The Legal 500

HARCOURT HOUSE, 19 CAVENDISH SQUARE, LONDON, W1A 2AW, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 020 7636 1616
Fax:
Fax 020 7491 2899
DX:
42748 OXFORD CIRCUS NORTH
Web:
www.howardkennedy.com
Email:

What we say about the firm's legal practice in London

Corporate and commercial

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, tier 4

Howard Kennedy’s team features the recommended Dov Katz and Keith Lassman. A highlight of 2010 was advising Hurlingham (now Manroy) on its admission to AIM and subsequent £6m fundraising. The team also acts for NOMADs, brokers and sponsors.

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Howard Kennedy is a second tier firm,

Howard Kennedy’s overall level of service is described as ‘excellent’, with its dedicated hotels and leisure practice attracting high praise. Led by Michael Harris and including the highly rated Eric Gummers, the team recently advised on the sale of St James Hotel & Club at a reported price of £1m per room.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Insurance

Within Personal injury: claimant, tier 5

Howard Kennedy has a fine reputation, largely due to ‘two remarkable individuals’, namely Elizabeth Smith and Ian Mulkis. Both are ‘talented and assiduous, such that this firm is a truly first-class outfit’.

Private client

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 6

Alan Banes from Howard Kennedy has particular expertise in governance matters, and consultant Iain Harris also has a strong reputation. Clients include The Mutiple Sclerosis Society and the Alexandra Palace Charitable Trust.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 5

Cordelia Brand heads Howard Kennedy’s cross-departmental wealth protection practice, which handles onshore and offshore trust and tax matters for wealthy clients.

Real estate

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Howard Kennedy’s team was boosted by the arrival of Paul Groobey, formerly head of the London office of Hammonds. The group advised Frogmore Real Estate Partners in relation to Foundation Park, Maidenhead. The hotels and leisure practice is growing and the residential practice acts for private individuals as well as corporates; Paul Springall is ‘an excellent conveyancing solicitor’.

Within Environment Leading individuals

Within Property finance, tier 4

Howard Kennedy is a ‘most straightforward firm’. Jason Lewisruns a particularly good team’, which is valued for its ability to see the bigger picture and was augmented by Mark Phillips joining from DLA Piper UK LLP. The practice advised parts of Santander on over 20 loan advances ranging from £3m to £30m.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

At Howard Kennedy, Michele Freyne is the driving force behind a practice that is gaining market credibility, and acts for major West End developers and wealthy families. In 2010, the team advised several Galliard Group subsidiaries in various large disputes.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Media and entertainment, Howard Kennedy is a third tier firm,

The ‘excellentBrian Eagles heads Howard Kennedy’s team, which works across film and film financing, TV, music, theatre and publishing. The group acted alongside the firm’s corporate practice to advise BMG Rights Management on a major acquisition. Eagles also advises Old Vic Productions on licensing and production requirements. Other clients include the Peter Schaufuss Ballet Company and literary agents Alexandra Cann Associates. Keith Lassman is recommended.


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.