Mishcon de Reya has advised Hennick & Co on its investment in a strategic partnership into Foster + Partners Group Limited, the award winning British architectural, infrastructure, design and engineering firm. As a result of the investment, Hennick will become the largest investor in Foster + Partners, with Lord Norman Foster and his family and the practice’s existing partners all remaining as long-term shareholders and retaining the balance of the equity. The long-term agreement establishes a unique ‘perpetual partnership model’ that enables the practice to expand beyond its current 180 partners, ensures that the next generation of professionals can become shareholders in the practice, and allows for an orderly succession of existing partners over the long-term.
Established by Lord Norman Foster in 1967, the Foster + Partners' practice has created some of the world’s most iconic structures such as the Gherkin, the Reichstag Building, Wembley Stadium and the Millennium Bridge in London. It has since grown into the largest architecture practice firm in the UK.
Hennick & Company is a Canadian private family investment firm founded by the Hennick family that invests in high quality, growth-oriented businesses and real estate for the long-term and is renowned for its significant equity investment in, amongst others, Colliers International, the global real estate professional services and management company.
Corporate partners Dean Poster and Saul Sender led the Mishcon team, with support from Corporate Associates Sam Shabbir and Enes Ilgun, and Corporate Trainee Thomas Istefanous. Specialist advice was provided by Tax Partner, Gary Richards, Finance Partner Raji Bartlett, IP Partner, Sally Britton, Commercial Associate, Anne Rose, Employment Managing Associate Laura Penny, Employment Associate Alex Heritage, Employment Associate Suresh Patel and Construction Managing Associate, Phoebe McLarty.
Dean Poster commented – “We are delighted to have advised Hennick &Co. on this significant investment in Foster + Partners, an iconic global brand and the world’s preeminent architecture, infrastructure, engineering, and design consultancy."