Yavan Brar
Managing Partner, Head of Corporate & Commercial
Yavan leads the corporate and commercial department advising businesses on their corporate legal requirements. Having built a team of expert corporate and commercial lawyers with a wide range of industry specialisms, Yavan is able to offer strategic and pragmatic solutions to complex legal problems.
Yavan, a technically able expert, has extensive experience advising on M&A, corporate restructuring, banking, and fund raising issues.
Yavan is a keen mountain biker and skier – although the level of effort he puts into them does not translate into the quality of either. He is also a part time chauffeur, driving his 3 kids around to various sporting events.
Yavan is listed as a recommended lawyer by the Legal 500.
This is a commercially minded practice that is led by a talented lawyer, Yavan Brar, who focuses his team on providing excellence in all they do. The team is genuinely keen to ensure good quality and pragmatic advice for clients and in my experience, this is achieved.
Legal 500
Experience
- Advising on strategic buy, build and sale project: Advising UK headquartered international banking security and maintenance provider on several buy and build acquisitions prior to partial sale to US hedge fund including a rollover of existing management shareholders with a total project value in excess of £100 million.
- Private equity investment into international electronics manufacturer: Advising UK headquartered international electronics manufacturer on investment from private equity investor with an enterprise value of £110 million.
- £31 million sale of group companies to an Employee Ownership Trust.
- Advising on a £13.5 million complex minority acquisition in Education and Technology provider.
- £10.2 million sale of self-storage assets to US private equity fund.
- Acquisition finance and re-finance of leading UK-based developer: Advising client on £25 million senior debt refinance with subordination of then current £10 million junior debt.
- Advising on pre IPO investment facility for home services software provider: Advising client on £15 million investment from overseas listed investment company to include undiluted roll over of existing investors.
- Refinancing for banking security and maintenance provider (Private Equity): Advising on a refinance totalling £21,000,000 including facilities and receivables finance facilities from major UK banks.
- £42 million re-finance for boutique hotel chain – Advising the boutique hotel group on the refinance of Allied Irish Bank with National Westminster bank involving a complex redemption procedure and extensive due diligence on the groups property portfolio.
- Worked alongside US counsel, in advising Silicon Valley based investment firm, Meson Capital, in its Series A investment in UK-based RBW Sports & Classics Limited.
- Advised DataOps.Live on its $10.3m USD Series Seed funding round led by west-coast US venture capital invest, Anthos Capital.
- Advised Buyline on a significant facility, from the creation of the initial IM, advising and negotiating on the terms sheet, advice through the due diligence process, through to negotiations between multiple secured creditors.
- Advised Chester Rose Ltd, on their second round of investment: Involving an initial conversion of convertible loan notes into preferences shares, complex articles of association, followed by details negation of a conditional investment agreement.
- Yavan acts as an advisers to a number of boards dealing with questions of law and assisting on strategy.
The team at Herrington-Carmichael provide expert support which is calming when the pressure is on and always based on human connection. Most impressive is their ability to be responsive so that deals stay on track and schedule.
Stuart Crainer, Co-founder Thinkers50
In building an IFA sector leading business it was essential to have a top-quality legal firm in place which is why I chose Herrington Carmichael to work with me from the start-up phases in 2004 to an eventual sale in 2017. Having returned to the IFA sector again in 2020 to build another quality IFA firm I have once again chosen Herrington Carmichael. Amongst other things, Yavan and his team have provided comprehensive and dedicated legal support in the negotiation and conclusion of a complex multi-investor transaction.
Richard Dunbabin, CEO, Chester Rose
Yavan, Chris and the rest of the team at Herrington Carmichael were a pleasure to work with and provided a professional, responsive and pragmatic approach. They distil comments and mark-ups into concise questions to allow us to make commercial decisions without being bogged down in legal jargon, which allows for a smooth, efficient transaction process. I’d happily recommend the team to any of my peers, and always enjoy working with HC on deals.
Liam Pursall, BGF
Yavan, Chris, and Liz are three of the most attentive, hands-on, and knowledgeable lawyers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. They were always available to answer my questions and provide me with excellent advice. They were also very proactive in managing my case and keeping me informed of its progress. I would highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal representation.
