The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has ‘a deep understanding of the BPO sector’. Its reputation has attracted a broad corporate client base including Centrica, and in 2010 it saw further growth in the financial services sector. Highlights included advising Cleveland Police Authority on its ten-year, £175m strategic partnership agreement with Steria UK Limited, and acting for Sainsbury’s Bank on the outsourcing of its pet-insurance service. Simon Gamlin and IT outsourcing specialist Rex Parry are recommended.

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within Customs and Excise, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has a notable regulatory practice and expertise in VAT and indirect tax work. Highly regarded partner Neill Blundell has experience in white-collar crime matters and the defence of corporations in customs investigations, in addition to matters involving money laundering, cartels and price fixing.

Within EU and competition , tier 4

Eversheds LLP has been particularly active in OFT investigations and novel High Court damages claims. Practice head Ros Kellaway is widely respected for her strategic advice, and has an ‘excellent understanding of the UK regulatory authority’s approach’, and Stephen Rose is ‘very calm in a crisis and very clear in his advice’. Also recommended are James Robinson; and senior associate Nicola Holmes, who is a ‘rising star’. The team is also well known for its innovative competition compliance solutions.

Within Financial services, tier 4

As a leading adviser to the City’s authorised fund sector, Eversheds LLP provides regulatory advice to asset management houses, and is a market leader on regulatory issues affecting the buy side of the industry. Pamela Thompson is widely praised, and Michael Wainwright is ‘particularly good’. Clients include Henderson Global Investors and Lloyds TSB.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

With ‘very good industry knowledge’, Eversheds LLP advises both issuers and broker clients on AIM transactions. The ‘experienced and dependable’ Neil Matthews acted for Ilika on its £20m IPO in April 2010; and Chris Halliday advised Libertas Capital as NOMAD and broker in three IPOs on AIM totalling £83m. Stephen Nash is also recommended.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

The 44-partner team at Eversheds LLP had another busy year in 2010, acting on 47 UK M&A deals, and seeing an increase in work on multi-jurisdictional reorganisations for the likes of Heinz. Its highlight was advising Dimension Data on its £2.1bn takeover by NTT Corporation. The team is praised for its ability to ‘exercise judgement on what is important’; Robert Pitcher is valued for his ‘advice and commercial acumen’, and Chris Halliday, Neil Matthews and Mark Spinner are also singled out for praise.

Within Partnership Partnership

Within Private equity: transactions , tier 6

Headed by Richard Moulton, Eversheds LLP has a good reputation, acting for sponsors such as LDC, Trilantic Capital Partners and Inflexion on mid-market transactions.

Within VAT and indirect tax, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has specialisms in real estate investment funds and SDLT litigation. The team acted for Royal London Asset Management on the indirect tax aspects of the launch of the first Property Authorised Investment Fund, and for City University on the VAT elements of the European Research Investment Consortium. Practice head Clive Jones and indirect tax expert Damian Shirley are key individuals.

Within Fraud: civil , tier 5

Eversheds LLP was recently appointed to act for Santander UK plc and Nationwide Building Society on all fraud and money laundering issues, and is now on Lloyds Banking Group’s specialist fraud and regulatory advisory panel. The team welcomed Neville Byford from Morgan Lewis. Paul Worth attracts praise for his tenacity: ‘when he gets his teeth into something he doesn ’t let go.’

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has a broad practice, and has been acting in a number of international corruption cases. The team is also on the fraud and money laundering panels of the Nationwide Building Society and Santander. Neill Blundell is recommended.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Neill Blundell leads the team at Eversheds LLP, which successfully defended the managing director of a large property company in a large-scale insurance fraud; and successfully challenged a cash seizure by the CPS from overseas individuals accused of fraud in online gaming. The firm’s large public sector group has been assisting in a corruption investigation in the health sector.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 4

Eversheds LLP has won a number of prestigious panel appointments, and has invested heavily in relationships with existing financial services clients by the placing of core team members in multiple secondments. Recent work includes acting in a €1.6bn dispute involving a range of issues relating to structured products. Matthew Allen leads the team, and is ably supported by Ben Bruton and Manchester-based Jonathon Crook.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 5

Eversheds LLP acts in disputes across the financial services, transport, technology, media and telecoms industries, with cross-border cases being a major growth area for the firm. Mark Davenport is recommended; and John Heaps is ‘exceptional for strategic advice’. Neville Byford and associate Zoe Holland joined from Morgan Lewis.

