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Lawrence Stephens secures rescission of winding-up order

Posted on: July 10th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

The Lawrence Stephens Restructuring and Insolvency team, represented by Associate Lefteris Kallou, have succeeded in making an application to rescind a winding-up order. This is a relatively rare order granted only in exceptional circumstances, and which is the subject of very few reported cases in England and Wales.

The order, made under Rule 12.59 and Schedule 5(3) of the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, enabled our client (shareholder of the company) to regain control of his company from the Official Receiver and resume trading, thereby minimising the company’s exposure.

This matter involved several significant challenges:

Out-of-time application: We were instructed outside the strict five-business-day time limit for rescission applications. We successfully argued that exceptional circumstances justified the court exercising its discretion to allow the application to proceed.

Evidencing solvency post-winding-up: Despite a winding-up order having already been made, it was crucial to demonstrate that the company remained fundamentally solvent. We worked closely with the client to assess the company’s financials, debtor lists, and trading impact. We presented robust evidence, including up-to-date financial statements and management accounts, confirming the company’s ability to meet its debts.

Full discharge of unsecured creditors: A key condition was full repayment of the company’s unsecured creditors. In this case, all trade creditors had been discharged in advance of the hearing. The remaining creditor, HMRC (the petitioning creditor), had not confirmed up-to-date figures or bank details prior to the hearing. To provide the court with the necessary comfort, the client transferred £1.2 million into our client account to adequately cover the company’s HMRC liability. This allowed us to provide a solicitor’s undertaking to make full payment immediately upon HMRC’s confirmation.

Rare neutrality from the Official Receiver: Typically, where the petitioning creditor has not yet been paid (or where the petitioning creditor’s involvement has been limited), the Official Receiver will oppose rescission. In this case, however, the Official Receiver took the unusual step of remaining neutral – a significant factor in the court’s decision to grant the order.

Preventing receiver appointment by secured creditor: We engaged with Barclays, the secured creditor, to negotiate a temporary standstill pending the outcome of our client’s application. The delay in enforcement action prevented significant costs being incurred whilst preserving the company’s position during the interim.

Commenting on the case, Lefteris Kallou said “This matter presented a unique combination of procedural, evidential, and strategic challenges over a very short period of time. The court’s decision reflects both the strength of our client’s position and the structured approach we took in presenting it”.

For further information on our insolvency and restructuring services please click here

How has Diversity, Equity and Inclusion evolved in the Real Estate Finance sector?

Posted on: July 9th, 2025 by Ella Darnell

Director Rachel Coulthard comments in Private Equity and Real Estate (PERE) Magazine on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the real estate finance space.

Rachel’s comments were published in PERE, 1 July 2025, and can be found on page 69 of the issue, here.

“There has been a massive increase in the prevalence of DEI awareness. Many organisations have implemented regular training and promoted conversations about the impact of language towards women and minority groups, for instance knowing not to use infantilising language towards women.”

“Investors and managers are now accepting that DEI is not just important to promote inclusive workplaces, but also vital to attract and retain employees. The best want the best, and by any measure, equality is what is best. For instance, we have created a Gender Equality Network, which seeks parity between the sexes. This includes goals such as increasing our proportion of women directors and striving for equal pay for employees, regardless of gender.

“I lead our Women in Real Estate Finance initiative, which spotlights the incredible work being done by women in the sector and creates further opportunities for women, both by building networks of like-minded individuals and by giving more junior women in the field mentoring and educational growth opportunities.”

“While progress has been achieved, it has not been without hurdles and occasional setbacks. Most notably, there has been a social and political backlash to DEI in the United States, and many major law firms, corporations, and other non-government bodies have either lessened their emphasis on DEI or removed it entirely. Furthermore, the increase and normalisation of toxic masculinity among influencers has shifted the landscape for younger generations. These trends are deeply troubling, and all those who believe in and fight for equality and inclusion need to stand their ground amidst the current climate.” 

Lawrence Stephens appointed to Castle Trust Bank’s legal panel

Posted on: July 8th, 2025 by zhewison

Lawrence Stephens is pleased to announce that we have been appointed to the legal panel of Castle Trust Bank.

Castle Trust’s range of specialist Bridging products covers standard bridging as well as light and heavy refurbishments, and their Buy to Let product provides longer-term funding with competitive fixed rates. Their business volumes have increased significantly over the last nine months, to the point where their legal panel warrants further expansion to help meet demand.

As a leading provider of legal services, Lawrence Stephens is excited to bring our specialist expertise in real estate finance and banking to Castle Trust Bank’s panel of legal advisors.

