What we say about the firm's legal practice in North
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, tier 4
The ‘highly professional yet accessible’ team at Hay & Kilner is led by Nick James, who recently acted alongside Norton Rose LLP on International Innovative Technologies’ procurement of $10m of shari’ah-compliant funds. The team includes healthcare specialist Jonathan Waters and Mark Adams, who has been active on reorganisation transactions.
Within EU and competition, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Hay & Kilner provides advice on franchise, distribution, agency and joint venture agreements, including cross-border matters. Martin Soloman is the key contact.
Crime, fraud and licensing
Within Crime, Hay & Kilner is a first tier firm,
The department at Hay & Kilner includes four higher rights advocates, who are accustomed to acting on serious Crown Court cases and in Youth Court proceedings. Mark Harrison heads up the team.
Within Licensing, Hay & Kilner is a third tier firm,
Hay & Kilner provides licensing services to hotels, public houses, restaurants, clubs and late-night takeaway shops, and has a developing practice in betting and gaming.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, Hay & Kilner is a third tier firm,
Hay & Kilner’s team covers the full gamut of work, particularly for insurance, professional partnership and railway clients. Key highlights included acting for a large waste management company in judicial review proceedings, and on minority and majority shareholder claims. Martin Soloman is a mediator and heads the team.
Within Debt recovery, Hay & Kilner is a first tier firm,
Hay & Kilner has noteworthy strength in the estate agency sector, with clients singling out the ‘dedicated’ Kevan Stronach for his knowledge and ‘valuable support’. The team also counts two major financial lenders and a major software supplier as clients.
Finance
Within Banking and finance, Hay & Kilner is a third tier firm,
At Hay & Kilner, practice head Phil Broadhurst provides ‘a professional and prompt service that is delivered with a personal touch’. The firm is on several bank panels and continues to act for a major mortgage and general insurance broker. It has a national regulatory compliance offering.
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
The ‘technical’ Neil Harrold heads the ‘superb’ team at Hay & Kilner, which advises on corporate and personal insolvency matters and has recently acted for a number of purchasers of businesses out of pre-pack administration.
Human resources
Within Employment, Hay & Kilner is a third tier firm,
Neil Dwyer leads the ‘very capable’ team at Hay & Kilner, which is active in tribunal work up and down the country, as well as organised redundancy and reorganisation programmes. It has an employer-focused client base, but has also recently advised directors and shareholders on termination packages.
Within Health and safety, Hay & Kilner is a first tier firm,
At Hay & Kilner, Alun Williams and Robert Hart handle local prosecution cases, and defendants and insurers regularly instruct Bruce Howorth on serious injury and fatality cases.
Within Pensions, tier 4
Hay & Kilner handles pensions work as part of its commercial practice, and continues to advise trustees on their powers and beneficiaries on their rights.
Insurance
Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Hay & Kilner is a first tier firm,
Hay & Kilner has an ‘excellent grasp of clinical negligence law and an excellent manner with clients’, and recently settled several high-value claims including a sub-standard knee surgery case and a meningitis case. It also secured a £70,000 award in a dental claim. Clients rate Clare Thompson, Helen Morland and the ‘hugely experienced’ David Bradshaw. The firm has a multi-party action franchise.
Within Personal injury: claimant, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Bruce Howorth’s department at Hay & Kilner recently settled a brain injury claim for £3m, and handles maximum-severity employers’ and public liability cases. It has a multi-party action franchise.
Within Personal injury: defendant, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
The ‘excellent’ Alun Williams leads the four-fee-earner team at Hay & Kilner, which recently defended an insurer in a multiple-collision accident case, and also handled claims relating to asbestos, benzene, and noise and vibration exposure.
Within Professional negligence, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Hay & Kilner acts for and against a diverse array of professionals including solicitors, banks and surveyors. Ros Sparrow recently advised on the potential liability of a contractor and subcontractor for a defective topographical survey.
Overview
Private client
Within Charities , Hay & Kilner is a third tier firm,
The ‘professional, knowledgeable and personable’ team at Hay & Kilner is led by Jonathan Waters, and continues to advise charities on constitutional, corporate governance and incorporation matters.
Within Family, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Collaborative lawyer Nicola Matthews at Hay & Kilner is ‘patient and extremely supportive’ and ‘very effective in court’. The team handles publicly funded cases and advises high-profile private clients in a diverse array of matters. Higher rights advocate Robert Hart was recently involved in a landmark case involving paediatric evidence.
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Kirstin Cook’s experienced team at Hay & Kilner, which includes new arrival Jon Gould, provides wills, trusts, estate administration and succession planning advice to business clients, high-net-worth individuals and the elderly.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Newcastle, tier 4
Paul Taylor leads the ‘excellent’ team at Hay & Kilner, which recently utilised its care home expertise in several transactions for a number of major players in the sector. The ‘extremely swift and thorough’ Gail Marshall is currently advising Dene Films on its relocation to new Ouseburn Valley headquarters. Clients value Nicola Tiffen’s expertise.
Within Construction , tier 4
Martin Soloman’s team at Hay & Kilner recently advised members of the Federation of Master Builders on a range of matters, and continues to conduct claims in the Technology and Construction Court.
Within Environment, Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Hay & Kilner advises clients on environmental risks and environmental warranties.
Within Property litigation , Hay & Kilner is a second tier firm,
Hay & Kilner’s Martin Soloman is ‘superbly efficient’ on property litigation matters. The team handles business tenancy renewals, development disputes, and landlord and tenant issues.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Intellectual property, tier 4
In 2010, Hay & Kilner’s team acted for the lead party in negotiating a seven-party collaboration agreement, and also acted in trade mark infringement and domain name disputes.
Within IT and telecoms, Hay & Kilner is a third tier firm,
Hay & Kilner provides non-contentious and contentious advice to e-businesses, and specialist advice on the procurement of major bespoke IT systems. Martin Soloman is the key contact.