The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Lawrence Graham LLP has a broad UK client base and a focus on the developing IT and outsourcing industry in India, which was reinforced by the lateral hire of Peter Brudenall from Hunton & Williams. Collectively the team acts for six of India’s top ten technology companies, as well as household names such as Body Shop and Carpetright. Recent highlights include advising C&C Groupon on a multimillion-pound outsourcing project to integrate the operations of the newly acquired Tennent’s and Gaymers businesses. Richard Marke is singled out for his ‘responsiveness and availability’.

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within Financial services, tier 6

Lawrence Graham LLP advised on the setting up of new financial services enterprises in the UK by overseas institutions, and saw increased contentious and payment services regulation work. Richard Everett has ‘first-class industry knowledge’.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Lawrence Graham LLP is a second tier firm,

Lawrence Graham LLP has a ‘very good’ mid-market practice. John Reed and Oliver Riley advised BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust on its admission and £95m placing on the London Stock Exchange; and Tom Nicholls advised Indian company KSK Power Ventur on its Standard Listing on the London Stock Exchange and subsequent £62.5m fundraising. Jeffrey Elway is recommended.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Christopher Tite’s team at Lawrence Graham LLP acts for a broad mix of insurance brokers, and energy, leisure, renewables and natural resources companies. It advised Clipper Windpower on its takeover by United Technologies, which valued the company at £139.5m.

Within VAT and indirect tax VAT and indirect tax

Within Fraud: civil , Lawrence Graham LLP is a second tier firm,

Lawrence Graham LLP has a growing profile in the area, acting in connection with a number of complex $1bn-plus claims arising from the collapse of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. Other clients include Saad Group and Novartis AG. Practice head Andrew Witts is ‘hugely experienced and highly trusted’.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP is acting for the Australian noteholders in relation to the Lehman CDO Programme, and was successful in upholding the validity of the priority provisions under English law, both at first instance and in the Court of Appeal. James Curle and Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry both have extensive experience in cross-border disputes.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP saw a rise in international disputes, and advised on various construction-related fraud claims brought against BVI companies. Andrew Dobson and Andrew Witts are key figures, while James Curle is noted for cross-border disputes in the banking, funds and financial services sectors, as well as for structured product disputes. Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry is experienced in banking, regulatory, insolvency and fraud matters.

Within Defamation and privacy Defamation and privacy

Within International arbitration, tier 6

Lawrence Graham LLP was joined by former Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP partner Antony Woodhouse, who specialises in insurance and reinsurance disputes. The team has been active across financial services disputes, Dubai-related construction mandates, energy matters, insurance arbitrations, and Russia-related work. Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry has ‘excellent strategic qualities’; and David Breslin ‘does a great job of providing both legal and strategic advice’.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP has a great position in the mid-market; its ‘strong team’ is ‘excellent value for money’. The firm advised Hill Dickinson LLP on its purchase by way of a pre-pack administration of Halliwells’ Liverpool office and parts of its Sheffield office. Steven Cottee led on that transaction and is recommended, along with Tom Withyman.

Within Investment funds, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Providing ‘excellent partner-level support’, Lawrence Graham LLP’s core strengths are real estate funds and closed-ended funds. Highlights included advising BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc on its LSE placement and £95m fundraising. Other clients include Ruffer Investment Company, Cenkos Securities and Universities Superannuation Scheme. Nick Heather is ‘personable, has a deep commercial understanding of funds, provides creative solutions, is well connected in the industry, and provides excellent client management’.

Within Employment, tier 6

Lawrence Graham LLP has expertise in public sector reorganisations. Recent instructions include defending a claim for bonuses by a dismissed broker; and assisting in retrieving confidential information misappropriated by a senior employee. Helga Breen acted successfully for the OLC in the groundbreaking Law Society of England and Wales v Secretary of State for Justice and the OLC. The ‘confident, understanding and professional’ Yvonne Gallagher is ‘full of common sense’.

Within Pensions, tier 4

At Lawrence Graham LLP, Robert Smith ‘speaks authoritatively and provides pragmatic advice’; Ron Burgess is ‘hugely knowledgeable and poised, and is excellent at playing different parties off against each other while calmly steering a case to victory’; and Adam Bushby is ‘able to understand the issues in an instant’. Clients include Société Générale and Portsmouth Water. Up a tier in the dispute resolution table this year, the firm represented Bristol Port in the Pilots litigation.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP’s team has ‘significant experience’, which was strengthened by the addition of Antony Woodhouse from Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge UK LLP. Woodhouse has ‘in-depth Bermuda Form knowledge’, and ‘beneath his easy-going and self-deprecating manner, he is incredibly sharp and insightful’. David Breslin is an ‘excellent strategist’, Nick Bradley is ‘one of the best’, and Simon King is recommended as one to watch. Clients include Allianz, Canada Life and QBE.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP has a ‘good niche insurance practice’; it has ‘excellent industry knowledge’, and provides ‘practical advice, with particular consideration to costs’. Clients include ACE, AXA, Generali and AJ Gallagher. Michael Lacey and Richard Everett are recommended.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Catharine Bell heads the four-partner team at Lawrence Graham LLP, which has a focus on servicing professional trustees and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. The team can draw on expertise in Monaco, Dubai and Moscow.

