The Legal 500

Manches LLP

9400 GARSINGTON ROAD, OXFORD BUSINESS PARK, OXFORD, OX4 2HN, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 01865 722106
Fax:
Fax 01865 201012
DX:
155710  Oxford 13
Web:
www.manches.com
Email:
Reading, Oxford, London

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

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Manches LLP is a third tier firm,

Manches LLP’s ‘very strong’ practice provides ‘clear and trusted advice’, and is split into a six-partner corporate team led by the ‘experiencedDavid Tighe, and a three-partner commercial team headed by the ‘decisive and clearChris Shelley. On the corporate front, the team recently advised Williams F1 on its proposed listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and continues to advise a host of universities in funding deals and related venture capital work. The commercial group advises clients from the IT, life sciences and technology sectors. The Reading office fields ‘very good’ partners Justin Starling and Rob Hayes, and in Oxford Patrick Baddeley is ‘excellent’. Catherine Rohll made partner in 2010.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Manches LLP is a second tier firm,

Providing ‘exceptional service’, Manches LLP’s ‘very efficient and competent’ team is ‘particularly thorough’: ‘expert litigatorJulie Bond is ‘absolutely first class’ and has a ‘completely commercial attitude’; on the property side, John Morrison has a ‘high level of knowledge’ and gives the ‘best possible advice’; and Steven Maier is also rated for contentious IP and IT matters. Recent highlights include advising on a £1.5m professional negligence claim.

Finance

Within Banking and finance Banking and finance

Human resources

Within Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Manches LLP is a second tier firm,

Shoosmiths provides ‘practical and commercial advice in a timely manner’. Kevin McCavish is ‘unbelievably commercial’ and ‘knows the law inside out’. Key clients include Hewlett-Packard and Calor Gas, and in 2010 the team also won work from Arthritis Research UK and Prudential Health Services. Eugene Wojciechowski left for Manches LLP in May 2011.

Overview

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

In the Thames Valley, Osborne Clarke remains top tier in banking and corporate work, with Manches LLP standing out for its family law and TMT expertise. Boyes Turner also stands out for employment, real estate, dispute resolution and insurance, and Pitmans LLP is noted for its litigation, pensions and property practices. In Essex, Birkett Long LLP has the strongest overall profile.

Private client

Within Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

In a different league’, Manches LLP retains a pre-eminent family practice, noted for its ‘rapid, courteous and professional’ approach. The ‘outstandingJane Mitchell advises high-net-worth clients on ancillary relief and child cases. Kerry Fretwell joined the Reading office from Blandy & Blandy LLP and is particularly experienced in cohabitation matters. ‘Brilliant in every way’, Alexandra Lewis provides ‘sound consideration in a crisis’. Senior associate Ruth James is ‘very supportive’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Manches LLP is a second tier firm,

Manches LLP’s team expanded significantly in 2010, with practice head Anna Burnside joining from Thomas Eggar LLP, and two further recruitments at associate level. It is ‘exceptionally helpful, knowledgeable and considerate’. Tom Gilman is ‘capable and diplomatic’.

Projects, energy and natural resources

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

Providing a ‘very high level of service’, Giles Clifford’s team at Manches LLP has capabilities in the renewable energy sector, and assists both developers and landowners. The team advised Susenco in relation to its onshore wind and solar photovoltaic projects, and provides advice to TfL on infrastructure matters.

Public sector

Within Education, Manches LLP is a second tier firm,

Manches LLP’s ‘excellent’ multi-disciplinary team provides property, commercial litigation and employment advice to clients including The Queen’s College, Oxford Brookes University and the Royal Agricultural College. Practice head Daff Richardson is ‘outstanding’.

Within Health, Manches LLP is a second tier firm,

Giles Clifford heads the cross-disciplinary team at Manches LLP, which deals with PFI, property and regulatory work for numerous pharmaceutical clients, including The Institute for Animal Health.

Within Local government Local government

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

Manches LLP provides ‘commercially sound advice’ and is on the legal panels of Siemens and Oxford University. The ‘competent and professional’ team, led by Richard Smith, advised Bouygues Development on a £17m library and housing scheme development in Maidstone. Giles Clifford delivers an ‘excellent service’, and associate Dan Cowley has a ‘pragmatic approach’. John Castell joined Faegre & Benson LLP in 2011.

Within Environment, Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

Manches LLP advises household-name clients such as HSBC, Siemens and WH Smith on environment issues. The team is led by Richard Smith, while senior associate Susie Hilton is at the helm of the sustainability practice.

Within Property litigation, Manches LLP is a third tier firm,

In 2010, Manches LLP was retained on real estate panels for major multinational companies such as EDF Energy and Siemens. John Morrison heads the team.

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

Elizabeth Hussain’s team at Manches LLP advises clients such as LHA-Asra Group and Bouygues UK on acquisitions and developments of multimillion-pound sites and residential units. The firm also provides banking, construction and tax advice.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

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

Good in negotiations’, the five-partner IP team at Manches LLP was boosted in 2010 with the arrival of associate Rachael Parman from Shoosmiths, who brought several retail and fashion clients, including Jimmy Choo, IKEA, Oakley and TK Maxx. The team advises science, technology and publishing sector clients, and recently acted for Oxford Biodynamics in a licensing deal with an Australian healthcare provider. Chris Shelley gives ‘business-orientated advice’.

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

David Tighe and Chris Shelley now lead the IT practice at Manches LLP, following Jonathan Oddy’s departure to Veale Wasbrough Vizards in August 2010. ‘Responsive and commercial’ senior associate Rustam Roy has also left recently, for Pitmans LLP.

Within Media and entertainment, Manches LLP is a first tier firm,

Manches LLP retains its top-tier position for media work, and reports an increase in television and film-related matters, often advising US-based clients. Cathleen Blackburn handles non-contentious publishing and media matters, and Steven Maier leads on the contentious side. Clients include the Tolkien Estate and Oxford University Press.


Further information on Manches LLP

Please choose from this list to view details of what we say about Manches LLP in other jurisdictions.

London

Offices in London

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Offices in Oxford and Reading

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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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.
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  • 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:
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  • 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.
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    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.
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  • 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.
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