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John Joyce’s three-partner team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP acts for the majority of the main banks including Barclays and HSBC, as well as IPs such as Grant Thornton and Deloitte, and provides an ‘exceptional service’.

Ged Barnes has an excellent reputation, and in 2010 advised on some of the region’s highest-profile mandates including the administrations of Ethel Austin Investment Properties, and Thompson (Blackpool) Limited. The recently promoted Sonia McMahon is ‘a credit to the firm’, and specialises in the employment aspects of insolvency.

Bolstered by the arrival of Robert Russell from Leeds firm Walker Morris, DLA Piper UK LLP’s three-partner team focuses on the creditor side and excels at big-ticket restructurings and insolvencies. On the panels of all the UK clearing banks, and renowned for its asset-based lending expertise, it successfully brought the high-profile Zavvi administration to a conclusion, a matter led by John Vickery. Martin Keates heads the team and has an excellent reputation for high-profile restructurings, such as his work for Barclays and KPMG, as administrator, on Total Fitness’ pre-packaged sale.

At Eversheds LLP, David Gray is the sole partner in the team and is at the forefront of its most significant mandates, including advising the Co-Operative Bank on the restructuring and solvent sale of Sheffield Wednesday FC. ‘Technically strong and robust’ senior associate Michelle Shean advised KPMG as administrator on the sale of Antler Luggage to a newco backed by LDC.

Benefiting from panel relationships with four of the largest UK clearing banks, Pinsent Masons LLP is regularly involved in significant restructurings and insolvencies in the region. Led by Jamie White, the team has also handled a raft of pensions-related restructuring matters, such as advising the trustees of the Singer & Friedlander Pension Scheme on litigation arising out of the collapse of Icelandic bank Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander.

At Cobbetts LLP, team head Sean McGrath handles property finance restructurings and insolvencies for a number of banks including the Co-operative Bank and Bank of Ireland. A recent arrival from J B Law, Jeremy Bennett has an excellent reputation in ABL-orientated restructurings.

Instructed by an even mix of IPs and banks, DWF LLP is ‘commercially realistic and proactive’ and was significantly strengthened by the hire of the ‘client-focused’ Gavin Jones from Halliwells. Jones’ arrival has already started to pay dividends, and the team recently gained some notable panel appointments, including the Lloyds Banking Group panel for corporate insolvency and distressed real estate. Praised for his ‘wealth of knowledge and experience’, Andrew Gregory is also recommended, as is James Szerdy, who has ‘strong connections in the motor and real estate industries’.

Gateley inherited much of Halliwells’ insolvency team, although it remains to be seen whether it can build up the same level of banking panel appointments at the new firm. Andrew Buchanan is recommended across a broad array of matters, including distressed M&A.

Hill Dickinson LLP’s Liverpool office was strengthened by the arrival of Paul Spence from Halliwells. Spence and his team’s arrival has strengthened the firm’s lender-side practice, with clients such as Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank coming with him. In Manchester, Jeremy Reilly is the lynchpin of the group, and successfully picked up Zolfo Cooper as a new client.

Susan Kelly heads Squire Sanders Hammonds’ practice nationally as well as in Manchester. With a broad level of expertise advising banks, ABLs and accountancy firms, the Manchester team is particularly strong in pensions-related matters, and a multi-disciplinary team of eight lawyers recently advised the trustees and administrators of First City’s pension scheme on its defined benefit scheme deficit and insolvency recovery options. The team also has particular expertise in distressed property matters.

Finance firm Bermans has a good reputation in the market, and is instructed by IPs and ABLs.

At George Davies Solicitors LLP, Mark Hovell has particular strength in sports-related insolvencies, and has been involved in some 50 football club insolvencies/restructurings.

Kennedys’ nascent practice has rapidly picked up market share under Gareth Dodds, who is ‘one of the best insolvency practitioners around’. Active in both contentious and non-contentious matters, the team acts for most of the local IPs and accountants, and also benefits from the firm’s panel appointments with lenders including AIB and RBS Invoice Finance.

Headed by Richard Glithero, Pannone LLP has an ‘excellent reputation for acting as a team to deliver solutions’, advising a raft of IPs and a growing cadre of lender clients. ‘A top guy to have in your corner’, Richard Drinkwater is also recommended, as is Dylan Quail.

At Turner Parkinson LLP, department head Mark Lund has an excellent reputation in both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Recently enhanced by the firm’s merger with Mace & Jones, Weightmans LLP’s team advises a robust mix of banks and IPs including Bank of Ireland, PKF and Baker Tilly. Dominic Vincent and Michael Green are recommended.

The ‘practical and incisive’ Nick Clarke at Aaron & Partners LLP is noted for insolvency litigation.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s Paul Lunt ‘understands the law and gets results’.

The ‘technical and commercial’ Joey Byrne is recommended at Freeth Cartwright LLP.

The team at Gorvins is ‘strong and knowledgeable’.

Chris Jones at Irwin Mitchell LLP is ‘knowledgeable and experienced’.

Practice head Richard Wolff at JMW Solicitors LLP added to his nascent department with the addition of associate Hannah Wightman from Halliwells.

Laytons acts for a range of IPs and directors.

Andrew Tonge at Nexus Solicitors is recommended.

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