The Legal 500

Marriott Harrison is a leading corporate/commercial law firm. It provides a high-quality, partner-led service for business clients across a wide range of sectors. It is particularly well known for its corporate and media practices.

The firm: The firm consistently operates at a high level in its core practice areas by concentrating on excellence. The vast majority of the senior lawyers are either home grown or have had extensive previous experience at major firms in their respective areas of expertise. The firm continues to advise clients on a wide range of deals: not only does it have experience domestically and internationally in major complex transactions for institutions and corporate clients, but it is also very experienced in representing owner-managers and growing business.

What particularly distinguishes the firm is its very personal approach, both internally and with clients and its commercial, common-sense attitude. There is an expanding and loyal client base, which is a measure of the continuing success that these attributes bring.

In recent years the graduate training programme has enabled the firm to grow organically. The current economic climate has also afforded the firm the opportunity to recruit senior personnel from larger firms.

Types of work undertaken: The corporate group provides expertise in all of the usual corporate finance and M&A areas, such as corporate acquisitions and disposals, management buyouts and venture capital, flotations, restructuring, banking and financial services. The firm has a particularly strong presence in the private equity market and represents a number of venture capital institutions, as well as advising MBO/MBI management teams. It also has a significant AIM practice and reputation, acting regularly for companies and for nominated advisers and brokers, and is seeing increased activity in relation to PLUS.

The media group deals with all aspects of the creation and exploitation of content. It has particular expertise in areas such as film, television, music, sound recording, computer games, IT, telecoms, marketing, branding, advertising and broadcasting licences. In addition, it has in-depth expertise in advising on large-scale IT procurement contracts, reflected in the firm’s general retainer by a number of significant financial institutions.

The litigation group is dedicated to achieving the best result at the least cost, as quickly as possible. It handles a range of substantial commercial disputes, often involving overseas parties and international elements. There is also an emphasis on corporate, financial and media matters. It is particularly active in the areas of arbitration and ADR.

The restructuring and recovery group acts for insolvency practitioners on all types of insolvency appointments and for companies faced with insolvencies (of themselves or their clients). The group also acts for secured lenders and other financiers, including those in the Asset Backed Lending Sector, in the enforcement of security. In addition it acts for purchasers of insolvent businesses to ensure effective and speedy transfer of the ongoing business.

The property group undertakes a wide range of freehold and leasehold acquisitions and disposals, developments and joint ventures. It also deals with associated issues such as planning, environmental issues and financing. In addition, the department advises overseas clients and lawyers on UK property issues and projects. It also provides transactional support for the corporate and media groups.

The employment group has grown significantly and advises employers and senior-level employees on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters including service contracts, termination of employment, redundancies and share option schemes.

Number of UK partners 20
Number of other UK fee-earners 20