The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: The West Country, Foot Anstey is a second tier firm,

Duncan Sykes leads Foot Anstey’s six-partner corporate team, which is spread across the firm’s Exeter, Plymouth and Truro offices. Richard Coombs and James Evans are also recommended. Corporate finance specialist Chris Worrell joined the team as a partner in 2008, having left Osborne Clarke’s London office. Recent highlights include advising Bright Futures Group on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of the Restaurants at Work group of companies by way of reverse takeover.

Within Corporate tax, Foot Anstey is a second tier firm,

Plymouth-based John Pindard heads Foot Anstey’s tax team, which is a new entry to the ranking this year. Highlights included advising on the corporate reorganisation of a significant group of local manufacturing companies.

Within EU and competition, tier 4

Senior solicitor Rachel Robinson leads the team at Foot Anstey after the departure of team head Mark Lewis to Michelmores LLP. The firm advises several major clients in relation to compliance programmes.

Within Crime, Foot Anstey is a second tier firm,

Members of the VHCC panel, Foot Anstey advised on a major conspiracy at a local dockyard, dealt with a significant trial involving fraud and brothel keeping, and recently defended on two homicide cases. Nigel Lyons is recommended.

Within Licensing, tier 4

Nigel Lyons’ team at Foot Anstey represents Plymouth and South West Co-operative Society, which has nearly 70 retail outlets across the South West, and acted on a review of licensed premises in the Plymouth Barbican area. The Tanner brothers and Falmouth Golf Course are also clients.

Within Commercial litigation: The West Country, Foot Anstey is a second tier firm,

David Turner leads the growing eight-partner team at Foot Anstey, which in 2008 recruited several associates from Bond Pearce LLP. Headline clients include Columbus Financial Advisers, Hitachi Capital and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU). Tony Jaffa is renowned for his contentious IP experience. Truro-based Toby Claridge and Exeter-based Angus McNicol are also recommended.

Within Debt recovery, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Exeter-based Angus McNicol and Plymouth-based Caroline Mitchell lead the practice at Foot Anstey. Key clients include South West Highways, Hitachi Capital (UK) and Pell Frischmann Consultants Ltd.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Plymouth-based Robin Brown leads Foot Anstey’s six-partner team. Highlights for the contentious practice included advising a national bank in relation to a £1m cheque and cash fraud claim. The non-contentious group added associate Alan Hughes from Bond Pearce LLP.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4

Consultant Julian Trahair leads a team at Foot Anstey that has recently seen the departures of partners Stephen Lawson and Gillian Smith to Michelmores LLP. Highlights in 2008 included representing a liquidator to pursue a misfeasance claim against company directors.

Within Employment: The West Country, Foot Anstey is a first tier firm,

Foot Anstey’s extensive team is led by Plymouth-based Patrick Howarth. Highlights included advising Torbay Council and Cornwall County Council on multiple equal-pay cases, and representing Stagecoach Devon Limited on numerous tribunal claims. Odeon Cinemas and Royal Shakespeare Company are also clients.

Within Health and safety, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Nigel Lyons at Foot Anstey is recommended.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Foot Anstey is a second tier firm,

Foot Anstey’s 15-fee-earner team is led by birth injury specialist Andrew Hannam. It acted on a £2m negligence claim relating to an injury at birth, other birth injury claims with a collective value of £7m, and an Erb’s palsy claim. Lynda Thomas joined from Beachcroft LLP.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Foot Anstey extended its resources through its merger with Hancock Caffin.

Within Personal injury - defendant, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Foot Anstey’s team head Kelvin Farmaner has niche expertise in claims involving animals, while Mark Chanter is experienced in claims against local authorities. The team recently acted for a Belgian insurer and a European insurance company and is on the Van Ameyde UK Limited panel.

Within Agriculture and estates, tier 4

Foot Anstey’s specialisms include advising farmers subject to regulatory investigation, and it is on the NFU’s legal panel for Devon and Cornwall. Devon County Agricultural Association is another client. The team features agriculture specialist Bruce Holt.

Within Charities, Foot Anstey is a second tier firm,

Foot Anstey’s James Evans ‘is a renowned player‘, and advised new client Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education on its legal structure. The team also receives instructions from Victim Support Cornwall and Devon Air Ambulance.

Within Family, Foot Anstey is a first tier firm,

Foot Anstey lost Vanessa Priddis to Michelmores LLP but remains significant in Plymouth and Truro. Mark Chanter leads the team, which advises on financial disputes between divorcing high-net-worth individuals.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Robin Brown heads Foot Anstey’s team in Plymouth.

Within Education, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Associate Julia Green leads Foot Anstey’s team.

Within Local government, tier 4

Gareth Pinwell leads Foot Anstey’s interdisciplinary local government team.

Within Commercial property: The West Country, Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Foot Anstey’s ‘focused and competent team‘ acted for Tamar Science Park on a £23.1m expansion programme. Other clients include Sutton Harbour Group and the Homes and Communities Agency. Matthew Smith joined from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP.

Within Construction, tier 4

New arrival Chris Hoar at Foot Anstey is recommended.

Within Planning, tier 4

At Foot Anstey, highway agreements specialist Gareth Pinwell recently advised Sutton Harbour Group.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Richard Bagwell leads Foot Anstey’s team, and represented Cattedown Wharves Limited in a dispute with the Regional Development Agency & Princess Yachts. Other clients include the Homes & Communities Agency, and the NFU. The practice serves as panel advisers for 18 district and borough councils.

Within Regional review, tier 4

There have been some significant changes in management for several firms in the South West recently. Among these, Veale Wasbrough Lawyers appointed insolvency and corporate recovery specialist, Simon Heald, as managing partner; Chris Jackson took over managing-partner duties at Burges Salmon LLP in May 2009; and John Westwell was named as the new managing partner of Foot Anstey in November 2008.

Within Intellectual property and information technology , Foot Anstey is a third tier firm,

Foot Anstey’s team is led by Exeter-based Edmund Probert. Recent headline work includes acting for the Department of Communities and Local Government in relation to the multimillion-pound re-letting of the Planning Portal website. The firm recently established a cross-disciplinary specialist IP litigation team that has acted on numerous copyright, trade mark and passing off disputes, as well as a database rights dispute.

Within Media and entertainment, Foot Anstey is a first tier firm,

The renowned Tony Jaffa heads the media and publishing team at Foot Anstey. Its national client base includes a number of newspaper publishers in England and Wales, such as Northcliffe Media Ltd, Associated Newspapers and Trinity Mirror. Headline client wins for the team include Newsquest Media Group and Johnston Press.