The Legal 500

COLLINS HOUSE, 32-38 STATION ROAD, GERRARDS CROSS, SL9 8EL, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 01753 889995
Fax:
Fax 01753 889851
DX:
40256 GERRARDS CROSS
Web:
www.bpcollins.co.uk
Email:

What we say about the firm's legal practice in South East

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, B P Collins LLP is a second tier firm,

Delivering ‘excellent response times and high-quality advice’, B P Collins LLP recently advised NTR, the international renewable energy group, on the sale of UK-based Greenstar Group to the controlling shareholders of Biffa. Department head Simon Deans specialises in business growth strategies, M&A transactions, joint ventures and complex commercial contracts. The ‘attentive and reassuringDiane Gill is also recommended.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, B P Collins LLP is a second tier firm,

Outstanding without exception’, B P Collins LLP’s four-partner team represents clients across a number of sectors, including technology, healthcare and food. Practice head Matthew Brandistakes the time to understand business requirements’, and the ‘professionally impeccableCraig Williams was promoted to partner in 2010.

Human resources

Within Employment: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, B P Collins LLP is a first tier firm,

Accessible and approachable in every sense’, B P Collins LLP delivers ‘a City service at local rates’. Jo Davis leads the team, and contentious employment specialist James Townsend was recently promoted to partner.

Private client

Within Charities, B P Collins LLP is a second tier firm,

Diane Gill’s ‘experienced’ team at B P Collins LLP shows ‘flair and persistence’ in advising on matters such as the changing of trustees, and sales of land. Key clients include Toc H and South Bucks Hospice.

Within Family: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, B P Collins LLP is a second tier firm,

At B P Collins LLP, practice head Sue Andrews reaps praise for her ‘total commitment, compassion and professionalism’ combined with her ‘ability to make stressful situations palatable’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, B P Collins LLP is a first tier firm,

One of the best firms outside London’, B P Collins LLP handles a range of private client work, with expertise in trust administration, domicile and residency. Matthew Brandis was recently promoted to practice head, after Jane Northway left in December 2010.

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, B P Collins LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellentB P Collins LLP recently secured work from AMF Bowling Group, the largest operator of ten-pin bowling centres in the UK. The team, led by Michael Larcombe, continues to work with clients in the waste and renewable energy sectors.

Within Environment, B P Collins LLP is a second tier firm,

B P Collins LLP provides commercially focused technical advice on a range of environmental transactions. Practice head Diane Gill continues to drive the firm’s focus on waste management and renewable energy.

Within Property litigation, B P Collins LLP is a third tier firm,

B P Collins LLP reports an increase in residential litigation. Department head Nick Hallchurch and ‘client-focused’ associate Robert Clark are 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.