Osborne Clarke suits French Connection for Farhi deal

The Bristol firm fielded a team headed by City-based corporate partner and co-head of retail Kalpesh Tanna, that also included corporate partner Andrew Saul and real estate partner Dolf Darnton.

Having won the initial mandate, Osborne Clarke will now act for French Connection on all its future real estate work.

Tanna said: “We’re seeing increased levels of corporate and real estate activity in the retail sector and my sense is that the current economic conditions will prompt more exciting deals involving household name retailers.”

Construction and property boutique Maxwell Winward acted for OpenGate on the £5m acquisition with corporate partner Christopher North leading the way.

The firm had previously advised OpenGate on its deal to buy the Models1 modelling agency in 2008.