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: Exeter-based partner Antony Lee leads the ‘knowledgeable and responsive team‘ at Ashfords LLP. He delivers ‘practical advice given in a clear, jargon-free manner‘. Clients include Lloyds TSB, National Grid Gas plc and South West Water. Managing partner David Beadel leads the Plymouth team. Exeter-based sports specialist Rory Mac Neice is also recommended.

Tim Richards leads the two-partner team at Michelmores LLP, which is consistently praised by clients for its high level of industry awareness. It has specialised experience in IT and IP disputes: recent highlights include advising one of the country’s leading sports events organisers in prosecuting a trade mark infringement action against an international sports company. Simon Barnett has particular expertise in acting for higher education institutions dealing with professional negligence and commercial litigation claims.

Praised for the ‘clarity of his advice‘, the ‘approachable and personable‘ Gareth Kagan is the national head of litigation for Bond Pearce LLP. Key clients include the Post Office and Hutchison 3G UK.

David Turner leads the growing eight-partner team at Foot Anstey, which in 2008 recruited several associates from Bond Pearce LLP. Headline clients include Columbus Financial Advisers, Hitachi Capital and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). Tony Jaffa is renowned for his contentious IP experience. Truro-based Toby Claridge and Exeter-based Angus McNicol are also recommended.

Stephens Scown fields an ‘exceptional‘ six-partner practice led by the ‘unfailingly knowledgeable, competent and efficient‘ Chris Harper in Exeter and Philip Snell in St Austell. Associate Brian Dolan heads work in Truro. Noteworthy clients include Friends Provident Group, South West Regional Development Agency, Fulfords Estate Agents and St Austell Brewery Co.

Chris Lingard leads Follett Stock’s two-partner team. In 2008, the team advised on disputes valued at £40m.

James Cross is a ‘hard-nosed, pragmatic litigator‘ who heads the three-partner team at Kitson Hutchings Solicitors. ‘Gifted deal-maker‘ Andrew Perkins displays ‘well-developed commercial acumen in getting to the root of a problem‘.

Stephen Wray has significant property litigation experience, and leads Porter Dodson’s ‘impressive‘ two-partner team.

The Stokes Partnership’s highly regarded commercial dispute resolution team is led by managing partner Michael Williamson.

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Legal Developments in South West for Commercial litigation: The West Country

  • Coalition government’s plan for tax reform

    The Coalition Agreement made between the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, published on 20 May 2010, together with the Queen’s Speech delivered on 25 May 2010, contained several proposals for tax reform, which in the government’s view are aimed at creating a fairer and simpler taxation system. The tax measures that have been proposed widely reflect most of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat manifesto pledges, though the scope of a few of the measures has been reduced.
    - Jones Day

Legal Developments in South West

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Non-performing Loans: Federal Fiscal Court Submits Case to the ECJ regarding VAT Treatment

    GSK Stockmann & Kollegen has released an update explaining a case involving the VAT treatment of nonperforming loans that the German Federal Fiscal Court referred to the European Court of Justice.
    - GSK Gassner Stockmann & Kollegen

  • Company & Commercial - Germany

    In a series of judgments the German courts have subjected directors of UK limited companies with 'centres of main interest' (COMI) in Germany to German insolvency law. In its judgment of September 24 2009 the Berlin Higher Regional Court held that the director of an UK limited liability company whose COMI is situated in Berlin was personally liable for payments made after the company has become insolvent or overindebted, as set out in Section 64, Paragraph 2 (now Paragraph 1) of the Act on Limited Liability Companies.
    - GSK Gassner Stockmann & Kollegen

  • NEW UKRAINIAN LAW TO PROTECT PERSONAL DATA

    The Law of Ukraine “On Personal Data Protection” (“Law”) comes into effect on 1 January 2011. The Law contains a number of important provisions regarding the protection of personal data (“PD”) being processed and concerns both individuals and legal entities. The Law provides general and specific requirements to companies processing their personal databases (“PDB”).
    - Astapov Lawyers International Law Group

  • New Law on Public Private Partnership in Ukraine

    The President of Ukraine has signed the Law On Public Private Partnership (PPP Law) which was adopted by the Parliament of Ukraine on July 1, 2010. The law enters into force in three months after its official publication.
    - Astapov Lawyers International Law Group

  • Tax Litigation Rules Changed

    Within the course of ongoing judicial reform several important changes to litigation procedures in administrative courts became effective on 30 July 2010. Below we discuss impact of changes on tax litigation in administrative courts.
    - Magisters

  • Liabilities of Directors of an Investment Fund

    The current turmoil in the investment fund industry has particularly drawn the attention of professionals, including "Directors", to the liabilities they may incur in the framework of their duties as director of an investment vehicle.
    - Noble & Scheidecker

  • Limiting immigration - interim measures, exceptional consideration and Government consultation

    On 19 July 2010 the UK Border Agency (UKBA) started to implement interim limits on non-EU economic migration under tiers 1 and 2 of the points based system. UKBA states that the aim of these measures is to achieve an overall reduction of 5% in the number of applicants in these categories compared to the equivalent period last year. This interim limit will run from 19 July 2010 to 31 March 2011. In April 2011 the Government intends to be in a position to implement new immigration policies following the current consultation exercise.
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Regulation on Pre-Notification of Mergers, Consolidations and Acquisitions in Indonesia

    Mergers, consolidations and acquisitions are three means commonly used by businesses, among other things, to expand and increase their efficiency. They can also attract the attention of competition regulators, as these types of transactions can result in an increase of concentration in the relevant market, which may eventually result in the occurrence of monopolistic practices and/or unfair business competition, as defined by the relevant laws.
    - Makarim & Taira S.

  • ENFORCEMENT OF AN INTERNATIONAL/FOREIGN ARBITRATION AWARD

    Requirements and Procedures under the Arbitration Law
    - Makarim & Taira S.

  • Sentencing guidelines for corporate manslaughter

    In February 2010 the Sentencing Guidelines Council (the SGC) issued definitive guidelines to courts on imposing appropriate sentences for corporate manslaughter and health and safety offences causing death. The SGC states that fines imposed on companies found guilty of corporate manslaughter should not fall below £500,000, while fines in respect of health and safety offences that are a significant cause of death should be at least £100,000. Crucially, the SGC declined to provide for a fixed link between the imposed fine and the turnover or profitability of the offending company.

    - DLA Piper UK LLP

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