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Agriculture and estates

The team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP, led by the ‘very good’ Jonathan Attey, is noted for its ‘excellent level of service and knowledge’. Highlights included acting on the purchase of a number of grouse moor estates and the sale of a farmyard for development.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP continues to expand its wind farm practice, as well as undertaking routine sales and purchases. The team was recently involved in a major purchase of farmland in Surrey, and counts the Co-operative Group, NatWest and Arla Foods as clients. James Stone heads the team.

The 10-fee-earner team at Andrew Jackson increased its work in the renewable energy field, working on a number of wind farm projects for landowners and farmers. Highlights in 2010 included advising a landlord on a major reorganisation of existing tenancies under the Agricultural Tenancies Act.

The team at Clarion continues to advise Camp Hill Estate, Bedale and the Outward Bound Trust. It also advised Leeds City College on the renegotiation of grazing licences.

Denison Till is instructed by a number of landed estates, notably Castle Howard. The ‘very good’ team also advises on commercial and domestic sales, purchases and lettings. Consultant David Grice, who leads the department, is ‘prompt, friendly and efficient’.

Led by James Scott, the team at Harrowells LLP advised the JSR Farming Group and other major farming companies in 2010.

McCormicks’ ‘excellent’ department has recently acted for the John Strutt Conservation Foundation and the Ripley Castle Estate. ‘Knowledgeable’ senior partner Peter McCormick leads the team, and senior associate Julia Rangecroft is ‘efficient and good to do business with’.

Rollits LLP recently acted for Bishop Burton College and Yorkshire Bank’s agriculture team. Neil Franklin and John Lane are recommended.

The ‘very good’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP advises high-value estate owners, and assists various public bodies with their rural property portfolios.

The ‘good’ team at Langleys recently received first-time instructions from a North Yorkshire farming partnership. Practice head Giles Scott, is noted as an ‘excellent client relationship partner’.

The team at Stamp Jackson & Procter advises private clients on sales and purchases.

Highlights for Wake Smith & Tofields included advising several high-value estates in the process of administration.


Charities

The ‘experienced’ charities department at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP leads the market, and is noted for its ‘exceptionally high level of service, professionalism, integrity and knowledge’. The ‘very knowledgeable and experienced’ Malcolm Lynch leads the team, which recently advised The Ellen MacArthur Foundation on its relationship with corporate partners; the trustees of Lowther Castle & Gardens Trust; and the board of Cafédirect. Valerie James is recommended for her ‘appropriate and clear advice’, along with Christopher Billington for his ‘strong industry knowledge’.

Pervinder Kaur heads the practice at Addleshaw Goddard LLP, which advises the likes of the National Coal Mining Museum and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Highlights in 2010 included advising on the merger of high-profile charities, and acting on cross-border charity issues including corporate govenance matters.

The ‘first-class’, ‘astute, commercial and efficient’ team at McCormicks provides a full range of services to charities and not-for-profit organisations nationally; clients include Harrogate International Festivals and Yorkshire County Cricket Club. The team also advises on sponsorship arrangements, for sponsors such as Leeds Bradford Airport, Specsavers and KPMG. Department head Peter McCormick is ‘excellent’ and ‘provides wonderful support’.

Janet Hoskin continues to head the team at Pinsent Masons LLP, which in 2010 advised a China-based international business school on its plans to open a school in London. It also advised a national land-holding charity, and various universities and government departments.

Clients of Rollits LLP include The Peabody Trust and The Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, and the universities of Hull and Lincoln. The team provides ‘an excellent service at all times’, and has an excellent level of knowledge’. Associate Gerry Morrison leads the team and is recommended for his ‘clarity and knowledge’.

The ‘exceptional’ team at Dickinson Dees LLP, led by the ‘knowledgeable and understandingRos Harwood, is well regarded for its ‘swift and expert’ advice. Clients include Alcoholics Anonymous and SCOPE, and new gains the University of York and Browning House Family Assessment Centre.

Irwin Mitchell LLP advises clients including the Sheffield City Trust and the subsidiary charities of Newham College of Education. It also advises a number of universities and medical charities.

Lupton Fawcett LLP advises various charitable enterprises and not-for-profit organisations.

The nine-fee-earner team at Andrew Jackson regularly advises local and national charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Denison Till advises ecclesiastical charities and charitable trusts.

Grays acts for charitable institutions and third parties.

The team at Graysons, following the firm’s merger with Watson Esam, continues to advise Sheffield’s voluntary sector.

With an ‘excellent understanding of the charities sector’, Hempsons counts the British Heart Foundation, Compass, the Institute of Cancer Research, and the NSPCC as clients.


Family: Leeds and West Yorkshire

The ‘very professional’, market-leading team at Mills & Reeve continues to provide an ‘excellent, efficient, five-star’ service. National practice head David Salter is noted for his ‘strategic understanding’, and Yorkshire practice head Philip Way is ‘excellent’. Senior solicitor Ellie Foster is also noted as being ‘extremely thorough and well organised’.

Specialist divorce and family law firm Jones Myers Partnership advises on residence and contract disputes and adoption as well as acting in international child abduction cases. The team was bolstered by the arrival of consultant Norman Taylor from Zermansky & Partners.

Stowe Family Law LLP regularly works on high-value relationship breakdown cases, often internationally. Marilyn Stowe heads the team.

The ‘excellent, very professional’ team at Clarion, led by the ‘extremely knowledgeable and proactiveJustine Osmotherley, has experience drafting high-value pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and in 2010 took on a number of collaborative cases.

