30th November 2009

Dawsons LLP today announced that it has acted on a significant transaction in Libya, being the first direct foreign investment in a privately owned bank.  Bernd Ratzke, a partner in the firm’s corporate commercial department, advised Banco Espirito Santo (BES) of Portugal on its proposed 40% acquisition of Aman Bank for Commerce & Investment Stock Company, one of the few Libyan banks established outside the state sector.  Subject to various conditions and consents, the transaction is likely to complete in early 2010.

he acquisition is part of BES’ international expansion strategy and is aimed at fostering the access to markets in Northern Africa. The transaction is structured to include the purchase of 40% of the existing share capital of Aman Bank, for EUR 23m at current exchange rates, as well as a simultaneous capital increase by way of a rights issue to a total of LYD100m, bringing BES’ total investment to EUR 37.8m.

BES will have management control of Aman Bank, with the right to nominate the majority of the members of the Board of Directors, as well as the Chief Executive Officer and main middle management.

Bernd Ratzke was assisted by Mary Shields, senior solicitor in Dawsons corporate commercial department.

The vendor was advised by SJ Berwin

12th November 2009

14th September 2009

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05th May 2009

Dawsons LLP today announced the appointment of new partner Bernd Ratzke to its expanding corporate commercial department.  Bernd joins from Baker & McKenzie where he focused on cross-border transactions, as well as running the Bakers corporate department in London from 2002 to 2006.  Bernd, alongside Ute Mueller, will head up Dawsons’ corporate team. 

Jeremy Ward, Chief Executive of Dawsons said: “Bernd has a wealth of experience in both national and international corporate matters, not least for larger corporates and in emerging markets, especially Libya, he will bring some new perspectives to Dawsons. We see an opportunity for Ute and Bernd to combine their respective strengths through the joint leadership of the department”.   

Ms Mueller added: “We are glad to have Bernd as a new member of our team. We have seen consistent growth in Dawsons’ corporate group and expect that to continue in 2009.

19th March 2009

Dawsons LLP today announced that it has hired three new assistants as the firm continues to expand across key practice areas. The new hires will join the Family and Litigation departments, and reflect the firm's commitment to growth.

Jeremy Ward, Dawsons' chief executive, said: "I am delighted that we are able to bring on board three lawyers with such a wealth of experience. It's vital that we continue to expand in response to increasing demand from both our established and new clients. The firm is continuing to grow in all key practise areas and I am sure that Julian, Mark and Theo will contribute significantly to this."

The new appointments in full are as follows:
Julian Bremner joins the Dawsons' Family Law team as a senior assistant with strong experience in all aspects of family law including cohabitation disputes, separation agreements and pre nuptial agreements. Julian qualified as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Tasmania and the High Court of Australia in 1996 before moving to the UK in 2000.

Theo Hoppen also joins the Family department as an assistant having spent three years at DWF. Theo's work incorporates a number of issues in family law including cohabitation disputes and cases around the Children Act.

Mark Sullivan, joins Dawsons' Litigation department as an assistant from Eversheds, having spent two years working in the areas of insurance, real estate and financial services litigation. Mark speaks Russian and Polish.