keen follower of my hometown football club Leeds United.

Experience highlights 

  • Advising on the sale of strategic land company Southern & Regional Developments Limited to Bellway PLC
  • Advising an individual business owner on the sale of his media production company OB Media Partners Limited to 42 Management & Production
  • Advising a global listed company services provider on M&A transactions including their acquisitions of catering businesses and the sale of their UK horticultural services division
  • Advising a registered care provider on its corporate acquisitions of care home providers owning and operating care homes in the Southeast
  • Advising the management team of marketing services company MM-Eye Limited on their management buy-out of the business and, subsequently, on their sale of the company to an employee-ownership trust