The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Freeth Cartwright LLP is a second tier firm,

KJD Freeth LLP has an impressive roster of clients, featuring names such as JCB Group, Britannia Building Society and Advantage West Midlands. Peter Ellis heads the corporate team, and Paul Owen is also recommended. Corporate work in 2010 included a range of reorganisation and refinancing matters.

Within Commercial litigation: Birmingham, tier 4

Freeth Cartwright LLP advises on a broad range of cases including shareholder disputes and defective goods claims. Raymond Joyce is the primary contact.

Within Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Freeth Cartwright LLP is a first tier firm,

Stephen Hadley at KJD Freeth LLP continues to advise a power station on the potential risk of coal mining subsidence. Tim Calloway has been dealing with an unusual claim for equitable estoppel by a former girlfriend against a high-net-worth individual. The team has added a major international logistics company to its roster of clients, joining The Crown Estate and JCB Group.

Within Debt recovery , Freeth Cartwright LLP is a second tier firm,

Martin Cook is the main contact at KJD Freeth LLP. The team undertakes a significant amount of business-to-business trade debt recovery work, and counts a number of financial institutions as clients. It also has considerable experience in the healthcare sector.

Within Banking and finance , Freeth Cartwright LLP is a third tier firm,

Freeth Cartwright LLP’s clients include NAB Group and Santander. Phil Baigent and John Heaphy are joint heads of the department.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , tier 5

KJD Freeth LLP is advising on a number of claims against former directors, and has also been handling property acquisitions and sales for insolvency practitioners and other clients. Martin Cook heads the team.

Within Employment, tier 6

Richard Santy took over as head of employment at Shoosmiths following the departure of Rebecca Sawbridge to Freeth Cartwright LLP. The firm advised Accord Housing on changing the terms and conditions for all its employees. Rebecca McGuirk ‘understands company issues and is not too risk averse’.

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate Personal tax, trusts and probate

Within Energy Energy

Within Local government, tier 4

KJD Freeth LLP advised a consortium of Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, High Peak Borough Council and Lichfield District Council on outsourcing arrangements, and acted on the Stoke-on-Trent University Quarter development. Michael Servian is recommended.

Within Commercial property: Birmingham Commercial property: Birmingham

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Freeth Cartwright LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by David Jones, KJD Freeth LLP acts for a broad range of clients in the public and private sectors, including advising local authorities in urban regeneration projects. The team has developed a niche practice advising on manorial rights and rights of reverter.

Within Planning Planning

Within Property litigation Property litigation

Within Social housing, Freeth Cartwright LLP is a second tier firm,

KJD Freeth LLP advised on the acquisition of numerous single dwellings by social landlords, and advised on the completion of infrastructure agreements relating to a site in Shropshire. Derek Morris leads the team, and Peter Ellis is rated for his experience on the funding side.

Within Intellectual property Intellectual property

Within IT and telecoms IT and telecoms

Within Media and entertainment , Freeth Cartwright LLP is a third tier firm,

Michael Servian’s team at KJD Freeth LLP is following on from advising Screen West Midlands and funders on setting up Channel 4 Digital Hub by assisting on the roll-out of media projects and other co-investment opportunities.

Within Transport , Freeth Cartwright LLP is a third tier firm,

Freeth Cartwright LLP’s Raymond Joyce is recommended for logistics-related matters. Clients include UPS and Nightfreight.