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IT and telecoms

Burges Salmon LLP’s IT group is ‘extremely responsive, client focused and commercially astute’. Its clients include Coca-Cola HBC and Standard Chartered, which it represents on large and complex technology transactions. The team advised First Great Western on four related projects worth £25m to procure new integrated customer information systems and CCTV equipment. Andrew Dunlop heads the team.

James Mullock heads an eight-partner practice at Osborne Clarke, which won new clients including British Gas to add to the likes of Hewlett-Packard and Motorola. The team advised Wales and West Utilities in appointing a systems integrator for the procurement of gas distribution networks software. The team is ‘commercial and attentive’, with ‘well-tuned business antennae and industry experience’.

TLT LLP has ‘strength in depth across all disciplines’. James Touzel’s team advised the Metropolitan Police Authority on the procurement of mobile telephony services, and also acts for WHSmith, Channel 5, The Co-operative and new client Tata Technologies.

Bond Pearce LLP’s team advised Hutchison 3G UK on joining the VocaLink pay-as-you-go mobile top-up service, and English Heritage on outsourcing its ICT support services. Royal Mail Group is another client. Bristol-based Gareth Jones heads the team.

Garry Mackay’s group at Ashfords LLP advised De La Rue Holdings on its global WAN and telephony outsourcing deal with Reliance. It also assisted Thames Water on the potential outsourcing of its IT services. Pennon Group is also a client.

Rehman Noormohamed at Michelmores LLP displays ‘business acumen and tenacity’ in representing clients such as Landmark Information Group and Devon County Council. The team assisted Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in procuring and replacing a command and control system, and advised Cornwall Council on selecting an investor to deliver broadband access to the county. Tim Richards is recommended for IT disputes.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards advised RCUK Shared Services Centre on a £130m project involving the complete delivery of centralised shared services centre systems and technology. Key clients include the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, RCUK, and Atrium Software. Team head Jonathan Oddy joined from Manches LLP.

Beachcroft’s Helen Simpson is recommended for high-value, complex outsourcing projects.

Foot Anstey’s Edmund Probert ‘ goes the extra mile’ for clients.

BPE Solicitors LLP’s service meets the ‘very top of expectations’. In particular, Jason Stratford-Lysandrides is ‘competent, articulate, thorough, plain talking and very approachable’.

Bevan Brittan LLP’s team head Martin Carroll is ‘professional and personable’.

Clark Holt’s Jeremy Holt provides an ‘excellent and faultless’ service. Clients include Shopatron UK and Tempora Software.

Tim Walker’s three-partner team at Rickerbys LLP adopts a ‘pragmatic, business-savvy approach’. Its clients include The Dezac Group and Bristol Training Solutions.

Andrew Braithwaite heads the team at Thrings LLP, which represents EnSilica and Eduserve among others.

Withy King LLP’s Jessica Bent is ‘very efficient and on schedule’. Clients include Triumph International and Anderson Dynamics.

Steer & Co’s Rebecca Steer is ‘flexible and responsive’. The team’s expertise includes semiconductor and software matters.

Intellectual property

Bond Pearce LLP’s clients include B&Q, Royal Mail, English Heritage and new client Qinetiq. It provides J Sainsbury with a legal audit service for all of its grey market trading, including trade mark analysis, and assisted Marks & Spencer in IP litigation. Tom Phipps heads the team.

Burges Salmon LLP’s team is ‘consistently responsive, accessible and well placed to deploy required resources’. It advised The Carbon Trust on IP matters regarding Pyrolysis Challenge, and the University of Bristol on establishing and operating the National Composites Centre. Other clients include Harrods, the Virgin Group, and Discovery Communications Europe. Jeremy Dickerson and practice head Helen Scott-Lawler are recommended.

Osborne Clarke’s high-profile clients include Marks & Spencer, Mulberry Group, Microsoft and new gain Toni & Guy. The team advised Eurostar on the IP aspects of its rebranding. Clare Robinson heads the practice, with Sean Jauss leading on the non-contentious side.

