Business Startups

There are many aspects to be considered when starting a new business venture from the choice of medium through which the business is to be conducted to factors surrounding location, funding, management, structure and governance, to name but a few. We have extensive knowledge in new business ventures with access to a large pool of specialists in related fields including direct access to funders, property consortiums, property agents & accountants – to help our clients get started. The choice of business mediums largely includes:
  • Small & Medium Enterprise SME’s
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Partnerships
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Unlimited Companies
  • Companies Limited by Guarantee
  • Not-For Profit Organisations & Charities
  • Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s)
  • Charities

OUR TEAM OF EXPERTS ARE HERE TO ADVISE ON

  • How the business will be funded
  • How the business will be managed
  • How profits are to be taken
  • Any plans for a future exit route from the business
  • The levels of tax the business will have to pay
  • The keeping of accounts
  • The extent to which individuals will be personally liable for acts and debts of the business
  • Expectations of our client’s customers and suppliers
  • Legal jurisdiction in which the business will be based
  • Jurisdictions in which the business will trade

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Commercial and Residential property

We provide a complete real estate service advising on the acquisition, development and disposal of both commercial and residential property. Our real estate team has extensive experience in large scale property development, commercial leases, lease extensions & property portfolio management, delivering an efficient and comprehensive service in the most complex of transactions.

  • Residential Purchase & Sales
  • Re-mortgages
  • Commercial Property
  • Leases
  • Lease Extensions
  • Development Projects
  • Property and Portfolio Management
  • Real Estate Finance to include short term secured lending and development funding
  • Bridging Loans

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Commercial Law and Regulatory Compliance

We cover all aspects of corporate and commercial law, including the formation of companies, partnerships, joint ventures, charitable organisations, foreign investment, regulatory compliance issues and employment law at any point during the lifespan of a company. Specific services include:

  • International Commercial Transactions
  • Shipping and International Trade
  • Regulatory body compliance start-ups SME’s & corporate
  • Charitable organisations
  • Foreign Investment
  • Employment Law
  • Breaches, audits practise development
  • Investigations
  • Prosecutions
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Anti-corruption, bribery and money laundering
  • Management Buyouts
  • International Trade

WHO WE DEAL WITH

  • International Commercial Organisations
  • High Net Worth Individuals
  • Businesses
  • Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  • Food Standards Agency
  • Gambling Licensing Authority
  • General Medical Council (GMC)
  • Information Commissioner’s Office
  • Licensing Authority
  • Planning (Local Authority)
  • Solicitors Regulatory Authority (SRA)
  • Trading Standards (TS)

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Corporate and Private Immigration

With a wide range of specialist knowledge, we are able to act as a bridge between the Home Office and our clients. We advise many individuals and businesses on the merits of a claim and the immigration obligations. By introducing our clients to our established network of contacts, we offer end-to-end solutions to suit individual, business and investment needs. Our immigration services cover but are not limited to:

  • Tier 1: Investor & Entrepreneur Visa
  • Tier 2: Sponsorship Licences for Specialist or Temporary Workers
  • Tier 4: (Child) Student Vsa
  • Tier 5: (Youth Mobility Scheme) Visa
  • Fiancée & Unmarried Partner Visa
  • Leave Granted to Protect Human Rights
  • Indefinite Leave to Remain and Naturalisation
  • Appeals, Administrative Review & Judicial Review
  • Immigration Compliance
  • Deportation

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Criminal Law

Our experienced team cover both Private Prosecution Work and Defence. 

LGBT Information and advice on laws that affect LGBT people.

MOTORING LAW SPECIALISTS IN MAYFAIR

  • Appeals Against Convictions
  • Appeals Against Parking Tickets
  • Causing Death by Dangerous/Careless Driving
  • Dangerous Driving
  • Drink & Drug Driving Allegations
  • Driving whilst Disqualified
  • Drug Driving Allegations
  • Early Reinstatement of Licence
  • Failing to Provide Information
  • Failing to Stop & Report an Accident
  • Heavy Goods Vehicle Offences
  • Mobile Phone Offences
  • New Driver & Revocation
  • Driving with No Insurance
  • Special Reasons
  • Totting Up & Disqualification
  • Speeding

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Education Law

Our education law team of experts are here to assist and advise our clients on a wide range of issues from admissions, special educational needs through to further and higher educational queries.

Assisting clients & children from their youngest years within the educational system through to further & higher education facilities, we offer a rounded and highly skilled service.

