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DLA Piper UK LLP is a ‘quality outfit’, and has considerable cross-border capabilities. Its headline deals included advising Intertek Group on its £450m acquisition of Moody International, and acting for Dignity in a return of cash to shareholders by a B and C share scheme. Other clients include Scripps Network, Compass Group UK and Ireland, and Business Growth Fund. Mark Beardmore is ‘calm and measured’, and Charles Cook is ‘pragmatic’. At associate level, Tim Lake is ‘diligent’, and Ceri Williams Jones provides ‘clear and concise advice’.

Eversheds LLP is a ‘"one-stop shop" for comprehensive pan-European legal advice’. The team is experienced in complex deals, recently acting for Sims Group in its acquisition of Dunn Brothers and for E.ON UK in its sale of Corby Power to ESB International. Its impressive roster of clients includes Mitchells & Butlers, National Grid, Rolls-Royce and HSBC Private Equity. James Trevis is ‘practical and commercial’, and Keri Rees is ‘hardworking and bright’. The ‘commercial and robust’ team is also recommended for its private equity expertise.

Gateley’s ‘top-notch’ team includes the ‘commercial and solutions-driven’ Michael Ward and Simon Gill; the ‘very capable’ Tom Durrant; and the ‘very pragmatic’ Paul Hayward. It advised Education Development International on Pearson’s recommended cash offer of £112.7m; and also acted for the management team of Learn Direct in the company’s £40m MBO. E.ON and Redrow Homes are also clients. The firm regularly advises on outsourcing and collaboration agreements.

Pinsent Masons LLP fields an experienced corporate and commercial team, with key individuals including Andrew Hornigold, who is recognised for his expertise in the technology sector; and the ‘experienced and effective’ David Stevenson, who is recommended for his capital markets work. The team is also rated for its experience in renewables and healthcare. An impressive roster of clients includes Homeserve, Saint-Gobain, Tate & Lyle, and CareTech Holdings. A recent deal highlight was advising the management team of The Binding Site on the company’s sale to private equity investor Nordic.

Wragge & Co LLP has a ‘very commercially adept team’ that regularly advises on large, multi-jurisdictional transactions. It includes the ‘calm and measured’ Jeremy Millington; Julian Henwood, who is recommended for his equity capital markets work; and Neil Pearson, who is noted for his venture capital experience. The practice acted for the management team on the sale of Phones 4u to private equity house BC Partners. Key areas of expertise include the automotive and financial services sectors, and clients include Premier Foods, Automatic Data Processing and Lloyds TSB Development Capital. Edward Dawes is now at Squire Sanders LLP, and Dominic Roberts also left the firm.

SGH Martineau LLP’s ‘extremely thorough’ team is regularly involved in complex deals with an energy/utility sector focus, and is notable for its experience in investment fund formations and fundraisings. The firm acted as lead legal adviser to RTI International Metals in its purchase of the advanced titanium forming business operated by Aeromet International. The ‘understated’ Richard Wrigley is highly regarded. Clients include Aberystwyth University, Octopus Investments and Menzies Hotels.

Squire Sanders LLP was bolstered by the addition of the ‘thorough’ Edward Dawes (formerly of Wragge & Co LLP) as the new head of its corporate team. Peter McLintock is ‘pragmatic’, and Stuart James is noted for his expertise in joint ventures in the healthcare sector. The Birmingham team led the advice to Advanced Medical Solutions on its €64m acquisition of Resorba, a multi-jurisdictional deal valued at €64m. The firm was appointed to the Aspen Healthcare panel.

Browne Jacobson LLP provides ‘practical, not pedantic’ advice, and acts for a range of corporates, insurers, charities and public sector bodies; notable names include The National Trust and Mace. The ‘commercially minded’ Roger Birchall led the team in advising Lloyds Development Capital on its investment in Angel Springs. Jo Bligh has left the firm to set up her own practice.

