International law firm Olswang has advised clients of the leading property asset management specialist BMO Real Estate Partners (BMO REP) on a £191 million real estate portfolio acquisition of three retail assets across the UK: the flagship Debenhams store in Manchester, Clifton Moor Shopping Centre in York and Westgate Retail Park in Wakefield. 

The deal sees clients of BMO REP acquiring the assets from British Land via the purchase of their respective corporate holding vehicles.

Real Estate Partner Simon Kanter commented: "Completion of this deal was particularly welcome as it was agreed and work commenced prior to the June 2016 referendum. BMO REP's rigorous and creative approach was key to the success of the deal, and we were delighted to work with them once again. Apart from the property and corporate aspects, a significant role was played by our banking and tax teams."

Simon Kanter led the deal from Olswang along with Real Estate Partner Alan Karsberg, Corporate Partner David Bunker, Finance Partner Ruth Marken and Tax associate Jacob Gilkes.

Read more about Olswang’s international legal practice on the firm’s website.

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International technology, media and telecoms law firm Olswang has advised Munich-based technology and media company Hubert Burda Media on its 100% acquisition of Immediate Media, the UK content and digital platform group from Exponent Private Equity and Management.

The deal transfers ownership of several key magazine titles including Radio Times as well as a number of BBC-branded magazine titles such as Top Gear, Top of the Pops and CBeebies. The titles will add to Burda’s portfolio of more than 540 brands worldwide, ranging from household name fashion magazines such as Elle and InStyle to social media platform XING.

A family enterprise with a history spanning over 100 years, Burda combines traditional publishing with successful digital innovation. Today, the corporation is one of Germany's largest technology and media companies with an international presence and a global reputation.  Burda has a long-standing track record of owning and managing major magazine titles in all parts of the globe.  Burda is also a truly innovative digital leader and one of the first European media houses to branch out into the digital sphere.  Investments include Nasdaq-listed internet platform Etsy or the professional network Xing.de, listed in Frankfurt Burda was one of the first publishers to recognise the transformative opportunities of the digital media revolution and began to consistently align the company for the digital transformation. With DLD (Digital, Life, Design) Burda has established a global network on innovation, digitalization, science and culture with conferences around the world.

Olswang advised on all transactional aspects of the Immediate Media deal. The firm has previously advised Burda on several investments and acquisitions in media and content companies in the UK and Europe, including most recently its investment in Notonthehighstreet.com.

Olswang Partner and Head of the firm’s International Corporate Practice Mark Bertram commented: “We were pleased to again act on another transformational transaction for the Burda group. Immediate Media's consistent growth throughout the last five years and its track record of exploiting leading print and digital publications across its platform make it an exceptional addition to the existing Burda magazine portfolio. We look forward to seeing the businesses flourish in partnership."

Mark Bertram led an Olswang team comprising Corporate Senior Associate Philip Walton; Head of Commercial and Partner Iain Stansfield and Legal Director Anna Soilleux-Mills and Rebecca Platt; Corporate Partner Chris Mackie; Share Incentives Partner Andrew Quayle; Employment Associate Rachel Easter; Corporate Trainee Edmund Roper; as well as Tax Partner Stephen Hignett and Senior Associate (Barrister) Robert Sartor.


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International law firm Olswang today announces the launch of a Public Policy offering in Singapore. The launch recognises the work the team has been doing to help companies, industry bodies and policy-makers in Asia navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape in technology, media and telecoms (TMT).  

Led by Partner Matt Pollins, the new offering will be available across Asia and will combine Olswang’s unparalleled TMT legal and regulatory expertise with its deep understanding of the TMT sector. This complements the firm's existing Public Law and Competition & Regulatory practices in Europe.

Olswang Asia Managing Partner Andrew Stott commented: “The formalisation and development of a bespoke offering is a natural evolution of our recent work guiding companies and governments through regulations and public policy issues. With regulations in Asia, in common with the rest of the world, struggling to keep pace with technology innovation, companies, industry bodies and policy-makers are increasingly looking to advisors who are willing to give them a view, based on industry experience ,detailed knowledge of the existing legal framework and a global perspective based on an understanding of regulatory approaches around the world."

Partner and Head of Public Policy Matt Pollins commented: “Nowhere is the pace of regulatory change faster than in Asia. Across the region, the explosion in the take-up of connected devices and the rapid improvement in network infrastructure in developing countries is disrupting established business models and opening up enormous potential markets across everything from financial services to media. These changes are stretching the existing legal and regulatory framework. Our Public Policy offering will help companies, governments and industry bodies navigate the regulatory landscape in this increasingly connected Asia."

Olswang has been operating in Asia since formally opening in Singapore in February 2012, and the firm's sector focus within TMT has enabled it to continue strengthening its service line offerings across corporate, commercial and international arbitration. Olswang Asia advises local, regional and international organisations, including BHP Billiton, Dentsu Aegis Network, Dong-A Pharmaceuticals, LG, Microsoft and Unilever.

Olswang Asia has retained its top ranking in TMT by both Chambers and Partners and Legal 500 since opening in 2012. The firm's Partners are also ranked for their sector, practice area and regional expertise. The team is also active at an industry body level, with Managing Partner Andrew Stott recently being elected to the Board of Directors of the Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA), the regional television industry body, and Matt Pollins being a Director of the International Institute of Communications in Singapore.

Read more about the firm’s practice in Asia here. 


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The news this morning of the Leave vote in the UK referendum was deeply unsettling for many people not least our people in our London office and our clients around the world. These are volatile and troubled times for the global economy. But we must not let ourselves be diverted into any hasty decision making.