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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’.

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