The Legal 500

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s commercial litigation practice remains a leader in the market. Highlights include the recent successful conclusion to the £12m Cheshire Building Society v Dunlop Hayward fraud action. John Gosling heads the commercial disputes team, while Michael Isaacs leads on the finance side, which recently won Alliance and Leicester as a new client. John Gatenby is recommended, and Jonathan Tattersall is highly rated for arbitration.

DLA Piper UK LLP has an enviable client portfolio which includes FTSE 350 companies, and an excellent financial services practice. The group recently acted for BarclayCard Business in a multimillion-pound dispute with a provider of finance, led by Tim Buckingham. Stewart Plant is location head, while UK head of litigation, David Gray, is ‘a sensible, down-to-earth and practical litigator‘, and Andrew Harris is highly recommended by peers. In 2008, Harold Brako left the firm to join Shoosmiths.

Eversheds LLP’s impressive client list includes Kellogg’s, BAE, Manchester City Council, and Phones 4 U. The team’s expertise spans commercial disputes, financial services work, inquiries and defamation cases. Michael Clavell-Bate is highly rated by competitors, and Jonathan Crook is also recommended.

Pannone LLP’s team includes a number of highly rated individuals including Kit Sorrell. Elizabeth Rigney’s ‘great strength lies in her ability to quickly understand the most difficult brief, explain the legal position clearly and succinctly, and to bring a very strong commercial awareness to her advice‘. Nicholas Gee was recently promoted to partner. New client wins include Cheshire Building Society and Enterprise Power Services.

Joel Heap heads DWF LLP’s Manchester commercial litigation practice, and has experience in disputes arising out of corporate finance transactions and company law. Recent highlights include advising an Irish company investor on a £8m claim against a solicitor, a valuer and an introducer for negligence and fraud.

Halliwells’ Julie Bowker, who specialises in professional negligence, recently assisted Nationwide Building Society in relation to two large claims against a firm of surveyors. Julian Diaz-Rainey, who is recommended by clients, continues to act for The Global Travel Group in defending and counter-claiming in a multimillion-pound contractual claim in the High Court. National head of disputes, Paul Thomas, is also recommended.

Clare Taylor is the lead partner in Pinsent Masons LLP’s commercial litigation group, whose clients include Cargill plc, and Home and Communities Agency (previously English Partnerships). Taylor is ‘not confrontational but advances her arguments in a sound and knowledgeable way, and is quick to formulate counter arguments‘.

Beachcroft LLP’s Jan Levinson regularly handles litigation for clients in the sports and telecoms sectors, and recently assisted former Manchester United FC youth player Ben Collett in an action following an injury. The ‘diligent and attentive‘ team also assists clients in the chemicals, health and financial sectors.

Cobbetts LLP has recently handled banking litigation for a leading clearing bank, while other clients include national retailers and local authorities. A team led by Robert Roper acted for a national carbon emissions certification company in obtaining injunctive relief against ex-employees. Practice head Jon Hainey is recommended.

Davies Arnold Cooper LLP recently settled a high-value claim for Zurich, as well as successfully defending longstanding Japanese client Sanko Gosei in a £1.4m claim. Stephen Gorman is recommended.

Hammonds LLP has handled a number of financial and IT disputes over the last year. Victoria Leigh recently advised the trustees of the First City Insurance Brokers Limited pension scheme on a potential £3m negligence claim.

Geraldine Ryan heads Hill Dickinson LLP’s commercial litigation practice in Manchester. Andrew Bogle, who focuses on contentious probate, is ‘very much on top of his cases, easy to deal with and practical in outlook‘.

Berg Legal’s practice includes financial and IP litigation. Lead partner Sydney Fulda is ‘available at all times, tenacious and a good sounding board‘, while Reuben Berg provides ‘good, commercial advice‘.

Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP has recently assisted clients in a number of negligence claims, and benefits from the strength of the firm’s insurance practice. Mark Benson is the lead partner.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP acts for a number of sporting entities, and recently assisted in a sponsorship dispute. The team, led by Paul Morton, provides a ‘professional, pragmatic, timely and cost-effective service‘. Jeff Lewis is ‘a safe pair of hands‘.

