The Legal 500

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, tier 5

Russel Shear’s ‘professional’ and ‘reasonably low-cost’ team at Edwin Coe LLP includes Victor Hawrych, who advised Sovereign Mines of Africa on its AIM admission.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Edwin Coe LLP is a third tier firm,

At Edwin Coe LLP, practice head Russel Shear is highlighted for his ‘exceptional intellect and good appreciation of the practical realities of commerce and industry’. In 2011, the firm acted alongside New York based firm Torys on TMX Group Inc’s acquisition of Finexeo SA. Andrew Bretherton left to join CANDEY LLP.

Within Fraud: civil, tier 4

Edwin Coe LLP has a strong bias towards civil claimant work. It is acting for the trustee in the bankruptcy of three debtors who operated an illegal pyramid scheme. David Greene is a ‘tenacious negotiator’.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Edwin Coe LLP demonstrates a ‘a go-getting attitude’. The practice represented around 500 claimants in proceedings arising from the fraudulent selling of timeshare products. David Greene is known for his class action practice; Nick Neocleous has a ‘sharp tactical mind’; and Vivien Davies is ‘not afraid to give firm advice when required’. Christopher Berry also attracts praise.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency,

Also recommended are: the ‘commercial’ Louise Verrill, who heads the ‘professional, effective and personable’ six-partner team at Brown Rudnick LLP, which specialises in representing funds as bondholders; Collyer Bristow LLP’s team head Steven Heffer, who is praised for his ‘commerciality, excellent judgement and knowledge’; Richard Baines at Druces LLP, for his ability to ‘effectively explain complicated technical matters’; Edwin Coe LLP’s ‘tactical and skilful’ team head Ali Zaidi; Farrer & Co’s practice head David Fletcher, who is ‘easy to deal with and technically sound, and provides practical solutions’; Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP’s practice head Emma Menzies; the ‘technical, commercial and practical’ Vernon Dennis, who heads a property-focused team at Howard Kennedy; Manches LLP’s team head Alex Fox, who is praised for his ‘assiduity, commerciality and creative thinking’; and the ‘very client-focused’ team at TLT LLP.

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, Edwin Coe LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘small but heavy-hitting employment department’ at Edwin Coe LLP advises companies and senior executives, often achieving successes against far weightier adversaries. Rachel Harrap ‘achieves superb outcomes’, and recently won a much-publicised whistle-blowing case on behalf of John Watkinson, former CEO of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

Within Insurance litigation: for policyholders, Edwin Coe LLP is a third tier firm,

At Edwin Coe LLP, practice head Michael Whitton is ‘hugely experienced, and a shrewd negotiator’, and is experienced in handling large-scale policyholder litigation. Also recommended is Roger Franklin, who has ‘wonderful attention to detail’, and recently advised Synergy Healthcare (UK) plc in a successful claim against a number of leading insurers.

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence

Within Charities and not-for-profit, tier 6

David Goepel heads the team at Edwin Coe LLP, which has strength in philanthropy advice and general charities work, particularly in respect of the formation and constitution of new charities. Clients include Hoopers Africa Trust, World Wide Fund for Nature, and the Museum of Everything.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate,

Rooks Rider Solicitors LLP is adept at both UK and offshore tax planning. Team head Chris Cooke has experience in diverse offshore jurisdictions from Bermuda and the Caribbean to Liechtenstein and the Cook Islands. In 2012, Christopher Wright left for Edwin Coe LLP.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Edwin Coe LLP has expertise in the hospitality sector, retail, high-end residential developments, and property investments for overseas clients. Clients include Coutts, Lush and Smiths Pension Fund. Carolyn West is ‘a remarkable lawyer’.

Within Construction,

Consultant Richard Cooke now heads the team at Manches LLP, which saw the move of Joanne Kelly to Taylor Wessing LLP and Joseph Griffiths to Edwin Coe LLP.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Edwin Coe LLP’s Simon Miles handles a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Highlights included acting for the claimant in the trade mark case Leofelis v Lonsdale, and advising Unisplay on IP protection and enforcement rights regarding LED technology products.