Anna Lewis, Commercial Director – Property comments: “We are delighted to welcome Lawrence Stephens to our exclusive panel of legal advisors. Demand for our Bridging and Buy to Let products has increased significantly over the last nine months and we expect that trend to continue. Bringing the expertise and experience of Lawrence Stephens onto our legal panel will help ensure we can continue to meet the high standards that specialist brokers have come to expect from Castle Trust Bank. ”

Gregory Palos, Head of Financial Institutions Sector at Lawrence Stephens comments: “We are thrilled to have been appointed to Castle Trust Bank’s legal panel. It is a pleasure to work with a bank that prioritises strong relationships and delivers a bespoke, tailored service, and client focused solutions – values that closely align with our own.
We look forward to collaborating with Castle Trust Bank to support its mission of accelerating their continued growth.”

For more information on our Banking and Real Estate Finance solutions please click here.

Lawrence Stephens and Howden launch groundbreaking crypto theft insurance and recovery solution

Posted on: July 7th, 2025 by Natasha Cox

Lawrence Stephens has partnered with Howden, the global insurance intermediary group, to launch a first-of-its-kind solution for the cryptocurrency sector. This innovative facility combines robust crypto theft insurance with expert legal asset recovery services, offering clients a comprehensive and credible response to digital asset theft.

The new solution delivers more than just insurance – it provides clients with a fully integrated approach that includes legal expertise, access to leading crypto vendors, and forensic recovery capabilities.

“At Howden, we believe in delivering solutions that go beyond traditional insurance,” said Freddie Palmer, Head of Digital Assets and Blockchain at Howden. “By partnering with Lawrence Stephens, we’re empowering our clients with a seamless, end-to-end service that combines technical insurance advice, legal recourse, and access to the broader crypto ecosystem. It’s a powerful response to one of the industry’s most urgent challenges.”

Key features of the facility include:

  • Specialist legal support from Lawrence Stephens to initiate asset freezing and recovery proceedings.
  • Insurance coverage that includes partial reimbursement of legal recovery costs when engaging Lawrence Stephens.
  • Access to a trusted network of crypto vendors and forensic experts to trace and recover stolen assets.

“We’re delighted to offer our legal expertise to the insurance market through this collaboration with Howden,” said Matt Green, Head of Blockchain, Digital Assets and Technology Disputes at Lawrence Stephens. “After all, the legal process began helping an insurer reclaim payment following a ransomware attack.”

This launch marks a significant step forward in institutionalising crypto asset protection, offering clients a credible, structured, and responsive solution in an increasingly complex digital landscape. As digital assets become more mainstream, institutional-grade protection is essential to build trust, reduce risk, and support the long-term growth of the crypto economy.

To find out more about our Blockchain, Digital Assets and Technology Disputes services, please click here

Lawrence Stephens expands its Real Estate Finance with appointment of Senior Associate Zahra Shah

Posted on: July 4th, 2025 by Ella Darnell
Lawrence Stephens is pleased to announce the appointment of Zahra Shah as Senior Associate to its Real Estate Finance team.
 
Zahra joins us from a high street firm, where she was a Partner in the Real Estate department. She brings extensive experience across both residential and commercial property matters, with particular expertise in real estate finance. Zahra qualified as a Solicitor in 2019, having previously worked as a real estate paralegal at the Department for Education. Her appointment further strengthens our team’s capabilities and reflects our continued commitment to growth.
 
Head of Real Estate Finance, Ann Ebberson said “I’m pleased to welcome Zahra Shah to Lawrence Stephens and our Real Estate Finance team. Zahra brings strong and diverse sector experience, that will further strengthen our team’s capabilities. Her appointment marks another exciting step in the firm’s continued growth and reflects our commitment to expanding our expertise and commercial reach.”

Lawrence Stephens secures dismissal of In-Competition anti-doping charge for rugby league player

Posted on: July 3rd, 2025 by Natasha Cox

Angelique Richardson, Senior Associate in the Sports and Entertainment team at Lawrence Stephens, together with Christopher Saad and Ellie Horan of 2 Bedford Row, successfully acted for professional rugby league player Jake Maizen in proceedings brought by UK Anti-Doping before the National Anti-Doping Panel.

The matter was referred to Lawrence Stephens through the Sport Resolutions Pro Bono service, which provides eligible athletes with access to legal representation in anti-doping and disciplinary matters.

Mr Maizen was cleared of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation (ADRV) for the use of cocaine In-Competition, contrary to Article 2.2 of the UK Anti-Doping Rules. The charge was formally dismissed following a contested hearing in April 2025.

