The Legal 500

8TH FLOOR, 1 NEW YORK STREET, MANCHESTER, M1 4AD, ENGLAND

What we say about the firm's legal practice in North West

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Manchester, tier 4

Headed by Chris Wilkinson, George Davies Solicitors LLP’s three-partner team has handled a raft of student accommodation property purchases for new client Mansion Student Accomodation Fund. Other clients include Bolton College, Fresh Group and Cohens Group.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Manchester, tier 4

George Davies Solicitors LLP handles a range of commercial disputes, and is a popular choice with German clients, who instruct dual-qualified associate Sandra Morrison.

Finance

Within Banking and finance, tier 6

George Davies Solicitors LLP was recently bolstered by the arrival of Shaun Rearden from Cobbetts LLP.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4

At George Davies Solicitors LLP, Mark Hovell has particular strength in sports-related insolvencies, and has been involved in some 50 football club insolvencies/restructurings.

Human resources

Within Employment, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

George Davies Solicitors LLP has attracted key clients in the leisure industry including the Tampopo Restaurant chain. Following its appointment to the North West Collaborative Commercial Agency’s legal services panel, the team also received instructions to advise a leading North West PCT on employment matters. Sara Barrett heads the team.

Private client

Within Family, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Stowe Family Law LLP is one of the largest specialist family law practices in the UK, led by the well-known and highly respected Marilyn Stowe, who is based in Harrogate. Robin Charrot recently left for George Davies Solicitors LLP.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a second tier firm,

George Davies Solicitors LLP has a growing reputation for advising on personal injury trusts, and advises on tax-saving and asset protection will structures which are compliant with shari’ah law. Practice head Tony Hall is recommended.

Public sector

Within Education, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

George Davies Solicitors LLP is recommended for the range and depth of services it provides as well as its personal service. The team includes a number of specialists who advise further education colleges and private schools.

Within Health, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

George Davies Solicitors LLP has an active healthcare team, with Anne Fairhurst recommended.

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Manchester, tier 5

George Davies Solicitors LLP’s Caroline Hanratty is praised for her ‘good commercial awareness and ability to push a transaction through to conclusion’.

Within Construction, tier 5

Associate Catherine Kay at George Davies Solicitors LLP is recommended on the non-contentious side.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

George Davies Solicitors LLP’s experience includes website-related matters, and the exploitation and licensing of IP.

Within Media and entertainment, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a second tier firm,

George Davies Solicitors LLP advises professional footballers, athletes and music clients. Litigator Kelvin Parry joined in 2010 from Halliwells. Mark Hovell leads the team.

Within Sport, George Davies Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

George Davies Solicitors LLP’s team includes Mark Hovell, who is a Court of Arbitration for Sport arbitrator, and Colin Murdock, a former professional footballer and a member of the Football Association’s Disciplinary Panel.


Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW
  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
    - 11KBW
  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW
  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW
  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
    - 11KBW
  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW
  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW
  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
    - 11KBW
  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.