Within Defamation and privacy Defamation and privacy

Within International arbitration, tier 4

Eversheds LLP recruited Neville Byford and associate Zoe Holland from Morgan Lewis, while ‘wonderful case co-ordinator’ and senior associate Andy Moody joined from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP. The practice acted for one of the largest manufacturers of fertilisers in Eastern Europe in a claim brought under the BIT between Lithuania and the Republic of Serbia. Stuart Dutson ‘makes sure the case is moving towards where the client wants to end up’.

Within Professional discipline, tier 4

Peter Jones heads the team at Eversheds LLP, which is highly recommended.

Within Public international law, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP ‘provides a solid and reliable service’. Boundary disputes are a particular specialism, and the practice has seen a growing number of instructions in relation to investor-state cases. It recently acted for two Lithuanian investors in the first international investment arbitration undertaken against Serbia. London team head Stuart Dutson is ‘the star; the practice largely revolves around his knowledge and expertise’.

Within Acquisition finance, tier 7

Nick Swiss at Eversheds LLP is recommended for both lender and borrower work.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 7

Eversheds LLP’s team head Indraj Mangat has been involved in a number of asset finance restructurings.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Group head Simon Waller at Eversheds LLP leads ‘a well-rounded team which gives excellent commercial advice’. A reputable name in the mid-market, the firm ‘combines both practical and technical expertise’, and advises both creditors and debtors. Paul de la Pena and Byron Nurse are also recommended.

Within Derivatives and structured products, tier 4

Eversheds LLP’s small but consistently good team advises buy-side clients such as British Airways Pension Schemes, and increasingly acts for financial institutions such as Capita and RBS Asset Management. Anthony Thomlinson, Jonathan Master and Pamela Thompson ‘seem to know everything that is happening in the market’, and the team’s ‘response times are the best in the business’.

Within Emerging markets,

SNR Denton has carved out a notable emerging markets practice, particularly in Africa and the Middle East, although it lost Africa practice head Howard Barrie and Nick Grandage in 2010 and 2011. Geoffrey Wynne, who heads the trade and export finance practice, and Jonathan Solomon are key figures.

Within Investment funds, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP ‘always resources well, and responds very quickly’. It has top-end expertise in retail funds, rounded out by excellence across mid-market private equity and real estate funds, and listed and hedge funds. The ‘very well-informed’ Pamela Thompson, who heads the practice, is recommended for retail funds, as are Julian Brown and the ‘very practical’ Michaela Walker, ‘a leading lawyer for UK funds’. Hedge and private funds expert Ronald Paterson displays ‘good knowledge and business sense’, and Jonathan Master is recommended for listed funds. Clients include Numis Securities, Credit Suisse and Aberdeen Asset Management.

Within Employee share schemes, tier 5

Mathew Gorringe at Eversheds LLP is ‘excellent and extremely thorough’.

Within Employment, tier 5

Eversheds LLP’s large national resource is complemented by international capacity; it recently advised a leading investment bank on changes to its European bonus scheme, and a global HR consultancy on an international acquisition. Fiona Bolton and Paul Fontes lead on contentious matters, achieving settlements for financial services and energy sector clients in whistleblowing and bonus-clawback claims in 2010. Martin Hopkins ‘brings experience and fresh thinking to complex issues’.

Within Health and safety, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP provides clients with crisis management, representation and training. David Young ‘stands out for his tactical nous, common sense and speed of response in emergencies’; and Kevin Elliott and the newly promoted Katharine Vickery are ‘responsive, professional, thorough, and pragmatic’. The firm recently acted for Marks & Spencer in an asbestos management prosecution, and EDF Energy, Tarmac and Nestlé are also clients.

Within Immigration,

Also notable for their work in the area of immigration are: Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Eversheds LLP; Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP; Macfarlanes LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; RadcliffesLeBrasseur; Russell-Cooke LLP; Simons Muirhead & Burton; Steeles Law LLP; Travers Smith LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Overview,

The most significant aspect of the change of government for health and safety lawyers came with the Young report and the 35% cut in the Health and Safety Executive’s budget, leading inevitably to less regulation in the area. However, the passing of the first custodial sentence for a workplace death, together with the potentially bankrupting level of fines which the first corporate manslaughter prosecution (defended by Pinsent Masons LLP) demonstrated, should mean that teams at firms such as Bond Pearce LLP, Kennedys, DLA Piper UK LLP, and Eversheds LLP remain in demand.

