The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Cardiff and South Wales, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP stands apart from the competition in Wales; it has a significant international element to its practice, and has strength in depth in all business areas. In corporate finance this year, Paul Lowe advised on the acquisition of a UK telecoms business for a major US listed company, and Paul Pugh acted for Sony Ericsson in the US$410m sale of Symbian Limited. Michelle Thomas saw her clean energy team go from strength to strength. On the commercial side, Bridgette Wilcox’s team won the contract to act for Orange Business Services on a 2-year partnering agreement to undertake commercial and other services across EMEA and the former Soviet Union.

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

Eversheds LLP has a ‘Central region’ tax team focused in its Birmingham office.

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

At Eversheds LLP, Mark Rhys-Jones and Matthew Gough are complimented for their understanding of clients’ business and their focused advice. The team is ‘outstanding‘; ‘strength in depth is very obvious‘; and clients find the service to be good value for money. Nicola Williams leads the team, which is seeing an increase in strategic public sector and judicial review work. Peter Watkin-Jones is advising the Government of Sudan on issues of international law arising out of the ICC’s investigations into Darfur. Other clients include Tarmac Ltd, EADS, and the DVLA .

Within Debt recovery, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has designated its Cardiff office a ‘centre of excellence‘ for the secured lending sector; the firm acts for 22 of the UK’s leading lenders, using bespoke information technology, and aims to provide a total mortgage recovery service. The team includes experienced lawyers able to deal with complex mortgage issues (including fraud and forgery), through to professional negligence claims against solicitors and valuers.

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

Philip Vaughan and Lowri Gwyn at Eversheds LLP are singled out for praise; both are ‘excellent‘ in terms of their understanding and depth of knowledge. Work in 2008 included acting for JPMorgan on its £2.3bn acquisition of the equity release mortgage portfolio of Northern
Rock.

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

Eversheds LLP stands out for its strength in the refinancing arena. In 2008 Philip Vaughan advised a number of major lenders in relation to the restructuring of mortgage assets.

Within Employment: Cardiff, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has a comprehensive international practice, which is consistently praised for its strength and business focus; the team is ‘very proactive in attempting to draw things to a speedy and cost-effective solution‘. It is instructed on large-scale restructurings, including TUPE issues, and contentious matters (generally for respondents), and acts for both public and private sector organisations. Individuals singled out for praise include practice head Anthony Rees, for his ‘excellent and practical approach‘; Thomas Player (a ‘very grounded, practical labour relations expert‘); and Martin Warren, for his ‘sound advice and excellent training‘.

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

Instructions for Eversheds LLP in 2008 included acting for Oakwood Leisure Limited in relation to a fatality at its theme park.

Within Pensions , Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients declare every confidence in Ian Davies and Stuart Earle at Eversheds LLP; they are approachable, and are ‘prepared to give a view‘. Highlights in 2008 included advice on a scheme merger and defined benefit provision rationalisation exercise for MITIE Group plc, and advice to Morgan Crucible’s Trustees.

Within Personal injury - defendant, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Karen Meggitt has steered Eversheds LLP through an unsettled year, emerging with a more streamlined team that handles mostly litigated work. The team is instructed by insurers such as Legal & General, and also directly by companies such as Mothercare.

Within Projects, energy and natural resources , Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Michelle Thomas at Eversheds LLP heads a team specialising in renewable energy; its ‘knowledge and insight within the renewable energy business is remarkable and very valuable‘. It advised RWE on the largest offshore windfarm in the world, at Gwynt y Mor. The projects team features the experienced Heather McNabb and Jean-Pascal Boutin. 2008 saw new work for the British Virgin Islands Government.

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

Eversheds LLP is pre-eminent in local authority work in Wales, acting for most of the Welsh authorities; this year it advised Blaenau Gwent on the establishment of the first Energy Services Company (ESCO) in Wales. Huw Rolant Jones is recommended for his excellent level of service and depth of knowledge, and Audrey Williams for her experience in equal pay issues. The firm is also noted for its advice to higher and further education clients, with Helen Mortlock recommended, and on employment and property issues.

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

David Watkins heads the team at Eversheds LLP, working for clients such as WAG, Annington Homes, and Centrica. Defining moments of 2008 included appointments to Crossrail, in relation to its £16bn rail infrastructure project, and to SEGRO, to handle the property work on its three largest industrial parks. The team provides ‘a first-class service‘, and is ‘very transparent on fees‘. Nefydd Jones and Gareth Ashfield ‘are both exceptional lawyers with a keen commercial eye‘.

Within Construction , Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Mary Herbert heads up an experienced team at Eversheds LLP, advising on extensive infrastructure projects, both PFI/PPP projects and traditionally procured contracts. Of note this year was the appointment by Stena Line Ports on the procurement of a new ferry port in Loch Ryan, and advice to Npower Renewables in respect of offshore wind farms, such as Gwyn-t-mor.

Within Planning and environment, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP has the most complete department. It acts for developers such as Annington and St Modwen, and has a significant public sector presence, advising Blaenau Gwent and WAG on the £300m redevelopment of the former Corus steelworks site at Ebbw Vale. The recruitment of wind farm planning expert Marcus Trinick has proved popular with the firm’s various energy clients.

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

Kathryn Cook heads the team at Eversheds LLP, which handles disputes for public sector organisations such as the Forestry Commission and WAG, and private sector clients such as GSK, Centrica, and Segro plc.

Within Social housing, Eversheds LLP is a second tier firm,

At Eversheds LLP, Kevin Booth and his team act for large RSLs, such as Group Gwalia, on substantial banking and finance issues.

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

Matthew Gough heads the IP practice in Eversheds LLP’s Cardiff office, and is valued for ‘his understanding of clients’ business and his business-focused advice‘. New clients this year include Admiral Insurance and confused.com. The firm is a major player in IT, kept busy with national and international work. Contentious work is led by Mark Rhys-Jones, who ‘gives robust commercial tactical advice in a way that inspires confidence at all levels of the business‘. Contracts specialist Nick Holland joined the team in January 2008.

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

Eversheds LLP is unique in Wales in attracting international work, particularly to its excellent energy, and corporate finance practices. It is valued for its efficiency and business focus, and for its advisers who are not scared to ‘take a view‘. Clients are also now finding it to be more transparent in its fee structure, and the general view is that ‘you get what you pay for‘.