The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Birmingham, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP fields an experienced corporate and commercial team, with key individuals including Andrew Hornigold, who is recognised for his expertise in the technology sector; and the ‘experienced and effective’ David Stevenson, who is recommended for his capital markets work. The team is also rated for its experience in renewables and healthcare. An impressive roster of clients includes Homeserve, Saint-Gobain, Tate & Lyle, and CareTech Holdings. A recent deal highlight was advising the management team of The Binding Site on the company’s sale to private equity investor Nordic.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP was instructed by UBS in its appeal against the decision of the First Tier Tax Tribunal on the tax treatment of UBS’ bonus structure. Other blue-chip clients include Avon Cosmetics, Delphi Automotive and AXA UK. Ian Hyde stands out for his experience in real estate tax matters and tax litigation.

Within EU and competition, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP has a dedicated team that ‘always gives measured and thorough advice’. Clients include household names such as Sellafield and Siemens, and new gains Amey and OFWAT. The team advised Hanson UK on the recent market study by the OFT into the supply of aggregates, cement and ready-mix concrete in the UK. Giles Warrington is highlighted for his reliability.

Within Commercial litigation: Birmingham, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP is acting for NJK Holdings in a large claim involving cross-border issues for the recovery of loans and stock promised to a US-based private equity house. Other clients include Avon Cosmetics, Siemens, UBS, and numerous universities. The ‘commercial’ Greg Lowson (a qualified mediator and solicitor advocate) is recommended; Jonathan Fortnam is rated for his work on international commercial cases and substantial tax disputes; and Jim Richards is an experienced defamation lawyer. The team provides ‘consistently prompt responses’.

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

The practice at Pinsent Masons LLP spans leveraged, real estate, corporate and university finance. The team acted for Clydesdale Bank on £23m term loan facilities made available to the University of Brighton, and for Regeneris on a £13m facility provided to it by HSBC. Other clients include HSBC, Lloyds Bank and IM Properties. Alice Broadfield and senior associate Esther Parkes provide ‘balanced and thorough advice’, and Matthew Heaton is also recommended. Edward Sunderland joined the team from Wragge & Co LLP.

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

The team at Pinsent Masons LLP is ‘efficient’. It focuses on bank-led transactional restructuring and insolvency work involving mid-market businesses. Highlights included advising Better Capital on its acquisition from the administrator, KPMG, of the DigiPoS group. HSBC and Deloitte are also clients. Alastair Lomax is ‘commercially astute’.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP has a ‘very strong team and someone is always available to assist’. Practice head Linda Jones is ‘very practical’. The ‘very knowledgeable and articulate’ Jonathan Coley advised TRW Automotive in the defence of a claim for enhanced redundancy payments over the closure of one of its plants. Senior associate Neil Black is praised for his commercial approach. Dixons Retail, Kraft, Aviva, Monsoon Accessorize and Fujitsu are clients.

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

Senior associate Sean Elson heads the well-regarded team at Pinsent Masons LLP, which added Christopher Hopkins to its ranks, who has particular experience in vehicle operator regulatory work. The team successfully represented a construction company in a trial arising out of a site fatality; the client was found not guilty after a two-week trial at the Old Bailey.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP’s Daniel Shelley is praised for his ability to provide ‘pragmatic and innovative solutions’. Simon Laight heads the team, which counts AXA, Cadbury Pension Fund and Premier Foods Pension Scheme as clients. The practice collaborated with Legal & General on the development of a new product, and advised public and private sector clients on complex issues associated with the main public sector pension schemes and on industry-wide schemes.

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

The trend of consolidations and mergers among law firms continues. Pinsent Masons LLP joined forces with national firm McGrigors LLP; Martineau merged with London firm Sprecher Grier Halberstam, becoming SGH Martineau LLP; DWF LLP merged with Buller Jeffries; and Stoke-based firm KJD Freeth completed its merger with Freeth Cartwright LLP, having previously become an associate firm. Shakespeares continues to expand its operations across the Midlands, taking on Wood Glaister Solicitors and social housing firm Gorrara Haden, and set to merge with Harvey Ingram LLP with effect from 1 September 2012.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP advises various universities, government departments and regional agencies. It also assists commercial clients involved in charity-linked projects. The ‘excellent’ Janet Hoskin heads the team out of Leeds.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP’s clients include entrepreneurs, management teams and high-net-worth individuals. It continues to advise the trustees of a large offshore unit trust on issues arising from the proposed sale/refurbishment of the trust property. Janet Hoskin leads from Leeds, and associate Chris Thomas is another key contact.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP has been involved in some excellent PPP projects, and is a major adviser in the waste sector. Highlights included advising Knowsley Borough Council on the procurement of a street lighting PFI project, and advising Peterborough City Council on the procurement of the Waste 20/20 Programme. Other clients include Viridor Waste Management, Balfour Beatty Capital and Rochdale MBC. Patrick Twist heads the team, and Alan Aisbett is also well regarded.

