LfB pilots Patriot’s buyout of West Midlands airport

The deal was led by ­corporate specialist and new LfB director Chris Wright, with property consultant Adrian Stickland also ­acting for the buyer.
Patriot Aerospace owner Sir Peter Rigby has said that his company may re-introduce passenger flights to the Baginton-based airport. The airport has handled only freight ­aircraft since 2008 and has been closed to all flights since last December.

Wright said: “The acquisition will undoubtedly result in an exciting ­development that will create jobs and boost the West Midlands economy.”
Freeth Cartwright acted for the liquidated seller West Midlands International Airport as well as administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers, with insolvency partner Simon Baigent leading.

LfB operates a structure in which self-employed lawyers work from personal offices around the UK, ­operated from a central hub in Birmingham.
“That structure enables us to stand out from others,” said Wright. “We do not have big overheads so we can keep costs down, which is something that helps us to attract clients.”

Wright acted for Patriot Aerospace on last year’s ­purchase of London Helicopter Centres - a charter and engineering company with bases in Surrey and Northern Ireland.

He also advised Rigby on his joint venture with the Royal Shakespeare Company to refurbish the Arden Hotel in Stratford-Upon-Avon.