Richard May
Partner
International Head of Manufacturing Sector
Sheffield
T: +44 (114)283 3256
E:richard.may@dlapiper.com

Richard May acts for private and listed companies on acquisitions, sales, restructuring and joint ventures, both in the UK and internationally. Richard also acts for management teams in private equity transactions and debt funded buy-outs, with a particular focus on clients in the manufacturing sector.

CREDENTIALS

Qualifications
Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

Prior Experience

2004 to date, Partner, DLA Piper 1999 to 2004, Associate, DLA Piper 1997 to 1999, Solicitor, DLA Piper 1995 to 1997, Trainee Solicitor, DLA Piper

Education

UEA, Norwich, BA History (Upper Second), 1989

Memberships
Chamber of Commerce Law Society

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DLA Piper is built to support businesses who work on a global basis. Our international offices are well established and developed. A powerful combination of local lawyers who understand their jurisdictions and English qualified lawyers (in some cases dual qualified), means we are ideally placed to deliver a one-stop-shop for legal services, both within and across geographic and economic borders. Our experience of supporting clients with their international expansion plans is second to none, from acquisitions, corporate structures and joint ventures through to collaborative commercial arrangements.

Overview
Building strong and substantial client relationships is the compass for DLA Piper's business strategy and future development. DLA Piper is one of the world's largest law firms, with offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
With a direct presence in over 30 countries, we represent clients in a broad range of geographies and practice areas. In jurisdictions where we do not have our own offices, we have DLA Piper Relationship firms.

In a nutshell, we understand local jurisdictions. We recognise that there is not a “one size fits all” approach to establishing business operations and can add real value to your business by helping you navigate through the complexities involved and the impact of cultures
Our clients range from multinational Global 1000 and Fortune 500 enterprises to emerging companies developing industry leading technologies. They include more than half of the Fortune 250 and over 100 of the FTSE 350 or their subsidiaries.

Our history
DLA Piper was formed on January 1, 2005, with the merger of three firms: UK firm DLA LLP, Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP and Piper Rudnick LLP. At the time, this made us the third-largest law firm in the world – we have since grown to become the world’s second largest law firm.
Our US presence dates back to 1903 with the foundation of Marbury & Gosnell in Baltimore (later Piper Marbury). In 1999, Piper Marbury merged with Chicago firm Rudnick & Wolfe to form Piper, Marbury, Rudnick & Wolfe (later Piper Rudnick).
DLA began with the 1996 merger of Dibb Lupton Broomhead and Alsop Wilkinson. These two predecessor firms were established by lawyers whose practices date back to the late 18th century. The name “DLA” is derived from the initials of Dibb, Lupton and Alsop.

• Brand and Products
o Advertising and marketing
o Brand protection
o Competition
o Confidential information and trade secrets
o Copyright
o Cybercrime
o Data protection
o Intellectual property / Litigation
o Labelling
o Licensing
o Patents
o Product innovation
o Product recall
o Product safety / liability
o Registered designs and unregistered design rights
o Technology transfer
o Trademarks

• Corporate / Tax
o Choice of entity
o Companies Act 2006
o Corporate name availability
o Corporate tax reform
o Corporation tax
o Directors' duties
o Group reorganisations
o Joint ventures
o Limited Liability Legal requirements
o LLP taxation
o Mergers and acquisitions
o Non-core divestments
o Partnerships
o Payroll taxes
o Personal taxation
o Post-merger integration
o Private Limited Company
o Stamp duty
o Strategic alliances
o Tax efficient structures
o UK establishment
o VAT

• Commercial operations
o Agency agreements
o Bespoke supply contracts
o Contract / co pack manufacturing
o Contract interpretation / termination
o Distribution agreements
o Energy solutions (renewable, nuclear and solar)
o Export trade documentation
o Force majeure and limited liability within contracts
o Franchising
o Infrastructure and PPP
o Insolvent suppliers and customers
o IT infrastructure and technology procurement
o Land use (acquisition, disposition, construction and government relations)
o Leasing
o Outsourcing
o Planning
o Plants and sites
o Purchase and supply terms
o Restructuring and reorganisation strategies
o Supply chain risk / management

• People
o Automatic enrolment into pension schemes
o Data protection / protection of confidential information
o Discrimination and equal pay
o Employee contracts / benefits incentive schemes
o Executive issues
o Harmonisation of benefits
o Holiday pay
o International mobility
o Pensions (scheme set up / operation / restructure and benefit changes / compliance / de-risking)
o Post-acquisition integration
o Restructuring / reorganisation
o The Modern Slavery Act
o Trade unions / works councils / other employee consultation bodies
o TUPE / business transfers
o Whistleblowing

• Finance
o Asset finance/based lending
o Covenants
o Currency considerations
o Export finance
o Finance agreements
o Hedging arrangements
o Loan facilities
o Project Finance / Infrastructure / PPP
o Real estate finance
o Revolving credit facilities
o Secured and unsecured facilities
o Structured / leveraged finance
o Term loans
o Working capital

• Risk, Governance and Compliance
o Anti-corruption
o Compliance audits
o Consumer credit
o Crisis management
o Data protection / cyber crime
o Director’s duties
o Dispute management
o EU and UK competition rules
o Insurance compliance
o Money laundering regulations
o Safety, healthy & environment
o The regulatory environment / issues
o The UK Bribery Act
o Trade compliance / excise duty

• Practical issues
o Bank account set-up
o Business insurances
o Exchange control
o Grants
o Research and development
o Sustainability