The Legal 500

Within Financial services, tier 6

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP’s ‘solutions-orientated’ team covers financial services regulation, with expertise in advising clients on the establishment of IFCs in the Caribbean and North Africa. Hedge fund and regulatory expert James Greig joined from Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP.

Within M&A - smaller deals up to £50m, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a third tier firm,

Corporate work is at the heart of new entrant PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP’s business. A 30-fee-earner team is largely focused on the owner-managed business sector but draws on an international network that spans 63 jurisdictions. Stuart Hatcher heads the team.

Within Overview,

Activity levels in the sub-£50m M&A space started to pick up in spring 2009 after a three-month hiatus, with entrepreneurs seeking investment opportunities on the cheap. The ranking for that section has grown as a result, with the seven new entrants including giant PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP and Anglo-Canadian firm Fasken Martineau LLP.

Within Tax litigation, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a third tier firm,

With a pipeline of work from its associated accountancy firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is ‘competitive’ and ‘willing to go the extra mile’. The firm successfully represented Baxi Group in the Court of Appeal in a case concerning VAT on a loyalty programme which has now been referred to the ECJ by the House of Lords. Agnes Quashie and Boaz Goren are recommended.

Within Immigration, PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP is a first tier firm,

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP’s ‘professional and precise’ three-partner team is led by the ‘pre-eminent’ Julia Onslow-Cole. The ‘well-networked’ team has a fast-growing private client practice, acting for high-profile international entrepreneurs and a number of Russian oligarchs. Other clients include global financial services entities and leading international brands. Clients single out the ‘excellent’ Nadine Owen.

Within Professional negligence

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Halliwells is ‘quick to act and has excellent market knowledge’, although it was hit by the departure of former head of property Simon Hardwick and a team, who left for PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP in 2008. The firm redressed the losses by adding the ‘commercial, pragmatic and, above all, tenacious’ Caroline Taylor from Bride Hall Group; clients describe her as ‘definitely the kind of lawyer you want on your side’. Hugo Greer-Walker is ‘extremely thorough, with an ability to spot issues at an early stage’. The group is particularly recommended for representing restaurant sector clients, including Wagamama, Davy’s and Groupe Chez Gerard.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

PricewaterhouseCoopers Legal LLP became a contender in this practice area with the recruitment of a property team from Halliwells, including Adam Perry, Tim Hart and Amanda Crowe. The group, led by former Halliwells head Simon Hardwick, benefits from its relationship with PwC. Particular strengths include advising on major property-related restructurings.