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Banking and finance

Dickinson Dees LLP delivers a ‘first-class service, aided by a regional presence’. It recently advised Grainger on a £120m syndicated facility led by HSBC, and Gentoo Group on a £100m RSL refinancing with RBS. The practice has a strong base of borrower and lender clients; panel memberships include National Australia Bank Group and Barclays Bank. John Ralph has ‘in-depth knowledge of property sector and the local market’. Former joint team head Deborah Kirtley has left for DWF LLP.

Ward Hadaway’s ‘outstanding’ practice acts for clients such as Barclays Bank, Santander, Lloyds TSB and RBS. It advised Barclays on providing working capital and bond facilities to Tekmar Energy, and Santander on providing acquisition finance to Chemcare. Practice head Julie Harrison ‘always goes the extra mile’, and newly promoted partner Imogen Holland is noted for her ‘outstanding customer service’. Simon Errington is also recommended.

Muckle LLP’s ‘excellent and extremely efficient’ practice recently advised HSBC on a cross-border refinancing, and Santander on a number of healthcare transactions. Panel memberships include Lloyds TSB and National Australia Group. Louise Duffy, Stephen McNicol and solicitor Jessica Swindells are ‘excellent, and have a real desire to understand the transaction’.

The experienced Mark Lazenby is the key contact at Watson Burton LLP, advising a mix of lender and borrower clients. Recent highlights include advising on the refinancing of property portfolios and the negotiation of bank facilities. Clients include HSBC, Santander and Lloyds TSB.

Hay & Kilner’s predominantly lender-based practice is led by Phil Broadhurst, and in 2011 secured a number of national client wins. A key area of work is advice on security arrangements.

Commercial partners Paul Hughes and John Nicholson are the key contacts at Mincoff Solicitors LLP. They recently advised on the £21m financing of the Station Hotel by Europe Arab Bank, and acted for Northern Bear on £13m bank facilities from Yorkshire Bank.

Optima Legal has particular strength in the property sector, with Jonathan Yates recommended for his ‘good knowledge in the field’. The group recently advised Lloyds TSB on the £5.2m refinancing of a 44-property portfolio.

Andrew Walker and Matt Collen are the key individuals for banking and finance at Sintons LLP.

Jacksons Law’s practice is led by Geoff Skeoch, and includes Jane Armitage. Recent work includes advising on the security aspects of various commercial leases.

Insolvency and corporate recovery

Dickinson Dees LLP’s practice is led by the experienced John Pennie and Sally Dallow, who have an impressive client base which includes the Big Four accountants and niche insolvency practitioners. The group recently advised on the turnaround of international media production company Chorion, which involved salvaging the majority of jobs and paying all unsecured creditors.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘first-class’ team has an excellent client base and array of panel memberships, acting for HSBC, Barclays and PwC, among others. It recently acted on the administration of retail chain Officers Club. ‘Pragmatic and commercially astute’ practice head Paul Dutton is extremely well regarded by clients.

Clarke Mairs LLP’s ‘excellent’ team recently acted for the liquidator of a three-partner solicitors practice; and advised the liquidator of a UK manufacturing company on an urgent disposal of IP rights, assets and goodwill. Paul Rushworth has ‘excellent knowledge of all matters of insolvency’.

Hay & Kilner’s team delivers an ‘exemplary’ level of service. It recently assisted liquidators in relation to a winding-up petition, and advised on a bankruptcy claim made by an individual. The ‘tenacious’ Neil Harrold - is ‘one of the best insolvency and recovery lawyers in the area’.

At Jacksons Law, Stephen Wiles ‘gives clear, precise advice and is very commercial’. Highlights included acting for administrators and liquidators in sales of businesses, and for insolvency practitioners in the recovery of assets.

Andrew Cawkwell at Muckle LLP has recently advised on various company voluntary arrangements, and assisted a UK retailer in financial difficulties. He also advised Darlington FC on a rescue package.

Ward Hadaway’s team advised a secured creditor of retail chain Officers Club, and acted for the trustee in the bankruptcy of a former Top100 Rich List London property owner. Jim James is the key contact.

BHP Law’s Paul Monaghan advised Tait Walker as liquidator of a company associated with a Championship football club, and acted for KMPG as administrator.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s Paul Hughes and John Nicholson recently advised RSM Tenon and Begbies Traynor on disposals of assets by local companies.

Tim Berg is the key contact at Short Richardson & Forth LLP for insolvency matters.

Matt Collen is the name to note at Sintons LLP.

At Watson Burton LLP, associate Kevin Anderson acts for KPMG, Baker Tilly and Tait Walker.

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