Within Pensions, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP joins the top tier for pensions disputes this year. Pensions litigator Giles Orton is ‘very inventive’, and his team has been busy advising Port of Tyne Authority in Pilots, and John Masteron in Nortel. On the non-contentious side, Jay Doraisamy ‘approaches the issues with intelligence and sensitivity’; Anthony Arter is ‘keen to find positive solutions for all parties’; and Jeremy Goodwin ‘effectively combines a detailed understanding of the law and his clients ’ business interests’. Harold Lewis is now a consultant at the firm.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 4

Eversheds LLP represents insureds, brokers, insurers and reinsurers, and is acting in multimillion-pound reinsurance litigation for high-profile clients. New clients include Markel, Hiscox, Quinn, Barbican and HSB, and it has a growing policyholder practice. The team recruited Jeremy Irving from DLA Piper UK LLP. Matthew Allen and practice head Simon Brooks are also recommended.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is instructed on commercial issues and corporate transactions, and has particular expertise in regulatory issues. It advised a consumer credit business on insurance intermediation issues across the EEA. Jeremy Irving’s arrival from DLA Piper UK LLP strengthened the team. Michael Wainwright remains active in the market and is recommended.

Within Product liability: defendant, tier 5

Eversheds LLP’s experienced team handles complex cases for clients such as Tyco. Richard Matthews and Simon Brooks are recommended.

Within Professional negligence, tier 4

Eversheds LLP has an ‘exceptional’ six-partner team for professional negligence work. It is acting for JLT in an insurance coverage dispute over the Camden Market fire in 2008. Other clients include Miller, HCC, Lockton International, and Quinn Insurance. The ‘first-class’ Simon Brooks has deep experience in claims against brokers, and is recommended along with Matthew Allen and Paul Davison.

Within Infrastructure, tier 5

At Eversheds LLP, group head Michael Grimes is ‘approachable, applies common sense and shows good judgement’, and is praised for his knowledge of the waste industry. Among the firm’s recent projects, it advised Staffordshire County Council on the £1bn waste PFI with Veolia Environmental Services.

Within Overview,

Outside of the major City firms, national specialists have seen their piece of the pie increase as projects become more standardised. Practices at Pinsent Masons LLP, Eversheds LLP and Addleshaw Goddard LLP all continue to rise in profile.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 4

In renewables, Eversheds LLP is a ‘leader in policy and project structuring’, and advised RWE npower renewables on the mammoth £1bn Gwynt y Mor project. Michelle Thomas ‘keeps divergent objectives on track’; and Marcus Trinick’s knowledge of the wind industry is ‘second to none’.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI) , tier 4

Eversheds LLP’s team, led by Michael Grimes, garners a steady flow of high-profile domestic projects, but is also increasingly involved in international work. The firm advised Staffordshire County Council on a £1bn waste PFI with Veolia Environmental Services.

Within Water, tier 4

Eversheds LLP has a solid record on the regulatory side, and advises across the full spread of competition, environment, real estate and contentious matters.

Within Administrative and public law, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Providing ‘very high-quality service’, Eversheds LLP has experience across the energy, regulatory, transport, health and education sectors, and also advises on global administrative law disputes. New clients include Cambridgeshire County Council and Telford and Wrekin Council. It is currently advising the Olympic Park Legacy Company on the site’s regeneration. Newcastle-based Mitch Brown has social housing expertise, and is advising Newcastle-Upon-Tyne City Council in a housing stock transfer. Judith Barnes heads the ‘clear and concise’ group from Leeds.

Within Education: individuals Leading individuals

Within Education: institutions, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Diane Gilhooley heads Eversheds LLP’s ‘outstanding’ national education team, which acts for clients such as Cardiff University, Leeds City College and The University of Manchester. It has recently handled a range of international partnership, collaboration and outsourcing matters, and also advised on the restructuring of the Barnfield College into a group structure. John Hall chairs the team, which includes Glynne Stanfield in Cambridge and John Boardman in Manchester.

