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Beswicks Solicitors LLP has a large team and a diverse practice, with notable expertise in sports-related disputes. ‘Thorough’ practice head Graham Neyt is an ‘able negotiator’; Stephen Taylor is ‘very organised’; and Matthew Simmonds has been promoted to partner. The firm advised Twyford Bathrooms in a claim against RAK Ceramics UK alleging infringement of various unregistered design rights. Other clients include Burnley FC and JCB Group.

FBC Manby Bowdler LLP has a team of 18 dedicated litigators, and acts for household names including Carillion, Marston’s and Savills. Practice head Guy Birkett ‘does not sit on the fence’, and Brian Aikman provides ‘clear explanations’. The firm acted for a minority shareholder in a complex unfair prejudice petition; and for the applicant in injunction proceedings and a related damages claim for over £2m.

George Green LLP has a diverse practice, and experience in complex litigation. It recently advised De Montfort Fine Art in a claim for damages resulting from a breach of a supply agreement; the case went to the Court of Appeal. Other key clients include West Bromwich Commercial and a major player in the international scrap metal and recycling industry. The ‘excellent’ Neil Williams, an accredited mediator, has considerable experience in handling search orders.

Harrison Clark LLP has the ‘experienced and very competent’ Richard Morgan (a deputy district judge) and Andrew Cave. The team has considerable adjudication and mediation expertise, and counts Tarmac and British Red Cross as clients. Recent highlights include negotiating the settlement of a shareholder dispute for a major client, and acting in tax dispute arising out of a charitable donation. Newly promoted partner Elizabeth Beatty is an ‘astute lawyer’.

Higgs & Sons is a ‘professional and sleek outfit, while retaining its friendly atmosphere’. The ‘reliable’ team handles a diverse caseload, recently acting in product liability, passing off and negligent misstatement cases. Clients include Saint-Gobain, Avis Rent A Car, and London and Cambridge Properties. Julia Lowe is decisive and articulate’, and Gavin Faber is ‘first class’.

Knights solicitors llp acts for Pizza Hut UK, Dualit and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. Highlights included advising a firm of accountants in a £900,000 dispute. The team has notable minerals expertise, and acted in a number of claims under the Commercial Agency Regulations. Andrew Davidson heads the team and is a ‘safe pair of hands’; and Richard Jones’ advice is ‘clear and concise’.

Wright Hassall LLP’s five-partner practice is highly rated. The team is acting in a £2.4m claim for Daventry and District Housing Association in a ten-day trial in the High Court, and also acted in two substantial arbitrations and had three cases in the Court of Appeal in 2011. Consultant Andrew Spooner is ‘very experienced and very calm’, and practice head Sarah Perry is also recommended. Active clients include Tumble Tots UK and British Showjumping.

At Freeth Cartwright LLP, Stephen Hadley recently acted for a substantial owner-managed business which had to be taken back into family control following a substantial fraud by its former managing director. Associate solicitor Tim Calloway is also recommended.

Hawkins Hatton Corporate Lawyers Limited is ‘very proactive’, with the ‘calm and commercially aware’ Harminder Sandhu recommended. The team acts for a large number of manufacturing and construction companies, and has considerable experience in minority shareholder claims.

The ‘very commercially aware’ Brian Evans leads the team at Lanyon Bowdler, which is a panel firm for the NFU Legal Assistance Scheme. Evans continues to act for Dodd Group (Midlands) and other group companies on payment disputes. Andrew Pegg recently advised Zwanenberg Food UK in a major dispute.

mfg Solicitors LLP advises on a broad spectrum of issues, from shareholder and partnership disputes to insolvency-related matters. Tom Esler is ‘very experienced’, and Suzanne Lee ‘highly competent’.

The ‘dynamic and results-driven’ Patrick Tedstone leads the team at ORJ Solicitors LLP. The firm acted for the claimant in a warranty dispute under a share purchase agreement, in Puricore plc v Misonics Inc.

Alsters Kelley LLP’s team works closely with the firm’s commercial and private client departments. Associate John Simister is the main contact.

Ansons LLP’s focus is on construction, IP and commercial property disputes. The team continues to advise Marston’s. Associate Martin de Ridder is the primary contact.

Band Hatton LLP’s team is led by Jonathan Wilby. It handles a varied caseload for the firm’s commercial property, charities and education clients.

At Martin Kaye LLP Solicitors, Graham Davies leads a team handling cases ranging from product liability matters to shareholder disputes. Andrew Oranjuik, who has a ‘great eye for detail’, joined from Harvey Ingram LLP.

Recent work for QualitySolicitors Talbots includes assisting a national accounting network organisation in a dispute over an agency and marketing agreement. Derek Simmonds is the contact partner.

At Thursfields, the ‘knowledgeable’ Mark Pittaway ‘genuinely seems to care’. The team advises insolvency practitioners on issues such as unfair prejudice and wrongful trading, and has expertise in mediation.

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