The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in the North West, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP’s Sally Wightman is the driving force behind the firm’s Chester office, and continues to attract major instructions from the likes of Chester Race Company, Chester Zoo, and Hawker Beechcraft.

Within Corporate and commercial: Liverpool, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Excellent in all respects’, Hill Dickinson LLP has had the largest offering in Liverpool since it acquired the corporate practice of Halliwells in July 2010. Craig Scott has the ‘ability to communicate in non-legal language’, and has particular expertise in private equity matters. Other recommended partners include Sue Russell and Jonathan Brown.

Within Corporate and commercial: Manchester, tier 4

Hill Dickinson LLP saw the departure of Darryl Cooke, but still houses a number of strong practitioners including department head Paul Ellaby; the ‘responsive, pragmatic and flexible’ Jane O’Sullivan; and new arrival from Squire Sanders Hammonds Ian Gillis. Recent highlights include advising Klarius Group on its acquisition from Affinia Holdings of the Quinton Hazell Automotive Group.

Within Corporate tax, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

A qualified member of the Chartered Institution of Taxation, Hill Dickinson LLP’s Saad Ahmed is a prominent figure in the market, and recently advised on the tax aspects of the disposal of AMCO Group Holdings.

Within Crime, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

After the departure of Jack McGarva to become a District Judge, Richard Green now heads the ‘outstanding’ team at Hill Dickinson LLP. New associate Derek Millard-Smith specialises in Trading Standards investigations.

Within Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North West, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Headed by acclaimed mediator Iain Campbell, Hill Dickinson LLP’s Chester team has specialist knowledge of Consumer Credit Act matters.

Within Commercial litigation: Liverpool, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by Jonathan Berkson, Hill Dickinson LLP’s ‘commercial and user-friendly’ three-partner team was recently bolstered by the arrival of Colin Gibbons from Halliwells. Berkson recently successfully represented a client at first instance and on appeal in defending an attempt to void a requirement in a joint venture agreement stating that the arbitrator should be from a particular religious community.

Within Commercial litigation: Manchester, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

At Hill Dickinson LLP, Geraldine Ryan is ‘able to manage a fast-moving case effectively’, and Julian Diaz-Rainey is also recommended. In 2010, the firm handled a number of high-profile matters including the successful defence of Wayne Rooney and his wife in an action brought by his former sports agency. Areas of strength include the defence of professional negligence matters.

Within Debt recovery, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

The addition of Halliwells’ debt recovery team has strengthened the group at Hill Dickinson LLP who also gained a number of new clients as a result, most notably United Utilities. Jonathan Berkson heads the team.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Bolstered by the arrival of Richard Capper and Beverley Bentley from Halliwells in July 2010, Hill Dickinson LLP is able to provide a ‘strong service’ across a range of financings out of Liverpool and Manchester. The team is gaining increasing market share, and was included on Nationwide Building Society’s rationalised panel, among other panel appointments.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP’s Liverpool office was strengthened by the arrival of Paul Spence from Halliwells. Spence and his team’s arrival has strengthened the firm’s lender-side practice, with clients such as Bank of Ireland and Anglo Irish Bank coming with him. In Manchester, Jeremy Reilly is the lynchpin of the group, and successfully picked up Zolfo Cooper as a new client.

Within Employment, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

In addition to a raft of internal promotions, Hill Dickinson LLP’s Liverpool office also acquired a team of four from Halliwells led by Kerstie Skeaping, adding significant experience in tribunal hearings, and in trade union matters and industrial relations. Jeff Middleton now leads the team; former practice head Michael Morrison has moved to a consultancy position with the firm.

Within Health and safety, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

The team at Hill Dickinson LLP is ‘excellent in all respects’. Simon Parrington, who is ‘meticulous in his preparation’ and ‘highly respected in the courts’, heads the prosecution team, while Richard Green leads the defence team.

Within Pensions, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by Andrew Ashley Taylor, whose clients include Electricity Northwest, the team at Hill Dickinson LLP gained new instructions from a significant number of trustees, several listed entities, and large corporate employers.

Within Clinical negligence: defendant , Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP represents over 40 NHS trusts through NHSLA schemes. The ‘second-to-none’ team is currently involved in the high-profile ‘Rowlands’ litigation, comprising over 300 claims. Mike McKenna’s ‘technical and intellectual expertise is awesome’; and Andrew Leslie has ‘impeccable judgement’. Richard Watson leads the team.

Within Personal injury: defendant, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Jason Bleasdale at Hill Dickinson LLP is a disease specialist; and David Dunne specialises in asbestos work. The firm also has an exclusive partnership with the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, providing information on fraud issues. Denny Payton joined the firm from Corclaim (part of Harvey Ingram LLP) to head its uninsured loss recovery group. Clients include Iceland and Bourne Leisure.

Within Professional negligence, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

At Hill Dickinson LLP, Liverpool head Ruth Lawrence continues to serve longstanding clients such as Aviva, as well as new clients WR Berkeley and Quinn. The team attracted a number of new arrivals in 2010, including Anne Eady from Halliwells. Sarah Naylor and Christopher Stanton are highly recommended.

