Fladgate LLP

As we reflect on an incredible 2024, we’re proud to celebrate our client successes, upgraded rankings in the legal directories, and the amazing new talent that has joined us.   Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the journey so far.   We can’t wait to see what 2025 has in store for us.

Driving growth in automotive financial services with Bumper It’s great to have worked with our client Bumper UK International Limited again, this time on its first ever acquisition of leading automotive business intelligence platform AutoBI. Bumper is a technology-driven company specialising in automotive financial services. It provides a unique platform that enables users to split repair costs into manageable interest-free instalments, allowing them to maintain their cars without financial strain. Through strategic data and insights, AutoBI provides market intelligence and analytics for the automotive industry. This investment will allow Bumper to strengthen its digital payments platform by providing enhanced insights for its dealer partners. This deal follows Bumper’s $48 million Series B funding round earlier this year, on which we acted for them. We’re thrilled to have played a key role in helping Bumper expand its capabilities and are excited to see what’s next. Our team working on the deal was led by Howard Watt, with support from Ellie Green, Helena McElroy and Liam David. James Jackson, CEO at Bumper had this to say about working with the Fladgate team: “Howard and Ellie from Fladgate have been incredibly supportive to Bumper on multiple VC and M&A transactions. Our whole team enjoys working with them and their input has genuinely been a difference maker” Partner Howard Watt, alongside Senior Associate Ellie Green, added: “The whole Bumper team is brilliant to work with, they are incredibly responsive and each time we work with them it’s truly collaborative and enjoyable which is how the best deals should be. Seeing their continued success is all the more rewarding when you know how great the people are behind the scenes.”

We are excited to announce that we have been shortlisted for the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards 2025 under the category: Art Advisory Law Firm of the Year. Congratulations to our Art team: Hetty Gleave, Rebecca Christie, Tom Bolam, Luke Morris, Seetal Modi, James Earl, Helena Luckhurst and Ben Milloy. Hetty Gleave said "This is a great recognition of the emerging Art and Cultural Property team at Fladgate and the range and depth of expertise that we have across the firm, including contentious and non-contentious work."

What is family mediation? How can it help resolve disputes?   Family Mediation Week starts today, so this week we’re highlighting the many ways mediation can help families resolve disputes constructively and collaboratively.   For the first mediation feature of the week, Teresa Cullen, Partner and mediator, explores what family mediation is, how it works and how it can assist couples in navigating financial arrangements, child-related matters, and more.   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gEG5a2-v

We are pleased to announce that our lawyers have been listed in the latest edition of the Spear’s 500 rankings. 🏆 Congratulations to our recommended lawyers: Jonathan Riley, Helen Cox, Ekaterina Vagner and Helena Luckhurst who are listed for Private Client/Tax Simon Goldring who is listed for Contentious Trusts Joshua Moger, Catherine Costley, Rebecca Cockcroft, Teresa Cullen and Hetty Gleave who are listed for Family Helen Curtis-Goulding and Simon Chadowitz who are listed for Property and David Lee, listed in Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets. View our listed lawyers here: https://lnkd.in/dt_e9xzk

We were delighted to host YEP London for its first (sold out) seminar of 2025.   Rebecca Thomson (SevenCapital), Anthony Madden (Obsidian Strategic), Charlie Isaac (Gerald Eve), Richard Clarke (Fisher German LLP) and Charlie Mallinson (Cushman & Wakefield) provided an update on the 2024 property market and shared their thoughts on what 2025 might look like.   It was a great event and notwithstanding recent planning changes, high costs for developers, the move to hybrid working and the struggles that retailers have faced, it left us feeling cautiously optimistic for the year ahead.   You and Everyone in Property (YEP) is a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of inspiring property and construction professionals in London. They aim to create a unique forum where emerging talents in the industry can network, learn, and share ideas..   Thank you to everyone who attended, we look forward to continuing our sponsorship of YEP London.

📣 Last chance: Applications for our 2025 Vacation Scheme leading to a 2027 Training Contract close this Sunday 26 January. We recruit Trainees solely through our new Vacation Scheme which provides graduate students – our potential future Trainees – with an opportunity to gain hands-on experience and lift the lid on life at Fladgate. Vacation scheme attendees will experience a weeklong programme consisting of departmental exercises, assessments, networking and social events. Successful attendees will join us as Trainees, undertaking four seat rotations across our fee earning departments. Applicants will need to be available to attend an in-person assessment day on either 11 March or 18 March 2025. Apply now: apply4law.com/Fladgate

What challenges are firms facing in light of the recent DORA deadline?   Though the implementation deadline for the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) has passed, many financial institutions are still unprepared for the demands of its operational resilience and ICT risk management requirements.   Partner Tim Wright highlights the challenges for firms and the potential repercussions for non-compliance with Solicitors Journal: “Smaller firms in particular face greater challenges due to resource constraints and the complexity of DORA's 500-plus requirements, as well as having to deal with a wide range of third-party service providers.”   You can read Tim’s full comments here: https://lnkd.in/dsdVu5aM

Leading the way for radiation detection solutions   We recently advised the shareholders of UK-based Centronic Limited, a specialist developer and manufacturer of radiation detectors and devices, on the company's sale to Exosens, a high-tech company.   Based in France, Exosens provides mission and performance-critical amplification, detection, and imaging technology. This strategic acquisition will help accelerate growth and strengthen the combined group's ability to provide unique high-end detectors for the nuclear market.   Our multi-disciplinary team acted closely with the founder managers, providing practical and commercial advice to help structure the deal. Given the nature of our client’s work, completion of the deal also required approval under the National Security and Investment Act.    Our skilled team advising Centronic was led by Jeremy Whiteson, with support from Orit Rioumine Gold, Alex Haffner, Hamilton Forrest, Ingrid Hesselbo, Liam David, Amit Patel and Miles Crawford.   Former CEO and Chairman of Centronic, Neil Foreman had this to say about his experience working with Fladgate: “Working with Fladgate as our advisor the shareholders and board of Centronic were able to maintain a good relationship with the buyers and their advisors whilst ensuring that the sellers interests were protected at all times, resulting in a satisfactory outcome for all parties.” Partner Jeremy Whiteson added: “It was a pleasure to work with Neil, Ian and their team on this deal. The match between the parties seems perfect and we hope the enlarged business will go from strength to strength.”

We will be participating in the 7th Annual Asset Recovery International conference this year.   Partner Joel Seager will be speaking on a panel session, 'Case Contest', an opportunity for professionals from different jurisdictions to pitch their choice of the most important insolvency case of 2024 for their country/jurisdiction.   Joel is attending with Matthew Akers, Partner in our Dispute Resolution team.   You can view the full agenda here: https://lnkd.in/e6ebdh_Z