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Commercial property: Manchester

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has the strength and depth to provide expertise to a broad range of clients including developers and end users; examples include Travelodge, Sainsbury’s, Muse Developments and Peel Holdings. Although the firm has the capacity to handle work outside the region, it is also regularly involved in marquee mandates in the North West, such as its ongoing work for Peel on the development of MediaCityUK. ‘Determined to negotiate a transaction through in a thoughtful and non-aggressive manner’, Peter Kershaw handles numerous property investment development projects, and recently advised Guardian Media Group on the transfer of a prestigious property in Spinningfields to a major local law firm. The ‘superb’ Mark Haywood heads the practice.

At DLA Piper UK LLP, Anita Weightman is advising longstanding client ITV on the high-profile relocation of its Manchester base to MediaCityUK. Other highlights included advising F.T. Patten Properties on the £9m development of a 141-bed budget hotel. Roy Beckett and Martin Hallam are recommended partners in a team whose clients include Bruntwood Estates, Ernst & Young, Manchester City Council, and Vue Entertainment.

Headed by Nancy Brown, Eversheds LLP’s team has a ‘“can-do” attitude’ and takes ‘a joined-up approach to advice’. With a strong sector focus (in areas including chemicals and education) and a broad cross-section of expertise (across occupier, investor, corporate support, restructuring, development and regeneration work), the team has gained new clients such as SEGRO plc, which it advised on the Heywood and Trafford Park industrial estates.

Now headed by the ‘superb’ Mike Edge following his move from Halliwells, Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is a growing force nationally as well as in the local market. Recent highlights include advising a joint venture between ASK and Goodman Developments on the £35m development of a divisional headquarters building for the Greater Manchester Police Authority. Clients include the Homes and Communities Agency, Aldi Stores, Heywood Williams, and Shepherd Developments.

Headed by Liam Buckley, Squire Sanders Hammonds’ real estate team continues to go from strength to strength, recently recruiting the ‘exceptional’ Mark Gaffney and consultant Chris Eddlestone from Halliwells. Gaffney’s development focus plays to the strengths of the group, while Eddlestone’s remit is to build up the firm’s hospitality and leisure client base. The team is also developing considerable strength in the renewables sector, and has advised on several wind farm and solar projects.

The ‘responsive, thorough and methodical’ five-partner team at Beachcroft has a balanced practice advising public and private sector clients. As well as handling local matters, the team often works as part of a broader national offering, as with its ongoing work on Westfield’s new shopping centre development in Stratford, London. On the public sector side, the firm was recently appointed to the North West legal consortium. Eve Gregory ‘takes charge and gets on with things’, and Alison Key is ‘experienced, approachable and down to earth’.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s Peter Marsden deals with Manchester United FC’s property work, including the club’s major stadium expansion projects, and the presence of the well-respected Tony Fitzmaurice has considerably raised the team’s profile in the market. Matthew Dobson has a particular expertise in development and investment property and acts for Ask Developments, Seddon Development and Nationwide Building Society, among others.

Praised for its ‘superior depth of knowledge’, Cobbetts LLP provides ‘commercial and pragmatic advice’ to an impressive mix of clients including adidas, Bury MBC, De Vere Hotels and Bellway Homes. It is very accomplished in the retail and leisure sector, and is currently advising Whitbread on the expansion of its Premier Inn group of hotels. The ‘no-nonsense and straight-talking’ Catherine Haslam has a ‘firm grasp of the telecoms sector’, and is a key member of a team that also includes ‘technical and friendly’ team head Mark Barker.

Squarely focused on the development market, DWF LLP’s six-partner team acts for some of the largest developers in the region including Peel and ASK Developments. Instructed by both private and public sector clients, Claire Chapman advised Neptune Developments on the £174m Wolverhampton Interchange project. Team head Anita Gupta also has experience advising corporate occupiers, while Jon Kiddle’s recent arrival from Trowers & Hamlins LLP gives the firm an added dimension in relation to social housing matters.

Inheriting the majority of Halliwells’ property team, Gateley is a new entry in the ranking. Many of the firm’s mandates entail work in complementary areas such as planning and construction, as with its ongoing representation of Lancashire County Cricket Club on the redevelopment of Old Trafford cricket ground. Other clients include Aldi Stores, Ask Property Developments, Peel Holdings and Minories Estates.

