What we do

CHALLENGERS.

ACCEPTED.

We are who we are because of what we do and the scale on which we do it.

Our Work

Our trainees and apprentices are able to choose from a wealth of seats, to work with experts across our practice areas.

Banking & Finance

This team works across the full spectrum of financial specialisms including Capital Markets, Project Finance and Funds to name just a few. Trainee work is no different, with tasks including drafting, assisting with signings and deal management.
Competition

This is where contentious (investigations) and non-contentious (advice) client work lives. Trainees here get to interview witnesses and undertake complex market research.
Corporate

Covering Mergers & Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Restructuring, Financial Disputes and Commercial Disputes, there’s certainly a lot to learn. Trainees will be involved in transactions for private and public companies.
Dispute Resolution

With a split between International Arbitration, Restructuring, Financial Disputes and Commercial Disputes, work here is connected by resolving disputes between parties.
Energy, Transport and Infrastructure

Covering Energy, Environment, Construction and Rail, Trainee work will have a strong focus on business development, research and drafting.
People, Reward and Mobility

Think contentious and high court work. Employment law is constantly changing and trainees have to keep up with cases and rulings.
Real Estate

Divided between Transactional Real Estate, Planning and Housing & Care. Trainees see it all. They draft, manage deals and work with the Land Registry.
Tax

We’re talking corporate to private client work. The kind of work that goes across borders. Trainees are client-facing, assist with negotiations, calculate fees and complete research.
Technology Media & Telecommunications

This area covers IP rights, copyright issues, data protection, cyber security, privacy laws and franchising. Trainees become integrated through client meetings, drafting and researching cases.

But, what does it really all mean?

You know our areas now, but let’s put them into context. Put some names to practice areas and get an insight into our work.

Newcastle United FC

Dentons advised Mike Ashley’s St James Holdings Limited on the sale of Newcastle United (NUFC) to a joint venture involving the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners and the Reuben Brothers following settlement of NUFC’s arbitration against the English Premier League. The Dentons team included colleagues from our Corporate, Banking, Real Estate and Dispute Resolution practices.

Andrew Henderson, UK Real Estate partner and client partner to owner Mike Ashley, said, “To be involved in a deal of this importance and scale is a tremendous achievement for both the client and the firm.”

Britishvolt Gigafactory

Dentons Energy and Infrastructure team were awarded in the 2022 The Lawyer Awards for advising Britishvolt on securing planning permission for its £2.6bn battery Gigaplant situated on the former coal stocking yard of the Blyth power station in Northumberland.

The project will support production of lithium-ion batteries for the UK car industry, as well as exports, and provide up to 3,000 direct and highly-skilled jobs and around 5,000 more in the wider supply chain.

Roy Pinnock, partner in Dentons’ UK Planning & Public Law team said ‘The result demonstrates our ongoing role in finding solutions at the heart of challenging projects in the fields of energy, consenting and emerging technologies’.

TNB – Renewable Energy

Dentons advised Tenaga Nasional Berhad (“TNB”), one of the largest utility players in Asia, on its first foray into onshore wind farms in the UK. The acquisition, which has an enterprise value of approximately £171 million, provides TNB with an 80% shareholding in two UK renewable companies, GVO Wind Limited and Bluemerang Capital Limited.

The two companies comprise of 53 operation onshore wind turbines, with a total combined capacity of 26.1MW across the UK. This strategically important acquisition significantly strengthens TNB’s renewable asset base in the UK and it is a major milestone in their overseas expansion.

Dentons’ Corporate team led on the acquisition structure and transaction documents, and the Firm’s Energy team led on the due diligence process and industry-specific documents. Along with other key deals, Dentons work with TNB contributed to the Firm winning ‘Firm of the Year for Projects, Energy and Natural Resources’.

Frasers Group

Dentons has advised publicly listed retailer Frasers Group on the sale of 9 freehold and long leasehold retail parks to an investment vehicle of Realty Corporation, in a £205 million deal.

The Flannels, Sports Direct and House of Fraser owner is a longstanding client of Dentons.

Dentons advised Frasers with a London team led by client partner Andrew Henderson, corporate partner Matthew Tinger and real estate partner Rupert Dowdell.

Commenting on the deal, Andrew said, “We are delighted to have advised Frasers Group on this deal. We have been fully imbedded in their business working alongside them on their real estate projects for nearly a decade.

Marks and Spencer's

Dentons Helix assisted FTSE 250 retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) with the transformation of its legal function into a model that is more agile, data driven and innovative.

The company appointed Dentons Helix, the Firm’s new law offering for clients in the UK, to deliver commercial and real estate work in a unique way that enables the in-house team to be aligned with the strategic needs of M&S’s business, allowing it to focus its attention on important strategic initiatives and value-adding business partnering.

Ash Rees, Managing Director of Dentons Helix, said: “It’s terrific that we have been given the opportunity to contribute to Marks & Spencer’s transformation journey. Both teams moved mountains to get the collaboration off to a successful start while working remotely. M&S have been true partners in this.