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Quastels advises Wealdstone Football Club on the landmark investment by US‑based investor Lakefront Football Partners
Quastels is delighted to have advised Wealdstone Football Club on the landmark investment into the club by US‑based investor Lakefront Football Partners LLC owned by Nick Semaca. Lakefront Football Partners LLC has now formally become the club’s new majority shareholder.
The transaction represents a pivotal moment for the National League side, securing long‑term stability and growth opportunities while preserving the club’s historic commitment to fan ownership and was completed alongside the club’s new lease at Grosvenor Vale expiring 31 May 2036.
The Wealdstone investment adds to our already well‑established sports practice which continues to advise clubs, investors and other stakeholders on complex corporate, real estate and governance matters.
The Quastels team was led by corporate partner Adam Convisser, real estate partner Mark Cornelius and sports/regulatory partner Simon Grossobel. The partners were supported by Jamie Crocker (solicitor), Joshua Buxton (trainee solicitor) and Max Sherrard (sports/regulatory).
Director and Vice Chairman, Dominic Whyley, said:
“It was a pleasure working with Quastels and their team on this exciting transaction for the club. The team provided great counsel, guidance and support throughout our long journey to identify the right investor for this great club and help us deliver an executable transaction whilst navigating the complexities of our existing constitution and shareholder base.”
Adam Convisser commented:
Read More“We were delighted to support Wealdstone FC on this transformative investment. Nick’s investment represents a significant milestone for the club, and we are proud to have played a role in helping deliver an outcome that strengthens its future while honouring its history and community values.”
The EU’s New Online Contract Rules – What Online Retailers Need to Know
Directive (EU) 2023/2673 (the Directive) which was adopted as part of the EU’s wider consumer protection reforms, introduces a significant practical change to how online retailers must enable consumers to exercise their right of withdrawal from online contracts. Although the directive is primarily framed around distance financial services, it amends the Consumer Rights Directive (Directive 2011/83/EU) in a way that affects all online consumer contracts within scope of that regime.
The Existing Right of Withdrawal
Under the Consumer Rights Directive, consumers entering into online contracts or other distance or off-premises contracts generally benefit from a 14-day right to withdraw from the contract without giving a reason. While online retailers have long been required to inform consumers of this right and provide a model withdrawal form, the legislation has historically focused more on disclosure than on the user experience of withdrawal.
The New Obligation
The Directive shifts the emphasis onto the user experience by requiring that from 19 June 2026 online sellers provide a mandatory withdrawal function for consumers on their e-commerce sites. The underlying principle is that consumers must be able to withdraw from a contract as easily as they were able to enter into it.
In practical terms, this means that the online interface used to conclude the contract must also allow the consumer to submit a withdrawal notice electronically.
Who Is Affected?
These requirements will apply to:
- traders established in the EU that sell goods, services or digital content online to consumers; and
- traders established outside the EU where their online activities are directed at EU consumers.
As a result, many non-EU based retailers who target EU consumers will also need to assess whether their current online contracting journeys meet the new standard.
Key Features of the Withdrawal Function
The Directive sets out clear expectations for how the withdrawal function must operate. In particular, it must:
- be clearly labelled with wording such as “withdraw from contract here” (or equivalent unambiguous language);
- be easy to find, legible and continuously available during the withdrawal period;
- allow the consumer to identify the contract they wish to withdraw from (including partial withdrawal, where relevant);
- enable the consumer to submit a clear withdrawal statement online; and
- generate an acknowledgement of receipt on a durable medium (such as email), including the date and time of submission.
When a consumer has already identified themselves (for example, by logging into an account), the retailer should not require unnecessary re-identification as part of the withdrawal process.
