Tessa Laws, Partner at Acuity Law

International

Lead Partner
Overview
Work
International Trade Desk
Team

Our multi-disciplinary team represents corporate bodies and investment funds in cross-border transactions, including in jurisdictions and free-trade zones where English common law is used or using UK Export Finance to facilitate international trade and investment.

We also advise overseas bodies on establishing a presence in the UK, structuring deals and funding packages and complying with complex regulatory landscapes. We know how to avoid early-stage problems and deliver pioneering solutions for sustainable growth.

We work in sectors as diverse as technology, blockchain and cryptocurrency, cyber security, real estate, healthcare and hospitality.

Through our London and Dubai offices we have strong international networks, business alliances and strategic partners with whom we collaborate and innovate, including a specialist crypto asset firm in the United Arab Emirates on blockchain based projects and cyber security. We’re also members of IR Global, a network that brings together the best of the professional advisory community.

  • Instructed on the creation of two new tokenised private equity funds based in Malta for a UK client
  • Acted in the formation of a new real estate investment vehicle for a Dubai-based investor to finance real estate projects in the UK
  • Advising on the establishment of a new healthcare development in North Africa funded in part by UK Export Finance
  • Acting in a major real estate investment project between a UK university and a Dubai-based real estate developer
  • Advising NASDAQ listed ScanSource, Inc. on its acquisition of video conferencing business Imago
  • Advising a Chinese company looking to acquire IP rights from a UK based manufacturer
  • Advising Danish headquartered Green Power Partners on various investments in the UK solar market
  • Advising US based Finn & Partners on their acquisitions in the UK
  • Acting for Cardiff City Football Club on its investment by Malaysia based Berjaya Corporation
  • Acting for Lenstec Optical Group on the acquisition of a minority shareholding by Israeli based Shamir Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of optical lenses
  • Acting for ASX and NZX listed The a2 Milk Company on the set-up of its UK operations and a joint venture with Muller Wiseman Dairies, and its subsequent exit from the joint venture

Following Brexit and the post-Brexit trade agreement between the UK and EU, Acuity has launched an international trade desk to advise our clients on their international trade needs when trading into and out of the UK. We advise on the various trade agreements signed between the UK and other territories.

Given the complexity of these trade agreements, we have created a UK FTA monitoring document linked below to summarise the key points relating to the UK’s current free trade agreements we believe look most promising. In addition, we are working with counterparties in various territories to offer our clients direct access to legal, accounting, tax, and general commercial support.

UK FTA Monitoring Document

Whether your international trade requirements relate to advice on customs and tariffs, advice on commercial contracts, strategic alliance matters such as franchises or equity investments in joint ventures or wholly owned subsidiaries, then we can advise you.

Our trade desk is headed up by  Begonia Filgueira and Tessa Laws  – corporate and commercial lawyers with significant experience in international trade and cross-border transactions as well as state aid and subsidy control issues.

If you are an SME thinking of exporting or being a partner to an overseas business in the UK, please take the opportunity to complete our quick survey.

International Trade Survey

Latest Webinars

Key Contacts

Barry Sankey

Partner
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7859 106 000

Begonia Filgueira

Begonia Filgueira

Partner
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7766 911 058

Henry Clarke

Partner
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7980 290 341

Katrina McWhinnie

Katrina McWhinnie

Partner
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7595 024 389

Tessa Laws

Tessa Laws

Partner
[email protected]
+44 (0) 7767 882 759

Accolades

  • The Times’ Best Law Firms 2020
    Acuity Law

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