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Commercial property: Newcastle

Property finance specialist John Ralph is the key figure in the team at Dickinson Dees LLP. It advised Gap on the completion of eight store leases, and is one of two firms nationally to advise Partnerships for Schools on the acquisition and development of Free School sites across the country. It remains a panel firm for Bellway. Duncan Fisher is recommended for his private housebuilding practice.

Eversheds LLP’s team is valued for its ‘good-quality work, and excellent partners with leading industry knowledge’. Adam Heather leads a multi-faceted team which includes the ‘faultless’ Adrian Stanley. It advised the public sector partners, including Sunderland City Council, on the joint acquisition and redevelopment of the Vaux Brewery site; and also acted on the £400m disposal of a London shopping centre and its portfolio. Other clients include HSBC, Barclays and Greggs.

Muckle LLP’s department is headed by the ‘excellent and conscientious’ Jonathan Combe, and was boosted by the arrival of Adrian Hill from Eversheds LLP and associate Gail Marshall from Hay & Kilner. New client wins include Northumberland Estates, Newcastle University and The Football Association. The team is noted for its ‘exceptional’ response times and high levels of expertise.

Sintons LLP’s ‘excellent’ team of ‘specialists’ is headed by Andrew Walker and Mark Dobbin. In 2011, the group acted for The Church Commissioners for England on the £18m sale of Trafalgar Way Retail Park to Prudential. The firm was recently appointed to advise Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and North of England Civic Trust, while other clients include One NorthEast and Banks Group.

Lesley Fairclough leads the team at Ward Hadaway, in which Simon Errington and Andrea Proudlock are also key figures. It has strong ties to the public sector and advises over 70 NHS trusts, with recent work including advising a trust on the development of a new hospital. Other clients include Aldi, Sage and Narec. Former team head Simon Priestley left for Square One Law.

Watson Burton LLP saw a number of partner departures in 2011, with Richard Freeman Wallace joining Hay & Kilner, Matthew Dalzell joining Squire Sanders LLP in Leeds, and Henry Cave leaving to establish a private venture. The practice is now headed by Tracy Hall, who joined from Cobbetts LLP. Work highlights included advising Aviva on the purchase of ground rent portfolios, and Bellway Homes on the acquisition of residential development sites.

Paul Earnshaw at DWF LLP advised The Go-Ahead Group on its purchase of Hexham bus depot, which included a listed building leased to the local authority. It also advised St Georges Securities on the sale of Belasis Hall Business Park.

Hay & Kilner’s ‘strong’ team was bolstered in 2011 by the arrival of Richard Freeman-Wallace from Watson Burton LLP, offsetting Gail Marshall’s departure for Muckle LLP. Work highlights included providing portfolio management advice to Chisholm Bookmakers and Circle Red Group. Nicola Tiffen is an ‘extremely efficient specialist’.

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s seven-fee-earner team is led by Howard Gold. Highlights for the group included advising the Factory Shop and The Work Stores on new leases and lease extensions. It also advised on the reconstruction and strip-out of Automatic Retailing prior to the sale of the business.

Optima Legal is an impressive firm with a ‘very experienced and knowledgeable team’. Alexandra Westwood and Jonathan Yates are the key partners, and advised Bluedene on a new sublease of premises in Leeds.

Short Richardson & Forth LLP provides ‘excellent service delivery from instruction and agreement of priorities to completion’. David Richardson has a ‘valuable blend of technical ability and commercial acumen’.

Carol Bailey leads the ‘excellent’ specialist healthcare team at Hempsons, which acts for a large number of healthcare bodies across the range of commercial property matters.

Jacksons Law advised on various residential and commercial development schemes for clients including Cussins Homes, Linden Homes and North East Business Park. Department head Geoff Skeoch is recommended for his breadth of knowledge and expertise.

Samuel Phillips Law Firm advises businesses and private individuals on sales and purchases of property. Michael Storey is the contact.

Commercial property: Elsewhere in the North

Archers Law LLP recently advised a buyer of 17 care homes, and acted for a landowner in negotiations for the development of a new school. Christopher Todd and Patrick Quigley have ‘invaluable’ knowledge.

Simon Robinson heads the team at BHP Law, which includes Sonia Hunter. In 2011 it advised Japanese client Nifco on various site acquisitions, and Shepherd Offshore on the development of a wind turbine.

