The Legal 500

North West: Corporate and commercial

Corporate and commercial: Manchester

Leading individuals

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North West: Dispute resolution

Commercial litigation: Manchester

Commercial litigation: Manchester - ranked: tier 5

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher is active across corporate litigation, civil fraud, professional negligence and contractual disputes. The team acts for private individuals and large public companies spanning the retail, financial services, construction, insurance, technology, telecommunications and sports sectors. Clients include Betfred, CMS Payments Intelligence and Kellogg Company and fashion brands such as Karen Millen, Oasis, Warehouse and Coast. Managing partner Ian Austin heads the commercial litigation team, which includes the ‘fantastic’ James Lappin, Donall Caherty, and associate Daniel Sheehan, who joined in 2017 from DWF. Barry Sharples heads the debt recovery team.

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North West: Insurance

Clinical negligence: claimant

Leading individuals

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North West: Public sector

Health

Health - ranked: tier 2

Fieldfisher

The ‘very attentive’ team at Fieldfisher  is headed by the ‘truly exceptional’ Sarah Ellson, who gives ‘practical and commercial advice’. The ‘very helpful and knowledgeable’ Debbie Nicholson  a senior associate and associate ‘rising star’ Holly Bontoft are both recommended. Bontoft is ‘one to watch – she is clever and confident and well-able to run a case by herself’. Ellson acts for numerous specialised regulators such as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority for whom she continues to advise on the new mitochondrial donation regulation and on other matters. National and international clients include commercial suppliers to the NHS such as major pharmaceutical companies and pharmacy chains as well as major care home operators and investors.

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North West: Real estate

Commercial property: Manchester

Commercial property: Manchester - ranked: tier 4

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher is active across a range of development, investment, energy, asset management and property finance mandates and key work included advising Berkshire Assets (West London) on the £120m acquisition of a key development site in Brentford; acting for McGoff Group on the development of 368 apartments in Salford; advising The Co-operative Group in a joint venture with Manchester City Council regarding strategic development site Angel Meadows in Manchester; and advising Russells Ltd, by its SPV JDH (Manchester), on the purchase, development and sale of a city centre site for a 4 star hotel in Manchester. Liam Buckley, who joined from Clyde & Co LLP !Manchester in 2017, heads the team, which includes; Krista Powell, who recently joined from Freeman Fisher LLP; Stephen Evans-Jones, who heads the real estate finance practice; Matthew Dobson, who focuses on development and real estate finance; and Leo Rossiter, who is active across energy projects, property investments and asset management. Senior associates Sam Mason and Michelle Howell are also recommended.

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North West: TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

IT and telecoms

IT and telecoms - ranked: tier 2

Fieldfisher

Fieldfisher provides a ‘fantastic service’. The ‘very proactive’ Rob Sheldon  is ‘very business-minded and is able to add value through his understanding of his clients’ business and the broader issues. He provides practical advice based on his clients’ business needs and is very solution-focused’. Both Sam Jardine  and associate Liam Corrigan ‘impress with their responsiveness, proactive nature and sound commercial advice. They show a good understanding of the industry and how any issues can affect us’. Sheldon has been leading the advice to Trilliant Networks UK on a diverse range of matters. Trilliant is a major smart-meter provider and supplies British Gas with smart meters. In other highlights Jardine has been leading the advice to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) on various matters relating to the SRA's flagship Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), part of the SRA's Training for Tomorrow initiative.

Leading individuals

Next generation lawyers

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