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Higgs & Sons’ ‘highly skilled team’ had a busy year. It is handling property work for over 70 McDonald’s franchisees, and is on its panel for franchisee-to-franchisee restaurant sales. Other clients include London & Cambridge Properties, Avis Rent A Car and, on the property finance side, National Westminster Bank and RBS. Peter Coleman and Sara Shepherd are ‘experienced’, and Jon Austin ‘gets the deal done’.

Knights solicitors llp’s specialist minerals practice continues to thrive, advising major clients such as Hanson Building Products and Tarmac. The group also represents a number of football clubs, and is advising Stoke City FC on the development of its multimillion-pound training facilities. Other clients include Phones 4u, Keele University, Staffordshire Housing Association, and new gain Paddy Power. Glenda Miller and Richard Lashmore are joint heads of department.

Wright Hassall LLP’s work is ‘on a par with the big London firms’. It is acting for Chase Commercial on the redevelopment of a large site in Bromsgrove, and is providing ongoing advice to BMW and JC Decaux (UK). It has niche expertise in advising science parks. The ‘commercially astute’ Nick Abell heads the team, which includes the ‘first-class’ Humphrey Halford; David Slade, who ‘gets the deal done’; and Eleanor Deady, who joined from Cobbetts LLP.

FBC Manby Bowdler LLP’s nine-partner practice is particularly strong in the retail sector, acting for clients including Claire’s Accessories and Halfords. It also has considerable ecclesiastical law expertise, and regularly advises The Diocese of Lichfield on property matters. A recent highlight was advising a major bank on a large-scale remortgage. David Grove provides ‘solid advice’, and David Lucas is ‘very knowledgeable’. Former practice head Kevin Styles is now at George Green LLP.

Janet James is a primary contact at Shakespeares, and has considerable expertise in the utility sector and windfarm development. The firm is on National Grid’s legal panel, and also has a significant number of commercial development and private investor clients. Richard Cox is also recommended.

Ansons LLP’s team is led by the ‘approachable’ Simon James, who provides ‘sound advice’. It acted on numerous property transactions for Marston’s. Sarah Popp acts for a number of major plcs, including Serco and Dunnhumby (part of the Tesco group).

Derek Morris is the primary contact at Freeth Cartwright LLP following David Jones’ departure from the firm. Recent highlights include acting on the property aspects of the reorganisation of a national pottery company.

George Green LLP’s well-regarded team continues to act for Dudley College on its £30m relocation from five existing sites to a new town centre campus. Kevin Styles (formerly of FBC Manby Bowdler LLP) now heads the team; Ceri Mort is no longer at the firm.

Caroline Irvine is the key contact at Harrison Clark LLP, and has particular expertise in landlord and tenant matters. Recent highlights included assisting a timber products company in exchanging an agreement for lease within a tight timescale.

Lanyon Bowdler regularly advises on site assembly and infrastructure agreements. Andrew Evans led the property advice to Coverage Care Services on the acquisition of a large portfolio of care homes. The Shrewsbury team is dealing with a £30m property refinancing.

Lodders Solicitors LLP is ‘very responsive and attentive’. The ‘fast and accurate’ Nick East heads the team, which acted for IM Properties in the £22m purchase of Purley Way Retail Park. The ‘hugely enthusiastic’ Mark Lee heads the investment team. Stephen Baker is ‘unflappable’.

Band Hatton LLP assists Allied Irish Bank (GB) with its property portfolio, and also advised on the acquisition of a £5m farm in East Anglia. Philip Costigan is the key contact.

The ‘knowledgeable’ Mary Anderson heads the team at Brethertons LLP. It acted for various developers and banks on the funding of new commercial property developments in the healthcare and hotel sectors, and also acted for numerous landowners on large-scale residential schemes.

Keelys LLP advises on the full gamut of commercial property issues, from site acquisitions and disposals to adverse possession and party wall/boundary disputes. James Chisholm heads the department.

The team at ORJ Solicitors LLP is led by Richard Egan. It completed the acquisition of two long leasehold interests for a large furniture retail company, and acted for Finning (UK) in the multimillion-pound acquisition of development land in Cannock.

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