Charlotte Lewis

• Provided solutions-focused legal advice across business units on a broad array of recruitment industry matters, balancing risk and commercial benefit.
• Drafted, reviewed and negotiated a comprehensive range of agreements, including (i) MSP, RPO, second tier and global contracts; (ii) technology/SaaS agreements; (iii) key client contracts for temporary worker supply and/or the introduction of permanent candidates; (iv) project services agreements; (v) collaboration agreements; and (vi) supplier terms.
• Advised on recruitment specific regulations, notably the Conduct Regulations and Agency Workers Regulations.
• Led project to standardise IR35 negotiation processes, developing templates and guidance.
• Monitored legal developments and delivered targeted internal training sessions, most recently collaborating with the Group DPO to provide training on the new Data Use and Access Act, keeping stakeholders informed and compliant.
• Handled litigation and dispute resolution, including pre-action correspondence and county court claims - achieving swift, cost-effective outcomes.
• Assisted with bids and tenders, reviewing tender documentation, advising on clarification questions and providing strategic guidance on bid-stage comments to optimise submissions and manage contractual risk.
• Led on corporate projects, overseeing acquisitions, disposals and loan refinancing, from instructing external counsel and due diligence through to negotiating agreements and post-completion matters.
• Supported commercial negotiations with clients and suppliers, ensuring legal risk management while enabling business growth.
• Advised on a broad spectrum of ad hoc legal queries and compliance issues specific to the recruitment sector.
• Contributed to AI and data protection projects, advising on legal implications, risk mitigation and compliance strategies.
• Advised on a range of data protection matters, including data protection agreements, DPIAs and helping to shape data protection policies and processes.
• Assisted with employment law related matters, including negotiating TUPE provisions and advising on temporary worker issues and disputes.
• Developed and implemented efficiency improvements for the legal and contracts teams, notably accelerating permanent-placement contract reviews and streamlining the standard terms and contracting process for the Solutions and Advisory business.
• Built trusted partnerships with operational and commercial teams and supervised junior legal team members, mentoring on contract law, negotiation tactics and sector-specific regulations.

• Managed UK component of a cross-border acquisition involving US and UK targets, drafting the share sale and purchase agreement, shareholders' agreement and reorganisation documents, and collaborating with US counsel and tax advisors to drive the transaction to completion.
• Drafted and negotiated shareholders' agreements and articles of association.
• Advised on all corporate aspects of the £260 million sale of the Ampersand building in Soho.
• Led due diligence exercises for several transactions, coordinating specialist teams firm-wide to deliver bespoke, commercially focused reports with clear action lists and red-flag analysis tailored to client preferences.
• Reviewed auction sale documentation, drafted and negotiated the disclosure letter, and managed the disclosure exercise for an auction sale of UK and Canadian targets totalling approximately £50 million.
• Drafted and negotiated warranties, indemnities and non-disclosure agreements across multiple M&A transactions.
• Supervised a trainee on the verification of an AIM dual-listing admission document for a healthcare technology company, developing deep subject-matter expertise and receiving positive client feedback.
• Assisted with drafting suites of equity documents - articles of association, subscription agreements, shareholders' agreements and term sheets for private equity bids.
• Supported the acquisition of Lark Insurance Group by a private equity firm, drafting share sale and purchase agreements and management roll-up equity documentation.
• Performed contract reviews and commercial due diligence on high-value healthcare deals, including HC-One's £300 million acquisition of 122 Bupa care homes.
• Prepared engagement letters, scoped new deals and set fee quotes in collaboration with partners.
• Originated a potential AIM-listed client engagement, coordinating and participating in the initial pitch alongside senior partners.
• Provided ongoing commercial and corporate advisory support to a diverse client base.
• Received highly positive feedback from clients for responsiveness, commercial insight and legal acumen.
  

Six month in-house secondment to ENGIE:

• Developed strong client relationships with key corporate client, gaining insight into their facilities services business.
• Reviewed facilities management services contracts and prepared legal memos to inform the commercial bidding process.
• Presented at corporate governance meetings to assess bid risks.
• Researched complex legal issues.
• Drafted instructions to counsel and advised commercial team on practical steps following counsel's guidance.
• Compiled and distributed monthly updates on relevant regulatory and legislative changes.
• Reviewed and negotiated service-sector agreements, providing pragmatic advice to avoid or resolve contractual issues.
• Drafted and negotiated NDAs and produced a concise guidance note on key considerations when reviewing standard-form NEC3 contracts.
• Prepared presentation decks for quarterly legal-team meetings and group-wide sessions on unforeseen issues arising in past services contracts.
• Drafted pre-action protocol letters before claim and responses.
• Negotiated and marked up subcontractor and supplier agreements.

Six month seat in Corporate Finance:

• Assisted to develop and research a novel founder share structure in connection with the IPO of Hotel Chocolat Plc.
• Managed the due diligence process, coordinated all of the departments involved in producing the due diligence report and carried out the corporate due diligence for a pharmaceuticals company currently listed on Alternext and intending to dual list on AIM.
• Carried out the verification process for several prospectuses.
• Assisted in all aspects with the successful IPO of Shield Therapeutics Plc on AIM, which raised gross proceeds of £32.5 million by way of a placing, subscription of ordinary shares and the issue of listed warrants. Assisted with the drafting of the prospectus and drafted the warrant instrument.
• Drafted the suite of documents for a group reorganisation.
• Assisted in drafting complex boilerplate clauses for an umbrella agreement in connection with a reorganisation of a property development group.
• Took the lead role in connection with a majority/minority joint venture between an investment bank and an asset management company investing in high value commercial properties.
• Drafted a 50/50 joint venture agreement, board minutes and other ancillary documents between two individuals involved in a restaurant business.
• Reviewed and marked up lock-in deeds and other ancillary documents for Northland Capital Partners Limited in relation to the IPO of Evgen Pharma Plc.

Six month seat in commercial property and real estate finance

• Took responsibility for numerous matters, from taking instructions through to post-completion.
• Drafted and negotiated sale and purchase agreements, leases, licences, rights of way and wayleaves.
• Prepared reports on title, lease summaries and real estate finance documents.
• Took a lead role when acting for HSBC Private Bank on the financing of a £90m residential property purchase.
• Organised and completed the property due diligence on over 140 properties in connection with the acquisition of shares in a company owning a large portfolio of pubs.
• Managed the reporting and due diligence process in connection with the acquisition of an industrial estate.

Six month seat in commercial rail, leasing finance and ship finance

• Assisted with the drafting and negotiation of a manufacture and supply agreement and technical services agreement, as well as managing the conditions precedent process, in connection with a €200m contract to supply Serco Caledonian Sleepers Ltd with 75 new coaches for use on Anglo-Scottish sleeper services.
• Drafted instructions to foreign counsel and took responsibility for obtaining legal opinions.
• Researched complex regulatory issues.
• Assisted with drafting and negotiating a supply agreement for rolling stock components.
• Assisted with the financing for the acquisition of a £42m passenger ferry.
• Managed a complex review of track access terms and network licences in connection with the firm's general Crossrail regulatory advice.
• Delivered a know how presentation on liquidate damages to the commercial rail team.
• Carried out research and drafted comprehensive notes for client pitches.