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Babbé helps with Waitrose deal
Leading UK supermarket chain Waitrose are coming to the Channel Islands, acquiring five supermarket stores from the Sandpiper CI group.
The deal will culminate with Waitrose acquiring two of the largest supermarkets in Guernsey. The transaction was complex and the Waitrose legal team comprised of lawyers from Eversheds and Ogiers. Babbé were instructed to advise on the Guernsey property aspects.
Martyn Baudains, Head of Babbe's commercial property team comments, "This was a complex deal and the legal teams worked on it for several months. Babbé were very pleased to be asked to advise on the Guernsey property aspects and to play a part in what is a significant deal for the Channel Islands".
STEP Success
Advocate Alasdair Davidson of Babbe has recently been made a full member of STEP (The Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners). Alasdair has achieved his full member status by being recognized by his peers as being an experienced practitioner. Alasdair has worked in the trusts and fiduciary sector for nearly 20 years including time spent in the Turks & Caicos Islands and the UK as well as Guernsey.
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) is the leading worldwide professional body for practitioners in the fields of trusts, estates and related issues. As an organisation and through its membership it promotes understanding of the role that trusts can play both for businesses and private clients.
“It is very pleasing to see Alasdair’s contribution to the Trust industry being recognised and especially by his peers. It is fully deserved and demonstrates further the strength in depth we have in the trust and fiduciary expertise we offer.” Andrew Laws, Managing Partner, Babbe.
Babbe win two prestigious awards
Babbé are very proud to announce that they have been named 'Corporate International Global Awards Winner for Cross Border Employment Firm' and for 'Business Litigation Firm of the Year in the Channel Islands'. Babbé were nominated as a result of extensive research with clients and peers both in Guernsey and overseas. The final judging panel came from a cross section of UK and internationally based lawyers.
Led by Ian Swan, the litigation team has expanded significantly and has been involved with much of the main litigation in Guernsey during the past 18 months.
A key figure in the employment team, Victoria Pratt was specifically identified for her employment work with companies engaged in the finance industry.
Andrew Laws, Manager Partner commented, "This is a great honour and achievement, and recognition for the hardwork put in by all the staff."
Guernsey trusts to go to Privy Council - March 2010
The Privy Council has granted leave to appeal the 2009 decision of the Guernsey Court of Appeal in Stuart-Hutcheson v Spread Trustee. In ruling against the Trustee on a preliminary issue the Court of Appeal had expressed the view that the origin of the Guernsey law of trusts lay in a mixed system akin to that of Scotland. The same reasoning would apply to Jersey trusts. Babbé partner Ian Swan, representing the Trustee, has welcomed the chance to challenge that view in the Privy Council and to argue that Guernsey trusts are (as had been widely assumed) essentially English in origin.
Gresh (Hastings Bass) PC refuses leave to appeal - March 2010
At the end of last year Babbé successfully represented HMRC in this well-publicised Guernsey Court of Appeal case, which established HMRC’s right to intervene in Guernsey’s first Hastings Bass application. HMRC has since been resisting an application by Mr Gresh for leave to appeal to the Privy Council, arguing that the case does not raise general issues as to indirect enforcement of foreign tax. The Privy Council has now upheld that argument in refusing leave to Mr Gresh to appeal, entitling HMRC to join in the substantive Hastings Bass issue.. The Guernsey parties will watch with interest the outcome of the appeals to the English Court of Appeal in the cases of Pitt v Holt and of Futter v Futter.
Babbé appoint new Partner and Head of Corporate - February 2010
Former Stephenson Harwood partner Stuart Tyler has been made a partner at Babbé and Head of the fast growing Corporate and Commercial team. Stuart was recently admitted as an Advocate of the Royal Court, having joined Babbé two years ago from London.
Babbé Advocate named on Citywealth magazine annual leaders list - February 2010
Prestigious magazine Citywealth has just published its fourth annual Leaders List and Babbé advocate Alasdair Davidson has been listed as a leading lawyer in his field. The list is compiled as a result of in-depth research from across the private wealth and fiduciary sector with views being canvassed from clients and peers. Those listed are acknowledged as having first class expertise and for delivering outstanding client service.