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

The ‘very clever’ Nicola Hart heads the team at Pinsent Masons LLP, which has particular expertise in advising on the development of student accommodation. It is acting for the University of Wolverhampton in the disposal of its former Compton Campus, a site of over 18 acres. The University of Birmingham, School of Pharmacy and Cambridge University are also clients.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP is well regarded for its social healthcare expertise, and acts for five of the top ten major operators of long-term care. It advised Serco Civil Government on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Braintree Clinical Services. Other clients include CareTech Holdings and Solor Care. Practice head Joanne Ellis is ‘pragmatic’.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is ‘responsive and reliable’. It acts for all the Metropolitan Borough Councils in the West Midlands, and has advised in relation to a range of large regeneration schemes. It is currently advising Herefordshire District Council and Hereford Futures on the £650m development of 100 acres of land, while other active clients include Birmingham City Council and Cardiff County Council. Merle Wray ‘has the edge in negotiations due to her superior knowledge of case law’.

Within Commercial property: Birmingham, Pinsent Masons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘excellent team’ has sectoral expertise in diverse areas including healthcare and retail, and counts Avery Healthcare, Waitrose/John Lewis and Herefordshire Council as clients. It is regularly involved in major urban regeneration projects, and continues to act for IM Properties on large investment development transactions. It also advised Craegmoor Healthcare on the property aspects of a high yield bond issue worth £206m. Head of the group Tom Johnson is ‘very knowledgeable and responsive’, and Lisa Middleton is ‘commercial and technically excellent’.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP has been active in sectors including healthcare, rail and utilities. It is particularly strong on the contractor side, acting for major names such as Carillion and Galliford Try. Practice head Anthony Bradley ‘gets to the heart of the problem quickly’, and Nigel Blundell on the transactional side is ‘solutions driven’. Peter Clayton is now based in Hong Kong.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP has been advising on a range of complex matters, including advising the Nucleur Decommissioning Authority on the UK’s national geological disposal facility for nuclear waste. London-based Richard Ford leads the team, which also counts the Olympic Delivery Authority and Siemens as clients, along with new gains Veolia and NuGeneration.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP is focused on large-scale regeneration, development and infrastructure projects, and has been providing all the planning advice in relation to the major regeneration project at London’s Earls Court and Olympia. Scottish Power Renewables is also a client. Iain Gilbey is recommended, and senior associate Richard Foster is ‘very knowledgeable’.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP’s ‘very knowledgeable’ team advised IM Properties on the resolution of a contested claim for over £1m against a large corporate occupier tenant. It also acts for Fortnum and Mason and Waitrose, and new gain Calthorpe Estates. Group head Alicia Foo ‘sizes up cases very well’.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP has a highly regarded practice, and remains one of the principal advisers to the Homes and Communities Agency. The team advised Barking Riverside on the proposed phased development of a mixed-use sustainable development on a large brownfield site in London. Other clients include Wolverhampton City Council. David Meecham is a key contact.

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

The ‘highly responsive’ team at Pinsent Masons LLP advised Bombardier on IP issues arising out of an agreement for the supply of infrastructure products and service delivery for the London transport system. It continues to advise Müller on critical IP issues, and has added the University of Cambridge to its client roster. Cerys Wyn Davies provides ‘very clear advice’.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP provides a ‘fast and personal service’. It has been increasingly active in telecoms regulatory and data protection issues, and continues to advise on complex IT outsourcing projects. Boots UK and Arqiva are clients. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Jon Fell heads the group.

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

Pinsent Masons LLP’s practice is led by London-based Trevor Watkins, who joined from Clarke Willmott LLP. Peter McHugh is recommended in Birmingham. Clients include The Jockey Club and Manchester United FC.