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Crime

Cartwright King has ‘a strong set of lawyers, with strength in depth’. The firm has outstanding regional capability for both crime and fraud, and also acts in matters of national significance. In 2011, it advised in relation to money laundering, asset finance and trading standards frauds with a total value over £2bn. Mark Wilson, Lynn Bleakley, Michael Thurston and Andrew Brammer are all heavyweight fraud lawyers, and Andy Cash and Simon Chaplin are recommended on the crime side.

The highly regarded Ghulam Sohail heads an ‘excellent’ team at Challinors Solicitors, which includes ‘extremely talented’ associate Jeremy Bouch. In 2011 it defended a company director in a multimillion-pound payroll fraud, and was successful in a series of murder cases.

Richard Nelson LLP specialises in defending allegations of dishonesty, from thefts from employers through to SFO prosecutions of large-scale international fraud. The firm is a founder member of the Complex Case Practitioners’ Group. Richard Nelson and Marie Dancer are the key contacts.

At Smith Partnership, Kevin McGrath successfully represented a senior civil servant investigated for misfeasance in a public office; Stephen Chittenden assisted a multinational food processing company in relation to food safety matters; and Andrew Oldroyd was instructed in a large sex trafficking case.

The Johnson Partnership handles a range of criminal matters from motoring offences and VAT fraud to murder and manslaughter cases, ASBOs and youth crime. The firm has offices in both Nottingham and Derby.

Wilkin Chapman LLP has particular strength in regulatory work for agricultural instructions, and its recent work includes acting in relation to an Environmental Agency prosecution involving nine defendants. It is also regularly engaged in high-cost fraud cases, and is currently instructed in a large fraud in which a deficit of £85m is alleged. Nigel Burn heads the team.

ZMS Solicitors is a ‘high-class’ criminal practice with ‘expertise in paper-heavy cases’. Amar Mehta’s ‘ability to reassure clients is second to none’.

Licensing

Poppleston Allen enjoys a national reputation for licensing, and its ‘knowledge of the industry and the law is second to none’. Managing partner Jonathan Smith is ‘particularly accomplished when it comes to complex cases’; Lisa Sharkey is ‘able to tailor services to suit the client’; and Graeme Cushion is ‘reliable, efficient and methodical’. In 2011 the firm acted for the new company on the licensing side of the Little Chef insolvency; and for the administrators and the new company on the Luminar insolvency, with the firm subsequently retained by the purchasers. It is also appointed to provide exclusive licensing advice to the newly formed Stonegate Pub Company. Paddy Power is a new client, thanks to Nick Arron’s specialist betting expertise.

At Flint Bishop LLP, practice head Andrew Cochrane is ‘an exceptional communicator’. In 2011 the firm was appointed as legal adviser to Scottish and Newcastle Pub Management Company, the pub operating arm of Heineken UK. Other clients include Marston’s, and Kew Green Hotels.

Noted for its ‘reputation nationally’, Fraser Brown secured new clients in 2011 including national pub companies, multiple operators and independent operators. Team head David Lucas is now a member of the technical advisory group to the Home Office, and is ‘vastly experienced, with a detailed understanding of developments in licensing legislation’.

Browne Jacobson LLP acts for clients such as Nottingham Contemporary, Janet Boutell, and Hyperama. Fiona Carter’s team assisted with a licence for the former in the face of opposition from the Nottingham police.

With ‘excellent service and responses’, Freeth Cartwright LLP has seen an increase in local authority prosecution instructions for trading standards breaches, for clients such as Derby County Council and Erewash Borough Council. It also continues its staple work for start-up restaurant clients in London. Simon Taylor has expertise in outdoor festival licensing; and senior associate Lisa Gilligan is also recommended.

Harvey Ingram LLP’s Frank Whale is a key name in the licensing market. The team assists with all types of applications before council committees, including new grants, variations and reviews. Clients include Everards Brewery, Midlands Co-operative Society and various independent club operators, restaurants and off licences.

Sharp Young & Pearce LLP is the product of the recent merger between Young & Pearce and Sharp & Partners Solicitors, and has a leisure industry licensing specialism. Tony Wilkinson and Roger Calvert are the contacts.

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