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Commercial litigation: Nottingham and Derby

Telecoms, fraud and international claims specialist Dominic Offord heads the ‘practical and thorough’ team at Browne Jacobson LLP, which undertakes a range of high-value contentious work. The firm recently assisted a company in defending a claim for £200,000 after a tunnel at a hydroelectrical plant malfunctioned, a matter involving complex factual and legal issues. Senior associate Gordon Monaghan is recommended for his employment litigation expertise.

‘As good, if not better than many firms based in London’, Eversheds LLP’s ‘excellent’ litigation offering in the region is headed by the highly regarded Paul Worth. It serves the litigation needs of major local clients, in addition to handling international disputes for large companies such as Tyco and Comet. Rebecca Nicholas ‘fights her corner with commitment’; Chris Busby is ‘worth his weight in gold’; and Jennifer Page is ‘just brilliant’. Associate Hannah Nichols also attracts praise.

Derby-based Flint Bishop LLP specialises in complex commercial litigation for government agencies, multinational corporations, and UK companies, in sectors such as engineering, aerospace, and telecommunications. Practice head Qamer Ghafoor ‘cares deeply about his cases, and so provides a dedicated personal service’.

Freeth Cartwright LLP’s litigation team ‘compares well’ with its competitors, with Charles Powell (‘no pushover’) particularly valued for his mediation skills. In 2011, a team led by Graham Greenfield acted for Mazars in the winding up of investment companies both nationally and in Grenada and the BVI; the matter involved a complex claim against a major insurance company with a value of over £26m. Other clients include Deloitte and Begbies Traynor LLP. Philippa Dempster is well regarded for franchising litigation.

The six-partner team at Geldards LLP was bolstered by the arrival of commercial litigator Jonathan Tardif from Eversheds LLP. The team provides ‘excellent service in terms of the quality of work, appropriateness of advice, and value for money’. In 2011, the firm defended Canadian mining exploration company Tesla in its £4.5m dispute with various parties over the provision of seismic survey services off the North Sea coast. Christopher Sing and Jonathan Butler are also recommended.

At Nelsons Solicitors Limited, ‘response times are good, all court deadlines are met, and value for money is given’. The 15-fee-earner team is active at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and has experience in complex commercial litigation and in IT and IP related cases for clients in the manufacturing sector. Jon Roberts heads the team, and Chris Adams is also recommended.

Shakespeares’ ‘value-for-money’ team is experienced in urgent injunctions, mediations and contested proceedings. Steven Skiba is valued for his ‘competence, clarity, and avoidance of pitfalls’. Key clients include EMDA and Sun Chemical.

At Smith Partnership, department head Russell Davies is ‘a constant pillar of the department’s service’. He is recommended for landlord and tenant work, and is instructed by Enterprise Inns in relation to a number of injunctions to enforce its contractual rights against tenants.

Actons’ department head is insolvency litigation specialist Chris Murratt. The team recently settled a claim against a Switzerland-based bonds and guarantee company through mediation.

Fraser Brown has new partner capability in litigation after the arrival of Adrian Slater from Geldards LLP. Don Peel handles property management disputes for clients such as WSP Management Services, as well as assisting in nuisance claims.

In 2011, Rothera Dowson obtained an emergency freezing order against a defendant for a New Jersey based client, a time-pressured multi-jurisdictional matter. The team also has expertise in transport litigation, and benefits from the firm’s close relationship with the Road Haulage Association.

Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the East Midlands

At Gateley, Chris Greenwell has expertise in professional negligence claims, and the highly regarded James Baird is experienced in asset recovery and complex fraud actions. The team also attracts large probate instructions, and is highly regarded for its mediation capabilities.

The team at Harvey Ingram LLP is built around the complementary talents of Chris Saul (noted for complex contract and corporate disputes); Frank Whale (a national figure in the licensing market); and insolvency litigation specialist Sean Moran. In one highlight, Saul represented an international defence and aerospace entity in pursuing a £4m claim, reaching settlement through mediation.

