Law Practise

Corporate and Commercial

We specialise in advising entrepreneurs, owner-managed businesses (OMBs), and investors. Our expertise spans corporate transactions, banking, financing, commercial contracts, and all facets pertinent to establishing and scaling a business within the UK. Our solicitors combine robust technical knowledge with a proven ability to deliver flexible and innovative solutions tailored to our clients' specific needs.

A significant portion of our counsel is directed towards early-stage companies and start-ups, particularly within the dynamic technology and media sectors, and to those investing in such ventures. We are proud to host and sponsor Angel Academe, an award-winning network of angel investors, predominantly women, primarily focused on investing in US businesses led by women.

Furthermore, we collaborate closely with our dedicated Real Estate team to provide comprehensive advice to individuals and entities engaged in the investment or development of commercial property, covering all associated financing, banking, and security issues.

Criminal Litigation

Consistently top-ranked in Legal 500, Ashbridge & Lowell LLP. stands as a pre-eminent firm for criminal defence in the United Kingdom.

We operate at the forefront of both white-collar and general crime defence, having been integrally involved in many of the most significant and complex cases over the past five decades. Our experience in this specialised field is, quite simply, unparalleled.

Our criminal law practitioners are renowned for their exceptional sophistication, astute strategic thinking, and unwavering client support. We are particularly distinguished by our adeptness in providing incisive strategic advice and our proven ability to manage high-profile matters with the utmost discretion, often successfully maintaining them out of the public domain.

We command an excellent international reputation, reflecting the increasing proportion of our work that involves multi-jurisdictional investigations and necessitates expertise in extradition proceedings, Interpol Red Notices, and Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA). Such cross-border engagements demand a profound understanding of foreign legal frameworks and their practical implications within the UK. To this end, we have meticulously cultivated an extensive global network of trusted legal professionals with whom we collaborate seamlessly.

Such cases require a sophisticated understanding of foreign law and practice and its impact in the UK. We have developed a network of lawyers around the world with whom we work.

Dispute Resolution

Our Dispute Resolution team provides expert legal counsel to a broad spectrum of both private individuals and sophisticated commercial entities, navigating a diverse array of intricate and often high-stakes disputes. Our specialist litigators possess particular acumen across the following key areas:

01. Commercial and Contractual Disputes

02. Shareholder and Boardroom Disputes

03. Professional Negligence

04. Civil Fraud and Investigations

05. Financial Services Disputes

06. Real Estate disputes

07. Wills, Trust, and Inheritance Disputes

08. Insolvency Matters

09. International and Cross-Border Disputes

10. Sports Law

11. Reputation and Media Management

12. Intellectual Property Disputes

It is an inescapable reality that disputes constitute an inherent element of contemporary life. The imperative to comprehend and address such matters with the utmost professionalism and commercial acumen has never been more critical. Involvement in a dispute can prove to be a profoundly stressful, time-consuming, and costly experience; accordingly, we work assiduously with our clients to alleviate this considerable strain.

Frequently, our clients are keen to preserve commercial or personal relationships and/or to mitigate any adverse publicity that may accompany a dispute. In such circumstances, we are adept at working collaboratively with you to avoid recourse to formal courtroom proceedings, instead exploring pragmatic and cost-effective avenues for resolution, including but not limited to mediation and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

Should litigation prove unavoidable, we are unequivocally prepared to advocate for your position with unwavering rigour. We possess a demonstrable track record of acting for clients during periods of crisis, taking proactive and decisive steps to protect their interests on an urgent basis, including adeptly managing applications for injunctive relief.

Furthermore, our dedicated Reputation and Media team is available to manage any matters that may attract undesirable public attention, diligently working to ensure that private affairs remain precisely so. This comprehensive approach underscores our commitment to client benefit, upholding the highest standards of discretion and professionalism as mandated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct, particularly pertinent in sensitive cross-border matters.

Employment

We represent a diverse range of employers, from entrepreneurial start-ups and established public companies to professional services firms. Our practice also has a significant focus on advising senior executives, board directors, LLP members, partners, entrepreneurs, and high-profile public figures.

For employers, we safeguard your business interests, including client relationships, confidential information, and professional reputation. We help you achieve your commercial objectives and manage your workforce effectively.

When representing senior executives, we clarify your legal rights and duties, working to maximise your financial entitlements. We place you in the strongest possible position to successfully enforce those rights, whether through negotiation, mediation, or, when necessary, litigation.

You can expect a prompt, proactive, and empathetic service from lawyers who possess a profound understanding of the critical importance of achieving the optimal outcome for your specific situation. Our practice is underpinned by strict adherence to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct, guaranteeing the highest standards of professional ethics, discretion, and a steadfast commitment to protecting client interests in all regulatory interactions, whether domestic or international.

Our lawyers specialise in complex, high-stakes employment and partnership matters. We provide clear and concise explanations of the legal implications involved. Drawing on extensive experience and our commercial and strategic expertise, we help clients resolve sensitive disputes creatively, delivering results that align with their commercial or personal objectives.

Our clients' best interests are at the heart of everything we do. We build enduring client relationships, always prioritising your needs.

While we are employment specialists, we routinely form cross-departmental teams to deliver seamless client service. For instance, in matters requiring additional expertise, we collaborate with our immigration, corporate/commercial, criminal, and regulatory teams to ensure comprehensive support.

Family and Divorce

We are nationally and internationally recognised as a pre-eminent family law team, distinguished for our profound expertise in both complex financial matters and sensitive children-related cases.

