Contributors
WBD has advised Carnival UK, the parent company for P&O Cruises and Cunard, on the extension of its lease to remain at Carnival House until 2038.
WBD's real estate team, led by partner Tim Burbidge and managing associate Stephen Baker re-negotiated the lease on behalf of Carnival UK, ensuring that Southampton remains the cruise business's home for at least another 19 years. Carnival House, owned by insurance and investment services company Aviva, is home to over 1200 employees, the majority of whom are from the Hampshire area.
Tim Burbidge of WBD commented:
"We're thrilled to see Carnival UK reaffirming its commitment to the city of Southampton and are delighted to have advised them on this strategic move for the business. Our work for the client is a testament to our ambition to be the transatlantic law firm close to home, advising locally based businesses on their regional, national and international aspirations. Our long term commitment to Southampton is a reflection of the growth in our clients and the value we bring to them."
Carnival UK president Josh Weinstein, added:
"With a fleet of ten ships, the majority of which home port in Southampton throughout the year and three new ships on order to arrive by 2022 we continue to invest in the city, the port and its infrastructure to secure our long term future."
Our association with Southampton is a vital one and I am delighted that we have secured our place here for such an extended amount of time. How fitting that even this process was Southampton-focused, as we partnered with two local companies to achieve this extension to our lease. I would like to thank Tim Burbidge and Stephen Baker from WBD and also David Ferriman from Realest who worked hard on our behalf."
Ranking in the UK's Top 20 law firms, WBD is one of the largest in Southampton where it employs more than 150 people at its office at Oceana House. The firm provides legal expertise in eleven key sectors from across eight offices in the UK and 19 offices in the US.
