People

Varied perspectives help us to build constructive working relationships.

People
Portrait of Giordano Suergiu

Profile

Giordano is a managing associate in the corporate team in London. He advises on a broad range of corporate transactions for both UK and international clients, including private acquisitions and disposals, business start-ups, management buy-outs, joint ventures, fund raising and financing arrangements, both debt and equity. He also acts for clients and lenders on restructuring and refinancing work.

Giordano graduated from King’s College London and qualified into the firm’s corporate team in 2003. He gained experience of working in-house as AllSaints’ first lawyer and head of legal between 2014 and 2018, advising the retail group on all legal and commercial affairs globally. The generalist nature of his role has given him a practical knowledge of different aspects of business and enabled him to identify issues in transactions beyond those which are purely corporate in nature. With experience of being both a ‘consumer’ and ‘provider’ of legal services, he has a unique perspective on what clients want from their legal advisers and he tailors his advice to be commercially focused and easily digestible. He is valued for his ability to explain complex issues clearly and concisely so that clients can make informed and risk-based decisions.

A fluent Italian speaker, Giordano has spent several months seconded to two Italian law firms. He is also a member of the British Italian Law Association and regularly attends events run by the International Association of Young Lawyers (IAJA).

Recent work highlights

  • Acting for MRH (GB) Limited on the purchase of Malthurst UK Refined Holdings and Pace Petroleum for £167 million and the subsequent investment by Barclays Private Equity in the company.
  • Advising a technology start-up company involved in the development of interactive e-learning solutions and simulations in the surgical field on a €1.5 million investment from a major private equity house.
  • Acting for the Sellar Property Group on its joint venture with the Qatar National Bank and the Emir of Qatar to manage and develop a number of Sellar and Qatari assets in the UK, including the Shard.
  • Advising on the £8 million management buy-out of Winning Moves International, a manufacturer and distributor of games such as Monopoly and Rubik’s Cube. The deal included share purchases by management, share buy backs of shareholdings from current shareholders and an investment from an offshore company.
  • Acting for AllSaints Retail on its £107 million re-financing by Lion Capital, which enabled the buy-out of Kaupthing and Glitnir banks for £22.5 million and a new share structure.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC311575 and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 419867.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP