United Kingdom > North West > Corporate and commercial
Corporate and commercial: Manchester
Corporate and commercial: Manchester
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The ‘very good’ seven-partner team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP advises a ‘very nice blend of private equity sponsors and public companies’, such as Lloyds Development Capital, Inflexion, Endless, United Utilities and PZ Cussons. The diversity of its client base has, to some extent, insulated the firm against the vagaries of the economic downturn, as has the tendency of corporates to seek a flight to quality. Roger Hart handled a number of transactions for new client Daisy Group, including its takeover offer for BNS Telecom Group. Richard Lee is recognised for his strength advising plc clients, while on the private equity side Jim Tully recently advised Inflexion on the secondary buyout of Fish Insurance from Mosaic. Tim Hamilton is also recommended.
Led by Jonathan Watkins, DLA Piper UK LLP’s six-partner team provides ‘responsive, commercially aware and technically sound’ advice to a robust blend of major corporates and private equity clients including Montagu Private Equity, Carphone Warehouse, LDC, Gresham Private Equity and Lookers plc. ‘Very sound on private equity issues’, it advised Gresham on its £12.3m MBO of Lanes Assistance Services, and also Pets at Home on its £955m secondary buyout by KKR. Stephen Devlin has an excellent reputation for his work advising plcs, while Neal Shepherd and James Kerrigan excel on the private equity side.
Led by Daniel Hall, Eversheds LLP’s ‘fantastic’ ten-partner team has coped relatively well in the downturn, thanks in part to the plethora of cash-rich quoted companies on its roster. Hall led on the team’s high-profile representation of Vancouver Airports Group on its £200m acquisition of Peel Airports Group; the ‘superb’ Simon Masters advised Booker Group on the £20m acquisition of Ritter-Courivand and £4m acquisition of Classic Drinks; and Edward Pysden is also recommended. Other clients include Flybe, Multisol, Bodycote and Renold.
Headed by the ‘excellent’ Gregg Davison, Pinsent Masons LLP’s nine-partner group provides ‘very commercial’ advice to a balanced mix of corporates and private equity sponsors. Led by Davison, the group acted for new client Barclays Private Equity on the £30m MBO of Wilton Engineering Group and £75m MBO of Allied Glass. ‘Someone you want to have on your team’, Helen Ridge represents public companies on their M&A activity, recently advising longstanding client AMEC on the £62m acquisition of Entec Holdings. Also recommended are Howard Gill and Scot Morrison, who leads the commercial team.
Cobbetts LLP’s ‘very commercial and totally professional’ team is headed by the ‘very thorough’ Sean Fitzgerald. It has deep-rooted relationships with many of the region’s private equity sponsors, and recently advised Key Capital Partners on providing a £5m equity investment on the MBO of Dwell. Another distinguishing feature of the team is its expertise in handling AIM listings for natural resources companies, and it recently advised GGG Resources on its UK placing and dual listing on the ASX; Andrew Wright is recommended for work in this area. Ian Riggs ‘makes sure every small detail is examined’, and specialises in work for corporates.
Despite the recent departure of James Sheridan to turner parkinson LLP, DWF LLP’s ‘savvy and technically astute’ group continues to gain significant headway in the market, and has developed a robust roster of significant plc clients, including Enterprise Healthcare, Guardian Media Group and Assura. Recent highlights include advising Peel Land (Red City) on a £26m joint venture between Peel and Salford Council to create a sports stadium for the Salford City Reds Rugby League Club. Stephen Houston heads the team, which also includes recommended partners Frank Shephard and Craig Chaplin.
Squire Sanders Hammonds provides ‘technically excellent’ advice to corporates and private equity firms including Stobart Group, Findel and ISIS Private Equity. Transactional highlights included advising Finnish chemicals company Kemira Oyj on the acquisition of the oilfield chemicals business Albermarle UK, while on the commercial side Peter Donaldson advised INEOS on numerous high-value cross-jurisdictional supply chain and procurement agreements. Enhanced by the firm’s recent merger, the team can provide clients with increased cross-border capabilities, particularly in the US and CEE. Darren Warburton is ‘very experienced in the chemical industry’; Giles Chesher is ‘client focused and creative’; Andrew Millar is noted for his ‘sound advice’; and Jane Haxby is ‘excellent’.
One of the largest offerings in the region, Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s nine-partner team benefits from deeply entrenched ties with the local business community, and has been kept busy with a steady flow of largely mid-market transactions. Team head Tony Harper advised ASK Development Group on the disposal of residential development company Abito, while David Bowcock acted for Daisy Group on its acquisition of Fone Logistics. On the commercial side, the department continues to advise a number of well-known brands.
