The Legal 500

United Kingdom > East Anglia > Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Cambridge:

Editorial sections

Other

All countries

Mills & Reeve LLP has the largest regional practice, with a team including Tom Pickthorn, Claire Clarke, Brian Marshall and Zickie Lim, and is ‘proactive, and realistic in its estimates’. The firm advised Xaar plc on raising £15m for expansion; new client FSU Investments on its offer for AIM-listed SDI Group; and Eastern European brewing group StarBev on restructuring after its $3bn acquisition. One to watch, associate Stephen Hamilton is ‘responsive, and has a “can-do” attitude and a good rapport with clients’. The recent hire of Anthony McGurk from Eversheds LLP is a major coup for the firm.

The team at Eversheds LLP, including recommended associate Mark Satterly, is ‘excellent on all counts, particularly diligence, attention to detail and commitment to customer service’. Still a national heavyweight with many clients outside the region, recent deals for the firm include the $615m sale of Kettle Foods to US-based Diamond Foods. Anthony McGurk is now at Mills & Reeve LLP.

Hewitsons LLP has James Lawrence, who ‘dissipates any mystery about transactions’; Jason Williams, who is ‘sage, pragmatic, and never afraid to give an opinion’; John Dix, noted for his ‘quick responses, and great advice with a no-nonsense approach’; and Helen Drayton, who has ‘deep knowledge and a personal touch; her rising star has now ascended’. The team has been active across MBOs, disposals and VC funding matters, including an £8m equity investment in Ranier Ltd.

James Allen at Taylor Vinters combines with the considerable talents of Adam Bradley, Quentin Golder and John Short in a team that has expanded its client base regionally and into London, and draws work from the firm’s new Singapore office. Accountants, banks and large corporates call on its services.

At Taylor Wessing LLP, corporate and venture capital partners Simon Walker and David Mardle, with Tim Worden and Malcolm Bates on commercial and technology matters, have been joined in Cambridge by corporate special counsel Susanna Stanfield. They specialise in collaboration deals, M&A, IPOs and VC funding. New clients include Aveva and Telecom Italia.

Led by the ‘unflappable, considered’ Adrian Seagers, Birketts LLP has ‘quality analogous to a leading City practice’; ‘its experience and skills give complete confidence, and each transaction is partner led’. Seagers advised PetroTechnik on its purchase by Franklin Fueling Systems.

Charles Russell LLP continues to make inroads into the Cambridge market, delivering ‘advice of the highest calibre: clear, risk based and extremely helpful’. James Stephen in particular attracts very high praise from clients. Recent highlights include equity fundraising matters for Green Energy Options.

Young firm Walker Wallis Solicitors ‘responds with comprehensive, relevant advice at short notice’, with a team including the well-known Duncan Walker. Recent international work has included projects in the Far East and Europe, and the firm has also been advising on spinouts of local technology companies. HiWave Technologies is a client.

Woodfines LLP’s Stephen Oliver acted on the establishment of high-end cosmetics company Icon Partnership, and represents a number of Indian companies with UK interests. Inger Anson advised on a £42m listed company takeover.

Search News and Articles

Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
© 2012 www.legal500.com