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Carla Galkoff

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I joined Lawrence Stephens as a trainee and qualified into the Corporate and Commercial team in September 2023.

I have experience working on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including share and asset sales, mergers & acquisitions, shareholder agreements and company restructures. I have a particular interest in owner-managed businesses in the FMCG market. I enjoy assisting founders with establishing strong legal foundations and protections for their company, and then explaining and guiding them through the corporate life-cycle as they eventually prepare for an exit.

I am actively involved in building the culture of the firm, whether it be organising firm-wide social events or helping manage our in-house social and charitable initiative whereby staff are allocated to teams or ‘Houses’ and can take part in various initiatives to win House points. This initiative was born out of a desire to encourage in-person collaboration and competition through events and charity initiatives, whilst also providing a platform to recognise and award individual achievements.

Outside of my interest in law, I am a keen swimmer and movie-watcher, anything from Pixar to true crime documentaries.  I also love trying new food but admit to doing more eating than cooking!

Charlotte Hamilton

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

I am a Senior Associate in the Corporate and Commercial team.  I am interested in people and their business. Whether you are a small business just starting out, aren’t sure what should be included in a shareholders agreement or you need some advice on the terms of a commercial contract, I am interested in hearing your big ideas and helping you bring them to life.  Maybe you have been running your business for some time and are looking to raise new funding or create an employee share incentive scheme – again, I can help you achieve your business goals, wherever you may be in your journey.

I undertake a range of transactional and non-transactional corporate work including mergers and acquisitions (including for those employing buy-and build strategies), joint ventures, corporate reorganisations, commercial agreements and general company law matters. Through my earlier banking experience, I also have a deep understanding of debt and structured finance and am well-placed to advise on company and business acquisitions funded by debt.

Experience highlights
  • Acting for the Buyer of a £17m business running youth hostels. Collaborating with our commercial property team and using my skills and knowledge in corporate and finance.
  • Assisted a private fund with multiple acquisitions in the procurement, corporate accommodation and dental sectors, and provided company secretarial support to maintain a portfolio of companies.
  • Acting for OakNorth Bank plc on a £12m development loan, working together with our construction and property teams to deliver a fast streamlined service to completion.
  • Acting for a borrower in relation to a development facility provided by UTB, advising on the loan agreements, security documentation and communicating effectively with the bank and my clients to ensure a smooth process and efficient delivery to completion.

Bradley Lee

Posted on: February 10th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

Having qualified in 1998, I advise corporate entities and private individuals on all areas of corporate and commercial law.

With a particular focus on owner-managed businesses, SMEs, private equity and start-ups, I act on disposals, acquisitions, joint ventures and investments across a broad range of sectors including, property, media, digital marketing, financial services, construction, beauty and cosmetics, restaurants and leisure.

I also have significant experience in drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial contracts such as shareholders’ agreements, articles of association, debentures, legal mortgages, charges over shares and agreements relating to consultancy, partnerships, share options, distribution and supply, franchises, equipment hire, licensing and loans.

In addition, I have a particular specialisation in advising on the corporate aspects of underlying property-related matters, having acted for numerous clients in this area.

I’m an avid football fan (player, spectator and FA-qualified referee) and follower of many other sports.  I’m also a cinema-goer, pub quiz enthusiast and love to travel to far-flung places.

Experience highlights 

  • Advising a serial entrepreneur in relation to various investments including technology start-up companies and property joint ventures
  • Acting for property developers in relation to various joint ventures concerned with the development of a mix of commercial and residential units within Greater London
  • Acting for buyers and sellers in respect of numerous  ‘corporate wrapper’ companies (both in the UK and offshore) where the respective company’s sole asset is property, including the sale of one such company whose sole asset was an apartment in the prestigious One Hyde Park development
  • Acting for the buyer of a series of nursing care homes in North London
  • Acting for the sellers of an owner-managed digital marketing company to a PLC

James Lyons

Posted on: February 7th, 2023 by Natasha Cox

With nearly 25 years’ experience advising on corporate transactions, I pride myself on providing the same personable and conscientious level of service to a range of clients including entrepreneurs, management teams, SMEs, private equity funds and larger private and public companies.

My expertise also extends to managing corporate elements of real estate transactions and advising not-for-profit bodies on constitutional matters. My clients operate in sectors including media, technology, manufacturing, healthcare and catering.

I advise on mergers and acquisitions, equity fundraisings, shareholders agreements and joint ventures, corporate re-organisations, director duties, corporate governance and all matters of company law.

My clients appreciate my personable nature, careful attention to detail, patience, responsiveness and commercial pragmatism. I have been ranked as a Recognised Practitioner for Corporate M&A Mid-Market (London) in Chambers and Partners.

It is important to me to develop strong relationships by combining good quality technical advice with clarity of explanation and (where possible) good humour to maintain perspective and make the process as smooth as possible for all involved.

Much of my spare time is spent acting as chauffeur to my three boys and attending to their sporting needs. When I’m not watching one son play football, managing another of my son’s football teams or walking the dog, I’ll go for a run to escape them all. I’m also a keen follower of my hometown football club Leeds United.

Experience highlights 

  • Advising on the sale of strategic land company Southern & Regional Developments Limited to Bellway PLC
  • Advising an individual business owner on the sale of his media production company OB Media Partners Limited to 42 Management & Production
  • Advising a global listed company services provider on M&A transactions including their acquisitions of catering businesses and the sale of their UK horticultural services division
  • Advising a registered care provider on its corporate acquisitions of care home providers owning and operating care homes in the Southeast
  • Advising the management team of marketing services company MM-Eye Limited on their management buy-out of the business and, subsequently, on their sale of the company to an employee-ownership trust