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Martineau Johnson - Best EIS Legal Advisor 19/02/2008 Birmingham and London law firm Martineau Johnson won the award of 'Best Enterprise Investment Scheme Legal Adviser' for the second year running at this year’s Enterprise Investment Scheme Association (EISA) Awards ceremony held at the House of Commons. The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) was set up by the government to offer tax advantages to high net worth investors in fast growing entrepreneurial companies. The EISA works to stimulate interest and investment in the UK growth company economy through the EIS and similar tax efficient schemes. Martineau Johnson's retention of the title of Best EIS Legal Adviser highlights its high level of activity within the EIS and Venture Capital Trust (VCT) sectors. Senior partner at Martineau Johnson, Roger Blears, who heads the firm's Investment Funds and Growth Companies team, also presented the award of 'Best EIS Promoters’ to the Foresight Group for the over-subscribed launch of the £22.7m Foresight Sustainable EIS Fund, one of the largest EIS funds ever raised. Martineau Johnson acted as the legal adviser to the Fund, which will invest in growth companies operating in the sustainable sector, for example, companies making wind turbines, reprocessing waste or developing biomass facilities which will generate heat and energy. The Team, including partners Kavita Patel, Dan Johnson and Adam McGiveron, also advised on the recent launch of Edge Live, an EIS Fund which will invest in events companies operating in the media sector, and a University EIS Fund which will focus on technology outlicensing to established companies. Mr Blears believes that the current market conditions mean that investment through VCTs or EIS is particularly important. Commenting, he said: "The tax advantages that can be achieved through VCTs and EIS create real opportunities for investors and companies alike. "The credit crunch has led to a tightening of bank finance, and equity funding can help emerging companies even more in these circumstances.” The EISA awards were presided over by Howard Flight, president of the EISA, at the Chairman's annual reception at the House of Commons, with guests enjoying a speech from Jon Moulton of Alchemy Partners. Categories, which can have up to ten nominees, ranged from 'best EIS tax adviser' to 'best EIS contribution,' with each entrant having been nominated and voted for by EISA members or others with an interest in EIS investments. 
For further information please contact Roger Blears on
roger.blears@martineau-uk.com |
