United Kingdom > Yorkshire and the Humber > Corporate and commercial
Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Leeds
- DLA Piper UK LLP Leeds
- Eversheds LLP Leeds
- Pinsent Masons LLP Leeds
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Leeds
- Walker Morris Leeds
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- Cobbetts LLP Leeds
- Gordons LLP Leeds, Bradford
- Schofield Sweeney Leeds, Bradford
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- Clarion Leeds
- DWF LLP Leeds
- Denison Till York
- Dickinson Dees LLP York
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Leeds
- Langleys York
- Lupton Fawcett LLP Leeds
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- Harrowells LLP York
- Last Cawthra Feather LLP Bradford, Shipley, Ilkley
- Lee & Priestley LLP Leeds
- The Needle Partnership LLP Leeds
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- Bridge McFarland Lincoln
- Brooke North LLP Leeds
- Davidson Large Harrogate
- Keeble Hawson Leeds
- Levi Solicitors LLP Leeds
- McCormicks Harrogate
- Ramsdens Huddersfield
- Shulmans Leeds
- Ward Hadaway Leeds
- Watson Burton LLP Leeds
Addleshaw Goddard LLP continues to attract national clients, and is noted for its ‘excellent advice and service’. Significant recent mandates include advising the selling shareholders of discount greetings card retailer Card Factory on the £350m sale of the company to Charterhouse. Benefiting from its strong track record in financial services, it was the only firm in the region to advise on every building society merger in 2010. Practice head Yunus Seedat ‘combines outstanding technical ability with real commercial flair and a pragmatic approach’. Neil Woolhouse and the ‘highly experienced’ Simon Pilling are also highly recommended.
The team at DLA Piper UK LLP is ‘strong at all levels’, and ‘approachable, dedicated and brilliantly knowledgeable’. The firm’s international network has contributed to a steady flow of work from developed and emerging markets of late; these included significant deals such as the 11-jurisdiction acquisition of EMB Software for Towers Watson. Practice head Jonathan Proctor is ‘an outstanding M&A lawyer’, and John Gallon is ‘very good in negotiations with the other side’.
Eversheds LLP has a strong corporate client base, and delivers an ‘outstanding level of service’. It is regularly instructed in relation to matters including bank debt for corporate activity, secondary issues, internal group reorganisations and debt-for-equity swaps. Highlights included advising Spice on its £251m takeover by Cilantro Acquisitions, financed by Cinven. The firm also has expertise in advising international clients on acquiring UK companies, recently advising Swedish-based Securitas AB on its £43m acquisition of Reliance Security Services from Reliance Security Group. Robin Skelton heads the practice, and Amanda Partland is ‘a great communicator and terrific team leader who stays focused on all commitments’.
One of the market’s key players, Pinsent Masons LLP regularly acts opposite the Magic Circle and major US firms, and delivers ‘excellent value for money’ and ‘practical advice’. The firm’s strong background in mid-market M&A and public company work has attracted new clients including Go Ahead, the enlarged Friends Provident. 2010 highlights included the flotation of new investment vehicle Horizon, established by leading entrepreneurs including Pizza Express founder Hugh Osmond. The ‘excellent and responsive’ Andrew Kerr co-heads the department alongside Martin Priestley.
The ‘excellent’ team at Squire Sanders Hammonds ‘provides pragmatic advice’ and has ‘good industry knowledge’. A significant player in the local market, it has recently acted on a number of public/private refinancings of regeneration schemes. National clients include SpiriTel, ECI and Montague Private Equity. Steven Glover heads the team, and is noted for his ‘excellent commercial awareness’. Also recommended is Leeds office head Jonathan Jones, who focuses on private equity work.
The corporate team at Walker Morris enjoys huge respect, with a client list that includes Drax, Evans Property and Leeds Building Society. 2010 saw the team act on the major £778m takeover of Netto by Asda, in which the firm advised Dansk Supermarked. Other key mandates included advising Lloyds TSB and Svenska Handelsbanken on the balance sheet restructuring of Dyson. John Hamer has taken over as head of department from Peter Smart.
Cobbetts LLP’s practice is widely perceived as a go-to choice for medium-sized transactions, and provides ‘a good overall level of service’ and ‘value for money’. Key clients include EMIS Group and Mattioli Woods, with recent new client wins including Excel Industries and Numis. The team is headed by the ‘pragmatic’ Guy Jackson and ‘collaborative’ Mark Green.
Gordons LLP provides a ‘great service’ and ‘very practical advice’. It is a trusted adviser to supermarket giant Morrisons, while other key clients include the Card Factory and Brulines. Practice head John Holden is highly recommended.
Hailed as ‘the firm to watch’, Schofield Sweeney provides a ‘service far beyond what might ordinarily be expected’. It recently advised Headland Media on the strategic acquisition of Newslink Services. Chris Schofield heads the team, which includes the ‘outstanding’ David Strachan.
