Claire Powell

Director, Solicitor

+44 (0)1206 217050

claire.powell@tsplegal.com

Claire, who qualified as a solicitor in 2000, joined TSP’s Corporate and Commercial team in 2001. She deals with a broad range of Corporate Commercial work, advising  traditional, corporate and limited liability partnerships on all issues including those arising on admission, retirement, dissolution and various disputes. Claire also advises owner-managed businesses, SMEs and international manufacturing groups on business-critical contracts, and assists private and public companies on corporate governance, directors’ duties and acquisitions and disposals.

Claire has a particular interest in healthcare provision, advising individual GP Practices and GP Federations on NHS primary care contracts and sub-contracting arrangements.

Claire studied law at the University of Hull and from there went straight on to study for her Legal Practice Certificate (LPC) at the College of Law, York. She has worked at Thompson Smith and Puxon since 2001 and in 2009 became the director of Claire Powell Ltd, a corporate partner in the firm.

Thompson Smith and Puxon has, for a number of years, been recommended by the Legal 500 in this practice area and in the 2022/23 edition Nick continues to be recommended for his work in this area. In the UK 2022/23 edition the team is described as follows: Based in its Colchester office, the team at Thompson Smith and Puxon has developed a niche in complex reorganisation work, which practice leader Mary Anne Fedeyko has been involved in for over 20 years. Assisting domestic and international clients, the group is also well-regarded in the healthcare sector, where it handles the purchase and sale of dental practices, leveraging Nick Mayles‘ specialty working with dental practices and Claire Powell‘s experience advising GP practices.

In the UK 2021/22 edition the team is described as follows: Led by senior partner Mary Anne Fedeyko, Thompson Smith and Puxon’s team undertakes the entire ambit of corporate and commercial work for local and national clients. It also has a strong profile among overseas-based entities, particularly those located in the US and Canada. Fedeyko has almost 25 years of experience advising clients on complex section 110 reorganisations and demergers. Elsewhere, other drivers of work include M&A, MBOs/MBIs, joint ventures, partnerships and shareholder agreements. The firm generates mandates from clients across a broad range of industries, with particular strengths in areas such as agriculture and healthcare (including matters relating to dental practices, GP practices and NHS contracts). Nick Mayles, Claire Powell and Nicola Rout are also recommended.

In the UK 2020/21 edition the team is described as follows: Thompson Smith and Puxon’s corporate and commercial team handles a broad variety of work, covering franchise acquisitions, agency and distribution agreements, construction contracts, demergers and data protection. Serving both regional and international clients, it is particularly notable for team lead Mary Anne Fedeyko’s expertise in agribusiness. In addition, it is also well established in the healthcare sector where it regularly oversees the purchase and sale of dental practices. Nick Mayles specialises in corporate finance and commercial law while Claire Powell is known for her work with GP practices and NHS contracts.

In the 2019 edition the Legal 500 said “Exceeding all expectations, Thompson Smith and Puxon’s corporate and commercial team is adept at handling the full scope of corporate matters including M&A, disposals, and distribution agreements. Led by Mary Anne Fedeyko, who is noted for her ‘very practical commercial approach‘, the practice group works seamlessly across practice groups and provides significant cross-border services to national and international clients across a broad range of sectors. Nick Mayles is ‘excellent‘ and has experience with restructuring and reorganizations.”

Client testimonials for Claire’s work in the healthcare sector and beyond are detailed below:

CLIENT: Sharon Kendall, Managing Partner COMPANY: Ambrose Avenue Group Practice

TESTIMONIAL: Claire Powell provided us with quick and pragmatic advice, guiding us through the complex merger process. She worked within our extremely tight timescale and understood our objectives, helping to secure a positive outcome for our practice. Claire Powell was always happy to be on the end of the telephone for any concerns, questions and queries we had. We could not have got the positive outcome we did without her professional help.

CLIENT: Mark Galloway, Chief Executive COMPANY: GP Primary Choice Ltd

TESTIMONIAL: Thompson Smith and Puxon have been great to work with. Claire Powell combines excellent technical knowledge with a pro-active and commercial approach, ensuring our objectives are met in the timescale required. They feel like an extended member of our team. I have been delighted to introduce TSP to other business contacts over the last 12 months.

CLIENT: Hugh Weston-Smith, Finance Director COMPANY/FIRM: Sphere S.A

TESTIMONIAL: We have worked with Claire Powell and the team at Thompson Smith and Puxon for a number of years. Claire combines excellent technical expertise with keen commercial awareness, providing practical advice within challenging timescales

To find out more about the Corporate and Commercial service that Claire can offer click here.