We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:

  • Admissions & Appeals
  • Academic Appeals
  • Bullying & Discrimination
  • Degree Classification
  • Exclusions from Schools
  • International Students
  • Special Educational Needs
  • Independent Schools & School Fees

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Family & Matrimonial Financial Settlements

We understand that our clients often require a sensitive approach when dealing with their family and matrimonial affairs. From the outset, we take the time to ensure we fully understand our clients’ needs and advise on the most appropriate course of action to achieve the best results.

Our clients value us for our personable and discreet approach. With a team of dedicated negotiators and mediators, we routinely achieve timely and cost-effective solutions, without the need for litigation and court intervention. Where Court action is the only viable course of action, we provide a targeted approach, relying upon our wealth of experience to include emergency intervention and applications to the Court, especially in respect of Restraint proceedings and Injunction Relief.

We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:

  • Children
  • Child Abduction
  • Court of Protection
  • Dispute Resolution on Death of a Family Member
  • Divorce & Separation
  • Financial Arrangements & Settlements
  • Injunction Relief
  • Matrimonial Property, Pensions and Debt
  • Marriage, Civil Unions & Domestic Partnership
  • Nuptial Agreements
  • LGBT Equality & Rights and Applications under the Gender Recognition Act

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Financial & International Crime​

We provide discreet advice and representation to our clients who require specialist legal advice in all areas of corporate crime – including corruption & bribery, fraud and financial misconduct. We also help our clients recover from the effects of corporate crime, from reputation management to dealing with enforcement agencies.

Our dedicated team are on standby at all times to ensure a fast and targeted response to intercept extradition and international investigations and proceedings.

We assist our clients in all of their investigation and prosecution needs, covering areas such as:

  • Police
  • Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs
  • The Serious Fraud Office
  • National Crime Agency
  • Interpol 
  • Financial Conduct Authority
  • Health & Safety Executive
Our highly skilled team are here to provide a targeted and direct approach, quite frequently at very short notice. We advise on the law and enforcement regimes, assist with investigations, prosecutions and appeals, specialising in the following areas:
  • VAT Fraud
  • Revenue Fraud
  • Fraud in Breach of Trust
  • White Collar Fraud
  • Breaches against the Financial Services Act
  • Proceeds of Crime, Confiscation, Bribery & Corruption
  • Extradition
  • Asset Freezing, Injunctions and Relief

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Intellectual Property & Information Technology

Our specialist Intellectual Property team understands the importance of protecting our clients’ IP. We work with creatives from all backgrounds in safeguarding their assets. Our team are frequently called upon to assist in protecting a wide range of projects, from slogans, product designs and company logos, through to individual, SME’s and larger scale brand protection matters. We pride ourselves on the fact that our IP clients are as diverse as the advice we give. We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:
  • Trademark registration
  • Copyright
  • Patents
  • Industrial Design Rights
  • Intellectual Property Transactions
  • Online protection
  • Domain Names
  • Trade Secrets & Confidential Information

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Licensing

Our team of licensing specialists are here to assist our clients navigate the complexities of licensing, whether it is an individual or a business. We advise landlords, premises licence holders and designated premises supervisors from the initial application process, through to appeal and preservation work in retaining licences. We provide advice on the licensing of public houses, restaurants, retail units and off-licences, as well as late night venues and music & sporting events. We want to ensure that our clients preserve their licences, providing advice in all areas of their business, including public nuisance, public safety and crime & disorder. Detailed below are some of our key areas of practise:
  • Personal Licences
  • Premises Licences
  • Club Premises Licences
  • Designed Premises Supervisors
  • Temporary Event Licences
  • Variations & Appeals
  • Licence Transfers

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

With our litigators boasting experience spanning over a decade, we represent clients in complex, multifaceted and multijurisdictional disputes. Gillen De Alwis Solicitors has extensive litigation experience in all phases of the litigation process, from inception through to appeal. Our litigation team operates across our key sectors both nationally and internationally, to find solutions for our clients. With a strong team of mediators and accredited Arbitrators we are focused on Alternative Dispute Resolution. When the only solution is Court intervention, our litigators are on standby to ensure a prompt and targeted response to the needs of our clients. We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:
  • Alternative Dispute Resolution Mediation & Arbitration
  • Asset Tracing & Recovery
  • Commercial Disputes
  • Cross Boarder Litigation
  • Debt Recovery
  • Defamation Privacy & Harassment
  • Emergency Applications
  • Freezing Injunctions & Search Orders
  • Judicial Review
  • Landlord & Tenant
  • Leasehold Disputes
  • Property Litigation
  • Multi-Party Commercial Claims
  • Regulatory Proceedings
  • Construction- advice on post-completion defects liability and support arrangements
  • Construction, adjudication and arbitration services
  • Drafting and negotiation of contracts including those based on standard form documentation such as JCT, NEC, Orgalime and IET contracts

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Maritime & Admiralty

Gillen De Alwis maritime team understands the complexities that can arise within the maritime industry. Our dedicated team are on standby to deal with all nautical issues and private maritime disputes on behalf of our clients.  We are frequently called upon to provide advice  in both contentious and non-contentious  work including energy, finance, cargo, collision, limitation and pollution just to name a few.

