Bournemouth: Steele Raymond advises on investment in designer shoe brand

Dorset commercial law firm Steele Raymond LLP has advised Bournemouth-based private equity specialist the Clark Group on a significant equity investment in premium designer shoe brand Mr.Hare.

Conceived in the foothills of Sierra Nevada Mountains, designed by Mr.Hare and produced in Tuscany, Mr.Hare is an up and coming brand that has become the darling of the red carpet and glitterati alike.

Touted by GQ magazine as ‘one of the coolest shoemakers around’, the brand’s celebrity clientele already includes the likes of Tinie Tempah, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tom Hardy and Idris Elba. The acquisition represents a significant investment for Clark Group, which has set an ambitious plan to turn Mr.Hare into a global brand.

Steele Raymond’s top-tier commercial team supported the deal with its specialist expertise in Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS) - designed to help companies raise equity finance by offering tax reliefs to individual investors who purchase new shares in those companies.

The transaction was led by company and commercial partner Nick Davies, who has many years of experience in acting for a wide range of business clients across a variety of sectors.

Davies commented: “We are delighted to have supported the Clark Group on its investment in Mr.Hare, the latest in a long line of strategic investments we’ve advised Clark Group on during our seven years of working together. It’s an exciting brand with lots of potential and the Clark Group has the expertise to make it successful on a global scale, so we’ll look forward to seeing it develop and flourish.”

Steve Siggs, finance director at the Clark Group, added: “Steele Raymond’s advice and assistance was as invaluable as ever in completing this acquisition. We have worked with Nick and the team many times over the years and they always provide a comprehensive top-tier service which we know and trust as the best in the region.”