Michelle Harris

Michelle read English and German law at the University of East Anglia before training with CMS Cameron McKenna, qualifying into its Corporate Department in September 2001. She joined Kingsley Napley in September 2004 and was promoted to partner in May 2007.

Michelle has over 10 years’ experience of advising on the full spectrum of corporate transactions including mergers and acquisitions, fund raisings, investments, joint ventures,  reorganisations, management buy-outs/ buy-ins and other private equity and corporate finance transactions.

Her clients range from entrepreneurs and start-up ventures to multi-national listed companies in a wide variety of industry sectors. She regularly advises overseas companies on inward investment and company directors and shareholders on their rights, duties and obligations.

Michelle also provides general commercial and contractual advice to clients, including in relation to supplier and customer contracts, licensing, agency and distribution arrangements. She has particular expertise in the sports, media and entertainment sector and regularly advises individuals and organisations in relation to contractual issues including branding, endorsement, sponsorship and the protection and exploitation of image rights and other intellectual property. Michelle has been retained legal adviser to The England Football Team since 2006.

Areas of expertise

• Corporate Finance
• Commercial and Contractual
• Media, Sport and Entertainment
• Information Technology
• Investing in the UK

Recent experience

• Acting for a listed international company on the acquisition of a major UK merchandise manufacturer in a deal worth approximately £83m
• Acting for a private individual in connection with the purchase of an e-learning company for approximately £5m
• Advising the shareholders of an oil exploration company in relation to the reverse takeover of an AIM-listed company
• Advising a UK investment company in connection with the purchase of the assets of a Savile Row tailor out of administration and subsequent international commercial brand licensing and distribution arrangements
• Advising a client in relation to an international joint venture with a leading UK construction company
• Advising a shareholder and director of a leading UK recruitment company in relation to the restructuring of the company and her subsequent exit as a director
• Advising a US client in relation to the establishment of operations in the UK
• Advising in relation to the establishment of an independent charity and ongoing constitutional and contractual matters relating to the same
• Advising a high profile client in relation to a book publishing deal and the sale of wedding imagery to a popular UK magazine
• Advising a high profile couple in the media spotlight on contractual matters relating to a television production
• Advising the creators of a musical in relation to its financing and production
• Advising a leading UK learning technology provider in relation to an online publishing contract
• Advising a Chelsea and former England Captain in relation to the exploitation of image rights in numerous merchandising and endorsement agreements
• Advising the England Football Team and The England Footballers Foundation in relation to various commercial, constitutional and contractual matters including the drafting of the Team England Constitution

Professional Societies

• The Law Society
• AIJA – International Association of Young Lawyers

Languages

• German