Press Releases
Keelys Launches New Retail Team
New Retail Team at Keelys LLP - from left to right Paul Roberts, David Williams, Jill Briggs and Paul Harris.
The Lichfield head office of law firm Keelys LLP is launching a new retail team this month (October) to provide a specialist legal service to retailers and other interested parties across the Midlands. The service will assist retailers and those with interests in the retail arena in all legal matters relating to business acquisition and business restructuring from the trading of retail units to dealing with manufacturers and others in the supply and logistics chain.
The team at Keelys is made up of senior partners and associates to provide the highest level of expertise and skill sets. It is being led by Paul Harris, Keely's newly appointed head of Insolvency and restructuring. Other members of the team include head of the Corporate department, David Williams; head of the Employment department, Paul Roberts and Commercial Property associate, Jill Briggs.
Specific areas of work involving the talents of this senior team include dealing with formal insolvency events, restructuring events and acting for the purchasers of distressed businesses. They will also be advising lenders and other stakeholders.
The Keelys Retail Team is already working with a current client which has 156 retail outlets across the UK and is looking to acquire many more. The firm has already advised it on acquiring business and stock from the Administrators of insolvent businesses in addition to undertaking the legal work in purchasing new outlets.
Commenting on the launch of the specialist Retail Team, Paul Harris says:
"This is a particularly difficult time for retailers with a recent survey showing that only four of the UK's top 74 largest cities and towns were able to stem the tide of high street stores closing. The Midlands and the North have been hit hard and are experiencing some of the highest vacancy rates across the UK and Birmingham in particular has an exceptionally worrying vacancy rate of over 25%.
Against this backdrop there has never been a better time to launch a service to retailers who can receive expert help and advice to help them survive in this harsh climate. We are looking to help retail clients above all but will also be extending our services to a wider audience including insolvency practitioners, directors of distressed businesses, shareholders, lenders and landlords."