Business Start-ups

James has specialised in corporate and company commercial law for over 15 years advising on new business ventures, legal structures, sales and acquisitions, mergers, buy-outs, corporate investments and a wide range of commercial contracts.

He represents a wide variety of clients across various sectors including in media and advertising, branding and web design, engineering and manufacturing, retail, property investment and sports and entertainment. He is known for his commitment to his clients, sound business sense and calm legal authority.

Recent transactions include: acquisition of food and beverage business, sale of e-commerce solutions provider, joint venture in London transport and advertising business, restructuring and investment into event management company, investment into energy technology business, restructuring of property investment portfolio and sale of bespoke textiles company.

Here is some of the feedback James had received:

“Thank you very much for your hard work and getting this done in the tight timeline required” Michael Clarke, PSF Web.

“Many thanks for your guidance on this transaction and please pass on our appreciation to the team at Hart Brown” Andrew Beasley, Ball Capital Investment

“Thank you very much for your support, it was a pleasure working with you” Mario Rosas, Fuse IM / Mathesys

“Once again I thank you for bringing another deal to a close. I must say I enjoy working with you and it is great to have you and your team on our side.” Asher Moses, Sherbet London

“On behalf of us all a big thank you for making all of this happen, you have been an absolute star.” Mike Laflin, Sportcal

James was educated at Eton College and Bristol University. He then trained at the College of Law before qualifying with Cumberland Ellis LLP an established London firm and joining their commercial department in 2000, becoming a partner there in 2006. James joined the partnership at Hart Brown in October 2010 and now heads up the Commercial & Corporate Department.

Other business related positions include (i) committee member of the Havaianas Business Club (an exclusive entrepreneurs business club) (ii) involvement in Euro juris and related international legal networks (iii) trustee of the Brain and Spine Foundation and (iv) Chairman of Governors at Ewhurst C of E Infant School.

Past times and hobbies include a fair amount of sport, particularly football, tennis and cricket and sailing or hiking whenever the chance arises. More sedate interests include reading (preferably historical novels), the occasional game of chess or poker and, with a young family, trips to the beaches of the South Coast and the hills of Scotland.

Jane is an employment and commercial litigation solicitor of more than 15 years' experience.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Jane was employed in the aviation industry. This experience is appreciated by many of Jane's clients who note that she is able to take a commercial and pragmatic approach to any legal issue that they face.

Jane acts for a wide range of individuals and businesses and her areas of specialism include aviation, property related industries and IT. Jane regularly advises on aspects of employment law, such as settlement agreements, employment contracts, policies and procedures, redundancies, equal pay, data protection, issues arising from TUPE and reorganisations, the calculation of holiday pay, bonus and commission payments, disciplinary and grievance issues, dismissal and termination issues, the protection of confidential information and the enforcement of restrictive covenants. Jane gets involved in GDPR training for her clients and she is able to deliver tailored employment law training sessions upon request.

As a commercial litigation lawyer, Jane also deals in shareholder and directors disputes, commercial contract disputes and the enforcement of restrictive covenants.

Jane has been involved in successful high value commercial litigation for clients in the High Courts, she is an accredited mediator and she is a member of the Employment Lawyers Association.

Jane is often asked to write for a number of well known publications, including The Daily Mail, The Telegraph and The Week and she has been interviewed on BBC Radio 4.

Here is small selection of the feedback that Jane has received:

“Jane, I cannot sincerely thank you enough for your wise counsel and am delighted to have made your acquaintance. If I am blessed with a new position somewhere I will hand over my contract in the first instance to you. Likewise, any of my friends, peers, romans and countrymen wanting advice, I will point them in your direction.”

“Jane, you have been most resilient on my behalf for which I sincerely thank you for all your endeavours. I have a tremendous working relationship with Hart Brown and you have undoubtedly compounded this further."

“I appreciated the clarity of advice given at a stressful time”.

“A sensitive and highly professional approach and efficient work in the interests of the client”.

“Your advice, conduct and assistance have been indeed outstanding and very professional but also – and most importantly – very humane”.

Natalie is a Paralegal in the Commercial & Corporate department.

She assists on commercial contracts, sales & acquisitions, mergers, shareholder agreements and corporate restructures across a range of industry sectors.

Natalie studied her undergraduate law degree at the University of the West of England, Bristol. She then went on to study at the University of Law in Guildford and, prior to joining Hart Brown, worked in the Commercial Property department of another leading firm in Guildford.

Nigel read Psychology and Politics in South Africa. He went on to qualify as a solicitor in 1995 and initially practiced as a prosecutor before moving into private practice where he specialised in commercial work. He then moved into the business recovery and restructuring department at Pricewaterhouse Coopers broadening his understanding further of the problems and challenges a business faces.

Relocating to England in 1999 Nigel joined Hart Brown in 2002 and became a partner in 2004.

Nigel often received praise from his clients, these are just a few of the comments:

"Very efficient, cost effective service."

"This marks the end of a very long (15 years) and successful relationship with Hart Brown on the liquidation of the company. We thank the partners and staff at Hart Brown for all the advice and wise counsel they have given us over the years."

"You have an excellent team of people who make sure they understand the needs of the client."

Sheralle is a solicitor in the Commercial & Corporate team at Hart Brown. She advises on corporate and commercial contracts. Her focus is on mergers and acquisitions, advising on corporate legal structures and a wide range of commercial agreements. She joined Hart Brown in February 2018 having worked for over 4 years with a US firm based in London.