Pannone LLP continues to do well in the public sector, and was recently appointed to the Northern panel for the Homes and Communities Agency. On the private sector side, as well as increasing its landlord and tenant work, the team has handled a number of major developments, such as advising GenR8 Developments on the proposed 1.2m sq ft phased redevelopment of the central business district at Hanley, Stoke on Trent. Stephen Lintott ‘recognises when a commercial rather than a legal decision is required’.

Led by Michael Blakey, Hill Dickinson LLP picked up new clients such as Industrial Labelling Systems and the Soho Collective, and strengthened its relationships with core clients such as NCP. As well as attracting standalone work, a reorganisation of the firm’s national property practice has led to the Manchester team’s more regular involvement on deals run from Sheffield and Liverpool.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP has ‘in-depth market knowledge’, and acts for a mix of institutional clients (Land Securities plc, Persimmon plc), national retailers (Habitat), and regional property companies (Property Alliance Group, Morley Estates). David Haffner ‘completely understands a deal and true commercial reality’, and is well regarded for property investment portfolio work.

At Weightmans LLP, Karl Jackson has a particular focus on commercial development and urban regeneration. He recently advised Barratts plc on the purchase of five residential development sites across the North West.

Berg Legal has strength in real estate finance and is on the Nationwide, Santander and Handelsbanken panels.

George Davies Solicitors LLP’s Caroline Hanratty is praised for her ‘good commercial awareness and ability to push a transaction through to conclusion’.

Stephen Goodman at Goodman Harvey is recommended.

Hempsons’ Jane Donnison ‘provides an exemplary service’ to a number of major clients in the health sector.

Daniel Hickey at Irwin Mitchell LLP is recommended for secured lending matters.

Paul Walker at JMW Solicitors LLP is ‘very knowledgeable, efficient and commercially orientated’.

Lawson Coppock & Hart is recommended for property development work.

Mark Gillies’ team at Laytons includes ‘very knowledgeable’ associate partner Claire Beaumont.

Nexus Solicitors is noted for its retail expertise.

Andrew Dunn at Stripes Solicitors is ‘very well-connected and experienced’.

Commercial property: Liverpool

Led by the ‘imperturbable’ Mark Beardwood, DLA Piper UK LLP’s five-partner team provides a sophisticated service to an impressive roster of funds and developers. Particularly active of late in the retail space, the team advised Wereldhave on the £85m acquisition of the Dolphin Shopping Centre in Poole, and PACE Trustees on the acquisition and funding of the development of a new Tesco superstore in Greater Manchester. The vastly experienced Philip Rooney also maintains a strong practice alongside his duties as office managing partner.

Enhanced by the firm’s acquisition of Halliwells’ Liverpool operation, Hill Dickinson LLP’s 19-partner team has the critical mass to handle a high volume of mandates across the commercial property spectrum. The team continues to gain market share, and is one of only three firms on the Co-operative Group’s revised property panel. ‘Excellent’ team head David Swaffield regularly advises pension funds on investment work, while new arrival Tony McDonnell brought with him instructions from Manchester City FC and Everton FC on the proposed redevelopments at their respective grounds. Pamela Jones is recommended in the retail sector.

At Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, Jeff Gillbanks’ ‘strong’ team has the critical mass to handle a wide variety and high volume of deals, and has been particularly active recently in public sector regeneration, retail and development work. Clients include Maple Grove Developments, Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority and SITA UK. Chris Parkinson focuses on the development and regeneration of urban and brownfield sites, and has handled a slew of mandates for Ainscough Strategic Land. Mark Glenville leads on property finance matters, while Karen Murphy leads the residential development team following the firm’s merger with specialist property firm Murphy Hodgkinson.

DWF LLP’s five-partner team, headed by Andrew Nichol, provides an ‘exemplary’ service across the spectrum of commercial real estate matters. Andy Green is very well regarded and continues to advise developer St Modwen on its £150m scheme to regenerate Great Homer Street, Everton. Other clients include Peel Holdings, National Museums of Liverpool and the Co-operative Bank.

Weightmans LLP’s property offering was enhanced by its recent merger with Mace & Jones, particularly for developer work. Areas of strength include the local authority and education sectors. David Tabinor is ‘a safe pair of hands’, and Janice Weatherly is ‘very competent and responsive’.

Commercial property: Elsewhere in the North West

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s Ross Shine has an excellent reputation across the full spectrum of commercial property work, including development, landlord and tenant matters, and infrastructure projects. Clients include CSL, Dixon Adflow, and Lancashire Police.

