From the Manchester Evening News, September 24 2009
MELANIE Yeomans and Andrew Dunn, of Stripes Solicitors, Manchester, advised on the merger of Salford-based Trident with Leeds firm Ring Lighting to form Associated Lighting Group.
Crain’s Manchester Business, September 23 2009
Manchester-based law firm Stripes Solicitors has recruited Daniel Rubin as its new director of employment.
Rubin joins the firm from Addleshaw Goddard, where he has spent the last decade advising a broad range of clients.
He is experienced in all aspects of employment law, from business restructuring to handling large-scale redundancies and is listed in the 2009 edition of the Legal 500. He has also completed secondments at BT, where he managed tribunal litigation, and at Barclays where he advised on a number of high-profile appointments.
Stripes’ managing partner, Andrew Stripe, said: “Daniel has vast experience of working with some of the UK’s biggest companies and will be a valuable addition to the Stripes’ employment team.”
Stripes’ managing partner Andrew Stripe added: “Daniel has vast experience of working with some of the UK’s biggest companies and will be a
valuable addition to the Stripes’ employment team.”
TheBusinessDesk.com, September 23, 2009
MANCHESTER law firm Stripes Solicitors has bosted its employment team with the appointment of Daniel Rubin.
He joins Stripes as director of employment from Addleshaw Goddard where he has spent the last decade advising a wide range of clients including plcs, institutional clients and household names.
Daniel, who was listed in the 2009 Legal 500, was a managing associate at Addleshaws.
He says his move to Stripes to will enable him to respond to clients’ demands to offer a better value proposition: “The future of the employment market lies with providing a better value service from experienced lawyers who understand their clients’ businesses.”
Stripes’ managing partner Andrew Stripe added: “Daniel has vast experience of working with some of the UK’s biggest companies and will be a valuable addition to the Stripes’ employment team.”
Crain’s Manchester Business, September 18 2009
Domestic lighting distributor Salford-based Trident has today announced its merger with Leeds-based competitor Ring Lighting.
This merged entity will be known as the Associated Lighting Group (ALG) and will turnover in excess of £35m, making in the second largest player within the market.
David Gutfreund, new chief executive of ALG and former executive chairman of Trident said: “The merger of Ring Lighting and Trident places us in an excellent position to take full advantage of the recovery.
“The merger represents a major consolidation within the industry, and we will be aiming to strengthen ALG’s position over the short term as we look to acquire smaller competitors and increase our market share. Moreover, this move has substantially reduced Ring Lighting’s debt.”
Both Ring Lighting and Trident are major suppliers to DIY, grocery and high street retailers – supplying chains including B&Q, Argos, Focus DIY, Pagazzi Lighting, Homebase, Tesco, ASDA, Shop Direct, TX Maxx, Wilkinson and Next.
Ring Lighting and Trident will be operationally managed as two separate entities each with their own client base, overseen by teams of senior personnel. The newly-formed ALG board will comprise of five main board directors. Chaired by Nicholas Jeffrey, it will include; David Gutfreund as Chief Executive, Bruce Davidson, MD of Ring Lighting, Brom Dixon, MD of Trident and David Green as Group Finance Director.
The deal was funded by Burdale Financial – the invoice finance arm of Bank of Ireland. Manchester-based TMG Corporate Finance and law firm Stripes Solicitors advised on the deal.
TheBusinessDesk.com, September 18 2009
A MANCHESTER lighting distributor has merged with a Leeds rival to create a £35m turnover business.
Trident said the deal with its Yorkshire competitor Ring Lighting would create one of the largest players in the market.
The formation of the new Associated Lighting Group (ALG) was funded by the asset-based lender Burdale Financial and other investors.
David Gutfreund, ALG’s chief executive and former chairman of Trident, said: “The merger of Ring Lighting and Trident allows the combined group to emerge extremely strong, and places us in an excellent position to take full advantage of the recovery.
“The merger represents a major consolidation within the industry, and we will be aiming to strengthen ALG’s position over the short term as we look to acquire smaller competitors and increase our market share. Moreover, this move has substantially reduced Ring Lighting’s debt.”