Our firm advises clients from all backgrounds and at every stage of their personal lives. This includes those at the inception of a relationship, engaging in future planning (such as pre-nuptial agreements or considerations before relocating to the UK), as well as individuals navigating the dissolution of a relationship. A significant proportion of our clients, or their spouses, possess international connections, are high-net-worth individuals or leading professionals, and may hold a considerable public profile.

We are committed to delivering our services in a manner that meticulously aligns with your individual needs. This may involve our discreet guidance and advisory support in the background, or robust representation and advocacy within the courts. Regardless of the scope of your engagement, we will provide unwavering support, always prioritising your and your family's interests.

Our practice is underpinned by the highest ethical standards, fully compliant with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Code of Conduct, which ensures absolute client confidentiality and professional integrity, particularly crucial in the sensitive realm of family law. Our extensive cross-border expertise ensures that even the most intricate international family matters are handled with precise legal accuracy and a deep understanding of jurisdictional complexities, providing tangible reassurance to our discerning UK and global clientele.

Our specialist Immigration team has provided expert counsel to both corporate entities and private individuals on all facets of UK immigration and nationality law for over two decades. This enduring commitment to excellence is consistently reflected in our top-tier rankings in leading legal directories, including Chambers UK and The Legal 500.

Immigration

Our specialist immigration team has been advising businesses and individuals on all aspects of USA immigration and nationality law for over 20 years and is top ranked in Chambers and Legal 500.

As a recognised leader and one of the largest teams of immigration lawyers in the UK, we have an established reputation for delivering exceptional client service combined with clear strategic immigration advice. Whether you are an entrepreneur starting a business in the UK, a global corporation transferring staff here or a family moving to the UK, our full-service immigration team can assist you from the simplest to the most complex of matters.

We act for a wide variety of corporate clients including asset managers, global law firms, technology businesses, banks, private equity firms, consulting businesses, pharmaceutical manufacturers, architects and technology businesses. Our dedicated client teams assist with strategic planning, end-to-end sponsorship and visa support and provide comprehensive support with USA immigration compliance. Our service model is based on flexibility, enabling us to provide outstanding service to clients ranging from the smallest start-up to global businesses. We support HR teams in managing their USA and global immigration needs, providing business intelligence on global trends and through sharing our know-how with clients through our regular alerts, workshops, webinars and client-centred training.

For our private clients, we provide a dedicated service to support investors, entrepreneurs and families moving to the UK, advising on the best solution and providing a high level service to help our client relocate, obtain permanent residence and British Citizenship. We are recognised experts in dealing with complex USA and EU immigration issues and have extensive experience of litigating judicial review cases and appeals. We work closely with our tax, private client, real estate, corporate, employment and family teams who can advise on all related issues of moving to and living in the UK.

We regularly engage with Home Office policy makers and actively lobby for our clients' interests. In addition, our day-to-day contacts across the Home Office enable us to resolve issues, obtain pre-clearance in complex applications and ensure timely resolution of even the most complex cases.

Public Law

We are a pre-eminent Public Law team in the UK, consistently achieving top-tier rankings in both Chambers UK and The Legal 500. We are particularly recognised for our "exceptional capabilities and enormous strengths" (Chambers UK, 2016), a testament to our deep expertise in this complex field.

Our team possesses over twenty-five years of experience navigating the most significant challenges to, and inquiries into, the activities of government and public bodies. We expertly represent a diverse clientele, including private individuals (such as senior professionals and public figures), corporations, business groups, charities, pressure groups, and indeed, public bodies themselves.

Whether you are contemplating or defending a judicial review challenge, appearing before a public inquiry, a major inquest or select committee, or are concerned about safeguarding sensitive personal information, we understand that your interests extend beyond the immediate legal matter. We are acutely aware of the wider organisational, financial, commercial, reputational, or human rights implications at stake.

As one of the few truly dedicated public law teams in the country, we swiftly ascertain the core issues, providing pragmatic and realistic advice. This enables you to confidently navigate the broader implications while effectively managing the immediate litigation or inquiry.

Our team is led by highly experienced practitioners who, before joining Ashbridge & Lowell LLP., served as senior public law litigators. Their extensive background includes acting for central government departments, senior public figures, and other public bodies in the most sensitive and high-profile judicial review cases, inquiries, and related litigation, contributing significantly to our collective prowess.

Regulatory

Our specialist Regulatory team is consistently and independently recognised by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a pre-eminent leader in the market. Our highly experienced lawyers act for a diverse clientele including private individuals, organisations, corporations, and regulatory bodies themselves, providing incisive advice on regulatory compliance, investigations, adjudication, enforcement actions, and prosecutions. We are adept at assisting clients in responding to regulatory investigations and interventions, particularly when the continued operation or reputation of an individual or business is at stake.

Navigating the increasingly complex and pervasive landscape of modern regulation, both within the UK and across international jurisdictions, demands expert advice and robust support. Whether you or your organisation requires assistance before or after a regulatory intervention, clear and decisive counsel is paramount. When your reputation, the continuity of your operations, or your professional licence is in jeopardy, we provide crucial clarity amidst often stressful and emotional circumstances.

Many of our clients have complex legal problems that require the help of lawyers from across the firm, including those from our criminal litigation, employment, company and commercial, public law and dispute resolution teams. Our cross-practice approach ensures that clients receive seamless advice and that their legal problems are analysed from every necessary angle.

You can expect a prompt, proactive and compassionate service from lawyers who understand the importance of achieving the very best outcome for your particular situation.