Headed by Robin Jones, Hill Dickinson LLP’s two-partner team has deeply entrenched relationships with a number of significant Chester-based institutions, including Chester Zoo, University of Chester and Chester Cathedral.

At Aaron & Partners LLP, Manchester-based development expert Colin Rowe has particular strength in urban regeneration projects, and continues to advise Cheshire West and Chester Council in projects relating to the regeneration of the town centre. The Chester team, headed by Richard Forrester, acts for Welsh Water.

With offices in Blackburn and Preston, Forbes has an excellent reputation in the region. Team head Tim Hollingsworth recently advised an RSL on the £1.8m purchase of a portfolio of 54 residential units.

At Gorvins, the ‘extremely responsive and technical’ Martin Hoare recently joined from Eversheds LLP and adds further weight to the firm’s development expertise. Managing partner and department head Lorraine Lockie is ‘commercial, practical, very experienced and responsive’.

Hibberts LLP advises diverse clients including one of the largest national housebuilders. Michael Ward is recommended.

Hillyer McKeown provides ‘clear solutions’ to an impressive client base that includes a number of major lenders. Team head Victoria Jones is appreciated for her ‘dogged approach’.

Headed by ‘very pragmatic and highly technical’ managing partner Angus Whyte, Altrincham-based boutique property law firm Land Law LLP has quickly established itself as a major player in the market, with an impressive client roster that includes Peel Holdings, GE Capital Real Estate and Solvay Group. The firm is praised for its ‘tailored and focused approach’ across the full range of commercial property services, and includes the ‘proactive, thorough and commercial’ Andrew Chapman and the ‘easily contactable and practical’ Helen Davidson.

Led by Debbie Roberts, KBL’s three-partner group has an excellent reputation in the region, in particular for landlord and tenant work.

At Napthens LLP, the ‘highly academic’ Allan Sumner has an excellent reputation for development work.

Neil Myerson LLP advises a number of owner-managed businesses on their property requirements. Team head Richard Lloyd is recommended.

Headed by ‘amiable and knowledgeable’ managing partner Mike Fox, Slater Heelis’ three-partner team provides an ‘impeccable’ service to a broad range of clients including landlords, property investment companies, and banks. Particularly active in leasehold matters, associate Hannah Al-Shaghana is an up-and-coming member of the team, and is praised for her ‘great communication skills’.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP provides an ‘extremely good service’ to a growing array of commercial clients such as Yorkshire Bank, which it advised on the refinancing of a pharmaceutical property portfolio including 14 properties and a loan of around £14m.

At the ‘excellent’ Walker Smith Way, team head Huw Davies is praised for his ‘in-depth knowledge’, and recently advised on the property aspects of a wind farm project.

At Jobling & Knape, the ‘calm and astute’ Peter Bujakowski is recommended for general commercial property work.

At SAS Daniels LLP, ‘professional and practical’ team head Rebecca Simpson is recommended.

Construction

Jointly headed by Michael Hopkins and Graham Alty, Pinsent Masons LLP’s five-partner team has a ‘very comprehensive understanding of complex construction issues’. Instructed by all of the five largest UK contractors, including Balfour Beatty and Carillion, the team is active across diverse sectors including nuclear, where Mark Job advised Areva on a new-build nuclear power station project. Chris Hallam (‘industry aware and flexible’) has handled numerous waste projects, including the £5bn Greater Manchester Waste project. On the contentious side, the team is praised for its ability to ‘move the litigation forward’.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has ‘great strength in depth’ across numerous sectors, in both contentious and non-contentious matters. Led out of Manchester by Jonathan Tattersall (‘an extremely good all-rounder’), the team was involved in the high-profile litigation arising from the construction of Wembley Stadium. On the transactional side, Nancy McGuire has handled a raft of work for the University of Oxford, including the refurbishment and extension of the Ashmolean Museum. Other clients include Punch Taverns, Alstom Power, Carillion and Manchester City Council.

Headed by the ‘superb’ Jim Pinsent, DLA Piper UK LLP’s two-partner group in Liverpool is noted for its ‘excellent service and knowledge of the industry’, advising a broad range of clients on heavyweight mandates both in and beyond the region. Praised for his ‘ability to interpret the law for a lay person’, associate Earle Brady is starting to run his own matters, and has continued to work on Liverpool’s £160m Central Village regeneration. On the contentious side, Daniel Jude has handled a number of matters for Alstom Power.