George Davies Solicitors LLP regularly represents sports and media clients in defamation and reputation management cases, and the group also handled construction and commercial cases in 2008. Mark Lewis heads the practice.

Gorvins provides an ‘excellent level of service‘. Paul Humphreys and Mark Deverell regularly handle regulatory and corporate defence cases, while client favourite Michael Morris is recommended for finance litigation, including Consumer Credit Act cases.

Simon Cohen and David Horwich are the lead partners at Horwich Cohen Coghlan.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP handles contractual disputes, professional negligence claims, and construction disputes. Andrew Weinberg is the lead partner.

Recent highlights for Laytons include acting for a major supplier in relation to a multimillion-pound dispute. The firm also has a niche in equine law; Stuart Farr’s ‘expertise in equine and country matters is second to none‘.

Mace & Jones regularly advises on shareholder and contractual disputes, and recently acted for a major supplier of soft drinks in a claim for breach of contract against a national retailer. Charles Tomlinson is the lead partner.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP recently acted for a large property development business with a £40m portfolio against lenders and contractors in a multimillion-pound dispute. Richard Dawson-Gerrard has ‘exceptional customer service skills, matched with in-depth knowledge‘.

Neil Myerson Solicitors’ Tim Norman has over 25 years’ experience in commercial disputes.

Nexus Solicitors’ three-partner team has recently handled shareholder disputes and professional negligence claims.

Ralli Solicitors is recommended.

Robert Jones heads the commercial litigation practice at Weightmans LLP.

DLA Piper UK LLP recently acted for Wigan Athletic FC in its successful appeal to the Court of Appeal over the club’s liability to pay for special police services provided by the Greater Manchester police. In other highlights, a team led by location head Mark Goodwin, along with Lyndsay Davis, acted for Chester City Council in the successful defence of the challenge to the decision to de-restrict the number of licensed hackney cabs in the city.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP recently advised on a multimillion-pound shareholders dispute. Practice head Jacqui Lloyd regularly advises clients in the property and construction sectors, and Mark Manley is recommended for media disputes. The team includes barrister Alison Miller Varey.

DWF LLP’s Liverpool team is led by Graham Dagnall. Recent highlights include acting for Basell UK Limited in a pensions claim by Shell Pensions Trust Limited worth £40m. Other highlights include a £30m ICC arbitration involving a damages and compensation claim in the oil and gas pipeline industry.

Halliwells, led by Colin Gibbons, has attracted some high-profile clients such as Everton FC and Thomson Reuters. Harvey Stringfellow successfully defended North West Leisure Company in disputes with former directors. Dominic McGinn has been promoted to partner.

Hill Dickinson LLP has been reappointed to the Barclays Bank litigation panel, and has received instructions relating to banking disputes, civil fraud, breach of contract and professional negligence claims. Jonathan Berkson heads the team.

Andrew Cox is the lead partner in Weightmans LLP’s Liverpool commercial litigation practice, where he acts for clients in the private and public sector such as HFC Bank, Hoover, and Arrow Global. Highlights include acting for the London Borough of Harrow and underwriters on a £4m claim for damages.

Nick Harvey heads the litigation practice at Bermans.

Mark Burch is the lead partner for Lees Lloyd Whitley.

At Mace & Jones, Craig Blakemore and Duncan McAllister are the key partners.

Morecrofts Solicitors handles construction disputes, breach of contract claims and injunctions.

‘Client friendly‘ Aaron & Partners LLP handles a variety of disputes, and continues to defend one of Hammonds LLP’s former partners in a claim for repayment of overpaid capital. David Harries is ‘good at keeping his clients out of court‘, and gives ‘very good, accurate and clear advice in short timescales‘. Lead partner John Devoy is also recommended.