Clarion wins plaudits from clients and peers alike for its ‘outstanding’ practice, which is ‘highly client focused’ and offers ‘good value for money’. Recent client wins include Callcredit, Centrica and Kingspan. Christian Hunt is ‘personable and easy to work with’, and ‘highly informed about legal matters’. Richard Moran heads the team.
DWF LLP’s practice is ‘excellent on all fronts’, and continues to grow at an impressive rate. The team has the capacity to act on significant transactions, including IPO work, and counts Countrywide and Paragon Diamonds among its client base. Manchester-based Stephen Houston heads the team, which includes the highly esteemed Andrew Walker and ‘commercial and focused’ Lester Wilson.
Denison Till receives glowing feedback from clients for its ‘responsive, switched-on and proactive’ corporate practice. It recently advised on the restructuring of Yeovil Town FC. Alistair Duncan heads the department, and Andrew Lindsay and Martin Frost are ‘great legal experts with commercial understanding’.
Dickinson Dees LLP regularly acts on transactions for blue-chip clients, recently winning new instructions from Mount Engineering and York University. Philip Ashworth leads an experienced team that includes Alistair Scott-Somers and Matthew Smith.
Irwin Mitchell LLP receives positive reviews for its ‘excellent all-round service’. A choice firm for mid-tier work, it is increasingly involved in international deals. Practice head Kevin Cunningham divides his time between Leeds and Sheffield, and is ‘clear, concise, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with’.
The team at Langleys has been active in the M&A market, as well as advising clients on high-value commercial contracts. Recent work highlights include advising Animalcare on the sale of the business and assets of Ritchley and the share capital of Fearing International. Andy Kay heads the firm’s corporate finance practice.
Lupton Fawcett LLP is a well-regarded mid-tier firm, praised for its ‘excellent response times’ and ‘practical, commercial approach’. Bob Harrap heads the department and divides his time between Leeds and Sheffield. Michele Phillips is ‘a clear communicator and very dependable’. Clients include Mondi Group and Connaught Asset Management.
Harrowells LLP’s recent highlights include advising Coggles and NSA Ventures. Philip Lewis Ogden oversees the practice.
Last Cawthra Feather LLP’s ‘excellent’ practice is a popular choice for owner-managed businesses. Department head Susan Clark is ‘one of the most highly regarded lawyers in her field.’
Lee & Priestley LLP has particular expertise in the technology, care and pharmacy sectors. Managing partner Jonathan Oxley is recommended.
Up-and-coming firm The Needle Partnership LLP continues to impress with its ‘speed of delivery and accuracy of advice’. The team has particular expertise in cross-border work, under the guidance of the ‘very professional’ Sharon Needle.
Corporate and commercial: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Corporate and commercial: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
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- DLA Piper UK LLP Sheffield
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- Nabarro LLP Sheffield
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- HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP Sheffield
- Irwin Mitchell LLP Sheffield
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- Hill Dickinson LLP Sheffield
- Keeble Hawson Sheffield
- Taylor & Emmet LLP Sheffield
- Wake Smith & Tofields Sheffield
The team at DLA Piper UK LLP ‘goes above and beyond what is expected’, and is regularly instructed on high-value transactions. Recent highlights include acting for Mothercare on the strategic acquisition of its maternity brand Blooming Marvellous; and advising the shareholders on the sale of Sphinx Group to Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions. Richard May leads the practice, and Jon Kenworthy and Catherine Simister are also recommended.
At Nabarro LLP, the corporate team enjoys a solid reputation for its ‘in-depth knowledge’ and ‘commercial advice’. Key clients include United Biscuits, UK Coal, Mercedes and Ryanair. Among recent highlights was the firm’s role in the disposal of the entire issued share capital of DavyMarkham. New clients include HCA International, which instructed the firm on a joint venture with The Christie NHS Trust to deliver patient care. Practice head Ben Hendry is ‘superb in negotiations’ and ‘a real pleasure to work with’.
HLW Commercial Lawyers LLP has one of the largest corporate teams in Sheffield, headed by the firm’s managing partner Roger Dyson and with the added expertise of Nick Goulding. The group recently acted for Pressure Technologies in the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Al-Met from ABS Industrial Resources. It also advised on the £3.3m acquisition of Hydraton.
Irwin Mitchell LLP’s corporate offering in Sheffield includes Laurence Gavin, who is ‘very commercial and always helpful’, and James Bullock, who is ‘concise and knowledgeable’. The team ‘provides a good all-round service’, and was recently instructed by IVRCL Infrastructures and Projects on its acquisition of DavyMarkham.
