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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’.

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