Within Overview,

The legal market is in an interesting state of flux, with a trend for breakaway boutiques. Harcus Sinclair set the ball rolling back in 2002, followed by Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP, which split from Allen & Overy LLP in 2009. In 2010, four private client partners left Lawrence Graham LLP to establish Berkeley Law; and a trio of partners from Payne Hicks Beach left to establish New Quadrant Partners LLP.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Lawrence Graham LLP has a strong and cohesive team primarily serving high-net-worth international clients, with a particular focus on the Middle East, and regularly advising on complex fiduciary structures and family corporate governance issues. Department head Anthony Thompson is the ‘go-to’ contact, rated for his ‘practical approach to complex problems and calm, assured manner’. Other standout practitioners are Caroline Garnham, Nick Jacob and Catharine Bell.

Within Mining and minerals, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP has a strong AIM practice, and specialises in advising mining clients on corporate finance work. Recent highlights include advising AIM-listed Firestone Diamonds plc on its £51m takeover of Kopane Diamond Developments.

Within Oil and gas, tier 7

In 2010, Lawrence Graham LLP advised upstream oil and gas company Cove Energy on two placings, which raised a combined £135.7m.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 5

Lawrence Graham LLP broadened its practice beyond its signature AIM work to advise UK tidal energy company Marine Current Turbines on its bid for a lease for the world’s first commercial wave and tidal leasing round.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP fields a ‘very commercial team with excellent response times’. It acted for Development Securities on the £62.2m purchase of the MEN Arena, and is advising on the Bicester town centre regeneration. Other clients include Hermes, Sainsbury’s and LaSalle Investment Management. Jon Lloyd ‘balances commercial objectives with legal detail’. He and Rabinder Chaggar are recommended.

Within Construction, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP provides ‘practical and cost-effective advice’. It recently acted for J Sainsbury on a £70m partnership development scheme in Bicester. The firm also has a strong institutional and funds client base, including AXA Sun Life and Legal & General, and has seen an increase in projects with forward funding structures. Philip Baker is the main contact.

Within Planning, tier 5

Lawrence Graham LLP’s knowledgeable team is well regarded, and its ‘strength in depth and value for money is demonstrated in results rather than costs’. Telecoms is a notable specialism, where it acts for clients such as O2 UK, while the strong contentious team acts in High Court litigation and undertakes advocacy at inquiries, with Stephen Turnbull representing Legal & General and J Sainsbury in judicial reviews. Practice head Trevor Blaney is advising South Western Property on a residential development in Somerset.

Within Property finance, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Lawrence Graham LLP’s ‘lawyers know what the client is looking for, and the service is very good’. The group acted on a successful debt restructuring of senior, stretch and mezzanine facilities totalling over £340m secured on a portfolio of 16 Hilton hotels. Other clients include Bayerische Landesbank, DG Hyp and RBS. Nick Turner’s ‘vast knowledge and experience in the industry, together with a very hands-on attitude, make him a perfect adviser’.

Within Property litigation, Lawrence Graham LLP is a third tier firm,

Lawrence Graham LLP’s top-notch institutional investor client base includes AXA Sun Life and Hermes Property. The ‘very competent and trustworthy’ Jane Fox-Edwards heads the practice, which is particularly strong in telecoms matters and recently represented Geo Networks in a High Court dispute regarding the laying of fibre-optic cables.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP’s practice, led by recently promoted partner Georgie Collins, offers ‘constructive, practical advice’ on luxury brands and designs. Jonathan Riley advises on non-contentious advertising and marketing issues.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Georgie Collins and her team at Lawrence Graham LLP ‘understand trade mark protection, and can explain it clearly and concisely’. It is representing Leofelis in a long-running dispute concerning the Lonsdale brand. Anna Huxster ‘punches above her weight’, and Rebecca Costen is ‘highly organised and sensible’.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

At Hunton & Williams, Bridget Treacy works closely with counterparts in the US, advising on data protection and privacy policy, risk and compliance matters. Clients include GE, Salesforce.com and TJX/TK Maxx. Peter Brudenall joined Lawrence Graham LLP.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

Lawrence Graham LLP’s head of commerce and technology Jonathan Riley advises a number of specialist technology companies, while the wider team also represents publishers and film production companies.