The Legal 500 Series

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Firm Profile of Peachey & Co LLP as written by The Legal 500 Series:

This central London practice provides a range of commercial services for a prestigious client base, notably in corporate finance as well as litigation, anti-trust property and intellectual property. Sectors served include shipping, aviation, oil and gas.

The firm: Established in 1796, the firm was orginally a family practice. It has moved three times but has always been based near the Royal Courts of Justice. Originally serving private and commercial clients, the firm is now established as a prominent corporate finance practice that remains true to the core principles of integrity, reliability and quality combined with the best of modern business methods. It delivers an efficient, client-focused, partner-led and high quality service.

The firm acts for several major companies including LSE, NYSE and NASDAQ listed companies. Among the more prominent clients are John Menzies plc, Gulfmark Offshore Inc and the European Medicines Agency, an EU institution. However, the main focus of the firm is on smaller businesses, which it considers to be ill-served by typical large City law firms.

Peachey & Co is the UK representative of JCA International – an international network of commercial law firms in 23 European countries. The network allows the firm to provide its clients with a pan-European service.

The firm handles agency work on behalf of other solicitors in select litigation matters.

Types of work undertaken: Peachey & Co has a wealth of experience in all aspects of corporate and commercial work. Industry sectors in which it has particular experience are: aviation; banking and finance; broadcasting; creative media; new media; distribution; education; financial services; manufacturing; oil and gas; real estate; retail; shipping; software and IT services; sport; telecommunications.

In the past few years the corporate finance team has experienced considerable growth. It has advised on transactions with a combined transaction value of over £600m. However most of its corporate work involves transactions from £1m to £50m and for SMEs/unlisted/private companies.

Outside this range the firm has recently been engaged in a $180m sale of a pan-European business, a $160m US corporate bond issue, the acquisition and finance of multiple newbuilds ($200m) and an AIM listing (IPO).

The firm advises on UK and European Competition law, acting for complainants and defendants in antitrust cases and in respect of merger control procedures. All aspects of employment law are handled including contracts, standardisation of terms, consultancies, IR35, tribunal claims, redundancies and trade unions matters. Intellectual property expertise covers trademarks, copyright, patents and designs. Our IP practice handles diverse matters ranging from the exploitation of new technologies and software products to their protection.

Members of the litigation team have appeared in all domestic fora from Employment Tribunals to the High Court and House of Lords, as well as the Court of the First Instance of the European Union. Current litigation includes carriage of goods disputes, shareholder disputes, trading differences, contractual claims, tort and competition law.

The property department handles all types of real estate work, whether for investors, developers or end users. Media and entertainment services include IP, contract and fulfilment.

The shipping practice is internationally recognised and is weighted in favour of non-contentious work in connection with sale and purchase, chartering, leasing, finance and registration. The firm has considerable experience in aviation and in aircraft sale and purchase, leasing and finance. It also has extensive expertise in exploration for hydrocarbons, especially oil and gas.Peachey & Co intends to steadily expand its core corporate finance business, maintaining the high standards of service for which it is known.

Breakdown of work %

Corporate finance 30

Commercial/litigation 30

Commercial property 20

Shipping 20