With the UK being a world leader for the provision of legal services for the international maritime sector, the specialised Admiralty and Commercial Courts within the UK provide the  perfect arena for the resolution of dispute when private avenues have been exhausted.  Our team pride ourselves in providing a highly discrete, yet responsive and targeted approach  frequently advising out of hours and at short notice, deploying crisis management action and media intervention when required.

 

  • Anti-Suit Injunctions
  • Cargo Claims
  • Charter disputes and bills of lading
  • Commercial Contract drafting and advice
  • Commercial Fraud
  • Commodity disputes
  • Establishment and management of business corporations, including offshore
  • Fixed and floating objects
  • General average
  • Grounding/collision/salvage cases
  • International sale of goods
  • Pollution
  • Port operations
  • Salvage, towage and wreck removal
  • Shipbuilding contracts and repairs
  • Super yachts
  • Unseaworthiness and unsafe berth disputes

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Personal Injury & Accident Claims

Our team of expert Personal Injury Solicitors are on standby 24/7 to assist our clients in pursuing a claim for compensation.  We work predominantly on a ‘no win no fee’ basis meaning that, if we do not win a case, our clients do not pay us. 

Our specialist personal injury lawyers are here, not only to assist with cases, but to support our clients and their family throughout the entire process. Aside from obtaining compensation, we are able to assist with rehabilitation needs, medical care and support to help ensure our clients have the best possible recovery.

It is important to note that there is a limitation period of three years from the date of an accident or from the date of diagnosis when we can assist in bringing about a claim. 

For any enquiries, please contact us for a no obligation consultation free of charge. 

We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:

  • Serious Injury Claims (including traumatic brain and spinal injuries
  • Road Traffic Claims (including pedestrian, cyclist and passenger accidents)
  • Construction & Building Industry Compensation Claims
  • Industrial Disease Compensation Claims (including hearing loss and respiratory problems)
  • Asbestos Compensation Claims
  • Medical Negligence (including misdiagnosis, surgery, and GP negligence)
  • Holiday Accidents & Illness Claims
  • Accidents at Work
  • Accidents in public places (including claims against the council and slips, trips and falls)

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Private Client Wills Probate & Power Of Attorney

Our advice in this area is tailored to suit the needs of each individual client. Understanding this can be a highly sensitive area, we take our time to fully understand our client’s needs when dealing with matters relating to wills and trusts. In matters relating to the administration and distribution of estates, we advise not only the settlor, but also appointed trustees & executors on rights, entitlements and obligations.

Our private client services cater for individuals, families, estates, trusts and family businesses. We pride ourselves in developing long term relationships with our clients and their families, often spanning several generations. We provide advice on the most effective means to preserve and manage wealth for their own benefit and for that of future generations at national and international levels. We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:

  • Administration of Estates
  • Asset Management
  • Court of Protection
  • Disputed Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Lasting Power of Attorney
  • Medical & Welfare Decisions
  • Planning Involving Trusts
  • Probate
  • Trusts Settlements
  • Wills & Codicils

For further information relating to our fees for these services

Workplace & Employment Law

Our highly experienced solicitors appreciate that issues arising within the workplace can be extremely daunting and stressful. Our team provide advice and find solutions for all workplace related issues. From employment law services for employers, employees and those with international jurisdictional aspects including Immigration, our team strive to make the process as smooth as possible, providing immediate relief and protection to all of our clients.

We specialise predominantly, but not exclusively, in the following areas:

  • Board & Shareholder Dispute
  • Bullying, Discrimination & Harassment
  • Whistleblowing
  • Business Health Check and complaince
  • Business Sale, Acquisitions & Mergers & TUPE
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Contracts Policies & Procedures
  • Disciplinary & Grievance Procedures
  • Employment Contracts
  • Employment Litigation & Tribunals
  • Inhouse Training and Policy Review
  • Recruiting & Hiring
  • Recruitment from outside the EAA
  • Redundancies & Restructuring
  • Settlement Agreements
  • Start Ups