Lester Aldridge LLP

Managing Partner: Matthew Barrow

Chairman: Suki Samra

Number of partners: 45

Number of other fee-earners: 168

Firm Overview

Lester Aldridge is a full-service law firm, advising commercial organisations and private individuals on a regional, national and international scale, from offices in Bournemouth, Southampton and London.

Lester Aldridge offers something to clients that other, larger firms do not: a genuine partnership. Client satisfaction is reflected in the growth it has experienced, seeing revenues increase steadily.

It is a growing firm whose breadth of service continues to broaden. Formed following the merger of two large Bournemouth firms in 1988 (with origins tracing back to 1796); in 2007, it changed status from a traditional partnership to that of a limited liability partnership and is a “go to” firm, which has proved to be attractive to partners from other firms.

The firm has been accredited with the Law Society’s Lexcel Quality Standard since 2007 and has also held ISO27001 since 2022, adding ISO14001 in 2023.

Main Areas of Practice

Real Estate

The firm’s extensive property team span sectors including commercial development, care, residential and lending, investment and retail, with expertise to handle a wide range of property issues, from development projects, management and investment, buying and selling properties, landlord and tenant issues, to planning, environment and construction. It also has expertise in the niche areas of ports and marinas, waterside developments, social housing and assisted living.

Dispute Resolution

Lester Aldridge’s experienced team covers a broad range of general commercial litigation, as well as working for clients in specific industries, handling everything from emergency injunctions to mediation and high court litigation in areas as diverse as debt collection and multi-million cross-jurisdictional claims.

Corporate and Commercial

The team handles an array of corporate work for a diverse client base. Particularly noted for its M&A work, the team regularly advises clients on other company and commercial issues, including joint ventures, IT and IP licensing, competition law and restructurings. The team has a growing specialist expertise in media & entertainment and AI. The team also acts for international, national and regional clients in many sectors, including charities and the non-profit­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ sector.

Litigation and Recoveries

Lester Aldridge’s team has a proven track record in providing effective advice to banks, building society, finance houses, leasing companies and insolvency practitioners. It specialises in the recovery of secured and unsecured commercial and personal finance, as well as asset recovery.

Marine

LA Marine is the specialist shipping and marine law team of Lester Aldridge, providing expert advice and practical solutions to the commercial shipping, logistics, superyacht and leisure marine industries. LA Marine deals with all aspects of maritime law, from non-contentious matters to collisions, charterparty issues, bill of lading disputes, demurrage claims, insurance and personal injury.

Healthcare

One of the leading areas of expertise at Lester Aldridge and one for which the firm has a national reputation. For over 20 years, members of the specialist healthcare team have been specialising in the regulation of health and social care services, regularly acting for independent social care providers, independent hospitals, NHS Trusts and GPs. The team also acts for children’s homes, schools and fostering agencies.

Employment

As one of the leading employment teams in the south, the team provides specialist advice on all areas of employment law, acting for international, national and major regional employers in all sectors. The team supports HR and senior management in dealing with a multitude of employment issues, from drafting service agreements, employment contracts, employment policies and handbooks, to advising on tribunal claims, redundancy programmes and TUPE-related matters.

Private Client

The firm offers a full range of services for individuals both in the UK and internationally, with specialists in wills and estates, tax planning and trusts, contentious probate, residential conveyancing, family, employment, personal injury and medical negligence.

International Work

As well as advising clients in the UK, we are also able to advise clients on cross-border transactions and overseas business matters. And as a member of MSI Global Alliance, an international network of lawyers and accountants, we can offer advice from a network of first-class lawyers from around the world. The international private client team supports both professionals and private individuals across a range of global estate planning and administration matters, including a specialist medallion signature guarantee service.

Practice Areas and Offices

For Individuals:

• Community Care & SEN
• Court of Protection & Capacity
• Education/SEND law
• Employment
• Family
• International Probate & Estates
• Personal Injury & Medical Negligence
• Residential Property & Conveyancing
• Tax, Trusts, Wills & Probate
• Wills, Trusts & Estates Disputes
• Yachts & Superyachts

For Business:

• Charities & Non-profit
• Construction
• Corporate & Commercial
• Data Protection & GDPR
• Dispute Resolution & Commercial Litigation
• Employment & HR
• Health & Social Care
• Litigation & Recoveries
• Planning
• Real Estate
• Real Estate Litigation
• Restructuring & Insolvency
• Shipping & Logistics
• Yachts & Superyachts

Offices

Bournemouth

Russell House

Oxford Road

Bournemouth

BH8 8EX

Telephone: 01202 786161

London

Savoy Hill House

Savoy Hill

London

WC2R 0BU

Telephone: 0207 492 9800

Southampton

Mountbatten House

Grosvenor Square

Southampton

SO15 2JU

Telephone: 023 8082 7400

Email: [email protected]