While Mr Maizen admitted to a separate ADRV under Article 2.1, relating to the presence of a prohibited substance in his system, the Tribunal accepted that the ingestion occurred Out-of-Competition and was unrelated to sporting performance. As a result, the standard three-month period of ineligibility was backdated and deemed already served by way of provisional suspension. Mr Maizen has therefore been immediately eligible to return to the sport.

The decision of the National Anti-Doping Panel can be viewed here.

For more information on our work in sports and entertainment law, please see here. 

Lawrence Stephens makes nine promotions

Posted on: July 1st, 2025 by Natasha Cox

Leading full-service law firm Lawrence Stephens is proud to announce the promotion of nine colleagues from teams across the firm, effective from 1 July 2025. These promotions reflect the contribution made by them in the delivery of services to our clients and to the wider firm.  These follow a year of continuing growth for Lawrence Stephens with strong demand felt in all areas.  

William Bowyer becomes a Senior Associate in the Sports and Entertainment team.  William advises on a mix of non-contentious and contentious matters in sport and was recognised earlier this year in the first cohort of the International Sports Convention‘s 30 Under Thirty Awards.

Rosalin Gautam becomes a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team. Rosalind acts on matters relating to breach of contract, partnership and joint venture disputes, shareholders disputes, professional negligence and individual and corporate insolvency.   

Priya Patel becomes a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution team. Her experience covers a broad range of civil and commercial disputes for individuals and businesses.

Angelique Richardson becomes a Senior Associate in the Sports and Entertainment team. Angelique was recognised as a ‘Leading Associate’ in the latest edition of Legal 500, as well as also being recognised in the first cohort of the International Sports Convention‘s 30 Under Thirty Awards.

Harshita Samani becomes a Senior Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team. Harshita is both multilingual and dual-qualified in India as well as well as in England and Wales. She works on complex and high-value transactions involving asset and share sales and purchases for a diverse range of clients.

Lucy Cadley becomes an Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team. Lucy trained at the firm and now advises on a range of corporate and commercial matters, which include share and asset sales, company restructurings, private equity, mergers & acquisitions and commercial contracts.

Emma Clifford becomes an Associate in the Real Estate team. Emma also trained at the firm and was responsible for setting up LawLinks, a professional network event series for junior lawyers in the firm.

Isobel Moran becomes an Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team. Isobel trained at the firm before joining the Corporate and Commercial team. She advises on all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including share and asset sales, acquisitions, company restructuring and shareholder agreements.

Henry Richards becomes an Associate in the Private Wealth and Succession Planning team. Henry specialises in private wealth disputes, representing beneficiaries of estates and trusts, those excluded from inheritance unfairly, trustees, executors, attorneys and deputies.

Steven Bernstein, Managing Director at Lawrence Stephens, commented: “The promotion of these nine exceptional colleagues recognises their dedication, expertise, and contribution to our clients and the firm. They also reflect our commitment to developing, supporting, and encouraging the remarkable talent that exists within the firm.  We are excited to see how they progress in their new roles.”

Sports disputes and breach of contract: could the Lions take legal action against Rugby Australia?

Posted on: June 30th, 2025 by Ella Darnell

Associate William Bowyer comments on the dispute between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia, and discusses whether this could escalate into legal action over breach of contract.

Will’s comments were published in City AM, 23 June 2025, and can be found here.

“If, as Lions CEO Ben Calveley states, the formal tour agreement between the British and Irish Lions and Rugby Australia includes a specific clause governing which Test players must be released to participate in fixtures leading up to the Test series, not just the Tests themselves, then the Lions would likely have grounds for a breach of contract claim.

“An international sports dispute would have to be carefully considered from a jurisdictional standpoint and the contract will likely contain a clause dealing with which laws and courts or private arbitration house would consider the issue.

“With major commercial stakes – from broadcast rights to sponsorship and ticketing – both parties are under pressure to find a swift, negotiated resolution, while leveraging their respective contractual positions.”

For more information on our Sports law services, please click here.

Lawrence Stephens contributes to The Law Society Gazette’s clients and technology roundtable

Posted on: June 25th, 2025 by Ella Darnell

The Law Society is the professional body for solicitors in England and Wales. It plays a central role in representing, supporting, and promoting the legal profession, while also advocating for access to justice and the rule of law. The Law Society has for some years run a series of Gazette round table discussions. These are curated, invitation-only events that bring together legal professionals, thought leaders, and stakeholders to discuss pressing issues in the legal sector. These sessions are typically thematic, focusing on issues of the day.

Head of Financial Institutions Greg Palos was invited to attend the most recent of these, the clients and technology roundtable. Greg attended alongside representatives from organisations such as Dexter Montague, Foot Anstey and Thomson Reuters. The group explored how firms manage their technology investments and attract and maintain teams that combine the technology and people skills needed to win and retain business. The group was particularly keen to examine how firms were able to compete on speed and responsiveness while managing the ever-increasing burden of regulatory obligations.

