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.