CMS advises Dishoom on partnership with consumer investment firm L Catterton
CMS is pleased to announce its involvement in the recently announced investment in much-loved restaurant group Dishoom by leading global consumer focused investment firm L Catterton.
The first Dishoom opened in Covent Garden in 2010, and Dishoom now has seven cafés in London, one in Edinburgh, one in Manchester, and one in Birmingham; Permit Rooms in Brighton, Cambridge, Notting Hill and Oxford; eleven delivery kitchens and an online store. Dishoom and the Permit Rooms are managed by a team led by co-founders Shamil and Kavi Thakrar, and CEO Brian Trollip.
In both Dishoom and the Permit Rooms, a meal is donated to charity for every meal served – with 25 million meals donated as of July 2025. Dishoom is also now a certified B-Corp.
The CMS team was co-led by the firm’s Head of Leisure David Roberts and corporate leisure and media specialist Nick Crosbie with support from Jack Richards, Carys Holland and Lucy Igbiri (Corporate); Rebecca Stewart and Alex Oldland (Tax); and Scott Traynor (Employment).
Recently appointed London Corporate Partner Stephen Kilshaw acted for Dishoom’s management on their deal with L Catterton (assisted by Sarah Mathieson and Lily Palmer) and Finance Partner Tom Hughes supported Dishoom on the new financing to be put in place as part of the financing.
Shamil Thakrar and Kavi Thakrar, Co-Founders of Dishoom, commented: “When we decided to seek a partner for our business, Dave and Nick were a clear choice. Their restaurant client base and sell side experience in the leisure sector is unrivalled and we appreciate their massive dedication and the professionalism of the whole CMS team from start to finish. This was a complex and challenging deal undertaken under extreme time pressure – and despite that, we felt that we were always in safe hands and ahead of the game. We felt very much that CMS had our and the management team’s backs, which is so key. A big shout to up and coming star Jack Richards as well. Plus they are a lovely bunch of people!”
David Roberts, CMS Partner and Head of Leisure at CMS UK, said: “It was great to be working so close with Nick on this deal and we have enjoyed 20 years of leisure deals together and great to welcome Steve Kilshaw to the CMS partner ranks and to announce his talent to the sector on such a high profile deal. Dishoom is perhaps the most highly regarded restaurant business in the country and the management team probably the most revered. Everything about Dishoom is best in class and it was such a pleasure for all the team to get so much Shamil and Kavi time, as they are a joy to work with. We wish them, Brian, Steve, Andy and the rest of the management team and the business all the best for what I suspect will be an amazing future.”
With over 300 experts in 43 countries, CMS’s international Hospitality, Travel & Leisure team advises on M&A, financing, development & construction, leases, management and franchise agreements and tax structuring. In addition to advising investors and lenders, the firm also advises operators, brand owners, administrators, construction companies and technology providers.
