Taylor Wessing

In an interconnected world, you need to operate internationally with ease. Local knowledge and an understanding of cultural differences can be a defining factor in the success of a deal. Covering 17 jurisdictions, our team has an outstanding record in cross-border M&A. We solve complicated issues and make your deal a seamless experience.

We can help throughout your business journey. From set-up and early-stage funding to larger investments like private equity and M&A, we act on buy-side and sell-side deals of all shapes and sizes. Whether it's an IPO, public takeover or private M&A, national or international, our extensive commercial experience will help make your transaction a success.

Our people are connected to their clients' sectors and enjoy working at the forefront of new areas of law and regulation. Our specialist knowledge lets us identify potential challenges before they become issues, de-risk transactions and get you the best outcome possible.

Advising some of the world's most innovative businesses means we're widely recognised for our deep expertise in technology, media and communications, life sciences and healthcare, real estate and energy, and private wealth. But we also have a strong background in cross-border M&A, capital markets and corporate restructuring for clients who are reshaping more traditional sectors such as financial services, consumer and industrials.

Our clients like our pragmatic approach. We won't waste your time, but are always available to update you on progress, so you're confident we're making a difference to your deal. If you'd like to know more about how we can help, please get in touch. 

There are many new issues creating opportunities and challenges for players in the real estate and construction sectors.

We're experiencing a shift in the way real estate is being used and occupied. Organisations are responding to generational influences by encouraging agile working, adapting traditional business models to reflect new trends, and creating spaces focused on wellbeing and work/life balance.

There is greater demand for technology in buildings and innovative construction methods. Sustainability is one of the biggest priorities for our clients, driving change across the board.

Our clients benefit from our involvement in some of the largest real estate transactions in the market and our expertise in all sectors from office and retail to logistics and hotels. They complement us regularly for the strong platform we provide for overseas investors and our network of specialist lawyers that reflect a truly global team.

We advise on all manner of real estate transactions, from high-profile acquisitions and disposals to Pan-European portfolios, to highly structured corporate transactions, to large scale development schemes, to the financing of all these and more. We have the diverse skills needed to support our clients on all aspects of their real estate needs and to help them leverage the opportunities of operating within an exciting and dynamic real estate market.

Employment, pensions and mobility laws are all areas that have become increasingly topical and often are key to brand value.

Corporate behaviour and ethics are under increasing scrutiny from regulators, the press and employees and prospective employees. Expectations on HR teams and the c-suite are growing and there's more awareness of responsibilities and accountability.

We've established ourselves as a leader in these issues. Our international network of lawyers will help guide you towards this future, and manage the impact of today’s employment, pensions and immigration legislation on your businesses. We'll help you deal with the changing HR compliance environment in a practical and productive way.

We understand HR. We advise on everything HR managers are confronted with in their daily work and work with many HR managers dealing with complex international issues as well as issues in their own domestic countries. We negotiate and resolve conflicts between businesses and employees. Where necessary we defend our clients’ interests in court.

Our clients trust us and we can provide one point of contact for global employment and pension needs. We understand what lies at the heart of every company we work with and how to ensure they get the right talent for them and protect their reputation, especially in times of crisis. We work with business leaders and those who form policy helping to shape future rules, so we know the intricacies of local regulations and how they intersect with international standards.

We work with market disruptors who bring new ideas from other environments. Our advice and ways of working are influenced by this exposure to change. We help established businesses evolve. Our detailed local knowledge coupled with our international presence make us a perfect fit for expanding businesses. Our team includes immigration specialists, so we can advise on all your mobility requirements in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Whether we're dealing with employment issues or pension schemes, we'll provide the best advice for your business.

Our clients are looking for truly international advice on a wide range of private client services. We're recognised as one of only a handful of law firms able to offer this.

Our team works with clients from all over the world and has particular strength in advising high net worth individuals and their family businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

We have an enviable portfolio of international clients who look to us for expert advice ranging from the structuring of assets around the world, cross-border tax and succession planning, to major trust and estate disputes. While there is no 'one size fits all' solution, the key issues faced by our private clients share common themes: ensuring a smooth succession from one generation to the next, mitigating the worst effects of taxation, avoiding family disputes (through structuring and effective governance) and protecting key assets. These issues become increasingly complex when considered in an international context.

Our highly regarded lawyers have expertise in advising on international trusts/foundations and a number of estates, with a particular focus on multi-jurisdictional tax, succession and inheritance issues, as well as international asset structuring. We also have specialists in international probate, residential, commercial and agricultural property matters and dispute resolution including contentious trusts and contentious family and probate issues*. 

In times of crisis, companies, lenders, investors and other stakeholders facing complex international or domestic restructurings and insolvencies turn to us because of our experience and proven successes in some of the most high-profile restructurings and insolvencies over the last few years.

We have the commercial approach that is needed to adapt to and succeed in these fast-moving and uncertain times.

Clients particularly value our ability to bring in specialists in areas that often prove pivotal in a distressed situation, such as complex finance, real estate, pensions, and tax. With a large international team of lawyers who have excellent reputations in their local markets, we bring the right people together for the job.

We are market leaders for insolvency litigation where we represent both insolvency office-holders and defendants. Our expertise in fraud and asset tracing arising out of insolvency is internationally recognised.

We act for national and international businesses, insolvency administrators and office holders, directors, shareholders, lenders, asset-based lenders, bondholders, creditors, private equity, distressed debt funds, pension scheme trustees and landlords.

Some members of our team in Austria and the Netherlands also act as insolvency trustees.

The consumer and retail sector is arguably the sector most affected by the online revolution and tech disrupters. Coupled with huge shifts in consumer focus through social media, provenance and sustainability concerns and the radical changes in the way people work in the gig economy, the pace of change is unprecedented. The need for businesses to innovate has never been more critical.

We’re helping companies adapt to these changes and innovate so that their businesses are ready for the future. Our international team advises 32 of the world’s top 50 most valuable brands.

We regularly advise businesses on industry issues, such as innovative use of technology and data, how to tackle infringement and counterfeit goods, data breaches, reputation management, labelling, licensing and franchising, supply chain management, environment and sustainability. We support businesses expanding into new markets (often utilising our network of international offices), as well as domestic growth for both ecommerce platforms and stores. We advise businesses at all stages of their lifecycle, from seed funding to major transactions and corporate restructurings.

With detailed knowledge of the retail sector, our market insights, original solutions and legal advice are shaped by current trends in the market. Clients value our collaborative approach. We're more than just their lawyers; we're trusted and valued colleagues.