Private companies

Advised in a private label technology development and licensing partnership between a Silicon Valley based semiconductor company and its strategic partner in China.

We advised on the acquisition of a Malaysian company with ownership of a well-known major hotel in Malaysia by a BVI registered investment holding company for RM120 million.

The termination of a 10-year worldwide agency and distribution agreement led to us representing a Greek company in a dispute with a Jordanian state owned enterprise.

Withers has represented Master Chem Oil Ltd on a range of projects including the financing and development of an oil receiving terminal in the Black Sea, Romania, along with general advice on the company's financing arrangements.

We advised Connective Energy Limited, a venture between Tridios Renewables, Mitsui Babcock and the Carbon Trust, on various UK heat solutions. This included heat supply agreements and industrial gas supply agreements.

We represented a Swiss-based family office in a corporate control contest involving a California-based US$500 million private company in the coatings business. The company has an independent Board of Directors and is owned by three significant minority owners and widely dispersed current and former employees. Our work involved M&A, corporate governance, finance, complex contracts, tax and offensive corporate litigation. We drew on our New Haven, Greenwich and Los Angeles lawyers and implemented a partial contingent billing arrangement.

We advised Wendon Renewables Limited, a UK developer, on an investment in a UK biomass project.

When multiple generations of a family are involved in a business together, the issues can become complex. Withers has a strong track record in this area so when a family-owned business approached us, we were able to address their needs. We helped with inheritance tax planning for the senior generation as well as the separation of assets between the three generations involved. The planning included reclassifying shares, paying a dividend and a de-merger of the business.

Sometimes our litigators’ biggest successes lie in avoiding litigation. At one stage, it seemed that there was no way for an Italian winemaker we represented to avoid a costly court battle after it terminated its longstanding US importer. However, through careful strategic decisions we were able to ease its transition from working with the US partner to its own recently formed affiliate without seeing the inside of a court room.

A major UK investment manager turned to Withers when it needed to put in place the most tax-efficient strategy for its UK principals. We were happy to devise a strategy based on our in-depth knowledge in this area.

Italian company Newlat specialises in distribution for the agro-food sector, offering a large point of sale network across Italy and further abroad. Withers offered advice to Newlat to assist during their acquisition of a manufacturing plant in Ozzano Taro, Italy from Heinz.

The founder of this highly successful online clothing retail business wanted to sell a large stake to a leading luxury goods conglomerate. As the go-to law firm for fashion entrepreneurs, Withers was brought in to ensure that the value of our client's stake was protected and negotiate a fresh incentive package. We then worked to achieve a tax-efficient strategy for the disposal of part of the founder's interest.

The termination of a 10-year worldwide agency and distribution agreement led to us representing a Greek company in a dispute with a Jordanian state owned enterprise.

Advised in a series of private equity acquisitions and consolidations for a micro-cap private equity firm based in San Francisco.

Advised in the investment by Canadian and US investors in a radio communication company based in Silicon Valley.

Advised in a private label technology development and licensing partnership between a Silicon Valley based semiconductor company and its strategic partner in China.

Advised in equity investments by a top-tier Silicon Valley venture capital firm in several US Internet, software, database and e-commerce companies and biotech/medical companies based in San Diego and Silicon Valley.

We represented a Swiss-based family office in a corporate control contest involving a California-based US$500 million private company in the coatings business. The company has an independent Board of Directors and is owned by three significant minority owners and widely dispersed current and former employees. Our work involved M&A, corporate governance, finance, complex contracts, tax and offensive corporate litigation. We drew on our New Haven, Greenwich and Los Angeles lawyers and implemented a partial contingent billing arrangement.

Sometimes our litigators’ biggest successes lie in avoiding litigation. At one stage, it seemed that there was no way for an Italian winemaker we represented to avoid a costly court battle after it terminated its longstanding US importer. However, through careful strategic decisions we were able to ease its transition from working with the US partner to its own recently formed affiliate without seeing the inside of a court room.