The Legal 500

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

Eversheds LLP remains heavily focused on international work, particularly for US clients; it recently advised on Huron Consulting Group’s acquisition of UK-based Trilantic. Corporate head Paul Lowe acted for the Assembly Government on establishing a regional JESSICA regeneration fund. Michelle Thomas focuses on renewables, recently advising North Wales based West Coast Energy on a wind farm disposal. For general commercial matters, Matthew Gough and solicitor Eve England are ‘very pleasant to deal with, responsive and commercial’.

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

Eversheds LLP represents public authorities, higher education institutions and finance groups. Practice head Nicola Williams focuses on public law, advising Cornwall and Brent Councils on disputes and recently leading a cross-office team advising National Grid on an investigation. Peter Watkin Jones is leading an NHS trust inquiry. Mark Rhys Jones handles commercial and contractual disputes.

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

Eversheds LLP’s Graham Richardson specialises in recoveries and has wide-ranging experience acting for leading UK financial institutions.

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

Eversheds LLP’s team is led by Philip Vaughan. It acted for Barclays in multimillion-pound lending facilities and for Morgan Stanley on mortgage portfolio sales. RBS and Lloyds are core clients.

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

Eversheds LLP acted for Grant Thornton as administrator of Welsh-based media production company Barfud, and advised Morgan Stanley on distressed mortgage portfolios, while other clients include Barclays and BNP Paribas. Philip Vaughan undertakes non-contentious insolvency matters.

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

Eversheds LLP is ‘excellent, pragmatic, attentive and efficient’ in its advice to employer clients. Anthony Rees handles international restructuring and collective labour disputes for high-profile public and private sector groups. Thomas Player specialises in labour law and industrial relations, recently advising Symantec and Walker Snack Foods/PepsiCo. Huw Jones advises local authorities.

Within Pensions , Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s Ian Davies has ‘excellent pensions knowledge and is a good communicator, who does not vacillate when providing advice’. Senior associate Stuart Earle is ‘responsive in layman’s language whilst being commercially aware’. The team advises Morgan Crucible and Welsh Water.

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

Eversheds LLP is underpinned by the firm’s national coverage. Renewables is an area of growing importance for the firm, while it effectively shut down its personal injury practice, with Karen Meggitt moving her team to NewLaw Solicitors LLP.

Within Project finance and PFI, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

Eversheds LLP’s Michelle Thomas focuses on renewables, advising on UK and international developments. The firm acted for West Coast Energy on a wind farm disposal, and Savills on a joint venture with Rockfield Energy Investments.

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

Eversheds LLP acted on major regeneration schemes in Abergavenny and at former Corus steelworks. Huw Jones advised local authorities on mass equal pay claims, while civil litigator Nicola Williams worked as part of a cross-office team advising Cornwall Council on a PFI contract dispute. Bridgette Wilcox provides a ‘very responsive service and has excellent knowledge’ on public procurement, acting for Oxfordshire Council and the Assembly Government.

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

Eversheds LLP’s David Watkins ‘provides concise quality advice and very effectively manages the team’, which includes seven partners and is noted for its commercial approach and business understanding. Most of its work is located outside Wales, for clients such as GSK and Castleoak Group. James Trafford focuses on clean energy, and recently advised RWE npower on securing land interests for an offshore windfarm in North Wales. The Cardiff team also led on solar power projects for various interests including British Gas.

Within Construction , Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Professional and reactive to client requirements’, Eversheds LLP acts on major projects in Wales and also multimillion-pound disputes. Newly promoted partner Rob McNabb now leads the team and is highly rated for his specialist knowledge and committed client service. His recent projects include wind farm developments for AES Corporation, and University of Wales’ new city centre campus. Mary Herbert has ‘excellent knowledge’ and recently advised the Highways Agency on procurement matters.

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

Eversheds LLP’s Marcus Trinick QC has ‘market-leading knowledge and experience’ on renewables, leading 
on wind farm inquiries for clients including RWE 
npower. Other planning projects for the firm include Linc-Cymru’s high-profile restoration of Lysaghts 
Institute and Monmouthshire Council’s complex Abergavenny regeneration scheme. Associate Jo Waddington advised Guide Dogs UK on contaminated land issues.

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

At Eversheds LLP, ‘very able, thorough and knowledgeable litigator’ Kathryn Cook acts for public sector and blue-chip clients such as the Forestry Commission, GSK, the Highways Agency and Segro. The firm advises on agricultural land use for renewables.

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

Eversheds LLP is recommended for property loan security work. Kevin Booth recently advised Places for People on property disposals, and L&Q on due diligence matters.

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

Eversheds LLP’s commercial law specialist Matthew Gough is ‘very approachable, thoroughly professional, and accurate. He clearly instils this approach in his team as well’. The firm advised Newport University on IP policies, and author Zoë Harcombe, a new client, on copyright issues.

Within IT and telecoms, Eversheds LLP is a first tier firm,

At Eversheds LLP, Matthew Gough advised Legal & General on data protection matters, and Confused.com on IT procurement; Heather McNabb advised DVLA on outsourcing IT services; and Mark Rhys-Jones represented EADS in a multimillion-pound breach of contract dispute.