Leading South Coast law firm Steele Raymond LLP has appointed a highly experienced Senior Associate Solicitor to its expanding Commercial Team.
Commercial lawyer Alexandra (Ally) Clapp joins the Top-Tier Commercial Team as Senior Associate, bringing over ten years of experience advising on a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions.
Based at the firm’s Bournemouth head office, Ally joins a leading Commercial Team, including Head of Commercial Team Paula Eckton. Ally's arrival brings the number of lawyers in Steele Raymond's wider Corporate & Commercial Group to eleven, making it one of the largest and most experienced teams across the south coast.
Ally advises on complex corporate and commercial transactions and arrangements for many businesses, from start-ups to multinationals.
Ally has extensive experience in commercial contracts, supply and distribution arrangements, joint venture collaborations and mergers and acquisitions and has developed specialist sector experience in banking and finance.
Ally’s experience puts her in a unique position to be able to advise business clients on a whole range of commercial issues.
Commenting on her appointment, Ally said:
"Steele Raymond has a long-standing reputation for putting the client's interests first whilst delivering premium legal advice. I'm very excited to have joined such a strong and entrepreneurial team in Bournemouth and across the South Coast, with a first-class reputation for high-quality commercial work.
"From day one, the friendly, professional and respectful culture was prominent, and I'm looking forward to helping clients and the firm achieve their commercial ambitions."
"The Commercial Team at Steele Raymond are well placed to advise companies in a whole range of sectors on any of their commercial contract needs, and I am delighted to be joining Paula Eckton and the team."
Paula Eckton, Partner and Head of Steele Raymond's Commercial Team, said:
"Ally is an extremely well-regarded and respected lawyer and a fantastic addition to Steele Raymond's Commercial Team. Her knowledge and expertise in complex commercial work will complement our existing expertise and add an additional layer of premium advice for our clients, both in the UK and further afield. I am thrilled Ally is joining the team.”
The Steele Raymond Corporate and Commercial Group already has an excellent reputation across Dorset and the South Coast, having acted in some of the region's most significant transactions.
Ally continued:
"As we come out of lockdown, businesses may be looking to enter into new commercial contracts as customer demand in specific sectors increases, switch contract providers or update the terms of their commercial agreements.
"For example, certain suppliers of services may feel it appropriate to update their supply contracts so that Covid-19 lockdowns and pandemic are carved out of their termination provisions and any force majeure provisions.
"On the other hand, certain business customers may feel it appropriate to update their supply contracts to specifically include Covid-19 lockdowns and pandemic in their termination provisions and any force majeure provisions; it very much depends upon the bargaining power of the contract counterparties as to what may or may not be acceptable."
Steele Raymond has been recognised as one of Dorset and the South West's leading law firms in the latest edition of the leading independent guide to the UK legal profession, The Legal 500, for the 16th consecutive year.
Paula Eckton and Tim Stone head up the Commercial and Corporate Teams respectively. They have both been recognised by the Legal 500 as “Leading Individuals”, the highest personal accolade the Guide awards. Steele Raymond is unique in that it is the only firm in its region to have two leading individuals in this practice area.
The firm has been awarded the highest' Top Tier' ranking that the Guide awards in core practice areas of Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Property, and Dispute Resolution.
If you would like to discuss your legal options with our Commercial solicitors in Bournemouth, please contact Ally Clapp on 01202 204 592 or email alexandraclapp@steeleraymond.co.uk.