International law firm Bird & Bird advised Marks & Spencer plc (M&S) on its acquisition of the Jaeger fashion brand, which fell into administration last November.
This move aligns with M&S’s new strategy of selling other third-party brands to help boost sales. The Bird & Bird team advised on the negotiations with administrators and off-shore sellers as well as some complex IP-related issues. It was a collaborative team effort requiring a coordinated one stop service from the firm’s Corporate, Restructuring & Insolvency and Intellectual Property groups.
M&S was advised by Corporate partner Clive Hopewell, Intellectual Property partners, Tom Snaith and Morag MacDonald and Restructuring & Insolvency partner Joss Hargrave. The team was also supported by Corporate associate Richard Bloomfield, IP associate James Pearson and associate Jordan Cooper from the Restructuring & Insolvency team.
Clive Hopewell, Corporate partner at Bird & Bird says: “We were delighted to work alongside the legal and business teams at M&S and the team at PwC on this fast-paced transaction over the festive period, which involved negotiations with two sets of administrators, an off-shore seller, and some complex IP-related issues. Having our best in class IP and Insolvency specialists on hand was instrumental for this deal. I look forward to working with the team at M&S in future”.
Robert Lyons, Deputy Company Secretary of M&S adds: “We have been impressed with the hard work and dedication of the Bird & Bird team over the festive period as well as with the quality and practical nature of the advice received”.
