The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Birmingham, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is one of the ‘top four corporate brands in the Midlands‘, with ‘deep resources‘ and some ‘genuine market leaders‘. Team head Stephen Kitts scores points with clients for his commercial approach and ‘thorough knowledge of business issues‘, and Sue Lewis ‘knows the Birmingham market inside out‘. In 2008 Keri Rees advised Hampson Industries on a £250m fundraising, including a £65m placing and open offer and a £185m debt funding. Other clients are Centrica, Mitchells & Butler and Goodyear.

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

Janet Jones’ team at Eversheds LLP was strengthened in 2008 through the move of associate Alex Barnes from London, who is praised as providing ‘practical advice that is well researched and clear‘. The firm advised Waitrose on the tax aspects of its acquisition of several Woolworths stores.

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

At Eversheds LLP, Matthew Woodford is highly regarded, and noted for his ‘sound and timely advice‘. The firm remains active in the automotive and aviation sectors.

Within Crime, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s lead partner is the ‘very experienced‘ David Young. The regulatory team predominantly acts for corporate defendants on major health and safety and environmental investigations, and continues to advise the operating company on the criminal investigations arising from the Buncefield explosions and fire of December 2005.

Within Licensing, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP recently acted for Sunrise Senior Living in a number of applications for premises’ licenses. Senior associate Ed Farrelly is the main contact, and partner David Young is an experienced figure.

Within Commercial litigation: Birmingham: , Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Under the leadership of Diane Bennett, Eversheds LLP fields a ‘responsive‘ and ‘knowledgeable‘ team with a strong record advising on disputes in the technology, banking and utilities sectors. Clients include HSBC, Anglian Water Services and new win Severn Trent. Justin Byrne is a ‘safe pair of hands‘.

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

Pat Johnstone’s team at Eversheds LLP ‘understands the industry‘ and provides ‘swift and commercial advice‘. Highlights of the past year include advising Lavendon on its £180m syndicated refinancing and other recent clients include HSBC, RBS and Lloyds TSB. Sue Lewis is recommended as a ‘very experienced lawyer‘, while rising star Patrick Davis is ‘proactive and co-ordinates well‘.

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

Traditionally ‘the firm of choice for any large or complex assignment‘, Eversheds LLP received a blow with the retirement of highly respected team head Louise Pheasant in 2009, although clients say that rising star Gemma Curtis has ‘tremendous potential‘. In 2008, the firm advised on several headline cases including advising PwC on the trading administration of Royal Worcester and Spode.

Within Employment, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is a ‘significant player in the market‘ with an ‘excellent reputation‘. It continues to develop specialist units such as its immigration practice, and also has growing expertise in outsourcing transactions. The firm recently advised SPX Corporation on a multi-jurisdictional restructuring, while other clients include Cisco and Scottish Power. Peter Norbury leads a team that recently welcomed the arrival of Michael Ord from the firm’s Newcastle office.

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

Eversheds LLP is a ‘strong player for health and safety work‘, with David Young singled out for particular praise. It continues to advise on crisis management issues involving major accident investigations and workplace fatalities. Clients include Coors Brewers and EDF
Energy.

Within Pensions, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

At Eversheds LLP, Liz Fallon is ‘a very cool operator‘. The team advised the trustees of The Laurel Pub Pension Scheme and the Yates Pension Scheme on the restructuring of the Laurel Pub Group, while other clients include Goodrich Controls and Trustees of the Jessop Group Limited Pension and Life Assurance
Scheme.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), tier 4

Adrian Turner’s team at Eversheds LLP advised Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council on the Walsall Extra Care Home project, involving the provision of seven new or refurbished extra care facilities, and also acted for the consortium on the Newport Schools PFI.

Within Education, Eversheds LLP is a third tier firm,

The education team at Eversheds LLP leverages off the firm’s strong national reputation to handle merger issues, campus development projects, HR matters and academies projects. The Birmingham and Leeds offices recently worked in tandem to advise Stoke University Quarter Partners on the funding and management use agreements for a new campus development.

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

In April 2008, Eversheds LLP was appointed by Staffordshire Country Council to advise on issues concerning its £2bn pension fund. Mark Hammerton is the main contact in Birmingham.

Within Commercial property: Birmingham, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is well known for the strength of its client base, and handles a broad range of instructions from public sector work to development schemes. Tim Webb is ‘very visible‘ and Iftkhar Ahmed is ‘tremendously successful on the occupier side‘, while Parmjit Singh and David Jones are ‘seen on many deals throughout the city‘ and Gurjit Atwal is ‘sensible‘. The group secured an exclusive appointment for Hammerson’s retail parks portfolio (value in excess of £1bn). Other clients include Goodyear Dunlop.

Within Construction, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has been appointed by RWE npower to act on the construction of a major new offshore wind farm at Gwynt-y-Mor, involving capital expenditure in excess of £1bn. Peter Scurlock attracts some ‘great development work‘, and Amrik Kandola is also recommended.

Within Environment, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is advising a major international entity on developing structures and procedures to enable compliance with REACH regulations, and continues to attract a significant range of contentious environmental instructions. David Young is ‘able‘, and Dave Gordon is also recommended. Clients include Taylor Wimpey and DuPont.

Within Planning, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has been involved in a large number of high-profile schemes involving major infrastructure projects, town centre regeneration schemes, and significant residential developments. An example of its planning prowess was advising Birmingham International Airport on its proposed runway extension and associated development to facilitate long-haul flights. Rod Bull is well regarded.

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

Eversheds LLP has ‘one of the biggest property litigation teams on a nationwide basis and is remarkably successful‘. Of the key partners, Paul Moorcroft ‘exercises excellent judgement in a very quiet and pleasant manner‘, and Lisa Barge ‘is spot on‘. Clients include Renault, Persimmon, Birmingham Mailbox and Goodyear Dunlop Tyres.

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

Eversheds LLP packs a powerful punch on the IT side, with Michael Arnold singled out for his ‘legendary pragmatism‘ and David Glover commended for ‘quick turnaround times‘ and ‘excellent industry knowledge‘. The firm recently advised Quantel on a large-system supply agreement with TV Productioncenter Zürich AG.

Within Transport, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

Eversheds LLP is noted for its ‘business acumen and sector knowledge‘. The ‘exceptionally good‘ Anne Harris is advising the Department for Transport on the HLOS Programme to increase rail passenger capacity.

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

Real estate, a historically strong area for Eversheds LLP, has taken a battering in recent months, but the firm continues to hold its place at the top of the market and it is also well placed to advise on property restructurings. In that context the retirement of insolvency head Louise Pheasant is a real blow.