NORTHAMPTONSHIRE is the heart of the UK, and logistics is right at the heart of the County’s industry and prosperity. I was lucky enough to attend the inaugural Northamptonshire Logistics Awards dinner earlier this year, and was immensely privileged to see the obvious pride with which the logistics industry in Northants embraced the idea of celebrating the best of its sector.
At Howes Percival we continue to act for many clients who are part of the local logistics sector. We work hard to understand the key drivers for success and what issues will be impacting logistics businesses in the future. Recent highlights include working with Panther Warehousing over the last few years, culminating in us acting for the owners in their successful sale of the Company in a management buy-out backed by Lloyds Development Capital and Santander. We also acted on the £105 million sale of Paragon Automotive to British Car Auctions, a company heavily involved in car transportation and storage.
Our involvement with logistics goes much broader than entrepreneurial businesses that grow and sell. We act for established businesses that obtain planning for and lease buildings for logistics, that have regulatory issues surrounding operational matters such as “O’ licences, hours of operation and tachometer problems. We act for clients engaging with a logistics partner, or waiting to outsource their logistics requirements. We advise on terms for contract hire, leasing and hire purchase of tractors and trailers. We advise on employment contracts and self-employed contracts for drivers.
In summary, as the leading corporate law firm in Northamptonshire, we have to be able to advise the logistics sector in its broadest sense: from developers of logistics buildings, to logistics companies to businesses that need a logistics partner. It is as important to us as it is to you!