The Legal 500

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

Manches LLP ‘shows a strong degree of commercial awareness and understanding’, with head of department Matthew Martin singled out for particular praise. The five-partner team advised All Saints Retail on £20m of investment from Kaupthing Bank. Other representative clients include Moss Bros, Brightside Group and MHM Holdings.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy, tier 4

Alex Fox heads the team at Manches LLP.

Within Employment, tier 7

Manches LLP has recently secured favourable outcomes in strike action negotiations and in tribunals for large organisations and individuals. Sarah Johnson provides ‘practical advice on options and solutions’. The team’s retail sector knowledge is a key feature for clients.

Within Product liability: defendant, tier 5

Manches LLP’s John Doherty is ‘a fantastic lawyer’ who ‘really understands the needs of clients’. The team acts for British American Tobacco and Wolseley, among others.

Within Family, Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

Manches LLP has a well-established family law practice which has long had a rightful place at the very forefront of the area. With strength in complex, multi-jurisdictional cases, the firm fields some excellent practitioners; head of the practice Jane Craig, James Stewart and Jo Edwards are all recommended by clients, and ‘first lady of family’ Helen Ward is a ‘formidable and tenacious litigator who never loses sight of her client’s interests’. The team is distinguished by its breadth of expertise across all aspects of family law, and its strength in depth beyond the star names.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 5

‘Elder statesman’ Colin Russell heads the four-partner team at Manches LLP, which delivers ‘sound and effective advice’ on trusts, probate and succession planning for both UK and international clients.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

Louis Manches at Manches LLP advised Marylebone Warwick Balfour on establishing Liberty property company, and acted on the creation of shopping centre partnerships for Anglo Irish Private Equity and Vale Retail.

Within Construction, tier 4

Manches LLP provides ‘an excellent general level of service with rapid responses and good guidance’. The firm advises John McAslan & Partners on various matters, including post-earthquake reconstruction projects in Haiti. Joanne Kelly and Joe Griffiths are recommended.

Within Property finance Property finance

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Manches LLP has a good reputation with occupiers, particularly in the retail sector. It recently advised WHSmith in disputes regarding its shops in several Network Rail stations. Richard Marshall and Siobhan Jones are recommended.

Within Brand management, Manches LLP is a third tier firm,

Manches LLP advises brand owners on sponsorship and other matters, with a focus on betting and gaming. John Doherty, who heads the regulatory/product liability practice, advises major multinationals and SMEs on advertising matters. Clients include British American Tobacco. Litigator Alex Fox handles compliance and brand protection, notably for the BMA and Eurostar.

Within Franchising, Manches LLP is a third tier firm,

New clients for Manches LLP include Papa John’s, GAME, and Toni & Guy. Lesley Hall advises UK businesses on international expansion.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Manches LLP’s Margaret Tofalides successfully represented Basilea Pharmaceutica against Johnson & Johnson. Together with Lesley Hall, she represents Liberty Retail and Moss Bros Group.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

Manches LLP advises on digital media rights and publishing contracts, and acts in contractual disputes between publishers and media organisations. Cathleen Blackburn, who acts for publishers and authors, is recommended, as is IP/IT litigator Steven Maier.