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Corporate and commercial: Liverpool
Leading individuals

Corporate and commercial: Liverpool

Leading individuals

1
- Michael Brabner - Brabners LLP
- Peter Brook - DLA Piper UK LLP
- Jonathan Brown - Hill Dickinson LLP
- Rupert Gill - Brabners LLP
- Matt Noon - Hill Dickinson LLP
- Mark O’Connor, O’Connors LLP
- Andrew O’Mahony - Brabners LLP
- Mark Rathbone - Brabners LLP
- Paul Rimmer - DWF
- Sue Russell - Hill Dickinson LLP
- Craig Scott - Hill Dickinson LLP
- Denise Walker - Claus Walker & Partners
- Nik White - Brabners LLP

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At Brabners LLP, head of corporate Mark Rathbone (who is rated for his ‘commercial awareness’) led advice for Paul Feather, the owner and chairman of the Feathers Hotels Group, on its sale to Topland Hotels Group. In other highlights, the ‘first-rate’ *Denise Walker advised Cold Move on the carve-out and sale of a cold storage and logistics business; Andrew O’Mahony assisted Business Growth Fund on its £7m investment in Hobs Reprographics; and the ‘outstanding’ Rupert Gill acted for Urban Sleep on the £41.6m sale of its portfolio of student accommodation to Empiric. The ‘knowledgeable’ Nik White leads the commercial team, which includes Matt Brown and recently promoted partner Richard Hough. It acts for an array of technology and software companies. *Following publication of The Legal 500 UK 2016, Denise Walker has left the firm to establish Claus Walker & Partners.

Hill Dickinson LLP’s ‘solution-orientated’ practice is ‘a real force in the market’. The ‘commercial’ Jonathan Brown worked alongside the ‘detail-orientated’ Matt Noon in advising Eddie Stobart Logistics on the sale of its UK automotive logistics business to BCA Market Place. Craig Scott led Next Wave Partners and Next Wave Sports Bidco on the £51m secondary buyout and partial exit of Fox International Group to Mayfair Private Equity. Mike Jones advised Bowdena on the disposal of the business, property and assets of the Hard Days Night Hotel to Millennium Copthorne Hotels. Sue Russell advised Johnson Service Group on its £69.4m acquisition of London Linen Supply. Stephen Lansdown joined the Qatar office of Al Tamimi & Company in association with Advocate Mohammed Al Marri.

DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘responsive’ corporate team (which is singled out for its ‘commercially pragmatic advice’) is now led by Manchester-based James Kerrigan following the departure of former corporate head Gareth McIntegart to Napthens LLP. Other key figures include ‘very skilled’ commercial head Peter Brook and the ‘extremely hardworking and dedicated’ Sarah Bell. Key clients include Liverpool Football Club & Athletic Grounds, Whirlpool, Sutton & Son, Unilever and Liverpool City Council.

DWF’s corporate team is led by the ‘excellent’ Paul Rimmer, while the ‘experienced’ Paul Attwood leads the commercial team. Highlights included advising The Authentic Food Group on its acquisition of a facility in Dundalk, Ireland from Heinz, assisting Inflexion Private Equity with its minority investment in Mobica.

O’Connors LLP stands out for its ‘quality of client care and combination of intellectual knowledge with a savvy approach to issues’. Key figures among the ‘exceptional team’ include Mark O’Connor, Paul O’Connor, Michael Ainsworth, Nigel Wallis and John Spofforth. Kerry Boyle, Pamela Rafiq and David Malone were promoted to the partnership in March 2016.

The ‘excellent’ department at Weightmans LLP was instructed by the sellers on a secondary buyout of Haydock Commercial Vehicles, and advised Enterprise Ventures on the establishment of a £40m SME loan fund. Ian Vicary, Gary Jones, Patricia Grinyer, Roland Hutchins, Sean Crotty and Laurence Pritchard are recommended.

At Bermans, corporate head Kieran Donovan is ‘customer focused, reliable and knowledgeable’. The team advised Academy Leasing on its £12m sale to 1pm plc, and assisted Nutriculture (UK) with its acquisition of Plant Magic Plus.

