The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

At Pinsent Masons LLP, ‘the overall client experience is first class’. A key highlight was advising DCC Energy in the acquisition of oil distribution assets formerly owned by Total for a consideration of approximately €67m. New instructions included advising Rothschild in relation to the recommended cash offer for Pinewood Studios. Andrew Kerr co-heads the group with the ‘exceptional’ Andrew Black. Peter Wood is ‘an excellent negotiator’, and ‘extremely reliable’.

Within Corporate tax, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘very good depth of legal knowledge’, and is ‘enjoyable to work with’. Recent mandates include acting for the property investment fund MC Income Plus Fund on a major restructuring, enabling it to convert from a widely held fund into a fund for institutional investors. John Christian heads the team, which includes Judith Cray and senior associate Jon Robinson, who is ‘always good at answering tricky questions’.

Within Commercial litigation: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

The lawyers at Pinsent Masons LLP ‘offer a personal service’. The firm is acting for Aivars Lembergs in relation to claims and counterclaims arising out of charterparties made between certain international companies and the Latvian Shipping Company. Damian Crosse heads the group, and Mohan Bhaskaran is ‘very helpful, and takes a pragmatic approach’.

Within Banking and finance, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is a popular choice for high-value work, and has ‘strong, capable partners who provide excellent customer service’. The team has recently taken on high-profile instructions from Aareal Bank; and also acted on the £175m refinancing of Evans Property Group’s facilities. Other clients include Lloyds TSB. Practice head John Cleland is ‘very capable and focused’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is rated for its ‘excellent and detailed advice’, and is headed by Jonathan Jeffries. It recently advised Orchard Care Homes on restructuring, and acted for new client Communisis on acquiring the business and assets of Orchestra Bristol and Orchestra Group out of administration. It is on a number of key bank panels, including HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group. Senior associates Dawn Allen and Claire Sharf are ‘very personable and knowledgeable’. Matthew Brown is now a partner at DWF LLP.

Within Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is the ‘go-to firm for strategic boardroom disputes’, and is ‘solution oriented’. ‘Technically strong’ practice head Christopher Mordue is an expert in university employment matters and trade union disputes, and the ‘top-notch’ Christopher Booth and Jon Fisher provide ‘market-leading HR services’, and ‘deliver to short timescales’.

Within Health and safety, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP gives ‘top-rate’ advice to blue-chip clients in serious health and safety cases. The team is jointly led by Pauline Munro and the ‘highly efficient’ Sarah Taylor, who remains ‘one of the stars of the profession’. It recently defended a managing director in a corporate manslaughter case.

Within Pensions, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP provides ‘quality advice’ to large corporates, insurance companies and public sector clients, and Jacqui Timmins is a key contact for trustee work. Mercer and Westfield Health are clients. Anthea Whitton recently left to join Squire Sanders LLP.

Within Regional review, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP has a longstanding reputation in the region. Its merger with McGrigors LLP in May 2012 coincided with a number of departures, including former office managing partner Mark Owen, who left for Dickinson Dees LLP. Key new clients include Jewson.

Within Charities, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP has ‘excellent client relationships’ and ‘in-depth sector knowledge’. It regularly advises universities and third parties linked to charitable organisations on trusts and public benefit matters.Group head Janet Hoskin has ‘extensive expertise in the field’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP acts for a national player in the insurance market, as well as entrepreneurs and other wealthy individuals, advising on tax planning and commercial trust drafting. Janet Hoskin is recommended for offshore trust and inheritance tax matters.

Within Project finance and PFI, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP recently displayed its specialist skills in advising on energy projects overseas; ‘not many firms have the combination of skills needed’ for the sizeable contracts involved. Practice head Kate Orviss is ‘particularly knowledgeable; she is trustworthy and likeable, and recognises the priority of meeting project timetables’. Melanie Grimmitt recently advised on key nuclear and renewables projects. The firm is advising Drax on its White Rose CCS project.

Within Education, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s advice is ‘highly valued’; ‘responsive’ practice head Chris Mordue has ‘excellent technical knowledge’, and provides ‘pragmatic, commercial advice’. The firm regularly acts for educational institutions on project finance deals and accommodation projects.

Within Health, Pinsent Masons LLP is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP provides ‘accurate’ and ‘commercially astute’ advice, and a ‘very high level of service’. It advises public healthcare providers on partnerships with the private sector, and also advises private entities (including Serco) on commercial relationships with NHS providers. Group head Michael Boyd left in May 2012 for DWF LLP.

Within Local government, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is well regarded for its expertise in local authority asset backed vehicles. Anne Bowden is a regeneration scheme specialist, and recently assisted Westminster City Council in relation to a multimillion-pound housing redevelopment. The team is also experienced in handling public-private partnerships. Leeds City Council is a notable client.

Within Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP ‘works well within targets and under time pressure’, adopting a ‘tailored approach’. It advised key client Aviva on several large investment transactions, and also advised Jewson on the property aspects of its £145m acquisition of 148 branches of the Build Center from Wolseley. Jonathan Brocklehurst heads the team, which includes recommended practitioner Richard Daffern. Former office head Mark Owen moved to Dickinson Dees LLP.

Within Construction, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is ‘very very good’; the ‘level of service is consistently excellent’, and ‘strength in depth is 100%’. Practice head Mark Harris is ‘excellent’. Significant mandates included advising new client China National Overseas Engineering Company on the termination of two sections of the A2 project in Poland by the Polish Road Authority. Other key clients include Babcock Rail, Renew Holdings and Simons Construction.

Within Environment, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s practice is led by legal directors Helen Peters and Pauline Munro, for non-contentious and contentious work respectively. Peters is rated for her ‘ability to explain complex issues in plain English’, and Munro is an ‘an excellent performer’ who is ‘well liked and trusted’. Recent mandates include advising Sahaviriya Steel Industries on the environmental aspects of its acquisition of Tata Steel’s UK plant.

Within Planning, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s Jonathan Riley is ‘a good team leader, and very sharp’. The group’s broad mix of clients includes the MoD and Leeds Bradford International Airport. It is currently advising three local authorities in relation to a new nuclear power station in Somerset.

Within Property litigation, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP ‘displays great business acumen and industry knowledge’, and gives ‘sound advice, often at short notice’. The group recently acted for Marcus Heaney on a rights of light action concerning Toronto Square in Leeds. Practice head Matthew Baker is ‘very helpful indeed’; he has ‘an ability to get straight to the heart of the matter, and has proved to be very focused on the issues that count’.

Within Social housing, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is a key adviser to the Homes and Communities Agency. Its ‘knowledge of the social housing world is very solid’, and ‘there is a strong team assigned to projects so you never feel the lawyers are overstretched’. Anne Bowden heads the group.

Within Intellectual property, Pinsent Masons LLP is a second tier firm,

Noted for its ‘in-depth knowledge’, Pinsent Masons LLP advises public sector clients and multinationals, and has a ‘strong team’ that builds ‘excellent relationships’ with clients. Louise Fullwood has ‘extensive expertise in the field of IP’. The team continues to advise Interflora and Specsavers in trade mark disputes.

Within IT and telecoms, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s strength is rooted in the public sector, but it is also active within healthcare, financial services and technology, where key clients include Cable & Wireless. The group regularly advises on outsourcing issues and tendering for IT contacts; recent examples include advising the Department for Education on procurement, and acting for ICT suppliers on contentious matters. Richard Watkinson, and Damian Crosse are key players, although Michael Peeters LLP left for DAC Beachcroft LLP in 2011.