Manufacturing and Logistics

The UK's manufacturing landscape has changed dramatically over the past decade due to globalisation in general and the rise of low-cost economies specifically. Today's manufacturing and logistics sectors are both characterised on the one hand by large groups that run on an international and global basis, and on the other by national/regional manufacturing and logistics businesses/subsidiaries. In the manufacturing sector these prosper based on their engineering knowledge and final assembly production for "local" markets, and in logistics the local flexibility and turnaround times are key.

Despite the state of the economic climate, manufacturing remains one of the key industries for the UK economy. In its various guises manufacturing employs almost three million people in the UK, amounts to around one seventh of UK GDP, contributes approximately half of our exports, carries out three quarters of business research and development - and the UK remains the sixth largest manufacturing location in the world. The economic landscape of the UK has been transformed, but one thing remains true – the critical importance of manufacturing to our present and future economic success.

The transport and logistics industry has strong links into the manufacturing sector. It experiences the same economic drivers and is highly regulated and exposed to health & safety, environmental and licensing issues. In addition, both sectors are dependent on their workforce and businesses continue to struggle to adapt to ever changing employment legislation and regulation, and face increasing pressure from trade unions.

The logistics sector is huge and diversified, we are likely to see contraction, consolidation and restructuring to drive efficiencies enabling it to be quick and responsive to the market and consumer demand.

Thomas Eggar's Manufacturing & Logistics group recognises the critical importance of manufacturing. We provide an integrated, full service capability to firms across the whole of the manufacturing and logistics industry working closely with clients to find solutions to challenges, utilising our broad expertise and experience.

Our experience includes the following areas of advice:

• Mergers & Acquisitions and corporate structuring and funding
• Acted for a large acquisitive printing group on its expansion programme
• Acting for shareholders and directors of a number of privately owned engineering companies (large and small) on exit strategies
• Dispute resolution (including ADR) for local and national manufacturing companies
• Product liability
• Health & Safety
• Regulatory including environmental law
• Contentious and non-contentious employment advice
• Workforce restructuring
• Specialist knowledge and expertise on TUPE transfers and contracting situations
• Industrial relations and dealing with trade unions
• Acquisitions, sales and leases of commercial and industrial buildings
• Property issues
• Advising employees in relation to claims for noise induced hearing loss
• Advising employers on how best to comply with noise related legislation
• Expert in the field of acoustics, hearing loss and tinnitus
• Advising on distribution and supply chain agreements Advising on company formations and shareholders agreements and LLPs
• Advising on retention of title clauses / issues
• Advising upon corporate rescue procedures