Richard Owen, Director, Cinch Self Storage
We had been working with HC as our corporate lawyers for many years, pre-dating the inception of DataOps.live. Yavan and his team were excellent and tireless in their efforts to execute the funding round in a particularly short timescale, especially given the international time zones in consideration. The team were always available, always prepared, and always thinking of mutually acceptable ways to move past any challenges when they arose. We look forward to working with Herrington Carmichael over the coming years as we look to scale Dataops.live with the strategic input of Anthos Capital and Snowflake Ventures.
Justin Mullen, CEO and Co-founder
Yavan’s approach in dealing with negotiations and in dealing with the city lawyers on a multi-million pound investment were commercially focused, ensured that progress was made and that we concentrated on the areas of the greatest importance.
Clayton Sullivan-Webb, Managing Director, Grundon Waste Management Limited.
Herrington Carmichael LLP has coordinated three purchase and sale transactions for us in the last two years. The advice and guidance provided by the corporate team, led by Yavan Brar, has been well explained, commercially sound and supported by well drafted legal documentation. All legal advice, completions and support provided by Yavan and his team was first rate.
Will Clark, Managing Director and Part owner at Gavin Jones Ltd
Yavan and his team at Herrington Carmichael recently advised us on the assignment of two loans and associated security from third party lenders onto our books. Yavan and Matt provided advice of the highest quality and ensured the transactions completed swiftly. They were available whenever we needed to contact them and kept their advice commercially focused to our specific requirements. We have built a good relationship up with the whole team at Herrington Carmichael and would certainly recommend them.
Chris Hector, Director
A sincere thank you to Yavan and the entire Herrington Carmichael team. You are an exceptionally committed group of individuals. Looking back, it’s impressive what we managed to accomplish over such a short period of time, dealing with a variety of issues that came up during the process. Working with Yavan, Chris, Matt and Michelle was a pleasure. Thanks to all of you as well as the many others working behind the scenes.
Dan Scesney, Finance Director
Yavan and team supported us through the process ensuring we had the right level of guidance and regulatory control for every decision through this process, we felt fully supported and couldn’t have achieved the outcome without them.
Huw Philips, Buyline CEO
HC have been excellent and tireless in their efforts to complete the acquisition. The team were always available and always prepared to find mutually acceptable ways of moving past any challenges when they arose. We value their counsel and support.
Chris Kenyon, Group CEO
Yavan and Sophie made our sale to an EOT straightforward and effortless. From the outset, they took the time to understand our needs and goals, explaining the process and answering all our questions. Their expertise in EOT transitions helped us make the right decisions for our company's future. We highly recommend the Herrington Carmichael team to any business considering such a transition. Their professionalism, expertise, and client care were invaluable.
Mike Hawkins, founder of Hawkins Group of Companies
HC acted for us in a corporate reorganisation, the sale of shares to an EOT and implementing an EMI for key individuals. The matter was complex and required patience and clear solutions to a number of issues to achieve the goals. Yavan and Sophie provided detailed advice on statutory requirements, a clear explanation of legal terminology, and worked efficiently to allow us to implement the EMI within the necessary timeframe. Great support from Yavan and team.
Steve Wignall, Options Energy
Steve Wignall, Options Energy
We are grateful to Yavan, Sophie and the team for their work on transitioning our company to an EOT. They navigated the intricate process of the transition with care and precision, giving all those involved clear understanding and peace of mind throughout the process. Their proactive approach and attention to detail were evident throughout and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the team to anyone considering an EOT transition.
Ian Crofts, trustee of Hawkins Employee Ownership Trust
John and I are delighted to have been supported by Yavan & Sophie as we embarked on selling our Company to an EOT. From initial introduction 14 months ago, to achieving completion 2 days ago, Yavan & Sophie have been with us every step of the way. Their knowledge is vast and their ability to steadily walk us through the entire process, as simply as possible, was remarkable. The completion of this process required a number of additional inputs from other experts, all of which, they were able to provide, which just helped with the seamless approach and high level of communication throughout. We just hope they are happy that we were able to keep up with them too! Prior to meeting Yavan & Sophie, we had no knowledge of what an EOT was so to think that within 14 months, we have not only understood the benefits of such a consideration, but have reached the finish line and can sit back and proudly watch the continued success of our business in its new form, is incredible. So thank you. for everything.
Sharron Nicholls
Best Law Firms 2024
Herrington Carmichael has once again been named in the Times Best Law Firms. We were first listed in 2023 and have once again made the Best Law Firms list for 2024.
