Wragge & Co LLP Corporate group has advised the Jamie Oliver Group on the launch of a new chain of Italian restaurants in the UK.

The Jamie Oliver Group is opening a number of high-street branded restaurants in the UK called 'Jamie's Italian'. The first restaurant has opened in Oxford, with further restaurants planned for Bath, Brighton, Kingston, Glasgow, Cardiff and Cambridge.

Corporate partner Richard Haywood led the team, working with associate Gareth Baker and solicitor Kristin Garrett. Corporate tax partner Neil Pearson advised on the terms of a management incentive scheme. The team worked closely with managing director Tara Donovan and John Jackson, chief executive officer of the Jamie Oliver Group.

Richard Haywood said: "It has been fantastic for us to be involved. A very interesting project with great clients."

The Jamie Oliver Group includes Jamie's Italian, Jamie Oliver Enterprises Limited, Fresh Ventures Holding Limited and Jamie Oliver Holdings Limited.

Chef and campaigner, Jamie Oliver is known globally for his best-selling books including Jamie At Home, Jamie's Italy and Cook with Jamie, as well as his successful TV series including 'Jamie's School Dinners', 'Jamie's Kitchen' and 'Jamie At Home'. He also founded Fifteen restaurant in London which, along with similar Fifteens in Cornwall, Amsterdam and Melbourne, trains disadvantaged young people to give them a career in catering.

Wragge & Co boasts a strong reputation in the food & drink sector. Major clients include HJ Heinz, Tetley Group, Unilever, Cadbury plc and Improve Limited. This year, the firm won a full-service appointment to advise United Biscuits. Previous experience includes steering Birds Eye to victory over complaints made to the Advertising Standards Authority.

The firm's 70-strong Corporate group advises clients on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, IPOs, joint ventures, public takeovers, share schemes, complex structuring and tax. It specialises in mid-market corporate transactions, advising companies ranging from global brands to private clients. Latest deals include acting for BP on a US$400 million biofuels investment deal with Associated British Foods and DuPont.

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For further information about this press release, contact Kathryn Hobbs on +44 (0)121 213 2397, Alexa Highfield on +44 (0)121 213 2396 or Amie Ryalls on +44 (0)121 213 2360

This press release may contain information of general interest about current legal issues, but does not give legal advice.