Both Ring Lighting and Trident supply DIY and High Street retailers such as B&Q, Argos, Focus DIY, Homebase, Wilkinson and Next. The two companies will be managed as separate entities each with their own client base.
The new ALG board will be chaired by Nicholas Jeffrey and include: David Gutfreund as chief executive; Bruce Davidson, managing director of Ring Lighting; Brom Dixon, managing director of Trident; and David Green as group finance director.
Mr Gutfreund has been a member of the Energy Saving Trust’s lighting strategy group for five years. He said he planned to use this experience to help ALG become the largest supplier of energy saving lighting fittings and light bulbs.
TMG Corporate Finance and Stripes Solicitors in Manchester advised on the deal.
ONE of the UK’s leading libel lawyers has joined Manchester law firm, Stripes Solicitors Limited.
In a major coup for the firm, Mark Lewis has become Director of Media and Sport to lead Stripes’ expansion into these fields and capitalise on the launch of Media City next year.
Crain’s Manchester Business, September 10 2009
Libel lawyer Mark Lewis has joined Manchester law firm Stripes Solicitors Ltd as director of media and sport.
Lewis, 44, joins from George Davies Solicitors where he headed up the dispute resolution team.
Stripes said he regularly acts for the UK’s biggest sport stars and high-profile celebrities, and is the only lawyer outside London to be a member of the Law Society’s Defamation Reference Group.
His high-profile cases include successfully defending a number of Sheffield Wednesday fans, who were sued for libel by the club after they posted comments on the web forum, Owls Talk.
He is also representing consultant cardiologist Dr Peter Wilmshurst who is facing an international libel action in the High Court, brought by American surgical device manufacturer NMT, over comments he made on a US website.
Lewis said: “There is huge opportunity in the region’s burgeoning media industry which is set to develop further following the advent of Media City next year.
“The North West is also a centre of sporting excellence, and I am delighted to join Stripes, which is a progressive firm, and lead its expansion into these areas.”
Stripes’ founder Andrew Stripe added: “Mark joins Stripes with a substantial reputation and adds to the libel work that we undertake for our clients. Mark’s heavyweight experience in the areas of libel and privacy strengthen the team of highly experienced lawyers who offer a personal and professional service to our growing client base.”
TheBusinessDesk.com, September 10 2009
LEADING libel lawyer Mark Lewis has joined Manchester-based Stripes Solicitors to drive the firm’s expansion into the fields of media and sporting law.
Mr Lewis, 44, has joined as director of Media and Sport from city rivals George Davis Solicitors, where he led its dispute resolution team.
He regularly acts for the UK’s biggest sport stars and celebrities, and is the only lawyer outside London to be a member of the Law Society’s Defamation Reference Group. (more…)
From the Manchester Evening News, September 10 2009
AMBITIOUS Manchester law firm Stripes Solicitors has hired libel expert Mark Lewis to lead its expansion in the media and sports arena.
Mr Lewis, 44, left George Davies after nine years earlier in the summer.
He spent nine years there and led its dispute resolution team. Now he has been appointed as director of media and sport at Stripes.
The firm is setting up the unit in the hope of capitalising on the launch of MediaCity UK at Salford Quays.
Mr Lewis has built a reputation as a leading libel lawyer, and is the only solicitor outside London to be a member of the Law Society’s defamation reference group. He regularly acts for big-name sports personalities and celebrities and is regarded as a top expert on phone hacking.
He has been involved in several high-profile cases involving the internet, and successfully acted for Sheffield Wednesday fans who were being sued by the club for libel after they posted comments on the Owls Talk web forum.
Mr Lewis is currently representing consultant cardiologist Dr Peter Wilmshurst, who faces a High Court libel action brought by US surgical device manufacturer NMT in a case which is being closely followed by the scientific and legal communities.
Today, Mr Lewis said of his new role: “There is huge opportunity in the region’s burgeoning media industry which is set to develop further following the advent of MediaCity next year.
“The north west is also a centre of sporting excellence, and I am delighted to join Stripes, which is a progressive firm, and to lead its expansion into these areas.”
Stripes’ founder Andrew Stripe said Mr Lewis has “heavyweight experience” in the fields of libel and privacy and would significantly bolster the firm’s offering.