TWM Solicitors is one of the largest legal practices in Surrey, and one of the South East’s leading law firms. It provides a full range of services to individuals, businesses and other organisations. The firm is the product of a significant merger in 2000, but proudly traces its origins back to the 1790s.
TWM Solicitors provides unrivalled coverage in Surrey, and Central and South West London. The firm’s hub office in Guildford houses the ever-growing business law and specialist lending practices, while from all locations the firm enjoys a pre-eminent reputation in real estate, private client and family law.
Clients come from a variety of sectors, drawn to the firm because of its location and expertise. Businesses that have given consent to be named as clients include Chelsea Technologies Group, Crown Golf, FESPA, Handelsbanken, Lloyds Bank plc, Miles Commercial, Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation, Shilton plc, Tindle Newspaper & Radio Group and the TVR Group of Companies. Private clients are medium, high and ultrahigh net worth individuals.
Types of work undertaken:
Family Law: The firm enjoys a national reputation for family law. Clients, typically high net worth individuals, are drawn from all over the country, as well as from overseas. Services include divorce, separation, civil partnerships, cohabitation, Pre-Nuptial Agreements and referrals from the LGBT+ sector. The team advises on all financial aspects of family law and deals with complex business and trust arrangements and cross-border disputes. Working closely with the Dispute Resolution team at TWM, the team also undertakes schedule 1/TOLATA applications. The team has extensive experience in Children Act proceedings, including Special Guardianship applications and adoption. They can also provide niche advice on Sperm Donor Agreements. With lawyers trained in collaborative law and mediation, TWM’s Family team can offer a full range of services for those clients who wish to avoid the uncertainty and expense of the court route. In cases where it is not possible to resolve matters, and court becomes necessary, the team is fully equipped with good working relationships with top family law chambers and other expert advisors to run contentious proceedings through court.
Private Client: Private client services include Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney, probate, administration of estates, trust planning/creation and trust administration, as well as specialist taxation advice and planning, and advising on specialist associated matters such as capacity, guardianship etc.
Business Law: Corporate services include share and asset acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, MBOs/MBIs, raising finance and reorganisations. Commercial services include advising on all types of trading contracts (including online), partnership agreements, shareholders’ agreements, distribution agreements, IT contracts and standard terms and conditions. Intellectual property is also an area specialisation, including trademarks, copyright, design rights and brand management. There is a growing practice advising international high net worths and businesses intending to invest in the UK.
Real Estate: Commercial property expertise includes acquisitions and sales, preparation and negotiation of leases, property portfolio acquisitions, and licensing. Development and planning work includes site assembly, options agreements, finance agreements and plot sales. Residential property includes sales, purchases, remortgages, shared ownership and transfers of equity. Leasehold includes lease extensions, purchases of freehold, and leaseholders taking over management of their flats. Advice is provided to flat-owners, groups of tenants, residents’ associations and landlords. The Enfranchisement team enjoys an excellent reputation, extending into London and nationwide.
Lending: Lending work includes mortgage debt, consumer credit, bridging, development and asset lending; clients include prominent banking institutions, onshore/offshore funds and family offices, alternative lenders (including market leading peer-to-peer and crowdfunding platforms) and private lenders. Borrowers include substantial portfolio investors, secondary market investors and property developers. Borrowers range from start-ups through to multi-national businesses. Particular expertise is provided to help growing companies to put in place management processes to make both their product and their business attractive to funders. The firm has a leading advisory practice in the maturing FinTech and blockchain markets, as well as advising new market entrants in shared equity and private fractional ownership.
Dispute Resolution: Dispute resolution services are provided across a broad spectrum both for individuals and for businesses. The team’s practice areas are wide ranging and include property litigation, professional negligence, shareholder, company and commercial disputes, insolvency and contentious trusts and probate. The Dispute Resolution team also works closely with other practice areas in the firm to provide support as well as draw on their expertise in cross-disciplinary/jurisdictional matters. The team is hugely experienced in all forms of ADR, as well as court proceedings in all major forums.
Employment Law: The Employment Law team advises both employers and employees on a wide range of work, from unfair dismissal and redundancy to discrimination, harassment, breach of contract and disciplinary hearings. In-house advocacy at employment tribunals is provided. Advice is given on drafting employment contracts, handbooks and work policies, as well as HR support and training.
Debt Recovery: TWM has a Debt Recovery team for recovery of commercial debts, with a proven record of high recovery rates of outstanding debts, at very competitive, often fixed, fees.