Sebastian C Calnan Credentials

Legal Experience

A solicitor since 1977, CEDR registered Mediator since 1998 and a Deputy District Judge with considerable in-house legal experience both within the motor sport and foodservice industries.  Hugely experienced in commercial and dispute work.  Work he has carried out includes the following:

• M&A
  Acquisitions in the UK, UAE, Turkey.  Joint Venture formations and shareholder agreements.  Asset purchases from Receivers and Administrators

• Corporate
  IPO work on AIM; Intra-Group share activity and corporate restructuring; trade and asset transactions.  Target investigations.  Due diligence. Companies Act meetings and resolutions, compliance and other company secretarial activities.

• International
  IPO work on the New York Stock Exchange.  Corporate structuring, export sales and supply chain to the USA and Middle East; sub-contracting and agency.  US aircraft sale and purchase.

• Trading
  Long term goods and services supply and service level agreements; price review issues; TUPE impact.  Multi-owner/franchisee issues.  Credit control, account security and guarantee work; recoveries based on retention of title rights.  Purchasing and supply chain-sole/exclusivity issues; pricing and rebate structures; product recalls.  Joint venture purchasing, client purchasing, purchasing consortia.

• Tendering
  Private and public sector procurement. RFI/PQQs, preparation of bid documentation; High Court challenging of award decisions.

• Outsourcing
  Contract bidding; selection of provider; service definition; investigation and management of TUPE issues; asset transfers (owned and leased).

• Regulatory
  Food safety, weights and measures, environmental (e.g. noise and pollution).

• E-Commerce and IT
  Website issues terms and privacy; E.comm trading terms; B2B hosting terms; Systems procurement and negotiation.

• Competition
  Formulating sales/business strategies and reviews in compliance with legislation; conducting audits; day to day business advice.

• IP
  Confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements; brand protection by trademark registration and copyright enforcement; royalty agreements; dispute resolution.

• Data Protection Act/Freedom of Information Act
  Advice on rights and responsibilities covering data sharing for marketing and sales functions; human resource issues.  Compliance auditing and review, formation of company policies and statutory reporting to the Information Commissioner. 

• Financial
  Equipment leasing; banking documents, arranging security; customer financing.

• Disputes
  Supplier and customer issues; construction defects/negligence; environmental/planning/health and safety; equipment leasing.  Factual analysis, contractual/legal analysis, management escalation and reporting, cost forecasting, resolution efforts prior to litigation including mediation.

• Mediation
  Acting as an independent Mediator under the Central London County Court and Birmingham Civil Justice Centre Schemes.  Disputes mediated relate to

            Shareholder disputes
            Competition issues
            Distribution/agency agreements
            Service contracts
            Classic car repairs
            Tenancy repairs
            Building and land contract disputes

• Education
  Educated at Stonyhurst College, Lancashire and Lancaster University obtaining a degree in Classics.  Articled at Bischoff & Co and formerly in-house Counsel to Reynard Motorsport Limited, Daimler Chrysler UK Limited, 3663 First For Foodservice. 

Admitted as a solicitor in 1977, CEDR registered in 1998 and appointed as a Deputy District Judge in 1999.