James Touzel heads TLT LLP’s group, which represents several well-known brands, including Comparethemarket.com. Parragon Publishing is another client, and the team also advised Peacocks Stores and BonMarche on IP and design right matters.

Mark Lomas heads the practice at Ashfords LLP, which recently acted for Wasabi Frog on various trade mark filings, enforcement actions, oppositions and design infringement claims, and also advised the South West Grid for Learning Trust on the protection and exploitation of IP rights in E-Learning and E-Safety. Penhaligon’s, the perfume house, is another client.

Michelmores LLP represents the University of Plymouth, which it assisted with its IP commercialisation partner selection project. The team also acted for the Office for National Statistics in producing IP licence agreement templates. Rehman Noormohamed provides ‘timely and strategic’ advice, and is ‘extremely supportive’.

Veale Wasbrough Vizards’ clients include Airbus Operations, Clarks Shoes, and Weston Cider. The team also advised Hills Group on the IP aspects of a planned new mechanical biological treatment plant. The ‘excellent’ Doug Locke heads the team, which also includes Jonathan Oddy, who joined from Manches LLP.

Alan Pratt at Beachcroft is recommended.

Charles Russell LLP’s Patrick Gearon offers ‘clear, commercially focused’ advice.

Foot Anstey’s IP team is ‘excellent on all counts’, with Marlene Howels particularly recommended.

Humphreys & Co. offers ‘expert advice’, and Robert Humphreys is recommended.

BPE Solicitors LLP’s Iain Garfield is recommended.

Tim Walker is recommended at Rickerbys LLP.

Roxburgh Milkins LLP’s Ian Grimley is recommended.

Andrew Braithwaite is noted at Thrings LLP.

The ‘excellent, very efficient’ Jessica Bent heads the team at Withy King LLP.

Lucy Morgan is recommended at Follett Stock.

Mark Lello has notable patent expertise, and heads Parker Bullen LLP’s ‘very professional’ team.

At Steer & Co, the ‘conscientious’ Rebecca Steer is recommended for copyright matters.

Media and entertainment

Foot Anstey’s ‘excellent, empathetic, quick and reliable’ team represents Associated Newspapers, Northcliffe Media, and Odeon Cinemas. Chris Worrell heads the team, in which the ‘proactive’ Tony Jaffa – a major player in the industry – and the ‘knowledgeable, clear and helpful’ Cathryn Smith are also recommended.

‘Great across the board’, TLT LLP has an focus on digital media, particularly developing media platforms. Clients include Channel 5, Macedonian Radio and Television, and Comparethemarket.com. Team head James Touzel is ‘highly diligent’ and ‘very customer focused’.

Burges Salmon LLP’s team is led by Jeremy Dickerson. It acted for Discovery Communications Europe in trade mark infringement matters, and for Bristol City FC regarding the staging of live events.

Jessica Bent heads the team at Withy King LLP, which represents Matthew Digital/Hanfrageo Holdings and Leiths School of Food and Wine.

Sport

Rory Mac Neice’s team at Ashfords LLP is appreciated for its ‘quality, efficiency and knowledge’, and includes Jamie Horner, who is ‘efficient and professional’ and produces ‘real solutions’. Clients include jockey Frankie Dettori, Exeter Chiefs RFC and the Racecourse Association.

Clarke Willmott LLP’s team is led by the highly regarded Trevor Watkins. It acted for the owner of Bristol City FC in relation to plans for a new stadium, and for The Jockey Club in setting up a ‘Champions League’ of races. Other clients include Bath Rugby, Cheltenham Racecourse and numerous football clubs.

Burges Salmon LLP’s ‘highly regarded’ team is headed by Jeremy Dickerson, who provides ‘clear, sound’ advice to clients including the Racecourse Association, Newbury Racecourse, Bristol City FC and Bath Rugby.

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