LAW firm Hewitsons has acted in two significant property sales recently, including helping award-winning client, Sundial Group, sell off one of its prestigious meeting venues.
Sundial Group has sold its Barnett Hill Conference Centre and Hotel for an undisclosed sum, and with no job losses, to Alexander Hotels, which runs three other luxury hotels near London.
David Browne, Partner and Head of Hewitsons’ Northampton Corporate team, handled the corporate aspects of the deal, assisted by corporate solicitor Anne-Sophie Reynolds. Marc Carter, a Partner in the Northampton Real Estate team, advised on property matters, while Nick Hall, Partner and Head of the Employment team, managed the employment affairs.
David said: “Hewitsons has been acting for Sundial Group for a number of years now and we were especially pleased to help with such a fantastic deal for our client. This couldn’t have been achieved without the hard work of every single member of the team, who brought together expertise from an array of disciplines.”
Sundial Group is a Northamptonshire-based family business dating back more than 50 years. It runs a venue-finding agency, a team-building company and dedicated meeting venues. Earlier this year, its Barnett Hill Conference Centre and Hotel earned a 2016 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the sixth year running, as did the group’s other country house hotels, Highgate House in Northamptonshire and Woodside in Warwickshire.
Hewitsons also assisted The Northamptonshire Association for the Blind (NAB) when it sold its residential care home with no job or service losses.
NAB has sold Darsdale Residential Home to another local care home provider, ensuring that the facility can continue to operate as normal.
The deal also means all 20 staff members have been retained at the premises in Chelveston Road, Raunds.
The charity has looked after blind and partially-sighted residents at the home for 66 years, but decided to focus on its other specialist services going forward.
However, it wanted to ensure that the facility would continue to be used as a residential home if sold, which is where Hewitsons was able to help.
As Hewitsons specialises in multiple areas of law, the firm was able to bring in experts from several relevant divisions to secure the best possible deal for the client. The deal involved several of the firm’s partners, with David Browne advising on the corporate aspects, Marc Carter covering property, Clare Waller seeing to employment and Chris Knight taking care of the charity side of the deal.
David, who is a ranked lawyer in the Chambers & Partners Legal Guide 2017, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to complete the sale for the charity, particularly as it ensures that these important services will remain available in the area.”
