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February 2010  On 24 February 2010, Murrell Ashworth is hosting a breakfast seminar at the Hall for Cornwall, Truro entitled "How Legal is Your Sales and Marketing?" where Katie Ashworth will be presenting alongside Mark Stuart (Head of Research, The Chatered Institute of Marketing) and Sue Windley (Marketing DIrector, Pragmatic Performance Group).  Please contact Caroline Marshall- Hamilton if you would like to book a place (confirming any special dietary requirements for the attendees).  A small fee of £10.00 is payable (which includes a donation to local charity BF Adventure (charity no 3546772)).  For more information, please visit Pragmatic Performance Group's WordPress Events blog at http://ppgevents.wordpress.com/.

November 2009 Murrell Ashworth has consolidated its position in the Western Morning News Deals Review.  Whilst not yet two years old, Murrell Ashworth has consolidated itself as a leading corporate practice in the region with ten of its deals being listed in the WMN Deals Review.  Bucking the trend of 2009, this was an increase on its first year entry and maintains its position as one of the top ten commercial firms in the South West and the only corporate team based solely in Cornwall.  Further analysis of the review sees founding partner and renewable energy expert Katie Ashworth move up to the top two specialists for equity finance deals in the region.

October 2009 Murrell Ashworth has joined the Legal Sector Alliance.  The Legal Sector Alliance is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices.  Murrell Ashworth has had a policy of working to reduce its carbon footprint since its inception.   This philosophy goes hand in hand with the firm’s expertise in renewable energy, in recognizing that the end to climate change not only needs a greater development of renewable energy but also greater effort to reduce energy consumption.  

As members of the Legal Sector Alliance, we commit to:

  • Measure, manage and reduce the impact of our operations
  • Work with external stakeholders to reduce our indirect impact
  • Integrate awareness of climate change across our business
  • Advise clients on the opportunities and obligations arising from and under climate change law
  • Work collaboratively to engage in the public debate on climate change and to develop, apply and promote best practice across the sector
  • Report on our progress and be accountable

September 2009 Katie Ashworth and Chris Wills advised the vendors on a buy out of this successful music fashion business by the management team.   The group, which began in 1997, has bucked the trends of other retail operators and seen a growth of 4% in customer purchases over the last year.   Jon Taylor, managing director of Blue Banana, said “For us, this MBO is all about harnessing the energy of the whole management team with a view to driving the business forward towards a bright new future.  Our plans are ambitious yet achievable and represent a step-change for the business”.   Blue Banana is proof of the entrepreneurial skill and success inherent in the region’s business community.  The team at Murrell Ashworth was delighted to be able to provide legal advice to support such a positive move by the management team.   We expect to see the brand go from strength to strength.

September 2009 Jenny Harbord has prepared our second Commercial Property Update.

September 2009 Just 18 months after being established, the firm has been recognised in the Legal 500 as one of the leading law firms in the south west with particular expertise in corporate and commercial matters...click here to read more.

July 2009 Katie Ashworth and Chris Wills have advised Cornish Sea Salt Co Limited on its recent funding raising round.    The company, which is based at Porthkerris and makes Cornish salt used by many top chef including Rick Stein, Mark Hix, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Raymond Blanc, has recently won a host of awards including Best Newcomer prize in the Observer Food Monthly 2009 Awards and a Green Award from Hot Brands Cool Places.  It has also recently been confirmed that Waitrose supermarkets will stock the product across their entire range of stores.   The investment was made by South West Ventures with further support from a number of business angels.  Katie Ashworth said “Cornish Sea Salt Company is fast proving that a quality product is quickly identified as a good investment and will attract strong support.   Cornish Sea Salt Company was one of the first clients to instruct Murrell Ashworth and we are very committed to supporting this great brand as it develops.”

June 2009 Katie Ashworth advised the purchasers on the successful buy out of Woof Wear, which develops and produces state-of-the-art protective products for horses and riders, from Gul International Limited by the management team.   John Felton, who was one of the team who helped to develop Gul, has joined Woof Wear’s  brand manager Alice Reynolds, to create Woof Wear Ltd following the acquisition.  The Woof Wear brand had been trading for almost 30 years and its team has joined the new company.   Mr Felton said: "I have been involved with the Woof Wear business since its acquisition by Gul in 1995 and I am very excited about the future prospects."   Katie Ashworth said: "Business and fun don't always go together – but the Gul and Woof Wear teams have worked side by side for a long time and as well as being highly motivated they're all great friends. Now Woof Wear is so well established as a leading brand in British and International equestrian circles,  it's time for it to stand alone."

May 2009 Chris Wills and Hugh Murrell have prepared our first Company and Commercial Newsletter.

