Lovells helps complete UK Royal Mail WH Smith deal

A team from Lovells has worked alongside Royal Mail’s in-house legal team to complete a major transaction for Royal Mail transferring the operation of 76 Post Office branches to WHSmith. This follows the successful trial of six Post Offices in WHSmith stores last year.

Following the deal the Post Office will continue to run 373 Crown Post Offices in UK towns and cities alongside the branches operated by WHSmith.

The Lovells team working on the transaction was led by partner Nicholas Cheffings with associates Sahira Khwaja and India Forsyth. The Royal Mail in-house team was led by General Counsel Doug Evans with assistants Jessica Madron and Patricia Jones.

Speaking afterwards, Doug Evans commented:

“This is a very important development for the Royal Mail Group, serving to underpin the Post Office’s long-term commitment to safeguard its presence on the high street and in shopping centres across the United Kingdom.

“We have worked very closely with Lovells on this transaction and are extremely pleased with the advice they have given us. The deal enables us to work with a complementary, respected retailer giving us, and our customers, a high quality, commercially viable plan for the future.”