At Cobbetts LLP, Mark Gibson ‘gets to the nub of issues quickly’, and Nigel Gardner is ‘very knowledgeable’. The team advised Orvec International on a series of high-value supply contracts, in many cases from tender stage through to completion. Other clients include Novelis, De Vere Group, and UK Drainage Network. Charles Bond has left the firm.

The team at Mills & Reeve LLP provides ‘insightful, first-class advice’, and had a busy year, with client gains including RAC Motoring Services and Toyota Tsusho. It has a ‘deep knowledge of the healthcare market in the UK’, and advised Allied Healthcare on the acquisition of the business and assets of the homecare business of Sue Ryder. Julian Smith is recommended, and Tim Winn is the other key contact. Other clients include Bupa and Karndean International.

Shakespeares’ partners attract many accolades. Andrew Smith stands out as a ‘“City” lawyer’; and Gary Davie and Keith Spedding are ‘technically highly competent’. The team is experienced in the healthcare and financial services sectors, and is increasingly instructed on larger deals. Clients include Cambridge Manufacturing Company and BW Pharma. The team acted for the shareholders on the sale of Creative Tops to Lifetime Brands.

Shoosmiths has a strong and wide-ranging corporate and commercial offering. It acted for Cambridge University Press on its multimillion-pound outsourcing arrangement with DHL, and also advised Dudley MBC on its £30m-£60m outsourcing of a fully managed ICT service across 108 schools in the West Midlands. Iron Mountain is also a client. Martin Letza is available ‘24/7’, and David Jackson is appreciated for his ‘robust but fair negotiation style’.

Clarke Willmott LLP acts for Kumho Tyre (UK) and Integrated Publishing Solutions. Andrew Beedham is highly rated for his private equity and joint venture work. Tony Powles focuses on owner-managed businesses and small and medium enterprises.

Harvey Ingram LLP’s focus is on owner-managed/family businesses and their funders. The ‘very professional’ Mathew Harvey recently led the advice to the US acquiror of the business and assets of Camloc Motion Control. Simon Bates is recommended on the commercial side. Rick Smyth is now at The Wilkes Partnership, and Heidi Hendon has also left the firm.

Hill Hofstetter LLP’s clients include a FTSE 250 international packaging company and a leading brokerage house. The team also advised a major listed German engineering company on a long-term contract to supply materials to the UK’s nuclear industry. Christopher Hill heads the team, and the ‘pragmatic’ Peter Seary is also recommended.

The Wilkes Partnership advises on the full range of corporate and commercial matters, from agency and distribution agreements to M&A deals. Gareth O’Hara is a primary contact, and Rick Smyth joined the team from Harvey Ingram LLP.

Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP has expertise in the public and third sectors, acting for clients such as Derwent Living, The Binding Site Corporation and Sense. Sarah Webb heads the team.

The ‘very experienced’ Malford Harris is a key contact at Challinors Solicitors. The team has particular experience in logistics contracts, and counts Natural England, Ember Television and Melton Mowbray Building Society as clients.

At Irwin Mitchell, senior associate Mark Neale is recommended on the commercial side. Former head of department Paul Wakefield has left the firm.

Sydney Mitchell LLP has been reviewing public procurement policies for various educational establishments. Significant clients include Comau, Estil and Conex Universal. John Irving is ‘extremely conscientious’.

Weightmans LLP’s strengths lie in the public and health sectors. In the private sector, it focuses on small and medium enterprises, and turnaround matters. Gareth Griffiths is recommended.

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Legal Developments in West Midlands for Corporate and commercial: Birmingham

  • US rules regarding offshore accounts

    The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act 2010, enacted on 18 March 2010, imposes a new US withholding tax and reporting regime, known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA). The FATCA regime applies generally to payments made after 31 December 2012, except on obligations (to be defined in future guidance) outstanding on 18 March 2012. Substantial effort is required by foreign entities to bring their worldwide operations and policies into compliance with the FATCA rules as of the effective date.

    - Jones Day

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