The Legal 500

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides a ‘depth of knowledge‘ and delivers ‘responsive‘, ‘professional‘, and ‘appropriate‘ advice. The firm is consistently engaged in landmark regional and national transactions, including acting for Co-operative Group on the £1.57bn acquisition of Somerfield, which involved the acquisition of 1,200 stores and disposal of 93 Co-Op stores to satisfy OFT requirements; Peter Kershaw led the acquisition, with Richard Wheeldon heading the financing aspects, and Mark Haywood advising on the disposals.

‘Responsive‘ and ‘knowledgeable‘, DLA Piper UK LLP maintained an impressive investment practice during 2008, with ‘highly proficient performer‘ and ‘great negotiator‘ Roy Beckett leading a team on two substantial acquisitions in London. Beckett also led the team that earned instructions from Manchester City Council on the Hive development in the northern quarter of Manchester, while the ‘excellent‘ and ‘responsive‘ Andrew Pattinson gained a series of major leisure and hotel sector mandates. Public sector highlights included a successful pitch to British Waterways, led by Manchester department head Anita Weightman. Retail specialist John Hyde is ‘pragmatic‘ and ‘technically strong‘.

Eversheds LLP impresses with its development and regeneration expertise, with notable strength in procurement and competitive dialogue processes. The team is acting for the London Borough of Lambeth on the £75m Future Clapham regeneration project, and for London and Thames Gateway Development Corporation on a number of developments. NWDA is a key local client. Nancy Brown heads the department, which includes regeneration specialist Peter Winnard and investment expert Sue Edwards.

Cobbetts LLP’s varied practice is given impetus by a large portfolio of corporate occupier clients, while maintaining its renowned regeneration and public sector emphasis. It recently advised Warrington Borough Council on the town centre Wireworks development. Its role as counsel (led by Tiffany Cloynes and Stephen Kinsey) to Peel Holdings on the procurement, funding and delivery of MediaCityUK, remains its flagship instruction. Mark Barker is regarded as ‘honourable‘, ‘commercial‘ and ‘knowledgeable‘. Several partners have recently left the department.

Formerly an asset management oriented practice, Beachcroft LLP is making headway regionally and nationally in relation to high-value investments and complex developments, including local government and public sector instructions, with partner Stephen Birchall at the fore. HM Court Service is a new client. Leisure and hotel work has increased through the efforts of Alison Key and Adrian Wallbank.

Halliwells’ represented Aldi Stores on a series of acquisitions in 2008. Hotel and leisure work also featured prominently, while niche sports stadium development expertise has led to instructions from Tottenham Hotspur and Everton FC. National head Mike Edge and Darren Hughes, along with banking partner Rick Sealy, recently worked on the refinancing of MediaCityUK in Salford. Liz Aboud is ‘highly rated‘.

A leader in development and regeneration, Hammonds LLP acts for influential bodies including the Homes and Community Agency (formerly English Partnerships) and the NWDA. In 2008 it was selected by Rochdale Development Agency to advise on the development and regeneration of Rochdale town centre. Senior figure Liam Buckley has an outstanding reputation, as do partners Stelios Coutsavlis and investment specialist Sonia Hopkinson.

Pannone LLP has a ‘proactive‘ team known for its development and regeneration work. Stephen Chalcraft demonstrates both ‘intellectual‘ and ‘entrepreneurial‘ strengths, and represented Bluemantle on one of the largest mixed-use regeneration schemes in the North West in 2008. Public sector work is also a key feature.

Brabners Chaffe Street LLP’s ‘excellent‘ practice is commended for industrial and logistics work, and continues to represent DHL Exel on significant deals, including the acquisition of a 27-acre freight terminal to provide a logistics consolidation centre for the 2012 Olympics. Jim Purves has ‘great technical knowledge‘ and ‘understands his clients’ business‘, while Peter Marsden ‘delivers a highly professional service‘. Senior figure Tony Fitzmaurice recently joined from Cobbetts LLP.