Stuart Irons joined Brabners Chaffe Street LLP from Pannone LLP in 2008 to lead the practice. He ‘has a very calming and practical approach to issues‘, and is described as ‘“the voice of reason” when you are personally involved in a case‘.

Forbes recently acted at short notice for a defendant subject to a search and seize order involving alleged theft of €20m. Robin Stephens is the lead partner.

DTM Legal LLP is new to the ranking following the arrival of Richard Thomas’ team from Walker Smith Way. Its experience includes property disputes, contractual and shareholder disputes, and defamation cases.

Hill Dickinson LLP’s Iain Campbell recently successfully defended a claim for breach of warranty following the £2m sale of a client’s hotel business. In other highlights, the team advised a university on the position of a subsidiary training company in financial difficulties.

Michael Slater heads Kippax Beaumont Lewis’ six-fee-earner team.

Mason Hayes has recently handled a £15m breach of contract dispute for a telecoms client. The team has also advised a number of insolvency practitioners on contentious matters. Marcus Hayes is the lead partner.

Maxwell Gillott is a niche firm, assisting clients in the educational and medical sectors.

Elaine Hurn is the key contact for disputes at Taylors.

Matthew Rogers is the lead partner at Keoghs LLP, where recent highlights include successfully defending ING in the Commercial Court.

Napthens LLP’s ‘excellent‘ litigation practice has handled a number of cases for clients in the rural sector, and has been developing a client base in the education sector.

David McCann is the lead partner at Woodcock.

Bermans assists clients with debt avoidance advice, and offers the ‘Bermans Collect‘ service, an interactive case-management debt recovery package. Clients include IPC Media and HansenGlass.

DWF LLP acts for 25 local authorities across the UK. Sharon Williamson heads the team, and acts for many high street lenders, factors, and invoice discounters. Ron Lack and David Scottow recently joined from Cobbetts LLP.

Clients of Halliwells’ Manchester office include Asda, British Gas, and Cable & Wireless, while in Liverpool the client list includes KPMG, and Lloyds TSB Commercial Finance. Joanne Gardner-Boyes leads the Manchester team and Paul Hilton heads the Liverpool group.

Lees Lloyd Whitley has expertise in the public sector, with Mark Burch leading the practice.

Pannone LLP’s ‘thorough and professional team‘ gives ‘excellent value for money‘, and ‘is extremely knowledgeable about the legal process and fully aware of clients’ needs‘. The team, led by Karl Williams, has been appointed by a high street bank to undertake a project to recover debts relating to unsecured loans and credit cards.

Michael Parr leads Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s debt recovery practice, whose clients include The Abbey Group, Halifax, and Travelers Insurance Company Ltd.

Cobbetts LLP recently won a three-year contract with London University Purchasing Consortium for debt recovery services to all universities in London. The team also handles volume instructions from City Link. Richard Webb is the lead partner; Ron Lack recently left the firm for DWF LLP.

Hill Dickinson LLP acts for clients such as Barclays Bank, Moneysupermarket.com and NHS Pensions Scheme. Jonathan Berkson is the key partner.

Thomas Higgins & Co is a specialist debt collection firm based in Wallasey.

Jill Cox is the key partner at Weightmans LLP, where new client wins include Arrow Global and Scottish Power. The team provides a ‘first-class service‘ to clients.

Aaron & Partners LLP recently recovered a large overdue debt for a utility company. John Devoy is rated highly by clients.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP ‘provides a quick and effective service by experienced debt recovery practitioners, providing pragmatic advice at all stages of the process‘. Tony Foley ‘provides excellent service‘.

Hibberts LLP assists a number of landed estates, as well as commercial sector clients. Tom Price is the lead partner.

Irwin Mitchell LLP has developed its profile in the area following its merger with Scottish firm Golds Solicitors, with associate Michael Bond leading the practice in Manchester. Clients include RBS, HSBC and Barclays.

Mason Hayes acts for a well-known retailer on all its customer complaints litigation, and handles debt collection for a car rental company.

Shoosmiths’ debt collection team is led by Harold Brako, who recently joined from DLA Piper UK LLP.