It’s clear from the discussions that today’s lawyer is under pressure to do things quickly while still maintaining a high level service. Artificial intelligence and other technology tools are naturally an answer to some of this, but the panel concluded that there is still the need for the human touch. 

Read the full report here. 

Lawrence Stephens launches pro-bono Boxing Law Clinic in collaboration with Churchill’s Boxing Gym

Posted on: June 24th, 2025 by Ella Darnell

Lawrence Stephens are proud to announce a collaboration with Churchill’s Boxing Gym to launch a dedicated Boxing Law Clinic, providing pro-bono legal support tailored specifically for athletes in the fight game.

Hosted at the heart of the gym, the Boxing Law Clinic will offer fighters direct access to free legal appointments with our experienced professionals. Whether it’s reviewing promotional contracts, understanding a bout agreement, resolving a dispute, or discussing career moves, the clinic is designed to deliver efficient and accessible legal advice when fighters need it most.

This initiative is part of Lawrence Stephens’ ongoing commitment to empowering athletes with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the business side of boxing, and to take control of their careers, both inside and outside of the ring.

Commenting on the Boxing Law Clinic, Sports and Entertainment associate Angelique Richardson adds:

”Fighters shouldn’t have to step inside the ring without knowing their rights outside of it. Together with Churchill’s Boxing Gym, we’re creating a space where fighters can get the advice they need to take control of their careers.”

Samm Mullins, the owner of Churchill’s Boxing Gym, says:

”We’re really proud to be partnering with Lawrence Stephens on this Boxing Law Clinic. They work with a number of fighters already and really understand the boxing world — not just from a legal perspective, but from a fighter’s point of view too. This clinic is a great opportunity for our boxing community to get proper advice from people who genuinely know their stuff.”

The first clinic will take place on Monday 30 June, with 45-minute appointments available from 10am. Appointments are free, but limited — clients will be asked to book an appointment and complete a short questionnaire in advance. For prospective clients, please email sportsandentertainment@lawstep.co.uk or text/call 07510 931301 to request your questionnaire and confirm your appointment.

Lawrence Stephens advises Kaleidex Group on its acquisition of OxDevice Ltd.

Posted on: June 18th, 2025 by Ella Darnell

Lucy Cadley led a cross-disciplinary team from Lawrence Stephens alongside overseeing director Katherine Zangana and was closely supported by Avni Patel, Becci Collins, Leigh Sayliss and Craig Mullen in advising Kaleidex Group, an Ansor portfolio company, on its acquisition of OxDevice Ltd.

Kaleidex, backed by private equity firm Ansor, acquires and integrates high-performing medical manufacturing companies, building a network of expertise and innovation to drive industry advancements. This strategic acquisition of OxDevice, a precision engineering and manufacturing company based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, is Kaleidex’s third acquisition and expansion into the rapidly growing neurovascular and endovascular device sectors.

The transaction demonstrates our collaborative and commercial approach, bringing together expertise from our Corporate & Commercial, Real Estate, Employment and Tax teams to deliver a seamless service tailored to the need for an integrated approach towards complex corporate matters.

Commenting on the deal, Lucy said:
“Delivering this transaction was a fantastic example of what Lawrence Stephens does best, working closely across departments and alongside our client’s leadership team to deliver pragmatic, forward-thinking advice that helps clients scale their businesses with confidence”

Lawrence Stephens advises Kaleidex Group on its acquisition of Denis Limited and Oracle Precision Limited

Posted on: June 18th, 2025 by Ella Darnell

Isobel Moran led a cross-functional team from Lawrence Stephens, along with overseeing director Katherine Zangana, supported by Avni Patel, Ewan Ooi and Craig Mullen, to advise Kaleidex Group (an Ansor portfolio company) on its acquisition of Densis Limited and its wholly owned trading subsidiary, Oracle Precision Limited.

The transaction highlights our commercial and collaborative ethos, with expertise drawn from our Corporate & Commercial and Commercial Real Estate teams to deliver a seamless and integrated service tailored to the fast-paced demands of SME acquisitions in the medical manufacturing sector.

This was Kaleidex Group’s second successful acquisition, completed within just three months of instruction. The swift execution of the deal further strengthens our client’s strategic growth trajectory in the precision engineering space—supporting the development of critical components for the medical industry.

Commenting on the deal, Katherine said:
“This was a great example of how our team brings together technical expertise and insight to help our client’s complete transactions quickly and decisively. It’s always a pleasure to support their growth journeys with another successful acquisition.”