Hewitsons LLP ‘leaves its competitors in the shade’, and team head Dominic Hopkins is greatly respected by clients. The firm has seen an increase in investment management and pension protection fund work, as well as in IT systems contracts claims. On the international front, the firm acted for a Dutch receiver in High Court and ECHR proceedings.

Howes Percival LLP has diverse litigation expertise. Leicester-based Geraint Davies is well versed in insolvency and property litigation; Northampton-based David Whiting’s focus is also on the insolvency side; and new arrival from Nabarro LLP Peter Wright brings experience in data protection and Freedom of Information Act disputes. The firm undertakes complex freezing injunction work, and is currently handling a substantial commercial dispute for a UK client against a large Turkish corporation. Matthew Talbot and Scott Farnsworth handle IP disputes.

At Chattertons, Patrick Cordingley has expertise in proprietary estoppel, and in one recent highlight negotiated a claim for damages for a figure over £15m. David Rogerson is the team’s mediation partner. Debbie Hough undertakes contentious work related to gambling law, from the firm’s Spalding base.

Freeth Cartwright LLP’s Mukesh Patel deals with a range of litigation, including energy and food disputes. The team is praised for its ‘consistent quality’.

The two-partner team at Langleys Solicitors LLP is headed by Rob Ripley, who handles professional negligence disputes for solicitors and architects, as well as land tribunal claims.

Nelsons Solicitors Limited’s Deborah Ritchie is highly regarded for construction disputes. Lewis Addison gives ‘considerable attention to detail’.

Spearing Waite LLP’s practice head Jonathan Wheeler is ‘clear and pragmatic’. His team acts for market leaders in the manufacturing and automobile industries in complex negligence claims. Ashwin Mody has expertise in insolvency disputes.

Tollers LLP handles property and IT claims, as well as fraud and contentious probate work. In 2011, Ian Carson defended a complex breach of warranty claim brought in the High Court by a well-known media figure.

Wilkin Chapman LLP’s Andrew Holt represents the National Farmers’ Union on its legal advice scheme.

Debt recovery

Gateley is noted for its ability to assist with complex multi-jurisdictional matters, often involving fraudulent activity. Particular areas of expertise include banking litigation, fraud, and motor finance. James Baird heads the team, and Joanne Owens is also recommended.

Appreciated for its ‘unique team spirit’, Shoosmiths’ debt recovery service includes unsecured debt recovery (headed by Jim Taylor); commercial secured recovery (Stuart Montgomery); and mortgage recovery (Wendy Rainbow). New arrival Melanie Chell takes the lead on asset finance matters, and Harold Brako leads on invoice finance.

Flint Bishop LLP acts for clients such as LexisNexis and Marston’s, and has also attracted new work from Southern Cross Healthcare Group and the Food Standards Agency. The firm provides ‘a first-rate service to the level of the Magic Circle, with the cost of a regional firm’.

‘Always prompt and reasonably priced’, Nelsons Solicitors Limited mainly acts in B2B cases for commercial clients. In 2011, the eight-strong team was instructed in relation to £10.9m worth of debt. It receives a significant flow of instructions as a result of being HCC International’s recommended debt recovery team.

New clients for Roythornes LLP include Badgemaster and Pestforce. Associate Kate Robbins is the contact following the departure of Andrew Shipley.

‘Approachable, adaptable, and efficient’, Smith Partnership’s team handles recoveries for large corporates such as Cadbury and Bostik. Andrew Hambleton and Clare Twells are ‘second to none’.

Wilkin Chapman LLP acts for large energy companies, water companies, local authorities, and financial institutions. New clients for the team include Tannen Group and Power.

Actons is noted for its personalised service for clients such as The Nottingham Park Estate and various chartered accounting firms. Yvonne Thomas heads the team.

Brady Solicitors is particularly valued by clients for its credit control work.

Harvey Ingram LLP’s debt recovery capability was boosted by its 2011 merger with Alan Hamblett & Co.

Hewitsons LLP offers a technology-based service to corporates and institutions.

Shakespeares expanded significantly at assistant level in 2011. The team is ‘able to resolve queries with prompt efficiency’.

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