Led by Paul O’Kane, DWF LLP is best known for its contentious expertise for diverse public and private sector clients. On the non-contentious side, the team regularly works alongside the real estate group in assisting the likes of Neptune Developments, which it is advising on the £174m project to redevelop Wolverhampton city centre.

With one Manchester-based partner in Simon Chamberlain, Eversheds LLP provides a ‘first-class’ service across a range of complex projects, and has ‘excellent knowledge’ in an array of sectors. Particularly active in the education sector, the team is advising Stoke-on-Trent City Council on a £250m BSF project, and also advises major regional entities such as Manchester City Council and Manchester Metropolitan University.

Having taken on Halliwells’ Manchester-based construction team, Gateley is now a significant player in the market. Karen Spencer heads the contentious group, and is noted in particular for her expertise in disputes relating to nuclear decommissioning projects.

With excellent coverage in Manchester and Liverpool, particularly following the absorption of Halliwells’ Liverpool team, Hill Dickinson LLP has ‘first-rate’ expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters. Team head Michael Woolley provides ‘in-depth analysis and practical solutions’, and is advising Peel Holdings in relation to infrastructure for a waste-to-energy power facility.

The recent arrival of both David Moss (‘pragmatic and commercial’) and Paul Giles (‘personable and bright’) from Squire Sanders Hammonds, has given McGrigors LLP a strong contentious construction capability. Since his arrival, Giles has handled numerous civil engineering disputes for United Utilities plc. On the transactional front, Peter Blackmore has an excellent reputation.

At Squire Sanders Hammonds, Julian Scott has been particularly active in the energy sector, and recently advised on a €700m German offshore wind farm project. The team was weakened on the contentious side by the departure of David Moss and Paul Giles to McGrigors LLP.

At Brabners Chaffe Street LLP in Liverpool, Ian Hardman has a good reputation for both contentious and non-contentious matters. He recently advised Westville Developments on the procurement of new student accommodation in Liverpool.

Davies Arnold Cooper LLP is best known for its disputes expertise for a wide range of clients including developers and engineers. A chartered quantity surveyor, Barry Goodall is recommended.

Headed by Sean McCay, Pannone LLP advises a broad spectrum of public and private sector clients operating in the building and engineering industries.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP displays ‘very keen knowledge of the housing and construction industry’. Katie Saunders has ‘excellent knowledge of construction-related issues and EU procurement’, and Paul Hyland is also recommended.

Weightmans LLP provides a ‘fast, reliable and efficient’ service in contentious and non-contentious matters to both private and public sector clients. Bolstered by the firm’s merger with Mace & Jones, the enhanced team includes the ‘practical and commercial’ Charles Tomlinson, and Paul Donnelly, who has ‘excellent knowledge of construction contracts and disputes’.

Henry Stone at Cobbetts LLP is recommended for non-contentious matters.

Associate Catherine Kay at George Davies Solicitors LLP is recommended on the non-contentious side.

Planning and environment

‘The best in his field’, Richard Lloyd is the lynchpin of Eversheds LLP’s ‘very effective planning team’; his ‘knowledge of planning and CPO matters never fails to impress’. Aided by ‘exceptional’ associate Michelle Naylor, Lloyd is advising Thurrock Thames Gateway Development on the Purfleet new community project; utilising a multi-disciplinary approach drawing on team members from across the firm’s network, the mandate exemplifies the firm’s ability to handle sophisticated planning matters. A separate environment team includes ‘excellent’ senior associate Jane Southworth.

At Addleshaw Goddard LLP, Grant Anderson leads on planning matters, and has been at the forefront of the firm’s highest-profile work in the arena. He has been particularly active in the retail, waste and development/residential/regeneration sectors, and recently provided strategic advice to Sainsbury’s on a number of proposals for new stores and extensions. On the environment side, the ‘extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic’ Michelle Headridge is a ‘leading light’ in the low carbon and renewable energy arena.

At DLA Piper UK LLP, the ‘very understanding’ Kate Creer is particularly strong on the public sector side, and continues to advise Halton Borough Council on the £450m Mersey Gateway project. Chris Bowes excels in business-critical planning decisions in the private sector, and recently successfully represented Tata Steel in overturning the decision allowing Newport City Council to grant planning permission for a traveller’s camp site adjacent to Tata’s offices in Newport.

