The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Bristol, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP’s team, led by Bill Hull, ‘compares very favourably to City firms’, providing ‘commercial and cost-effective’ advice. Highlights included advising WHSmith on a programme of international franchising, and acting on the sale of Church House Trust to Virgin Money. John Wood ‘tailors the firm’s response to individual requirements’.

Within Corporate tax, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP has been advising on WHSmith’s international franchising programme, and acted on transactions for Downing Venture Capital Trust. Tamura-Europe instructed the team on its acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Romarsh. Philip Alfandary heads the three-partner team.

Within EU and competition, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP is representing the Retail Motor Industry Federation regarding the agreement on a pan-European industry code of conduct, and advises the Energy Saving Trust on state aid. The ‘highly experienced and diligent’ Bill Hull leads the team, which now includes ‘excellent practitioner’ Miles Trower, who joined from Osborne Clarke and ‘responds quickly to unforeseen issues’.

Within Licensing, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP has a significant licensing applications practice nationally, with key clients including Punch Taverns (for which it retains responsibility for 4,000 premises), SA Brain, and Earls Court and Olympia. Music festival licensing is a notable niche. Team head Matthew Phipps is highly regarded.

Within Commercial litigation: Bristol, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP is expert in banking and financial services litigation, and recently completed a disclosure project for a global financial institution. WHSmith instructed the team on a series of £1m-£2m trading disputes, and Imperial Tobacco and Bank of Ireland are also clients. Chris Owen leads on commercial disputes, and Jonathan Hoey on banking cases. The ‘outstanding’ Philip May attracts praise for his ability to see the bigger picture.

Within Debt recovery, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP’s large team is headed by Richard Waller, who splits his time between London and Bristol, and also includes Jonathan Hoey. It acts on mortgage repossessions, sales of repossessed property, appointment of receivers and unsecured debt recovery. Clients include Nationwide and JPMorgan.

Within Banking and finance, TLT LLP is a third tier firm,

TLT LLP advised Triodos Bank on renewable projects as well as property and corporate banking matters, and regularly advises Bank of Ireland and Barclays Bank. It is also newly appointed to The Co-operative Group panels. Peter Carney heads the team.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP is valued for its ‘clear communication’ and ‘pragmatic advice’ at a ‘sensible price’. The group acted for FRP as administrators and Barclays as secured lender and new funder on the Churchill Taverns Group restructuring. Peter Carney ‘understands the client’s business and knows what it wants to achieve’, and team head James Forsyth is also recommended.

Within Employment: Bristol, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP acts for major public and private sector clients such as Imperial Tobacco, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Energy Saving Trust. ‘Highly intelligent and experienced’ team head Stuart McBride ‘gives insightful, pragmatic advice’, and employee incentives expert Ben Watson ‘does not shy away from a challenge’.

Within Health and safety, TLT LLP is a third tier firm,

Kerry Gwyther’s ‘fantastic’ team at TLT LLP is ‘second to none’ and advises clients such as Imperial Tobacco.

Within Pensions, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP’s ‘very good’ team acts for the trustees of several pension schemes, including those of UPS, and also advises Avon Rubber. Sasha Butterworth is a ‘good communicator and highly professional’, and Richard Leigh is ‘commercially aware and knowledgeable’.

Within Professional negligence, TLT LLP is a third tier firm,

The team at TLT LLP acts for clients including Apollo Management International, Bank of Ireland and Barclays Bank/Woolwich. Neil Franklin heads the team, which acts on numerous financial services matters and has a notable claimant practice.

Within Regional review, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP has gained further ground in the market, with many noting its strong performance at a time when other firms have been struggling. It maintains an excellent practice in areas such as IP/IT, pensions, employment, licensing, and debt recovery.

Within Charities Charities

Within Family, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP’s team, which is now led by David Woodward, acted in a divorce with a financial settlement involving US and English companies and several overseas properties. David Wheeler, a ‘careful and pleasant practitioner’, has noteworthy expertise in foreign abduction matters. Former practice head Alison Hawes moved to Irwin Mitchell LLP.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4

TLT LLP’s Patrick Wooddisse advises many international clients on high-value matters.

Within Energy, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP advised TIF on its solar photovoltaic energy schemes, and also advised in relation to Ecotricity’s turbine at Cardiff’s G24i site. Maria Connolly is ‘highly rated’, and has ‘sound wind industry experience’.

Within Private Finance Initiative (PFI), tier 4

TLT LLP’s head of construction Simon Goss is well regarded.

Within Commercial property: Bristol, TLT LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Hard to fault’, TLT LLP advised Covent Garden Market Authority on a large-scale lease restructuring project, and drafted new precedent leases for Punch Taverns to be rolled out across 6,700 pubs. Finance expert Andrew Glynn remains ‘steady under pressure’, and has ‘in-depth technical expertise’.

Within Construction, TLT LLP is a third tier firm,

TLT LLP’s ‘pragmatic’ team ‘understands clients ’ business and the market’, and advised Wates Construction on construction and development projects. Carillion and Dean & Dyball are also clients. Simon Goss heads the group.

Within Environment, TLT LLP is a third tier firm,

Katherine Evans leads the team at TLT LLP, which advises Portbury Sea Wall Commission on liabilities relating to the breach of sea defences, and acted for a commercial property developer regarding asbestos liability.

Within Planning, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP ‘hits tight deadlines’ and ‘responds quickly to unforeseen issues’. Katherine Evans heads the team, which advised Swan Group on a major redevelopment, and Hastoe Housing Association in a claim regarding a village green.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Mark Routley at TLT LLP regularly acts for retail, leisure, telecoms and financial sector clients, including Bank of Ireland, Covent Garden Market Authority and Muji.

Within Social housing, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

TLT LLP’s Paul Butterworth combines ‘comprehensive responses with practical recommendations’, and increasingly advises on private finance transactions. Knightstone Housing Association instructed the team on a 500-unit disposal.

Within Intellectual property, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

James Touzel heads TLT LLP’s group, which represents several well-known brands, including Comparethemarket.com. Parragon Publishing is another client, and the team also advised Peacocks Stores and BonMarche on IP and design right matters.

Within IT and telecoms, TLT LLP is a first tier firm,

TLT LLP has ‘strength in depth across all disciplines’. James Touzel’s team advised the Metropolitan Police Authority on the procurement of mobile telephony services, and also acts for WHSmith, Channel 5, The Co-operative and new client Tata Technologies.

Within Media and entertainment, TLT LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Great across the board’, TLT LLP has an focus on digital media, particularly developing media platforms. Clients include Channel 5, Macedonian Radio and Television, and Comparethemarket.com. Team head James Touzel is ‘highly diligent’ and ‘very customer focused’.