What Businesses Should Be Doing Now
Although the new rules do not apply until June 2026, they are likely to require technical and design changes to online sales platforms, not just legal updates. Businesses should therefore start considering:
- whether existing account pages, order histories or customer dashboards could support a complaint withdrawal function;
- how withdrawal confirmations will be generated and stored;
- look at training customer support/CRM teams on the changes so they can ensure that consumer queries are dealt with compliantly;
- consider what changes will be required to CRM processes to manage the practical aspects of the changes; and
- whether pre-contact information and T&Cs accurately reflect the new withdrawal mechanics.
Failure to implement the withdrawal function correctly may expose businesses to enforcement risk and undermine their ability to rely on protections such as deductions for use or charges during the withdrawal period.
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Quastels Announces New Partner Appointments
Quastels LLP is pleased to announce that Nargiz Abdullayeva is now a partner, and the arrival of Ben Gale and Charlotte Vallins as partners, marking an important step in the continued growth and strengthening of the firm’s real estate and corporate practices.
These appointments reflect Quastels’ ongoing commitment to recognising exceptional talent from within the firm while also attracting highly regarded lawyers who bring depth of experience, strong market reputations and a client-focused approach.
Nargiz Abdullayeva, Residential Real Estate
Nargiz Abdullayeva is now partner following an exceptional career progression at Quastels. She joined the firm’s Residential Real Estate team as a solicitor in 2018 and brings over 10 years’ experience advising on high-value residential transactions for UK and international clients.
Nargiz has played a key role in the development of the firm’s Residential Real Estate practice and leads on Turkish client transactions, combining deep market knowledge with strong commercial insight. In her new role as partner, she will continue to strengthen the firm’s real estate offering, heading Turkish client transactions and supporting clients on complex, cross-border matters. Her promotion reflects both her technical expertise and her significant contribution to the firm’s growth.
Her appointment reflects both her technical expertise and her significant contribution to the firm’s growth.
If you’d like to discuss how Nargiz and her team can assist you in residential real estate matters, whether UK-based or international, please contact her via her email, nabduallyeva@quastels.com or call +44 7799 277084.
Ben Gale, Corporate
Ben Gale has joined Quastels as a partner in the Corporate team, bringing extensive experience advising a broad range of clients, from entrepreneurial businesses to established corporates, on UK and cross-border matters.
His practice covers mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, joint ventures, restructurings and general corporate advisory work. Ben has particular sector expertise in retail, hospitality and leisure, the testing, inspection, certification and compliance (TICC) sector, and the fast-growing online prize draws and competitions (PCD) space.
Ben joins the firm from Irwin Mitchell and is highly regarded for his commercial focus, responsiveness and ability to drive transactions forward under demanding timeframes. He was recently shortlisted for Corporate Lawyer of the Year at the Insider Media South-East Dealmakers Awards, reflecting his strong market standing and dedication to client service.
If you’d like to discuss how Ben and his team can assist you in corporate matters, please contact him via his email, bgale@quastels.com or call +44 7341 590470.
Charlotte Vallins, Commercial Property
Charlotte Vallins has joined Quastels as a partner in the Commercial Property team. Specialising in commercial real estate for private and institutional investors in relation to freehold and leasehold acquisitions, disposals and financings of all complexity, she brings more than 15 years’ experience.
Charlotte joins Quastels from a large regional firm and is known for her proactive, pragmatic and client-focused approach. She is recognised for her attention to detail, clear communication and ability to deliver timely, commercial results. Charlotte is also listed as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500, where she is praised for her professionalism, depth of knowledge and outstanding client service.
Her appointment further strengthens Quastels’ Commercial Property offering and reinforces the firm’s commitment to delivering high-quality, commercially focused advice.
If you’d like to discuss how Charlotte and her team can assist you in commercial property matters, whether UK-based or international, please contact her via her email, cvallins@quastels.com, or call +44 7351 590460.
Looking Ahead
The promotion of Nargiz and the appointments of Ben and Charlotte represent an exciting chapter for Quastels as the firm continues to build depth across its core practice areas. Together, they enhance the firm’s ability to support clients with complex, high-value and strategically important matters, both in the UK and internationally.
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