Within Regional review, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP has made tremendous strides in the region, largely as a result of taking on the whole of Halliwells’ Liverpool office, and is now a formidable force in both Liverpool and Manchester, providing a full service to a broad mix of private and public sector clients.

Within Agriculture and estates, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP has been particularly busy on property matters.

Within Family, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP provides advice to individuals referred by the firm’s corporate and commercial, sports and private client teams. Paula Milburn has ‘integrity and professionalism far beyond her years’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP recently acquired a team of four from Halliwells’ private client practice, including Carol Mason, who adds expertise in trusts and estate work. The team is experienced in providing both onshore and offshore trusts and tax advice to high-net-worth individuals based in the UK or overseas.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP continues to pick up a raft of instructions advising on energy and energy management facilities in the healthcare sector; examples included advising the procuring authority on a project to re-provide such facilities at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Stephen Lansdown, who led on this matter, is recommended.

Within Education, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP saw the arrival from Halliwells of Kerstie Skeaping, specialising in employment issues, and David Rawlinson, who acts for schools on a range of contentious and non-contentious issues. Iain Campbell has ‘deep knowledge and the ability to recognise key issues’.

Within Health, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP has a large NHS client base with over 80 clients in the North West region and elsewhere. The team has also been appointed to all ten lots on the North West NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub. Practice head Allan Mowat is ‘experienced, wise, sensible and pragmatic’.

Within Local government, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP was appointed to the North West Legal Consortium in 2010, and maintains a busy workload in regeneration matters, property developments and pathfinder schemes. Peter Barlow leads the team.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in the North West, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Headed by Robin Jones, Hill Dickinson LLP’s two-partner team has deeply entrenched relationships with a number of significant Chester-based institutions, including Chester Zoo, University of Chester and Chester Cathedral.

Within Commercial property: Liverpool, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

Enhanced by the firm’s acquisition of Halliwells’ Liverpool operation, Hill Dickinson LLP’s 19-partner team has the critical mass to handle a high volume of mandates across the commercial property spectrum. The team continues to gain market share, and is one of only three firms on the Co-operative Group’s revised property panel. ‘Excellent’ team head David Swaffield regularly advises pension funds on investment work, while new arrival Tony McDonnell brought with him instructions from Manchester City FC and Everton FC on the proposed redevelopments at their respective grounds. Pamela Jones is recommended in the retail sector.

Within Commercial property: Manchester, tier 4

Led by Michael Blakey, Hill Dickinson LLP picked up new clients such as Industrial Labelling Systems and the Soho Collective, and strengthened its relationships with core clients such as NCP. As well as attracting standalone work, a reorganisation of the firm’s national property practice has led to the Manchester team’s more regular involvement on deals run from Sheffield and Liverpool.

Within Construction, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

With excellent coverage in Manchester and Liverpool, particularly following the absorption of Halliwells’ Liverpool team, Hill Dickinson LLP has ‘first-rate’ expertise in contentious and non-contentious matters. Team head Michael Woolley provides ‘in-depth analysis and practical solutions’, and is advising Peel Holdings in relation to infrastructure for a waste-to-energy power facility.

Within Planning and environment, tier 4

At Hill Dickinson LLP, head of planning John Holmes has a vast reservoir of experience across diverse planning issues, and is currently advising on the proposed new Chester SuperZoo project.

Within Property litigation, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

At Hill Dickinson LLP, Ralph Bullivant has an excellent pedigree in the market and heads a three-partner team recently strengthened by the arrival of Kevin Lee from Halliwells. The firm continues to handle a significant flow of instructions from the Co-Operative Group.

Within Social housing, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Graham Archibald at Hill Dickinson LLP is well regarded.

Within Intellectual property, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP was boosted by the arrival of Harvey Stringfellow, Colin Gibbons and Megan Jones from Halliwells. Following Philip Woods’ move to set up the firm’s IP practice in its Singapore office, ‘fabulous lawyer’ Peter Harrison now heads the team.

Within IT and telecoms, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Shelley Thomas at Hill Dickinson LLP acted for the Marshalls group of aerospace companies in the procurement and acquisition of an IT system.

Within Media and entertainment, Hill Dickinson LLP is a second tier firm,

Hill Dickinson LLP advises clients across the whole range of media and entertainment issues. Richard Green is the key contact.

Within Sport, Hill Dickinson LLP is a third tier firm,

Julian Diaz-Rainey joined Hill Dickinson LLP with one assistant from Halliwells, specialising in dispute resolution. Richard Green heads the team.

Within Transport, Hill Dickinson LLP is a first tier firm,

At Hill Dickinson LLP, David Wareing is recommended for ‘his depth of industry knowledge’ and Adrian Marsh for ‘his technical excellence’, on the shipping side; and Greg Plunkett handles aviation work. Phil James left for Weightmans LLP.