The Legal 500

McCormicks is an award-winning practice in Harrogate with an impressive client list across the legal disciplines. The firm is regarded as one of the top regional practices, acting in high-profile national cases as well as those in its region.

The firm: McCormicks has grown organically and is admired for its continued ability to operate successfully in the corporate and commercial field, while at the same time maintaining its strong commitment to its private client practice. The firm’s traditional core values of integrity, technical excellence and hard work are combined with its reputation for vibrancy and dynamism, and a team that is committed to providing clients with an unrivalled quality of service and innovation.

Types of work undertaken: the firm’s major areas of work are corporate/commercial (including commercial property), commercial dispute resolution, competition, corporate recovery, corporate crime and risk, and private client (including family/matrimonial and charities).

The corporate/commercial department has a client list that includes owner-managed businesses, partnerships, internationally-known pIcs and private businesses, banks, insurance companies and personalities from the world of sport and entertainment. High-profile clients in the region include DFS Furniture Group and Harrogate International Festivals. The complete range of commercial work is handled, including corporate, commercial property, franchising, intellectual property, liquor licensing and employment. The firm has established a burgeoning reputation in IT and e-commerce, advising a number of internet and new media businesses.

The practice has an outstanding reputation in sports and media/entertainment law, and senior partner Peter McCormick is regarded as one of the leading sports lawyers in the country, having advised on a number of high-profile matters involving football, rugby, horse racing, cricket, motor racing and athletics. He is the senior external legal adviser and chairman of the legal advisory group of the Premier League. Other clients include Leeds United FC, Yorkshire County Cricket Club, Professional Game Match Officials Ltd and a variety of other leading organisations, clubs and individuals.

The firm has a strong reputation for regulatory and disciplinary work in sport and the professions. Mr McCormick acts for the Premier League and as a chairman of tribunals and arbitrations. He is also a chairman of Sports Resolutions (UK), working alongside partner Neil Goodrum, who is a member of the organisation’s panel of mediators.

McCormicks’ commercial dispute resolution practice covers the full range of work in this area, including personal litigation, defamation, property litigation, contract disputes, construction, intellectual property and debt recovery for national institutions. The firm is very strong in alternative dispute resolution and mediation. Mr Goodrum is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a CEDR mediator and a member of the training faculty of CEDR.

The firm has developed nationally recognised expertise in competition law, having represented a construction company in the largest investigation ever launched by the OFT and which became the largest appeal case in the history of the Competition Appeal Tribunal. McCormicks work on behalf of the appellant resulted in the case becoming the first successful appeal on all issues, including liability, in a case in which penalties had been imposed under the Competition Act 1998.

McCormicks has a legendary reputation in criminal law, covering all aspects of this practice area with a focus on serious fraud, major crime and defence of tax investigations. Under the leadership of partner Geoffrey Rogers, the team has acted in a number of major tax cases and VAT tribunals. The firm was one of the first in the country to be appointed to the Specialist Fraud Panel and the Very High Costs Cases (VHCC) Panel.

Private client work includes residential conveyancing and a full service on wills, trusts and settlements. Inheritance and tax planning are other strengths. The firm is a leader in charity law and acts for over 20 charities, including the Outward Bound Trust, The Premier League Charitable Fund and the Yorkshire Young Achievers Foundation.

All aspects of family work are covered, including childcare, divorce and separation, and the firm was among the first to be accredited under the Law Society’s Family Law Scheme. Mr Rogers is a member of the Family Panel.

Breakdown of work %
Corporate and commercial law (including sports, media/entertainment, property, IP and IT)  30
Dispute resolution (including commercial and personal)  30
Private client (including family/matrimonial and charities)  15
Corporate crime and risk 25

Number of UK partners 5
Number of other UK fee-earners 17