At Baines Wilson Solicitors, Sean Logue has experience in the disposal and acquisition of substantial properties in the North East.

Tony Lake’s team at Burnetts provides a ‘first-class’ class service on matters including site assembly, acquisition and development. John Coulton recently joined from Emmersons Solicitors.

DWF LLP’s Gareth Jones advised on a number of investment acquisitions and disposals; highlights included acting on the £10m sale of Belasis Hall.

Dickinson Dees LLP’s Barbara Painter has recently advised on a number of Partnerships for Schools developments, and continues to advise Croda on commercial property matters.

Simon Wake’s team at Endeavour Partnership LLP recently advised on a multimillion-pound site acquisition, and the £2m development of a medical centre in Cleethorpes. Jamie Brown is also recommended.

At Jacksons Law, Geoff Skeoch’s team includes Jane Armitage, and is highly recommended by clients. It is currently acting on a number of high-value sale and leasing agreements for a North East business.

Charlie Hansford is the key partner at Cartmell Shepherd, advising on sales, purchases and leases.

Gordon Brown Law Firm LLP’s name partner advises across a variety of matters including sales and purchases, secured lending and leasing.

Naomi Fell is the key property contact at Hayton Winkley, and advises on the sale, purchase and leasing of commercial properties.

Latimer Hinks’ team includes Tim Haggie, who is ‘strong and clear on all contracts’; Nicola Neilson; and the ‘practical’ Neil Stevenson.

Tilly Bailey & Irvine’s property team is noted for its expertise in property investment via personal pension schemes.

Construction

Dickinson Dees LLP’s strong team is headed by Simon Lewis and includes head of disputes Nick Henderson, who is ‘extremely knowledgeable, empathetic and pragmatic’. The firm acted for NE Procurement on the development of its new build frameworks, and also advised in relation to the Teesside Wind Farm Project by EDF. On the contentious side, it acted for Durham County Council in an adjudication against an architect claiming damages for breach of contract.

Watson Burton LLP’s team is led by Roddy Gordon and includes contentious lawyer Mark Lawton. It advised Bannatyne on the construction of a four-storey office development, while other clients include Narec, Bellway Homes and Scarborough Borough Council.

Muckle LLP’s Rob Langley is ‘unrivalled in the region’, and leads a ‘young and conscientious’ team which includes Andrea Gardner, who recently joined from Watson Burton LLP. In 2011, the practice acted for Redhall Engineering Solutions in a £24m claim against Vivergo Fuels, and defended a national firm of consulting engineers against a £1m claim for negligence.

Eversheds LLP’s team has a ‘perfect understanding of the construction industry’, and provides ‘an extraordinary level of service’. The practice is led by senior associate and ‘star lawyer’ Mary Anne Roff, who specialises in contentious matters and is developing a strong reputation in the energy sector. She and Michael Conroy Harris recently acted for FMC Technologies in a £13m dispute.

Ralph Wrighton leads the two-partner team at Ward Hadaway. It recently advised Redcar and Cleveland Council on a regeneration project agreement with the Environment Agency, and also acted on the development programme of a leading supermarket. Clients include Aldi, Asda and Cleveland Potash.

At Archers Law LLP, Christopher Todd and Patrick Quigley have ‘excellent knowledge and attention to detail’. They recently advised on various land acquisitions.

Jonathan Marshall is the key partner at Burnetts, and is praised for his ‘very broad experience in construction law’.

Martin Solomon leads the ‘invaluable’ team at Hay & Kilner. Associate Graham Sutton has ‘vast knowledge of the construction industry’, and is ‘calm, logical and methodical’. He recently defended an engineering company in proceedings brought by a subcontractor in Germany.

Hilary Parker is now the key contact at Sintons LLP following Jamie Corcoran’s move to an in-house position.

Environment

Dickinson Dees LLP’s team is led by Stuart Wardlaw, and advises national and multinational clients in the manufacturing, waste management and public sectors. Highlights include advising a leading retailer on a major internal investigation into waste management issues.

Ward Hadaway’s Neil Robson recently acted for Niramix in a judicial review against Hartlepool Borough Council in relation to objections to a landfill site run by the company. Other clients include Northumbrian Water and Northumberland National Park. Regulatory lawyer Richard Arnot joined from Watson Burton LLP.

