After studying his GDL and LPC MSc at the University of Law in London, Gerard began as a trainee solicitor at Lester Aldridge in 2016 and then qualified as a solicitor into the Corporate and Commercial team in 2018. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and linked change in economic climate, Gerard went on secondment to the Restructuring and Insolvency team for summer/autumn 2020 to assist with the growing demand for Lester Aldridge’s services in this area after which he returned to the Corporate and Commercial team.

Corporate and Commercial:

Gerard assists clients with advice on a variety of corporate and commercial matters including corporate mergers, acquisitions and disposals, company governance and finance, and commercial agreements. Whether the client is an individual or a multi-national company, he ensures the advice is tailored as required.

Restructuring and Insolvency:

Gerard advised clients, many of whom were formally appointed insolvency practitioners, on all features of insolvency and restructuring including formal insolvency procedures such as administrations, voluntary arrangements, liquidations (insolvent and solvent), bankruptcies and even court appointed receiverships. Gerard also provided advice on LPA Receivership appointments and disposals and assisted with solvent restructurings and group reorganisations. Regardless of whether the aim was to rescue a business or liquidate it (or somewhere in between), he was able to guide the client through each stage of the process whilst also preparing and delivering the necessary documentation required. His role also involved advising creditors and other stakeholders affected by the insolvency of another party including reviewing their claims to explain and advise on their chances of and route to making a recovery through the insolvency estate.

Gerard qualified as a corporate and commercial solicitor having completed his training contract at Lester Aldridge with seats in the teams of litigation and recoveries, real estate development, international private client and corporate and commercial, all of which allowed him to experience a broad spectrum of legal work and client diversity as well as develop numerous invaluable skills.

Recent examples of work or case studies:

• Advising and conducting due diligence work on the sale of a waste management company
• Advising and assisting with the purchase of various hotels for a client’s business and the necessary financing involved with their refurbishment.
• Running the sale of a sports business from start to finish including carrying out the due diligence and disclosure exercise together with assisting in the negotiation of the share purchase agreement.