BHW Solicitors

BHW Solicitors is a leading specialist commercial law firm based in Leicester, operating across the East Midlands and the wider UK. Established in 2003, the firm has grown to become the largest independent commercial law firm in its region. BHW is recognised for its expertise in corporate and commercial work, commercial property, and commercial litigation. The firm holds a UK top 100 ranking for Corporate and Commercial work and Commercial Property in the Legal 500 guide, and is also ranked as a Top 200 firm for Commercial Litigation.

Additionally, BHW is the only firm in the East Midlands ranked by Chambers & Partners in the top band for SME Corporate/M&A work, with its Real Estate practice also receiving recognition from the Chambers guide. Founded in 2003, BHW Solicitors began as a "clean sheet" business, growing organically from a staff of two to over eighty professionals. This growth reflects the firm's approach to providing legal, commercial, and strategic advice to a diverse client base, ranging from start-ups to established organisations. In 2022, BHW achieved a significant milestone by transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

This move underscores the firm's commitment to its independence and acknowledges the role its team plays in upholding the standards for which it has become known. The employee ownership model aims to foster a collaborative environment where employees have a vested interest in client service, with an emphasis on training, development, and staff continuity. The firm's commercial services encompass a broad range of legal areas designed to support businesses. BHW's corporate and commercial department provides expertise in drafting and negotiating business documents, including commercial contracts and agreements.

The firm also advises on shareholder and partnership disputes, addressing conflicts that may arise between directors, shareholders, or partners. Furthermore, BHW offers comprehensive corporate services such as mergers and acquisitions, business start-ups, shareholder agreements, finance, investment and security agreements, insolvency, restructuring, demergers, and management buy-outs and buy-ins. The firm’s corporate team also has expertise in assisting business owners with the process of selling their business to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT). BHW Solicitors maintains a strong focus on commercial property, assisting with freehold and leasehold business property and land transactions.

The commercial property team advises landlords and tenants on leases of business premises, as well as the buying and selling of commercial properties for business clients and on behalf of pension schemes. The department also handles property management work, security work for borrowers and lenders, and corporate support work related to property elements of corporate transactions. The firm's sector-specific specialisms within commercial property include agriculture, warehousing and distribution, retail, and secured lending. In the area of residential development, BHW provides legal support for land acquisition, site-setup, and plot sales for housebuilders and developers.

While not explicitly focused on Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), the firm's experience in commercial property and residential development, including land acquisition and site setup, is relevant to the legal requirements of such large-scale property projects. Beyond its commercial offerings, BHW Solicitors also provides residential conveyancing services through BHW Conveyancing. This department assists clients with buying, selling, or remortgaging properties, including a dedicated team specialising in new build homes. BHW Conveyancing is accredited with the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Standard and aims to provide clear communication and efficient transaction progress.

The firm prides itself on maintaining high standards of client care and risk management, operating industry-leading systems to ensure consistent service levels. BHW successfully holds the Law Society's Lexcel quality mark, which demonstrates its adherence to high standards in legal practice management, including client care, risk management, and business continuity.