Within Healthcare, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP provides ‘high-quality legal advice’ on public, private and life sciences healthcare, with a large client base including Four Seasons Healthcare, NHS Supply Chain and The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Work highlights included advising on the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry, and representing NHS Hull in a judicial review challenge. Bill Gilliam leads a team that includes Richard Moulton and Shirley Wright.

Within Local government, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s team has ‘excellent acumen and industry knowledge’. It undertakes work for over 200 local authorities, and has particular expertise in large waste management and renewables projects. It advised the North London Waste Authority on its ongoing £3bn waste management PPP project, and is advising Southwark London Borough Council on a groundbreaking, carbon-efficient heating scheme. Judith Barnes heads the team, and Michael Grimes, Peter McCormack and consultant Stephen Cirell are also highly recommended.

Within Overview,

In local government, there is a significant focus on regeneration, planning and procurement projects, with transportation, waste and renewables coming to the forefront through plans for proposed railway links, wind turbines and food waste recycling as an alternative energy source. The Local Government Act 2010 and the pending Localism Bill relating to the powers of local authorities and their structure are also having an impact. There has been a marked increase in the outsourcing of local authority and public services, and to combat the cuts, councils have also started sharing departments and managers as part of a shared services initiative. Eversheds LLP and Trowers & Hamlins LLP remain the forerunners in the area, although there is plenty of competition in the market.

Within Parliamentary , Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP provides ‘clear, quality’ advice on infrastructure projects, particularly railway links and harbour empowerment orders. Clients include High Speed 2 Limited, Crossrail Limited, TfL, EDF Energy, Dover Harbour Board and Stena Line. Practice heads Monica Peto and Stephen Collings demonstrate ‘excellent depth and breadth of industry knowledge’.

Within Commercial property, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is ‘unquestionably the best bread-and-butter real estate firm in the UK’. The group assisted on the purchase and sale of £1bn of real estate assets for key client Legal & General, and manages a £6bn-plus portion of its portfolio. The practice also advised LBQ on the financing and development of The Shard and London Bridge Place. Bruce Dear is ‘always attentive’, William Naunton is ‘astonishingly commercial’, Clive Jones is ‘adept at finding creative solutions’, and Stephen Sorrell and Stephen Felstead are also recommended.

Within Construction, tier 4

Eversheds LLP’s team is ‘first class’, ‘does not waste time, is willing to be flexible on fees and honours its quotes’. It recently advised The Chiltern Railway Company on the funding and procurement of a mainline upgrade, and the construction of a new section of railway near Bicester. Practice head Simon Oats is recommended along with Richard Ward, who has ‘great depth of knowledge on building contracts’; Robert McNabb, who attracts very high praise from clients; and the ‘pragmatic and client-focused’ Peter Scurlock.

Within Environment, tier 5

Eversheds LLP is recommended for environmental advice to the infrastructure sector. Elizabeth Shepherd heads the team, which acted in an appeal against the Environment Agency regarding EU ETS allowances. Other highlights included advising Lend Lease on CRC compliance; and representing Hertfordshire Oil Storage in the Buncefield litigation, with David Young leading.

Within Planning, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s team is ‘experienced and very commercial’, particularly for CPOs, and leverages the firm’s parliamentary law expertise to advise on infrastructure and regeneration projects. Practice head Judith Damerell is advising the Department for Transport on the HS2 rail link and leads on planning matters for TfL, including Battersea Power Station. Stephen Collings and Marcus Trinick are ‘very knowledgeable and experienced’.

Within Property finance, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is valued for its ‘excellent knowledge of the property finance sector and good turnaround times’. Lender clients include Lloyds Banking Group, which it advised on some of its biggest exposures, particularly in the leisure sector. The firm also has flourishing relationships with Barclays and Santander. Simon Mead has ‘good technical knowledge, and is easily accessible’, and David Boyd pairs ‘strong client management skills with an ability to understand the bank’s underlying commercial rationale’.

Within Property litigation, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP ‘leaves no stone unturned’ for clients, and recently advised EDF in the first-ever private noise claim brought against a UK wind farm. Will Densham heads the practice, and is recommended along with solicitor Kate Poole, who can ‘master a wealth of technical detail’.

Within Social housing: finance, tier 4

Eversheds LLP acted for Places for People on a $165m private placement and £25m loan facility. Other clients include Lloyds TSB, Nationwide and Barclays. Philip Vaughan heads the team.

