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The team at Dickinson Dees LLP recently represented Grainger plc on Grainger Equity Release’s £40m takeover of Sovereign Reversions plc and its associated joint venture with Moorfield Real Estate. Adding to the firm’s strong record in public company work, Jamie Pass acted for OpSec Security Group plc on a £15.7m investment into the company by Investcorp Technology Partners, the first private investment in public equity transaction to be concluded in the North. Simon Watts and Tom Fitzpatrick jointly lead the team, which has also been active in the life sciences sector. Nigel Bellis retired in 2010, and the team has also seen the recent departure of leading individual John Flynn, who is set to join DWF LLP.

Key deals for the ‘solid’ 11-partner team at Muckle LLP included advising Visage Group on its £173m sale to Li & Fung, and Robson Brown on the sale of its marketing and advertising agency to California-based company Round 2. New client wins in the defence, IT and retail sectors bolstered the firm’s impressive client list. The ‘tenacious, patient, and thoughtful’ Joanne Davison and Hugh Welch are singled out, and Nicola Loose and Craig Swinhoe have recently been promoted to partner. Clients rate the team’s ‘focused, sound and relevant advice’.

Ward Hadaway recently advised Entec, a longstanding client, on its £60m sale to AMEC Group, and new client Baric Group on its sale to Colfax Corporation. Commercial practice head Colin Hewitt provides ongoing advice to North East Finance, the holding company for the £125m JEREMIE fund. Martin Hulls is the key corporate figure; Katherine Hay-Heddle is ‘impressive, focused and hugely committed to her clients’; and Andrew Finfer has recently joined the team.

Charles Reynard’s team at Eversheds LLP recently advised Baird Capital Partners Europe on its investment in Nigel Wright Group, and SPX International on its acquisition of the issued share capital of Torque Tension Systems. Key partners Alan Fletcher and Ian Gilthorpe have left to set up Square One Law, a boutique practice, while Amy Wanless and James Bryce recently joined the team.

Sintons LLP’s Christopher Welch, who ‘never fails to impress on all fronts’, and Karen Simms, who provides an ‘excellent standard of advice’, jointly lead a ‘top’ team. Recent highlights include acting for Pyeroy Group on its acquisition of CEI Electrical, and for Smith Electric Vehicles US in its acquisition of its UK counterpart from Tanfield Group plc. Key clients include Pickerings Lifts, Technology Services Group and various high-net-worth individuals.

Duncan Reid heads the team at Watson Burton LLP, which is praised as ‘caring about its clients and the work they do’. It represented Tanfield Group plc on the $15m disposal of Smith Electric Vehicles UK to the company’s US counterpart, and the shareholders of Innocore Holding on the sale of the company to Advantech Europe BV. Helen Milburn recently joined the team from Ward Hadaway.

The ‘impressive’ team at Crutes Law Firm now includes David Crone, who joined from Ward Hadaway. Anne Spetch acted on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of SGW Construction (Redcar), and advised Transcendit on its acquisition of Nectar Electronics.

The ‘highly professional yet accessible’ team at Hay & Kilner is led by Nick James, who recently acted alongside Norton Rose LLP on International Innovative Technologies’ procurement of $10m of shari’ah-compliant funds. The team includes healthcare specialist Jonathan Waters and Mark Adams, who has been active on reorganisation transactions.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP acted for Northern Bear plc on constitutional, corporate governance and AGM matters, and Nichol & Laidlow on a £5.5m contract with United Biscuits. The ‘pragmatic and knowledgeable’ Paul Hughes heads up the team.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

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Press Releases in the UK

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