At Squire Sanders Hammonds, environment head Rob Elvin has broad expertise across transactional, criminal and civil matters across a range of sectors, and is recognised as ‘one of the few private practitioners with a true understanding of the nuclear industry’. Senior solicitor Gary Lewis is increasingly visible in the market, and has advised Veolia on a number of issues including in connection with a noise abatement notice at a waste management facility.

Niche firm Zyda Law LLP in Nantwich may lack the resources of some of its peers in the ranking, but ‘this is more than made up for by the quality and depth of advice, attention to detail, communication skills and speed of response’. Active across a range of sectors, it is best known for its expertise in the nuclear industry, where founding partner Paul Zyda has ‘an established track record’. The firm continues to advise the UK Atomic Energy Authority on its decommissioning of three nuclear reactors at the Dounreay nuclear power station in Scotland.

The team at Cobbetts LLP acts on standalone instructions as well as in conjunction with its real estate team. On the contentious side, it represented Britannia Property Group in a successful appeal relating to a retrospective application for planning permission for a mixed-use development. Team head John Moritz ‘advises on the law, but listens to commercial aspects and steers a course that respects both’. Clients include St Modwen plc, Whitbread Group, De Vere Group, and Parkstone Group.

At Gateley, Andrew Piatt has an excellent pedigree in planning matters, and recently advised Lancashire County Cricket Club on its scheme to redevelop Old Trafford Cricket Ground.

At Pannone LLP, Keith Davidson specialises in contaminated land issues, and is representing DB Schenker in a contaminated land dispute with Total. ‘A lawyer who always goes the extra mile to achieve optimum results for his clients’, he is an integral part of a team that also includes planning expert David Delaney.

At Aaron & Partners LLP, Richard Forrester has ‘vast experience in the waste regulation and waste planning sector’.

The recent arrival of the ‘the highly technical and pragmatic’ Denise Dowen from Hill Dickinson LLP significantly enhanced Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP’s environmental capability. ‘A market leader’, Dowen regularly handles the defence of prosecutions by the HSE, local authorities, the Environment Agency and Defra.

At Brabners Chaffe Street LLP, Kevin Halewood advises public and private sector clients on planning appeals, CPOs and development work. On the environmental side, associate Claire Gregory recently joined from Squire Sanders Hammonds and heads up the team.

At DWF LLP, associate Jo Hannah continues to grow the planning group, and secured work from new clients including Manchester Metropolitan University and South Lakeland District Council.

Freeth Cartwright LLP has an excellent reputation for advising landowners and operators in significant transactions in the minerals and associated industries. Paul Calladine and consultant Brian Wake are the lynchpins of a team whose clients include Nottingham City Council and Albion Stone plc.

At Hill Dickinson LLP, head of planning John Holmes has a vast reservoir of experience across diverse planning issues, and is currently advising on the proposed new Chester SuperZoo project.

At Pinsent Masons LLP, senior associate Simon Colvin continues to impress clients with his ‘legal excellence and practical knowledge’, particularly in relation to conententious environmental matters.

At Weightmans LLP, consultant Lewis Denton has wide-ranging experience and is ‘always on top of things’. Clients include Derwent Holdings.

Property litigation

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides ‘clear, decisive and understandable advice’ to a broad swathe of landlords and tenants, mortgagees and receivers, and developers. Asset management work for corporate occupier and funds clients accounts for a large proportion of the group’s instructions, although it is increasingly active advising banks on insolvency-related matters. Charles Jagger ‘gets right to the root of the problem’, and heads a team whose clients include Admiral Taverns, Assura, Sainsbury’s and Standard Life.

Beachcroft represents a mix of institutional and entrepreneurial clients in a range of litigation including service charge and break clause disputes. The team has handled a number of matters for HM Courts Service, including a potential nuisance claim and a boundary dispute. Regional senior partner Robert Moss heads a two-partner team that also includes the ‘determined and thorough’ Lesley Hughes.

Led by Alan Walker, Cobbetts LLP’s two-partner team has been particularly active in property disputes in the banking sector, as well as professional negligence claims arising out of property transactions. Clients include Matalan, Peel Holdings, Speedy Hire, and Whitbread Group.

Praised for its ‘business acumen and ability to think outside the box’, DLA Piper UK LLP’s two-partner team handles a range of property disputes for an impressive client roster that includes Bruntwood, Mapeley Estates, Pilkington and Vue Entertainment. ‘Knowledgeable and with a youthful confidence’, Martin Griffiths has rapidly established an excellent reputation and is currently representing a client in the defence of a major dilapidations claim. The experienced Steven Jennings acts for a raft of developers and occupiers, and has particular expertise in rent review matters.