Tim Hill is the Newcastle-based contact at Eversheds LLP, and recently acted for a multinational pharmaceutical company in relation to an Environmental Agency investigation.

Hay & Kilner’s Paul Taylor advises on environmental risks, reports and warranties.

Jacksons Law’s Simon Catterall is noted for his defence of environmental and regulatory prosecutions.

Paul Liddle is the contact for environmental issues at Sintons LLP.

Planning

Dickinson Dees LLP’s Claire Brook is ‘down to earth and approachable’, and noted for her expertise in waste planning. The ten-fee-earner team is also active in the energy and renewables sector, and has been advising on a range of housebuilding and redevelopment projects. It continues to advise Hartlepool Borough Council on housing market renewal projects, and acted for multiple claimants objecting to proposals for Blyth Town Centre.

Ward Hadaway has ‘excellent in-depth knowledge of local and national legal planning matters’, handling public sector, commercial and heritage work. It recently assisted County Life Homes in a village green application, and Northumberland Estates in an agricultural succession case. Neil Robson and Robin Atkin have ‘strong legal skills’, and Michelle Spark has ‘an impressive grasp of the law’.

Muckle LLP’s Jonathan Combe is ‘conscientious, knowledgeable and focused’. He recently advised Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on the £70m development of a new hospital. The team was boosted by the arrival of Adrian Hill from Eversheds LLP.

Watson Burton LLP’s ‘well-informed’ team recently advised Bellway Homes on the development of 400 dwellings, and Mansion Group on s106 agreements. Practice head Bryan Riley is praised for his ‘breadth and depth of knowledge, based on extensive experience’.

Eversheds LLP’s ‘responsive’ team has ‘in-depth sectoral knowledge’, in areas such as onshore and offshore wind farms and biomass schemes. Clients include EDF Energy Renewables and Sunderland City Council. The ‘excellent’ Peter Nesbit has ‘intricate knowledge on detailed matters relating to s106 and the CIL Regulations’.

At Burnetts, planning partner Douglas Claxton ‘mixes the human touch with an incisive mind and a wonderfully understated manner’.

Chris Checkley continues as a planning consultant at Sintons LLP. He and Paul Liddle recently advised on a compulsory purchase order.

Property litigation

The ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Jen Smurthwaite leads the property litigation practice at Dickinson Dees LLP, with areas of focus including leasehold management services, tenancy enforcement matters and agricultural litigation.

Eversheds LLP recently acted for Northumberland Estates in a service charge dispute, and defended Papa Johns against a negligent misrepresentation claim by a franchisee.

At Watson Burton LLP, Richard Pickersgill has ‘extensive knowledge’, and leads a team bolstered by the arrival of Gavin Winter from Sintons LLP. Its recent work includes advising landlords on claims for dilapidation and breaches of covenant.

Martin Soloman’s team at Hay & Kilner mainly acts for housing management companies, on matters such as rooting defects and unauthorised sub-letting.

Muckle LLP acts for landlords and tenants, and recently won UK Land Estates Limited and North East Property Partnership as new clients. Jason Wainwright provides an ‘exceptional service’.

Sintons LLP saw the departure of Gavin Winter to Watson Burton LLP, although this was offset by the arrival of dispute resolution partner Graeme Ritzema.

Ward Hadaway acts for a mix of private and public sector clients, such as Stockton Borough Council and Barratt Homes. ‘Conscientious’ associate Jeremy Hardy is the key contact.

Social housing

Dickinson Dees LLP’s multi-disciplinary team is headed by Russell Hall. It recently advised the founders of the Brunswick Housing PFI Project on the final stages of a £118m bid for the refurbishment of 600 properties. Other clients include the Guinness Trust, Places for People and Home Group.

Eversheds LLP acted for Home Group and Galliford Try in their joint venture to partner with Gateshead Council in the development of 19 housing sites. Other clients include Bellway, Family Mosaic Housing and Anchor Trust. Department head Mitch Brown ‘is exceptional – he has a broad understanding of all aspects of corporate, property and social housing law’.

DWF LLP acted on a number of site acquisitions for Endeavour Housing Association, and on various tenancy enforcement matters for Isos Housing. It was recently appointed by Home Group to advise on claims relating to allegations of disrepair.

Hilary Parker is the key contact at Sintons LLP, and is the chair of Three Rivers Housing Association.

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