Tim Sadka
Partner and Head of the Corporate Team
Direct telephone: +44 (0)1293 558511
Email: tsadka@rawlisonbutler.com
Location: Gatwick office
Expertise
My main areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions, banking and insolvency, joint ventures, partnerships and corporate governance. I am used to dealing with UK and international based businesses at a high level. Clients range from those in the SME sector to listed companies across Surrey, Sussex and Kent with clients in London and internationally.
Profile
I started my legal career with a leading regional law firm, qualifying while with them in 1987. I joined Rawlison Butler within a year of qualification. I became a partner in 1989 and since 1999 have headed the Corporate & Commercial Department. I have a reputation for being direct and for having the ability to see through the legal complexity to the commercial reality.
Memberships
International Bar Association, Law Society and Royal Automobile Club.
Public profile
I enjoy speaking at seminars, both for the firm and as a guest speaker, addressing both corporate law issues and business management issues. I am featured as an 'Ask the Expert' on South East Dealmakers website and have written on adding value and pre-transaction grooming.
What others say about me
Chambers and Partners Directory for the UK Legal Profession comment that Tim is known for his "sterling counsel and ability to cut right to the chase."
In my spare time …
A family man, I am lucky my wife and daughter understand my support of Cardiff City AFC and Welsh Rugby. I enjoy travelling, boating and have an interest in contemporary art with a Celtic connection.
What I said when I was asked ...
How do you contribute to our Corporate Social Responsibility?
I have a keen interest in the environment and am leading a number of initiatives in Rawlison Butler’s business intended to ensure we do business in as responsible a way as possible.
What changes to do you expect in the next 12 months?
I have worked through several economic downturns; 2008/2009 is my third recession during my working life. The current economic climate, combined with the political uncertainty generated by a government at the end of its term will, in my view, ensure that 2010 is at best a fairly flat period for the economy as a whole and 2011 a slight improvement. That said, I lead a strong and ambitious team looking to grow and take the opportunities which I am sure will present themselves.
What has been your most challenging deal?
I am proud that during the last quarter of 2009 I led a team on a challenging refinancing of a client company requiring c£25 million facilities. Having put our client in a position to be able to complete the refinancing within a tight timescale, the challenge came when the client had a change of heart and choose to end the negotiations in favour of an alternative equity based transaction. Not often lost for words, when the client decided at the eleventh hour to ask me and another professional advisor whether he could revert to the original transaction, I was taken aback. Thereafter, with my team, I played a key role in restoring relations between the original banks involved and our clients. A deal was ultimately completed within days of what would have been an alternative outcome, administration. As many hundreds of jobs were at stake it was particularly rewarding to have played a key role in saving a good business which had encountered difficult trading circumstances at a time when the banking sector itself faced well publicised challenges.