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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.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW

  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
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  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
    - Penningtons Solicitors LLP

  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.
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Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to
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