Gateley inherited the bulk of Halliwells’ team following its demise in 2010, and many clients have been retained by the firm, including Giles Insurance Brokers and Zeus Private Equity. The ‘very responsive’ Paul Jefferson advised the Hut Group on its £19.6m acquisition of LookFantastic Group. Department head Charles Glaskie is ‘super commercial and proactive’; Rebecca Grisewood ‘can see the bigger picture’; and Kate Richards is ‘very experienced and knowledgeable’.
At Pannone LLP, Philip Treanor is ‘an excellent M&A facilitator’ and the driving force behind most of the firm’s most significant transactions, such as its recent work for Doodson Broking Group on its acquisition of a majority interest in US company Crossfield Insurance Brokerage. The firm is also active across range of commercial mandates, including partnership and procurement matters. Clients include Chevron, Kellogg’s and Luxfer Group.
At Beachcroft, the ‘first-class, commercial and charming’ Leila Porter is the sole partner in a team acting for an impressive roster of high-profile corporates, among them Topps Tiles, Keycom and Braemer Group.
Headed by Chris Wilkinson, George Davies Solicitors LLP’s three-partner team has handled a raft of student accommodation property purchases for new client Mansion Student Accomodation Fund. Other clients include Bolton College, Fresh Group and Cohens Group.
Hill Dickinson LLP saw the departure of Darryl Cooke, but still houses a number of strong practitioners including department head Paul Ellaby; the ‘responsive, pragmatic and flexible’ Jane O’Sullivan; and new arrival from Squire Sanders Hammonds Ian Gillis. Recent highlights include advising Klarius Group on its acquisition from Affinia Holdings of the Quinton Hazell Automotive Group.
Kuit Steinart Levy LLP has recently handled a number of investment/JV transactions, such as acting on an investment backed by David Crossland in netcars.co.uk. Kirsti Pinnell led on this matter, and is a key member of a three-partner team that includes M&A expert Rob Buckley and department head Robert Levy.
‘One of the best small VC/private equity firms in the market’, Laytons continues to grow its client roster with the recent addition of CT Investment Partners, Spark Ventures and NorthStar Equity Investors. The ‘very commercial’ Barney Leaf and the ‘smart, adaptable and highly skilled’ David Sefton are recommended.
Headed by Jamie Lloyd, Nexus Solicitors’ two-partner team remains busy with a steady pipeline of work from franchise clients such as Swinton Group and Subway. Tony Brook is also recommended.
Recently enhanced by the arrival of the ‘exceptional’ James Sheridan from DWF LLP, turner parkinson LLP’s six-partner team is increasingly visible in the market. Highlights included the £5m sale of Quantum Diagnostics to Cozart Bioscience Limited, and the disposal of 51% of Libra Chemicals. The lawyers are ‘good business advisers, not just legal advisers’, and include the ‘practical’ Nick Davenport, ‘professional and committed’ Andrew Sturge, and ‘diligent’ Andrew Booth.
Headed by Paul Raftery, Weightmans LLP handles a range of M&A, JVs and general commercial advice, as well as being on hand to assist the firm’s banking team in acquisistion financing matters. Clients include ANS Group, Montpelier Group and Bangor University.
Stephen Foster at Berg Legal is recommended
Jonathon Close at Freeth Cartwright LLP is recommended.
Stephen Hadlow’s team at JMW Solicitors LLP acts for several plcs including Burden Group, Richer Sounds and Lookers.
Lawson Coppock & Hart acts across a range of corporate and commercial matters including M&A.
Stephensons Solicitors LLP is noted for its ‘technical and responsive’ team.
Stephen Jarman at Stripes Solicitors is ‘polite, helpful and technically able’.
Corporate and commercial: Liverpool
Corporate and commercial: Liverpool
Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s nine-partner team has a strong offering for a predominantly owner-managed and SME client roster. Although its focus is on the mid-market, notably the group recently advised Nationwide Autocentres on its £73.2m sale to Halfords. Team head Denise Walker is recommended. The firm recently joined forces with the Steve Stuart Partnership to create a complementary corporate finance advisory service.
Able to service local, national and international clients and to tap into huge firmwide resources, DLA Piper UK LLP’s four-partner team in Liverpool is instructed by an impressive mix of corporates and private equity sponsors. ‘Authoritative, flexible and commercial’, Paul Rimmer has an excellent reputation for private equity work and recently played a prominent role in Pets at Home’s £955m secondary buyout by KKR. David Cadwallader heads the group, and recently represented Liverpool FC on the £300m takeover by New England Sports Ventures. On the commercial front, Peter Brook’s ‘client relationship management is superb’. Clients include Regus, Serco, Buying Solutions and Balfour Beatty.
