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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.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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