The Legal 500

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

Eversheds LLP offers corporate tax advice led by a Birmingham-based team.

Within Nottingham and Derby, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP stands out in the East Midlands for its ability to service local, national and international clients through its Nottingham team and the wider Eversheds LLP network. Stephen Kitts - described as of ‘outstanding calibre with a great knowledge of corporate deals’ - heads the firm’s corporate group across the central region, and acted on the £88m sale of international building component business Ancon Limited. The team also completed the £90m equity restructuring of Danwood Group, contributing to the team’s high turnover of deals, totalling £1.2bn. 2008 saw the firm’s clean energy practice go from strength to strength, with newly promoted partner Stephen Hill acting for the European utility bidder on the largest offshore wind farm in the UK, and for Kedco plc in its biomass portfolio roll-out.

Within Nottingham and Derby, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Praised by one client as ‘one of the most responsive firms I have ever encountered with tremendous depth of experience and a no-nonsense approach’, Shoosmiths’ corporate team has grown to 20 fee-earners over the past year, and advised on 56 corporate transactions with a combined deal value of £130m. Amongst these, Chris Garnett advised Amco Corporation plc on a £9.4m sale to management, and the ‘straightforward, reliable’ Peter Seary advised US-based Copart Inc in an acquisition of a salvage sales concern. This group has developed its biofuels manufacturing experience through its role in the launch of a UK biofuels manufacturing project being undertaken by Vivergo. Commercial head Andrew Pickin co-ordinated the cross-disciplinary team on this groundbreaking venture. Crispin Bridges Webb has joined from Eversheds LLP.

Within Nottingham and Derby, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

The large Eversheds LLP team wins plaudits from clients for its ‘cost-tracking, communication and accountability’ while attaining favourable results in actions for clients such as Lookers plc, easyJet and Capital One Bank. The firms delivers time and again in disputes ranging from class-action nuisance to complex loan note actions, including cases with an international aspect. ‘Down-to-earth’ practice head Paul Worth is a fraud expert with a wide range of corporate clients, and the ‘dedicated’ Jonathan Tardif brings IT specialisation.

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

Eversheds LLP is a unique quantity in the region, having a national and international network which enables the Nottingham office to offer extended services to local clients. Conversely, because the Nottingham office houses specialist groups such as the projects and infrastructure and IT teams, clients with a national profile will consult the firm in the East Midlands.

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

Birmingham-based Stephen Kitts is Eversheds LLP’s Midlands corporate finance head, with a great reputation around the region for putting financings together. The firm is a heavyweight for whole-region coverage.

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

Eversheds LLP’s Nottingham office handles the full range of instructions from lenders, IPs and corporates on administrations and restructurings, and is a ‘centre of excellence’ within the wider firm for bankruptcy work. Senior associate Mark Wood heads up the group following the departure of Chris Radford.

Within Employment, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s sizeable team is headed by Mark Fletcher, whose in-house experience counts with corporate clients looking for practical and commercial advice on reorganisations, severances and collective consultation. He and Nicola Bennison - who focuses on public sector health and education matters - both have substantial employment tribunal experience and TUPE knowledge.

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

Eversheds LLP’s pan-Midlands health and safety practice has picked up instructions on headline cases such as the Potters Bar rail crash.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Playing on the national field for PFI mandates, Eversheds LLP has advised both procuring bodies and private contractors on PFI and PPP projects in a wide range of sectors. The recommended Adrian Turner is head of the firm’s national Building Schools for the Future team, and has advised education authorities and bidders on numerous BSF projects. Highlights illustrating Scott Wagland and Tim Costello’s expertise in 2008 were the Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council care home project, and the project to deliver waste treatment and recycling to the South London Waste Partnership.

Within Public sector, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s strength in PFI/PPP projects pays off with local authorities, who instruct the team on Building Schools for the Future projects in addition to major planning, housing, and development projects; waste; and employment and outsourcing of ICT. Nigel Sternberg heads the practice.

Within Construction, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

New head of construction at Eversheds LLP, Andrew MacCuish, has won a mandate from Bradford MDC for the £65m redevelopment of Odsall Stadium, among other regeneration instructions, and has been active on contentious matters since his arrival in June 2008. A highlight was being instructed on the New College Stamford environmentally innovative ‘green‘ facility.

Within Environment, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Associate Louise Howarth at Eversheds LLP’s Nottingham office is part of the firm’s nationally renowned Birmingham-centered environment group which is consulted for strategic REACH compliance advice by Akzo Nobel. Severn Trent instructed the Nottingham office on a water-related matter in 2008.

Within Nottingham and Derby, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Paul Hilsdon’s real estate team at Eversheds LLP completed the acquisition of 20 sites for the Driving Standards Agency in 2008, illustrating the firm’s national reach and ability to handle complex title and environmental issues. The development and regeneration team, led by Chris O’Donoghue, continues to act on major development projects such as at Witney and Carmarthen for Simons Developments, and has been appointed sole legal adviser to West Northampton Development Corporation, with a predicted 60 development sites.

Within Planning, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP merged its Nottingham and Birmingham planning teams into one eight-lawyer group in 2008. Stuart Andrews, the key Nottingham contact, is recognised as a leading planning lawyer; his strengths lie in advising on major town centre schemes, large urban regeneration projects and strategic residential development proposals, which necessitate expertise in CPOs, highways orders and environmental assessment. He is also an experienced advocate.

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

Eversheds LLP has well-qualified teams for both IP and IT matters, headed by James Fry, whose expertise encompasses technology-related commercial and transactional IP in the government, biopharma, IT and engineering sectors. The group also manages IP portfolios and trade mark filings. On the IT side, Nigel Sternberg acts for public and private sector clients in relation to process re-engineering and business transformation, including for Sheffield City Council in its £200m ICT outsourcing project.