The ‘brilliant and knowledgeable’ team at DWF LLP is instructed by corporate clients as well as high-net-worth individuals. It is headed by Carol Grundell, who is noted for her ‘excellent technical knowledge and skills’. Associate Emma Davison is also recommended.

Gordons LLP handles a significant amount of high-value ancillary work, including a recent case with a value of over £5m. The team was bolstered by the arrival of assistant Theo Hoppen from Dawsons LLP. The ‘sympathetic and supportive’ Peter Foskett leads the team.

Grahame Stowe Bateson advises on care proceedings, residence orders and pre-nuptial agreements.

The family practice at Irwin Mitchell LLP deals with complex financial cases, often with an international element. It has also provides niche advice on same-sex relationships. Peter Morris heads the team in Leeds.

Lee & Priestley LLP’s team has a particular focus on ancillary relief and children matters. Andrea Dyer heads the group.

Anne Braithwaite heads the practice at Lupton Fawcett LLP, whose experience includes the tax and pensions aspects of relationship breakdowns.

The ‘excellent’ team at McCormicks, led by Geoffrey Rogers, has recently acted in a number of contested private law children matters, and also has experience in care proceedings. Amanda Cuthbert is recommended.

Stewarts Law LLP’s team is ‘efficient and professional’, and acts for numerous high-net-worth individuals in matters including complex jurisdictional disputes. Simon Preston, who heads the group, is ‘professional, with a wealth of experience’.


Family: North, South and East Yorkshire

The team at Howells LLP, led by Alyson Siddall, is divided into two teams covering matrimonial law and children law. It has specialist knowledge in international adoption, abuse and ancillary relief claims.

The ‘very good’ five-fee-earner team at Irwin Mitchell LLP is led by the ‘very experienced and pragmaticMartin Loxley. It dealt with a number of pre-nuptial requests in 2010, and regularly advises high-net-worth individuals.

Andrew Jackson’s team acts on a national and international basis, handling litigation, mediation, and ancillary relief matters. Richard Hoare heads the department.

The ‘efficient’ team at Taylor & Emmet LLP is increasingly active in childcare matters, including international adoption issues. Legal executive Paul Roebuck is noted for his ‘efficiency and knowledge’.

Bell & Buxton’s team is headed by Louise Rawson, and provides family law advice to the employees of Sainsbury’s and RBS.

Denison Till’s team regularly assists high-net-worth individuals, and in 2010 provided collaborative law services to a number of clients.

Gosschalks acts solely for high-net-worth individuals, and works nationwide.

The team at Graysons, following its merger with Watson Esam, is led by Michelle Cooper and advises on divorce, children issues and domestic violence.

Harrowells LLP has recently been involved in various complex matters involving domestic violence, divorce and children issues.

The ‘solidMark Day heads the team at Langleys, which acted on a number of complex financial cases in 2010, some with an international focus.

The team at Rollits LLP, led by the ‘constructive’ Sheridan Ball, is part of the firm’s dispute resolution practice, and works on high-value cases.

The team at Williamsons deals with high-value family matters, and is well known for its childcare work. Director Sarah Clubley leads the department.


Personal tax, trusts and probate

With an impressive list of long-term clients, the team at Wrigleys Solicitors LLP provides a ‘high level of service’ and ‘appropriate advice and consistent quality’. The ‘wise, patient and extremely knowledgeable’ Matthew Wrigley leads the team in Leeds, and is an ‘outstanding lawyer’. The firms acts for over 100 landed estates.

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a cross-departmental team which advises on issues such as trustees’ duties, restructuring family settlements and indemnities. It regularly acts for international clients. Pervinder Kaur leads the team.

The ‘very professional and knowledgeable’ team at Gordons LLP acts for a number of wealthy families, and is well known for its high-quality non-contentious probate work. Martin Holdsworth is noted for his ‘commercial attitude’.

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s ‘tenacious’ team, led by Craig Marshall, is instructed by a number of major international financial institutions including Barclays and HSBC. It was also instructed by Mandy Tennant in her high-profile fight to gain reasonable financial provision from her late husband’s estate.

Duncan Milwain leads the ‘competent’ team at Lupton Fawcett LLP.

Janet Hoskin leads the team at Pinsent Masons LLP, whose clients include the trustees of a large offshore commercial unit trust, and a major insurer.

The team at Rollits LLP provides estate and planning advice to high-net-worth clients, and is also regularly instructed to draft bespoke wills.

Andrew Jackson’s team is appreciated for its ‘strength in depth, professional nature and knowledge’, and receives referrals from other firms nationwide. Highlights in 2010 included advising on the administration of a substantial UK estate for a non-domiciled individual. The ‘outstanding’ Kevin Webster heads the department.

Sara Rogers heads the ‘excellent’ team at Clarion. The team’s response times are ‘fantastic’.

Denison Till’s team often attracts instructions from abroad in relation to the assets of non-domiciliaries.

Eatons has a bespoke will-writing service, and advises on tax and trust matters.

The team at Ford & Warren provides tax-planning advice to high-net-worth individuals.

Grays provides tax planning advice.

Keeble Hawson’s ‘excellent’ team focuses on planning and offshore asset preservation matters for high-net-worth clients, as well as Court of Protection work. The ‘very professional’ George Connell heads the department, and the ‘approachable and professional’ Michele Todd is also recommended.

Julia Rangecroft heads McCormicks’ department, which is experienced in tax planning issues such as offshore trusts, capital gains and the restructuring of trusts.

Taylor & Emmet LLP deals with all aspects of private client work, with a particular focus on tax and trust issues.

Wake Smith & Tofields in 2010 advised on several high-value estates in the course of administration. Niche strengths include inheritance tax mitigation.


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Legal Developments in the UK

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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