The Legal 500

In Gorvins’ broad commercial litigation practice, clients like the ‘ professional and tenacious’ Michael Morris. The team has developed some expertise in professional conduct matters.

Kuits LLP has developed some expertise in construction disputes. It advised a plc on the termination of a number of commercial agencies. The ‘ exceptional’ Andrew Weinberg and Damian Bailey are joint heads of department.

Laytons’ Stuart Farr has developed a niche in equine law and regularly acts on related disputes. The practice recently advised a major property developer in a six-figure claim for breach of a JV agreement.

Mace & Jones advises on shareholder, professional partnership and commercial agency disputes. It has been advising on a breach-of-warranty claim with an approximate value of £3.5m. Graeme Jump is the contact partner.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP recently settled a significant IP dispute for a plc. The ‘ tenacious’ Brendan Treanor and ‘ first-rate litigator’ Richard Dawson-Gerrard are popular with clients.

Commercial litigation - Liverpool

DLA Piper UK LLP’s litigation group enjoyed an excellent year. One major highlight was advising Wigan Athletic FC in the High Court over the lawfulness of the Greater Manchester Police’s charges for the provision of special policing services for football matches at the JJB stadium, led by Andrew Roberts. New clients include Luba Freeport and the Amateur Boxing Association of England.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP advises on a wide variety of disputes. Mark Manley is a ‘ name that stands out for media disputes’, and Jacqui Lloyd is ‘ exceptional’; she is acting on behalf of planning consultants in a breach-of-contract dispute.

DWF LLP’s Graham Dagnall is a ‘solid commercial litigation partner’. The firm has been active in advising on membership of a pension scheme and the termination of a commercial agency agreement.

Harvey Stringfellow moved to Halliwells LLP Liverpool in 2007 and guided a North West leisure company to victory in disputes with former directors involving breach of fiduciary duties. Clients include National Museums Liverpool and Primary Group.

Hill Dickinson LLP strengthened its litigation practice with the addition of James Southworth who clients say has ‘ a Magic Circle firm pedigree’. The firm was re-appointed to Barclays Bank’s litigation panel in 2007. Clients appreciate Jonathan Berkson and his ‘ quick-to-respond’ team.

Clients appreciate Michael Green of Weightmans LLP’s ability to move cases ‘ in the right direction’. The practice successfully represented the directors of Coburg Homes in proceedings involving personal guarantees. Andrew Cox heads the practice.

Mark Burch oversees the litigation and insolvency teams at Lees Lloyd Whitley.

Mace & Jones has a focus on insurance, shareholder disputes and IP litigation. Craig Blakemore is the key partner in Liverpool.

Morecrofts Solicitors offers a diverse practice and advises clients on ways of financing the claim such as the availability of litigation insurance. Anne Heseltine is the contact partner.

Commercial litigation - Elsewhere in the North West

John Devoy is a leading name at Aaron & Partners LLP and is representing a number of companies in the Anglo-European Credit Group in defence of various claims for the mis-selling of finance agreements by one of the Group’s agents. Key clients include ICI.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP had a good year, winning a place on the Panel of Solicitors providing general litigation services to a consortium of four local authorities. Kevin James is the litigation partner in the Preston office.

Forbes acted for a defendant subject to a freezing injunction where there were allegations of fraud and theft and advised a high-profile client on a breach-of-contract case. Robin Stephens is a key partner.

‘Methodical and precise’ Iain Campbell of Hill Dickinson LLP defended a breach-of-warranty claim in the Mercantile Court. Several motorists had convictions for speeding in North Wales overturned when the Chester office proved that the limit had unlawfully been reduced to 30 mph by a county council.

Michael Slater heads the litigation practice at Kippax Beaumont Lewis.

Mason Hayes has now opened a second office near Manchester airport. Marcus Hayes is the principal in the firm and has a particular emphasis on construction, insolvency, property and commercial litigation.

At Taylors, Tony Catterall was involved in successfully acting for a minority shareholder in the Court of Appeal. Nick Scott is the Blackburn-based partner skilled in ADR techniques. Richard Thomas is a key partner at Walker Smith Way.

Debt recovery

Clients are impressed by Bermans’ Julie Hunter who has particular strength in factoring and discounting. The firm offers ‘Bermans Collect’, an interactive case-management, debt-recovery package. Clients include IPC Media.

Cobbetts LLP had a superb year winning new clients including Argos. Recent highlights include undertaking charging orders and specialist enforcement work for Anglian Water. Team head is associate Ron Lack, with Richard Webb, a disputes partner with a speciality in debt recovery.

New client gains for Halliwells LLP’s Manchester team include Enterprise Rent-A-Car and in Liverpool, Eton Events. Joanne Gardner-Boyes is debt-recovery manager in Manchester and Paul Hilton, an associate, leads in Liverpool.

Lees Lloyd Whitley has developed considerable know-how in the public sector. Mark Burch is responsible for the public and private debt recovery department.

The ‘ super professional’ team at Pannone LLP, led by Karl Williams, is ‘ tremendous’. The department secured regular debt instructions from PFB Self Drive last year. Michael Kennedy‘ knows how to win a case’.

Michael Parr is the key partner in Berrymans Lace Mawer’s Manchester office. The team also assists in contested matters.

DWF LLP’s team is headed by Sharon Williamson. It continues to handle contracts for clients such as Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance.

Hill Dickinson LLP’s team has some notable clients such as Barclays Bank. The four-partner department is headed by Jonathan Berkson.

Thomas Higgins & Co acts for companies quoted on the LSE and subsidiaries of companies quoted on the US and French stock exchanges.

Weightmans LLP’s team is headed by Jill Cox. It secures in excess of £16m of unsecured debt per annum.

Aaron & Partners LLP’s active clients include Welsh Water and Hawk Group of Companies. John Devoy is the team head.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s team is expanding the work it undertakes for liquidators and administrators. Tony Foley is the department head.

Hibberts LLP acts for a diverse range of clients such as large landed estates and public institutional authorities including Mid Cheshire College. Stewart Bailey is the contact partner.

Marcus Hayes is a key lawyer at Mason Hayes and has an impressive client base.