The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire:, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Keith Froud’s six-partner team at Eversheds LLP handles work on a regional, national and international scale. Instructed across a wide variety of mandates, in 2008 the group advised SPX Corporation on the £250m acquisition of APV from Invensys. The team also handled a significant amount of work for regional client Spice, notably advising it on a £300m move to the Official List. Robin Johnson and Robin Skelton are recommended. David Strachan left the firm in 2008 to join Schofield Sweeney Solicitors.

Within Corporate tax, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by David Jervis, Eversheds LLP’s strong tax team is increasingly experienced in M&A-related work. In 2008, the practice advised Bodycote on the £417m sale of its testing business to US private equity group Clayton, Dubiller & Rice. The firm is well respected in the region for advising a number of the leading private equity houses.

Within EU and competition, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s EU and competition team works across its northern offices, and has seen a rise in high-value cartel investigation and procurement work. Adam Collinson and his team are described as ‘good listeners, offering a balanced approach and robust advice’. Key clients include Dairy Crest and the DfT.

Within Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire:, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has a very broad range of both regional and national clients, with a nice balance between public and private bodies. Richard Matthews leads the three-partner team, which is described as ‘extremely bright, technically first class and very client friendly’. Impressive regional clients include Yorkshire Building Society and Marshall, while multinational clients include the likes of Samsung, Canon and Hasbro.

Within Banking and finance, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP advised a club of five banks, which included core client Barclays Bank, on the financing of the 3i-backed MBO of infrastructure group Radius Systems. Jason Wurzal heads the team, which includes partner Kathryn Walters. NG Bailey Limited, BBA Aviation and Collins Stewart were among the team’s new client wins in 2008.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP bolstered its practice by the recruitment of Richard Tripp from DLA Piper UK LLP. Growing its insolvency book, Peter Cranston acted for Geoffrey Martin & Co on the administration of South Yorkshire Industrial Group.

Within Employment: West Yorkshire: , Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by the ‘proficient’ Paul Cotton, Eversheds LLP’s employment team provides ‘clear, no-nonsense’ employment law advice to an impressive portfolio of clients. Recent highlights include advising Skipton Building Society on the employment implications of its merger with Scarborough Building Society, and a national group in a restructuring that involved 5,000 redundancies.

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

Headed by Kevin Elliot, Eversheds LLP’s health and safety practice regularly represents clients in work-related fatality cases. Clients include Asda and the Automobile Association.

Within Pensions, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Hammonds LLP has great depth of pensions expertise, despite the departure of the firm’s former head of pensions Terry Saeedi to Eversheds LLP. Current practice head Catherine McKenna is lauded by clients for her ‘straightforward, businesslike approach and industry knowledge’, while Mark Ridler is recommended for outstanding transactional and trusteeship work.

Within Pensions, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Terry Saeedi was recruited to Eversheds LLP’s pensions practice in Leeds and Newcastle, following her departure from Hammonds LLP in 2008. New client wins include Connells, and the trustees of the Operon Final Salary Pension Scheme.

Within Projects, energy and natural resources (including PFI), Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Michael Grimes leads Eversheds LLP’s respected projects and infrastructure group, which also features Peter McCormack. Waste w ork is a focus of the team, and 2008 saw it act for Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority on two major PFI and PPP procurements. The group is ‘very responsive, sensible, acute in its knowledge of the sector and the risks, and good at working within a public sector framework’.

Within Education, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP advised clients including the University of York and Bradford College on campus redevelopments, and retains expertise covering mergers and international education issues. Eve Gregory heads the team.

Within Health, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

Eversheds LLP advised on health sector transactions, including the purchase of Nuffield Hospital by Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Eve Gregory has helped expand on existing client relationships, including an appointment to act for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in real estate acquisitions.

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

Eversheds LLP’s pre-eminent practice, under Stephen Cirell, acts for a long list of local authority clients. Recent instructions include roles in PFI and PPP projects and contracts, including helping to establish a £200m partnership between Sheffield City Council and Capita. The firm also has experience advising on corporate manslaughter liabilities. Clients include Leeds City Council.

Within Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire:, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients rate the Eversheds LLP property team very highly, deeming it ‘professional with first-rate expertise’. As well as a strong development offering, this well-balanced practice also offers very good health and education related know-how. The team benefits hugely from its relationship with Asda Wal-mart, and is the preferred adviser for the bulk of its property work. Eve Gregory leads the successful team, which also features Deborah Powell, who is a ‘credible expert in negotiations’.

Within Construction, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s construction team is recommended for advising on PFI maintenance contracts, particularly those in the healthcare sector. Key client, the States of Jersey, keeps the team busy, along with a broad client base of public sector and private clients. Department head Andrew Symms offers ‘good general knowledge and sound practical advice’.

Within Environment, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

2008 saw the Eversheds LLP team active in sustainability work, advising on issues such as the energy performance of buildings and carbon reduction. It also draws on the firm’s strength in PFI work, acting on the environmental issues of several waste management PFIs. Key clients include Next, which the team advised on packaging waste obligations.

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

Eversheds LLP enjoys an excellent property client base, which includes Asda Wal-mart, Next and Yorkshire Forward. The team has great experience in CPO litigation and compensation claims. James Batham is a respected practitioner.

Within Intellectual property and information technology, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP recruited Brian Clayton from Addleshaw Goddard LLP to head its trade mark and design filing practice, augmenting an offering that includes health sector and pharmaceutical clients such as Pfizer. IT instructions have included major private sector outsourcing initiatives, under partner Paula Barrett.

Within Regional review, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

The region still offers an excellent level of legal advice. After Leeds heavyweights Addleshaw Goddard LLP, DLA Piper UK LLP, Eversheds LLP, Hammonds LLP, Pinsent Masons LLP and Walker Morris, there is a comprehensive range of firms that stand as effective alternatives to the ‘Big Six’. These include a number of national firms, such as Cobbetts LLP, Watson Burton LLP, DWF LLP and Irwin Mitchell LLP.