Hill Dickinson LLP acquired the corporate practice of the now defunct Halliwells in 2010, described as ‘excellent on all counts’. While still in the process of re-establishing itself, it has seen some notable recent work, such as the sale of a majority stake in Hallam Beauty to Migros of Switzerland, in which the team represented GRI Group. Neil Thompson is ‘very experienced and commercial’
Keeble Hawson provides ‘good value for money’ and ‘appropriate, timely advice’. Highlights in 2010 included representing the shareholders in the £10.1m sale of SIA to CSE Global. Other clients include car dealer Stoneacre, Swinton Insurance and pharmaceuticals business Weldricks.
Taylor & Emmet LLP’s team is led by solicitor Peter Crawford, and displays ‘exceptional knowledge and ease’. In 2010, it completed an MBO transaction for the management team of chemical manufacturer Linston. Other highlights included advising the shareholders of Hamiltons Insolvency Practioners on its £1.2m sale to Begbies Traynor.
The team at Wake Smith & Tofields is ‘always efficient’ and ‘very competitively priced considering its depth of understanding’. It was recently involved in the acquisition by IT solutions provider B2Net of the Essant Group. Practice head John Baddeley is held in high regard, and is noted for his ‘professional negotiation skills’. David Ware and Michelle Hayward are also recommended.
Corporate and commercial: East Yorkshire and the Humber
Corporate and commercial: East Yorkshire and the Humber
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- Andrew Jackson Hull
- Gosschalks Hull
- Rollits LLP Hull, York
Andrew Jackson’s wide-ranging experience includes significant work in the dairy and food sector, including acting for Arla Foods on certain transactions and joint venture arrangements. 2010 highlights included advising Henderson Insurance Brokers on the acquisition of Denney O’Hara, and acting for the vendor on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Cherry Valley Farms to the Bangkok Ranch Group. Andrew Funnell heads the department, which includes the ‘solid, sound and professional’ Martin Whitehead.
Recent highlights for the team at Gosschalks include acting on the sale of the entire issued share capital of Van Heyningen Brothers by Humber Growers, and advising on a number of business acquisitions for Just Car Clinics. Simon Lunt heads the department.
The ‘first-class team’ at Rollits LLP is recommended for its ‘food industry experience’ and ‘responsive and proactive’ service. Significant deals in 2010 included the acquisition of Hull City FC, representing Assem and Ehab Allam. Steve Trynka and Keith Benton head the department, and York-based Richard Frogson is ‘trusted implicitly’.
Corporate tax
Corporate tax
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- Pinsent Masons LLP Leeds
- Squire Sanders Hammonds Leeds
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- Eversheds LLP Leeds
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Leeds
- DLA Piper UK LLP Leeds
- Walker Morris Leeds
- Watson Burton LLP Leeds
Pinsent Masons LLP is highly rated by clients for its ‘ability to bring new ideas and go beyond the brief’. The team, led by the ‘excellent’ John Christian, advised AMEC on its £61.2m acquisition of Entec Holdings. An example of cross-border M&A work was its advice on a £31m business disposal by DCC Healthcare. The firm’s share schemes practice adds a further dimension, and includes Judith Greaves and Rory Cray, who are ‘both very good’.
Squire Sanders Hammonds’ corporate tax team has considerable strength, and is increasingly handling international work. Led by Mark Simpson, its recent highlights include providing lead tax and share schemes advice to Rensburg Sheppards on the disposal of Rensburg Fund Management to Franklin Templeton Investments, valued at £45m. The practice also continues to implement stamp duty land tax planning for a variety of clients involved in UK property transactions.
The corporate tax team in Eversheds LLP’s Leeds office is part of the firm’s 25-strong UK tax group. Recent highlights include advising private equity firm Baird Capital Partners Europe on its investment in international consultancy Nigel Wright Recruitment; and advising the management shareholders of food company Glisten on its takeover by Helsinki-listed Raisio. David Jervis oversees the department.
EU and competition
EU and competition
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- Addleshaw Goddard LLP Leeds
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- Eversheds LLP Leeds
- Walker Morris Leeds
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- Cobbetts LLP Leeds
- Ward Hadaway Leeds
Adam Aldred is the key contact at Addleshaw Goddard LLP, which is particularly strong in competition litigation. The firm recently won new instructions from British Gas, OFWAT and the Sherwin-Williams Company, and also acts for Sainsbury’s in respect of its immunity position regarding the OFT’s tobacco investigation. Other work included advising Quarmby Construction and its parent company St James Securities in an appeal to CAT against a fine by the OFT for participation in the construction cover pricing cartel.
The team at Eversheds LLP is headed by Adam Collinson, and includes ‘very clever’ associate Kate Newman. It advised in relation to the high-profile OFT investigation into suspected price co-ordination involving a number of retailers and suppliers in the UK grocery sector, and also acted for Reckitt Benckiser in an OFT investigation into abuse of dominance in relation to its heartburn remedy Gaviscon.
Walker Morris’ practice is led by Jeremy Scholes. Highlights included advising Dansk Supermarked on the competition aspects of its merger with Asda.