Within Social housing: local authorities and registered providers, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP advises housing associations, local authorities and contractors on matters such as joint venture procurement schemes and house-driven regeneration projects. Newcastle-based Mitch Brown heads the firm’s national affordable housing team.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Eversheds LLP saw an increase in trade mark related instructions from Coca-Cola, Chanel and Northern Foods in 2010. Andrew Terry advises on high-profile sponsorship arrangements. Advertising head Phil Sherrell moved to Bird & Bird, and Paddy Gardiner joined Michael Simkins LLP.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Eversheds LLP undertakes complex and high-profile trade mark, patent and breach of confidence litigation for Coca-Cola and Chanel, although Phil Sherrell’s move to Bird & Bird is a significant loss. Recently promoted partner Adrian Toutoungi covers patent and technology litigation and advisory work.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

Rex Parry heads Eversheds LLP’s ‘capable’ IT team, which benefits from the firm’s national and international footprint, advising clients including Risk Integrated and Dairy Crest on commercial and outsourcing arrangements. The telecoms practice, led by Neil Brown, advises Telefónica O2 and Everything Everywhere. James Walsh advised Daisy on spectrum-related issues, and is ‘a top-quality lawyer with a sharp commercial mind’.

Within Media and entertainment, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has been busy with music publishing work, and acted for Apple Corps Ltd in its negotiations with Apple Inc and EMI Records for the release of The Beatles’ catalogue on iTunes. The group advised HSBC on securitising two major music publishing catalogues, and acted for Elton John’s management company on merchandising agreements. Newly promoted partner Neil Mohring now heads the group, with Nicholas Valner having moved to a consultant role. At the start of 2011, Phil Sherrell joined Bird & Bird and Paddy Gardiner moved to Michael Simkins LLP.

Within Overview,

Key IP hires included Phil Sherrell moving from Eversheds LLP to market leader Bird & Bird; and Howrey LLP’s Mark Hodgson joining Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s team was boosted by the arrival of Clive Thorne from Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP; CMS Cameron McKenna LLP hired Fasken Martineau LLP’s Jeremy Morton; and Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP recruited Ben Goodger, former head of Rouse Legal’s global IP commercialisation group.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, tier 4

Led by Janet Knowles, Eversheds LLP’s ‘prompt, thorough’ team is advising Reckitt Benckiser on the OFT investigation into Gaviscon. It also acts for mid-market client IS Pharma, start-ups Oxyrane and Pro-Cure Therapeutics, major names GSK and Pfizer, and overseas companies operating in Europe, such as Vertex Pharmaceuticals. The firm was recently appointed to the panel of Novo Nordisk. Nicola Holmes is ‘bright and hardworking’.

Within Sport, tier 6

Eversheds LLP advises national and international governing bodies and agencies, event organisers, sponsors and individual athletes. It advised the London Development Agency on site possession and compensation issues relating to the Olympic Games and its regeneration legacy. Paul Pugh, Matthew Gough and solicitor Eve England advised the Ryder Cup Wales 2010 organisers.

Within Aviation, tier 4

Eversheds LLP continued to advise the Department for Transport (DfT) on the review of economic regulation of airports, including the drafting of the Airport Economic Regulation Bill, which will introduce a new licence-based approach for the regulation of large airports such as Heathrow and Gatwick; and acted for Birmingham Airport on the planning and commercial aspects of the proposed extension of a runway at Birmingham International Airport. The practice acts for a number of airlines such as Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic, as well as a number of airports, including Bristol Airport and Liverpool Airport. Practice head Richard Prowse is recommended.

Within Rail, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Highlights for Network Rail panel firm Eversheds LLP included closing Project Evergreen III (the upgrade of the London to Birmingham Chiltern Main Line and the creation of a new London to Oxford main line); and being appointed as legal adviser to East Coast Main Line Company. Mark Brunton provides ‘excellent advice in a timely manner, and pays particular attention to detail’. Anne Harris is highly recommended.

Within Shipping , tier 6

Eversheds LLP represents shipowners, charterers and insurer clients concerning dry shipping matters. Stephen Mackin is noted in particular for advising P&I clubs in cases regarding the carriage of liquid cargoes by sea. Clients include Gard P&I, Thomas Miller P&I, and Steamship Mutual P&I.