May 2009 Jenny Harbord's article on the Marine and Coastal Access Bill draws the attention of the Western Morning News and inspires the article "Plans for path around England 'unacceptable'" on Monday 18 May 2009.

April 2009 Jenny Harbord has prepared our first Commercial Property Update.

March 2009 Katie Ashworth advised Endless Summer Media Limited on its acquisition of leading surfing magazine "Wavelength" from Cornwall & Devon Media, part of the Northcliff Media/DMGT group.  Wavelength is the UK's longest running and best known surfing magazine that has been covering all aspects of the British and international surf scene since 1981.  Endless Summer Media were pleased to be able to take on board the entire Wavelength team and has major plans to develop this well known publication.

March 2009 Katie Ashworth and Chris Wills advised EcoGen Limited on the completion of an equity investment into EcoGen Limited by Ventus VCT plc.  EcoGen Limited has over 17 years of experience as a renewable energy specialist, supporting landowners and community groups who wish to develop renewable forms of energy development.  By pioneering new approaches in windfarm development, EcoGen has played a major role in implementing some of the UK's first windfarms, as well as working in other areas of renewable energy and energy conservation.  Ventus VCT plc was recently named Specialist Investment Vehicle of the Year at the 2009 Quoted Company Awards.  Ventus is primarily focused on supporting small to medium sized renewable energy projects in the UK and, with over £37 million of capital and an investment management team that has already helped create over 1,000MW of renewable energy capacity, it is well placed to provide detailed understanding of the technical, financial and contractual requirements to deliver these types of projects.  Its investment into EcoGen Limited reflects the breadth and depth of their combined expertise in small to medium sized renewable energy projects.

February 2009 The firm changed its name to Murrell Ashworth LLP to coincide with our relocation to the heart of Truro.

December 2008 Katie Ashworth advised A7 Lochhead Limited on the successful completion of the funding package for its 6 MW windfarm at Lochhead Farm, Lanarkshire, Scotland.  The project has been co-funded by Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank plc and the three Ventus Funds (Ventus VCT plc, Ventus 2 VCT plc and Ventus 3 VCT plc).  This is the second project for Alex Hensher and his company A7 Energy Limited.  Construction on the site is underway with proposed completion in 2009, and J Sainsbury plc has agreed to purchase the power generated from the site as reported in the Financial Times.

November 2008 Murrell Associates LLP made its debut in The Western Morning News’ deals review with a healthy six deals completed by October.  Further analysis of the review ranks founding partner and renewable energy expert Katie Ashworth as one of the top three specialists for equity finance deals in the region.

November 2008 Commercial property solicitor Jenny Harbord has joined the firm as a senior associate from Stephens Scown. Jenny has a broad experience of commercial property including advising on large development projects and acting for major railway companies on their property portfolios.  Before moving to the Westcountry in early 2008 she was a partner at Lee Bolton Monier-Williams in London.

November 2008 Chris Wills was named “Employee of the Year” at the 2008 Hub Awards for young professionals in Cornwall.  Judges said that, “His holistic view of a business and how it needs to operate in a competitive environment is superb. He is forward thinking and strongly understands his clients’ needs.”

October 2008 Hugh Murrell advised the management team on the buy-out of Westinsure Plymouth Limited from the Westinsure insurance services group.

September 2008 Katie Ashworth and Chris Wills advised Finance Cornwall on a six-figure investment in Landish Consultants Limited, the company behind Gwel An Mor, the highly successful 5 star holiday resort at Portreath.

August 2008 Katie Ashworth advised Hymec Holdings Limited on their successful sale of Hymec Aerospace Fasteners Limited to Specialty Fasteners and Components Limited. Katie was assisted by her colleague Chris Wills in advising the Plymouth-based company.  Murrell Associates LLP worked in conjunction with employment specialist Spencer Glazsher of Plymouth-based firm Bright (South West) LLP and leading Plymouth accountants, Mark Holt & Co Limited.

July 2008 Chris Wills and Katie Ashworth both presented at a seminar called: " Accessing Finance for Growing Businesses".  The seminar was hosted by Winter Rule Chartered Accountants, and included other presentations by Finance Cornwall, SWAIN, SWRDA, SWIG, Truro College Business Centre and National Westminster Bank Plc.  There was also a 'been there, done that' presentation from John Hicks of RAM Gasket Solutions Limited who was able to share his experiences of accessing finance in the past and how it has helped his business to grow year on year.  For those of you who missed the seminar, the slides for session 1 and session 2 are available to download.

April 2008 Chris Wills advised H & S Marine Limited on financing the acquisition of a brand new Damen Shoalbuster 2308 tug.

March 2008 Katie Ashworth advised the vendors in the management buyout of Somar International Limited.