Headed by James Batham, Eversheds LLP provides high-end litigation expertise to an ever-growing client roster including JD Sports Fashion, Mitchells & Butlers, and SEGRO. A ‘formidable outfit’, the team recently secured a notable victory before the Supreme Court in the Tradegro litigation. The arrival of Suzanne Gregson from Howarth Goodman gives the firm added housing litigation expertise.

At Hill Dickinson LLP, Ralph Bullivant has an excellent pedigree in the market and heads a three-partner team recently strengthened by the arrival of Kevin Lee from Halliwells. The firm continues to handle a significant flow of instructions from the Co-Operative Group.

Recently strengthened by the arrival of Rachel Watkin from Halliwells, Brabners Chaffe Street LLP has strength across its Manchester, Liverpool and Preston offices. Jeff Lewis has an excellent reputation for landlord and tenant disputes, and is currently representing St James Securities and Bridgewater Place in the defence of a £1m dilapidations claim.

DWF LLP’s two-partner team provides ‘very honest and objective’ advice to a broad client base that includes public sector clients, landlords and tenants, and developers. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Angela Hardman is vastly experienced, and recently handled a multi-party property dispute involving land registration issues and professional negligence.

At Pannone LLP, a dedicated team of seven fee-earners handles a range of property disputes for developer, public sector, and landlord and tenant clients. Property-related professional negligence remains an area of strength, as does portfolio management. Headed by David Brown, the team also includes ‘efficient, knowledgeable and polite’ associate Sean Hackett.

John Devoy and Richard Forrester at Aaron & Partners LLP are recommended.

Robin Stephens at Forbes is ‘fantastic’.

Senior associate Gary Bird at Gateley is recommended.

Retail specialist Debbie Illsley at Nexus Solicitors is recommended.

Senior associate Nicola Buchanan at Pinsent Masons LLP recently joined the firm from Eversheds LLP to set up a property litigation team.

Senior associate Helen Hoath at Squire Sanders Hammonds is praised for her ‘very sharp legal mind’.

Sian Evans at Weightmans LLP handles a range of commercial and residential property disputes.

Social housing

Based out of the firm’s Liverpool office, Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s ‘professional and knowledgeable’ five-partner team provides ‘clear and unambiguous advice’ to an impressive client roster including Arena Housing Group, Cosmopolitan Housing Association and South Liverpool Housing Group. Team head Alistair Fletcher and Ian Alderson are ‘unafraid of making difficult decisions, and are approachable and very understanding’.

Bolstered by the arrival of Paula Hamer from Pannone LLP, Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s ten-partner multi-disciplinary practice ranges from stock transfers to regeneration projects. ‘Technically competent, articulate and accessible’ team head Mike Gaskell advised newly established housing provider Gwynedd Community Homes on the acquisition of the entire housing stock of Gwynedd Council by way of LSVT.

With ‘excellent industry knowledge’, Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP in Liverpool has an increasingly comprehensive practice across non-contentious and contentious matters, and includes leasehold management work, enfranchisement, and reviews of homeless decisions. ‘Passionate and committed’ and ‘with great insight’, Sarah Mansfield heads the team, and recently successfully represented Halton Housing Trust in securing a possession order against an anti-social tenant.

Cobbetts LLP has ‘excellent knowledge’ across site acquisitions, housing stock transfers and procurement, among other matters. Richard St John Williams ‘tests and challenges assumptions and presents viable options that support business objectives’, and is a core member of a team whose clients include Accord Housing Group, Circle Anglia and Midland Heart.

Howarth Goodman provides contentious and non-contentious expertise out of Manchester and Preston.

Weightmans LLP’s five-partner team continues to go from strength to strength, with successes including securing a six-year contract for housing management work on behalf of Guinness Northern Counties in a tender process with nearly 40 firms. Team head Sian Evans is ‘very knowledgeable, always gives good practical advice, and is good at presenting arguments in court’, and was recently appointed chair of the Law Society’s Housing Committee.

Eversheds LLP’s team was strengthened by the hire of Suzanne Gregson from Howarth Goodman on the contentious side.

The team at Forbes is ‘responsive and proactive’.

Graham Archibald at Hill Dickinson LLP is well regarded.

John Stringer at Platt Halpern Solicitors is noted for tenant-side work.

Stephensons Solicitors LLP has been increasingly active defending tenants in possession proceedings.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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