DWF LLP continues to make progress in the North West. In 2008 it was appointed to Abbey National’s lending panel, while gaining a series of new clients including Instore plc, Vertex Data Systems, Fylde Borough Council and Blackpool Borough Council. The highly regarded Andy Green heads the department.

Kuit Steinart Levy LLP recently assisted Development Securities on a major office development in Manchester, and advised Land Securities on the disposal of an estate in the South East. Habitat and Modus Properties are other well-known clients. Jonathan Marks heads the experienced department.

Mace & Jones provides a ‘high level of service‘ and maintains an active estate management, development and regeneration practice. Partners provide an ‘attentive‘ service and Manchester department head Karl Jackson is ‘one the best property lawyers in the North West‘. Clients include Co-operative Group, Peel and the NWDA.

The ‘first-rate‘ team at Pinsent Masons LLP represented the University of Salford on the relocation of part of its media faculty to MediaCityUK, and Langtree on its partnership with Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council to regenerate the Hollinwood business district. Ian Barker led on both mandates, and investment specialist Pamela Young has a fine reputation.

George Davies Solicitors LLP demonstrates ‘depth of knowledge‘. NHS and further education clients feature prominently, and Anne Fairhurst, Jonathan Kay and Paul Bibby are all commended.

Stephen Goodman at Goodman Harvey has an ‘excellent reputation‘, and a good record in the development sector.

Hill Dickinson LLP provides the ‘highest level of professional legal service‘. Investment work remains the primary focus. The team recently advised UPS on its acquisition of a major warehouse in South Yorkshire. Michael Blakey and the ‘proactive‘ Stephen Hindmarsh have excellent reputations. Jonathan Dover joined from Berg Legal in February 2009.

JMW Solicitors LLP’s property team moved from Altrincham to central Manchester in 2008. It has excellent retail credentials, particularly in the food sector, advising clients such as Asda and Marks & Spencer. In 2008, it represented Oldham Property Partnerships in connection with the regeneration of Failsworth District Centre, which includes a 94,000 sq ft Tesco Extra Store. Jim Banfi heads the department.

Nexus Solicitors represented car park operator APCOA on the leasehold acquisition of a multi-storey car park in Sheffield in 2008. Des O’Driscoll heads the three-partner department.

Berg Legal has strong investment credentials despite the recent departure of Jonathan Dover. Gaby Rechnitzer heads the practice, which recently acted on the purchase of an office block in Sidcup for an investment company.

colemans-ctts LLP is equally active in sale and purchase, development and real estate financing. The team, led by Andrew Marsden, is noted as ‘attentive to detail‘.

Davies Arnold Cooper LLP’s Peter Williams assists a number of London investment fund clients, including Close Investments. The practice also has a client base of local property companies and developers. Crispin Tomlinson specialises in residential development.

Nick Trowell heads Heatons LLP’s well-known commercial property department.

Hempsons provides ‘good and timely advice‘ and an ‘excellent‘ service, largely for NHS clients. Alan Morris is ‘affable‘, ‘innovative‘, and ‘proactive‘, while ‘strong negotiator‘ Jane Donnison impresses with her ‘depth of knowledge‘.

The ‘excellent‘ and ‘responsive‘ Laytons represents a number of major lenders, including Bank of Scotland and RBS. Mark Gillies is ‘experienced‘, ‘friendly‘ and ‘responsive‘.

Headed by Terry McMahon, Lockett Loveday McMahon (LLM) is recommended for healthcare sector work and continues to represent Meridian Healthcare. Developer clients include Langtree.

Turner Parkinson LLP provides an ‘excellent‘ service, with Colette Johnson regarded as ‘thorough‘, ‘patient‘ and ‘professional‘.

Weightmans LLP is well known for NHS-related work. Anne Dobie recently advised Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on a £7.6m development agreement and lease.