‘Excellent in all respects’, Hill Dickinson LLP has had the largest offering in Liverpool since it acquired the corporate practice of Halliwells in July 2010. Craig Scott has the ‘ability to communicate in non-legal language’, and has particular expertise in private equity matters. Other recommended partners include Sue Russell and Jonathan Brown.
Following its merger with Mace & Jones, Weightmans LLP has increased firepower to direct at its traditional expertise in advising owner-managed businesses and public sector clients. Team head Ian Vicary advised Bibby Distribution on its acquisition of Taygroup UK Holdings.
DWF LLP's team in Liverpool includes corporate partner Gareth McIntegart, who is very commercially aware and technically astute’.
‘Very well versed across all aspects of corporate and commercial law’, O’Connors LLP provides a ‘terrific’ service to family-owned and small businesses. Recent highlights include advising on the conversion of a large legal practice from a traditional partnership to an LLP. Paul O’Connor and Mark O’Connor are praised for their ‘ability to think outside the box’.
Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in the North West
Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in the North West
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- Aaron & Partners LLP Chester
- Brabners Chaffe Street LLP Preston
- Hill Dickinson LLP Chester
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- Gorvins Stockport
- KBL Bolton
- Napthens LLP Blackburn, Preston
- Neil Myerson LLP Altrincham
- Slater Heelis Sale
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- Forbes Blackburn
- SAS Daniels LLP Stockport
- Stephensons Solicitors LLP Wigan
Headed by Stuart Scott-Goldstone, Aaron & Partners LLP’s three-partner Chester-based team is instructed by an impressive roster of largely SME clients including Meadow Foods, Selwyns Travel and Sanderson. Also active on the venture capital side, the group has advised Liverpool Seed Fund, RisingStars Growth Fund and investee companies on numerous exit and fundraising projects.
Bolstered by the recent arrival of Gill Gardner from Oglethorpe Sturton & Gillibrand, Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s two-partner Preston-based team goes from strength to strength, and is picking up increased market share in Lancaster and Cumbria, with advisory work a more prominent factor over the past 12 months. Department head John Boydell advised Blackpool Borough Council on the £5m investment in Blackpool Pleasure Beach to fund a new theme park.
Hill Dickinson LLP’s Sally Wightman is the driving force behind the firm’s Chester office, and continues to attract major instructions from the likes of Chester Race Company, Chester Zoo, and Hawker Beechcraft.
At Stockport-based Gorvins, Paul Lupton and Andrew Curwen lead dedicated transactional teams. Highlights included advising Tandom Metallurgical Group on its joint venture with US corporate Chinook Sciences. Its expertise on the commercial side includes supply contracts, partnership and shareholder agreements, and franchise and distribution agreements.
At KBL, Jonathan Shorrock and Philip Stephenson are popular choices for a client roster largely made up of owner-managed businesses. The team advised on a mix of MBOs, demergers and equity investments, and is increasingly active in commercial matters.
With its corporate team spread across its offices in Blackburn and Preston, Napthens LLP is a staple of the Lancashire landscape, and is instructed by a growing number of corporates including Panaz, Intrinsic Technology and Smith Equipment Hire Group. Department head Keith Melling advised NIS Holdings on its acquisition of Hold Engineering.
Headed by M Akeel Latif, Neil Myerson LLP’s three-partner team has a strong reputation in the south Manchester market, in particular for its work for owner-managed businesses. Recent highlights include advising the shareholders of SMI on the sale of part of the business to Care UK Clinical Services.
Headed by the ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ Geoffrey Blower, Slater Heelis’ five-strong team has expertise across a broad range of corporate matters including reorganisations, M&A, partnership agreements and corporate governance. On the commercial side, the ‘thorough’ Samantha Lansbury is recommended, in particular for IP-related matters. Clients include Sykes Seafoods, J&S Lewis, and Reed Medical.
Daniel Milnes heads the team at Blackburn-based Forbes.
Jeremy Orrell heads the team at SAS Daniels LLP, and is noted for his ‘excellent knowledge and commitment’.
Kay Waddington at Stephensons Solicitors LLP has an excellent reputation in the local SME market.
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Manchester
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- DLA Piper UK LLP Manchester
- Eversheds LLP Manchester
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- Cobbetts LLP Manchester
- DWF LLP Manchester
- Gateley Manchester
- Hill Dickinson LLP Manchester
- Pannone LLP Manchester
- Pinsent Masons LLP Manchester
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Manchester
At Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Ed Jenkins has vast experience across all areas of business and real estate tax, and is regularly involved in most significant M&A mandates handled by the firm’s Manchester office. Clients include British Airways, Diageo and the Capita Group.
