Example 1: Kingsley Napley
There are always dual concerns when it comes to writing about anything law-related: making sure the facts are technically, legally correct, yet also making the text accessible to the majority of potential clients, who have no legal background. In rewriting the text on Kingsley Napley's 'Partnership Law' page, I've tried to strike a happy medium. And for ease of comparison, I've aimed to keep the meaning of my rewrite as close as possible to that of the original.
BEFORE
Our cross-departmental partnership practice consists of solicitors from our employment and corporate departments.
Given the potentially emotional nature of many partnership disputes, which are often likened to divorce, the LLP and partnership clients and individual partners whom we advise welcome the expertise and hands-on support they receive from this highly rated partner led team.
We act for a number of LLPs, traditional partnerships and corporate bodies in the City in relation to enforcing restrictive covenants, managing out under-performing partners and avoiding discrimination claims, particularly in relation to age, as well as advising individual partners on partnership and retirement deeds, discrimination issues, their exit terms, joining new firms, restrictive covenants and team moves.
The partners in the team have a pre-eminent reputation for contentious partnership dispute resolution. The fact that we act for both partnerships and LLPs on the one hand, and individual partners and members of LLPs on the other, means that we are well placed to resolve disputes amicably and to avoid adverse publicity for our professional practice and private equity and hedge fund clients, as we are familiar with the arguments and outlooks of both sides. We also have experience of mediating disputes in this area.
As a law firm advising a number of law firms and other professional practice LLPs and partnerships, we have a good insight into the industry sectors in which our client base operates and the legal, commercial and interpersonal factors involved in the management of City law and professional practice firms. We also act for a number of LLPs operating in the private equity and hedge fund market.
On the non-contentious side, we can protect the different interests of partners and members, with a view to avoiding disputes and misunderstandings in the future. We advise on the establishment and structuring of partnerships and LLPs, as well as the more general partnership issues. We draft and negotiate partnership and LLP agreements and advise partnerships, LLPs and individual partners and members on their interpretation and effect.
For more information please contact Michelle Chance, Partner in Employment, at mchance@kingsleynapley.co.uk or on 0207 566 2925 or contact James Fulforth, Partner in Corporate & Commercial at jfulforth@kingsleynapley.co.uk or on 020 7369 3783.
AFTER
Partnership disputes are often likened to divorce because of the strong emotions involved. We help our clients both to resolve disputes, and to establish partnerships in such a way as to avoid problems in the future.
Led by Michelle Chance – a partner described by the Legal 500 UK as a “real star” – our team has an outstanding reputation for resolving partnership disputes. We act for LLPs, traditional partnerships and corporate bodies on a variety of issues; we help our clients enforce restrictive covenants, manage out under-performing partners and avoid unfair discrimination claims, particularly age discrimination. At the same time we also represent individual partners. The work we do for them includes advising on partnership and retirement deeds, discrimination issues, exit terms, joining new firms, restrictive covenants, and team moves.
With experience acting for both sides – partnership and partner – we have a comprehensive understanding of the concerns, arguments and mindsets of each. We know how important it is for our clients to avoid the negative publicity that can accompany discrimination claims. At the same time, we understand the stresses that can be caused for individuals involved in partnership disputes. The result is a team well-placed to help both sides come to terms amicably. We also have experience resolving disputes through mediation, a strategy that can yield excellent results.
A number of our clients are City firms, including law firms and other professional practice LLPs and partnerships. We also represent private equity and hedge fund clients. Our broad experience gives us an excellent understanding of the sectors in which our clients operate and the legal, commercial and – let’s face it – personality-driven factors that can be involved in the management of these different organisations.
Of course, we don’t simply work to resolve disputes. We also protect the interests of partners and members, to avoid disputes and misunderstandings in the future. Our expertise covers a host of general partnership issues. In particular, we advise clients on how to establish and structure partnerships and LLPs; we draft and negotiate partnership and LLP agreements; and we advise on their interpretation and effect.
Our partnership practice draws experience from our employment and corporate departments. For more information please contact Michelle Chance, Partner in Employment, at mchance@kingsleynapley.co.uk or on 0207 566 2925 or contact James Fulforth, Partner in Corporate & Commercial at jfulforth@kingsleynapley.co.uk or on 020 7369 3783.