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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 North West for Corporate and commercial: Liverpool

Freight forwarder’s contractual lien versus the administration moratorium

Druces currently authors the Insolvency and corporate restructuring section of The In-House Lawyer magazine. For more information and articles from this author click here .

- Druces

Legal Developments in the UK

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

Cayman Islands Introduces Beneficial Ownership Register

The Cayman Islands government has now introduced legislative changes which will require relevant companies (“Relevant Companies”) to prepare and maintain a register of beneficial owners (the “Register of Beneficial Owners ”).

- Stuarts, Walker Hersant Humphries Attorneys-At-Law

THE DANGERS OF CARTELS.

Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp consider two recent cartel cases and examine why businesses must take care not to become involved in such behaviour.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE SFO AND SECTION TWO INTERVIEWS: WHY ROBUST DEFENCE IS NEEDED

Aziz Rahman explains why the SFO’s insistence that solicitors cannot be present for interviews under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act can be and should be challenged.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE FOURTH EU ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING DIRECTIVE: WHAT IT MEANS FOR BUSINESS

With the Directive coming into effect, Aziz Rahman examines its implications.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE HUGE COSTS OF BRIBERY

Aziz Rahman looks at the case of Petrofac, explains how bribery can ruin a company and emphasises what must be done to prevent it.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CROSS-BORDER INVESTIGATIONS

The huge Petrobras bribery scandal has engulfed companies in many countries. Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp explain what needs to be done if your company is investigated in more than one country.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CORRUPTION: HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

Aziz Rahman outlines why allegations of corruption in football should act as a warning to everyone in business about the need to prevent wrongdoing.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CHALLENGING FCA ACCUSATIONS

Nicola Sharp and Syedur Rahman explain how changes to the way the FCA investigates cases will make it easier for companies and individuals to negotiate the best possible outcome.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

OBTAINING A DPA

With deferred prosecution agreements (DPA’s) becoming more common, Aziz Rahman considers how a company under investigation can enhance its chances of obtaining one in order to avoid prosecution.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

WHAT THE CRIMINAL FINANCES BILL MEANS FOR ASSET SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE

Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp examine the changes likely when the Criminal Finances Bill becomes law.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

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

Pitmans crowned as top firm for trainee work/life balance

Pitmans has been awarded winner of the best work/life balance in the 2016 Lex 100 - a survey that is recognised as the most comprehensive valuation of training opportunities at law firms across the UK.

- Pitmans LLP

Gender Pay Gaps: The Latest Reporting Requirements

On average, male employees are paid more than female employees. In 2015, men working full-time were paid approximately 9.4% more than women working full-time. As a result, the government is working to introduce measures with the aim of reducing this gap.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans acts on Westcoast’s acquisition of Art Systems Holdings Ltd

Pitmans LLP has acted on behalf of its longstanding client, Westcoast (Holdings) Limited on its acquisition of Art Systems Holdings Limited.

- Pitmans LLP

Insolvency Update: Changes that take effect from April 2016

The Department of Justice has issued a practice direction in connection with the new insolvency express trials pilot.

- Pitmans LLP

The Apprenticeship Levy

Following last year’s autumn statement, HMRC has now published draft legislation which introduces the proposed new apprenticeship levy. The levy will have effect from 6 April 2017.

- Pitmans LLP

Coutinho -v- Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Ltd Judgment 29 April 2016

SOUTHAMPTON -- LV=, represented by Pitmans LLP, have won a case involving a fraudulent household insurance claim worth almost £50,000.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans promotes two Partners

Pitmans today announced that Oliver Kelly (corporate) and Matt Heyworth (private client) will become partners as of 1 May 2016.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans advised the acquirer and the management team on the £12M MBO of Westfield Medical

The management team were backed by Maven Capital Partners with PNC providing debt facilities.

- Pitmans LLP

Supreme Court ruling will lead to increase in business rates

Many businesses will be liable for increased business rates following last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Woolway (Valuation Officer) v Mazars LLP.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans advises Premier Marina Ltd on Noss Marina Acquisition

Pitmans has advised Premier Marinas Limited on its acquisition of Noss Marina, which is just outside Dartmouth, from the Administrators Duff & Phelps.

- Pitmans LLP