Led by David Thompson, DLA Piper UK LLP’s tax group provides standalone advice as well as complementary structuring on the real estate, corporate, private equity, insolvency and projects matters handled by the firm. The team recently provided tax advice to LDC on the £93m sale of British Salt to a Tata subsidiary. Clients include Brammer plc, Matalan and Maven Capital Partners.
Eversheds LLP’s Deneze Hastings has particular expertise in advising on the tax aspects of private equity transactions. She is an integral part of a pan-Northern team, supporting the firm’s corporate and real estate practices.
At Cobbetts LLP, dual qualified solicitor/chartered accountant Haydn Rogan heads a ‘responsive and professional’ two-partner team, and is praised for his ‘commercial and succinct advice’ across a range of corporate transactions. Along with Richard Clitherow, Rogan recently advised EMIS Group on the tax aspects of its AIM listing.
Headed by the ‘highly analytical’ John Toon, DWF LLP’s nascent two-partner tax group has made great strides in the market since its formation in September 2009, complementing the firm’s strong corporate offering. The team recently provided tax advice to the sellers of Vitaflo International Holdings on its sale to Nestlé.
At Gateley, Fiona Sutherland has an excellent reputation for advising vendors on exit planning and on structuring private equity transactions.
A qualified member of the Chartered Institution of Taxation, Hill Dickinson LLP’s Saad Ahmed is a prominent figure in the market, and recently advised on the tax aspects of the disposal of AMCO Group Holdings.
Pannone LLP’s sole tax partner Simon Moulden is ‘very technical and is able to clearly explain complex technical issues’.
At Pinsent Masons LLP, the ‘responsive and knowledgeable’ Lynette Jacobs heads up the office’s share plans offering, and recently advised longstanding client Speedy Hire on share incentive plans.
The team at Squire Sanders Hammonds has recently handled a raft of share incentive and employment tax issues, in addition to a steady flow of tax work arising from the corporate mandates handled by the firm. The ‘first-class’ Patrick Ford is the sole partner, and acts for clients such as BASF, Brown & Brown, and Findel plc.
EU and competition
EU and competition
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Manchester
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- Eversheds LLP Manchester
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Manchester
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- Cobbetts LLP Manchester
- DWF LLP Liverpool
- Gateley Manchester
- Pannone LLP Manchester
- Weightmans LLP Manchester
At Addleshaw Goddard LLP, ‘brilliant competition lawyer’ and ‘sound adviser’ Phil McDonnell is ‘a very personable character and can communicate across all levels’, and regularly handles high-profile merger filings. Jonathan Davey is also recommended, in particular for procurement matters.
Eversheds LLP’s four-partner team has the strength and depth to provide advice across the gamut of issues from merger control to state aid matters. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Adam Collinson is ‘very skilled in his dealings with the OFT’, and recently achieved a favourable outcome for the Reckitt Benckiser Group in an abuse of a dominant position investigation. Clients include Dairy Crest, Specsavers, Securitas and PPG.
Bolstered internationally by the firm’s recent US merger, Squire Sanders Hammonds provides ‘expert advice’ across a range of matters including merger control and cartel enforcement. Splitting his time between Manchester and London, Diarmuid Ryan provides ‘sound and informed advice on complex matters’. He recently assisted BSS Group on the UK merger control aspects of its acquisition by Travis Perkins.
Cobbetts LLP provides ‘direct, factual advice’ across a raft of issues to both public and private sector clients. In keeping with the firm’s strong public sector client base, the team’s ‘knowledge of state aid and procurement is very good’. The ‘customer-focused, polite and friendly’ Jonathan Branton heads the team, and receives able support from associate Jay Mehta, who is noted for her expertise in state aid, and from lawyers in the firm’s Brussels office.
At DWF LLP, Liverpool-based partner Laurence Pritchard heads the team and has vast experience handling OFT investigations and Competition Commission inquiries. Clients include JD Sports Fashion, Britpave and Vix Technology.
At Gateley, Jonathan Moakes advises on the competition aspects of commercial and IP agreements and corporate transactions.
Pannone LLP’s Amanda Howlett handles the full spectrum of EU and competition issues including M&A-related work and price-fixing and cartels. Clients include the Luxfer Group and Kellogg’s.
At Weightmans LLP, Martin Vincent provides EU procurement advice to a host of education institutions such as Bangor University and Royal Holloway, University of London.