Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and its subsidiaries and Herbert Smith Freehills, an Australian partnership (the "Australian Partnership"), are separate member firms of the international legal practice known as Herbert Smith Freehills.
"Herbert Smith Freehills entities" means Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, its affiliated and subsidiary businesses and firms, including the Australian Partnership, (but not any firm with whom we have an association or alliance) and references to "individuals" are to members, partners, consultants or employees of Herbert Smith Freehills entities.
We practice in the United Kingdom, in London, through Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, a Limited Liability Partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC310989. It is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority of England and Wales whose rules can be accessed via https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/. A list of the members and their professional qualifications is open to inspection at the registered office, Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2EG. We use the word partner of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to refer to a member of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, or an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications. Herbert Smith Freehills LLP's registration number for Value Added Tax in the United Kingdom is GB 927 1996 83.
We also have an office in Belfast, Northern Ireland, operating as a support services centre.
United Kingdom offices
London
Exchange House
Primrose Street
London
EC2A 2EG
Phone +44 20 7374 8000
Fax +44 20 7374 0888
London - Canary Wharf
16th floor
40 Bank Street
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5NR
Phone +44 20 7374 8000
Fax +44 20 7374 0888
Belfast
3 Cromac Quay
Ormeau Gasworks
Belfast
BT7 2JD
Phone +44 28 9025 8200
Fax +44 28 9025 8201
Financial Services
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because we are authorised and regulated by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority, which has complaints and redress procedures. We can only provide investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.
We are not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). However, we are included on the register maintained by the FCA so that we can carry on insurance distribution activity in our capacity as an ancillary insurance intermediary, which is broadly the advising on, selling and administration of insurance contracts. This part of our business, including arrangements for complaints or redress if something goes wrong, is regulated by the Solicitors' Regulation Authority. The register can be accessed via the FCA website.
Herbert Smith Freehills entities act as legal advisers; it is not part of our role to give advice on the merits of investment transactions. Any investment decision is for our clients to make and no communication by us should be treated as an invitation or inducement to our clients to engage in investment activity.
Complaints
If you would like to discuss how the service to you could be improved, or should there be any aspect of our service with which you are not satisfied at any time, you should raise the matter with the partner with whom you deal or with the head of the division or department where the work has been carried out. If you would like to make a formal complaint, including a complaint about any bill we have delivered to you, you should do so in writing addressed to the head of the relevant division or department or to the Complaints Partner and ask for a copy of our complaints procedure. We will look into your complaint carefully and promptly. If for any reason we are unable to resolve any problem between us, you may be able to use the complaints and redress procedures operated by the Legal Ombudsman. This service is open to all members of the public, certain small businesses, charities, clubs, societies, associations and trusts. There are time limits on making such a complaint - the Legal Ombudsman expects complaints to be made to them within one year of the date of the act or omission about which you are concerned or within one year of you realising there was a concern. You must also refer your concerns to the Legal Ombudsman within six months of our final response to you.
The contact details for the Legal Ombudsman are:
- www.legalombudsman.org.uk
- Phone 0300 555 0333
- enquiries@legalombudsman.org.uk
The Solicitors Regulation Authority is the professional regulator of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP and handles complaints relating to professional misconduct.
Interest
Where Herbert Smith Freehills LLP holds monies in its client accounts, it will ensure that interest paid will be fair and reasonable over the whole period for which client money is held. Herbert Smith Freehills LLP holds client accounts with both Coutts & Co and Lloyds Bank. Where funds held are held in the Herbert Smith Freehills LLP General Client Accounts, sums in lieu of interest will be payable on the funds, calculated by reference to those banks' rates of interest for such accounts. The rates of interest are available on request from our Banking and Treasury Department. All funds held in a separate designated accounts will receive the full amounts of interest credited by the banks. No interest is payable if the amount calculated on the balance held is £50 or less.
Insurance
In accordance with the disclosure requirements of the Provision of Services Regulations 2009, our professional indemnity insurers are Travelers Insurance Company Limited of One Creechurch Place, Creechurch Lane, London EC3A 5AF, England; QBE Insurance Europe Limited of Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BD, England; HDI Global Specialty SE, of 10 Fenchurch Street, London, EC3M 3BE, England; and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance of 100 Federal Street Boston, Massachusetts. Territorial coverage details can be provided on request.
Takeover Code
If our services relate to a transaction within the scope of the English City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, we reserve the right to withdraw from acting for you if you, or any of your agents or other advisers, fail to comply with the Takeover Code.
UK TAX STRATEGY
This statement, approved by the Risk Management and Audit Committee ("RMAC") on behalf of the Global Council of Herbert Smith Freehills LLP ("HSF"), sets out the firm's policy and approach to conducting its tax affairs and dealing with tax risk, and is made available to all of HSF's stakeholders. This statement will be periodically reviewed by the firm's Tax and Partner Finance ("T&PF") team and Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"), and any amendments will be approved by the firm's RMAC on behalf of the Global Council. It is effective for the year ending 30 April 2025. This statement meets the requirements of Schedule 19 Finance Act 2016.
Herbert Smith Freehills Quality Policy: ISO 9001
Quality is at the heart of everything we do, and this is reflected in our ISO 9001 certification for our UK offices.
We have defined our vision to be a world-leading international law firm, known for our insight and diverse perspectives. This points the way to how we will succeed and how our business will perform at the highest levels.
That is our quality policy for ISO 9001. We will continue to demonstrate exceptional legal quality in the areas of law in which we practice and satisfy applicable requirements in all that we do, including statutory and regulatory obligations.
We are committed to the continuous improvement of the products and services that we provide and to the effectiveness of our quality management system. We will set clear quality objectives and monitor our progress towards their successful achievement.
Alison Brown
Executive Partner, West