The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: The West Country, Michelmores LLP is a first tier firm,

Michelmores LLP has key niches in public sector, renewable energy, private equity and international corporate and commercial matters. It advised the founding shareholders of the Mint Hotel chain on its sale to a company established by Blackstone, and other clients include Swedfund, Flybe and St Modwen. Stephen Morse and Richard Cobb are recommended. Johanna Probert was made a partner in 2011, and Brian Garner joined from Bond Pearce LLP.

Within Corporate tax, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Bond Pearce LLP acted for the management of Bottlegreen on the tax aspects of its sale. Brian Garner is now with Michelmores LLP.

Within EU and competition, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Michelmores LLP has advised Aberystwyth University and Cornwall Council on EU public procurement, and the latter also on EU state aid. Team head Ian Holyoak and Jason Phelps are recommended.

Within Commercial litigation: The West Country, Michelmores LLP is a first tier firm,

Michelmores LLP ‘always gives 100%’, and its ‘competitive pricing’ is a major plus for clients. It acted for Monaghan Mushrooms in a high-value contested business rates matter. Team head Tim Richards provides ‘great support’.

Within Debt recovery, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Hannah Kearns-Pollard handles volume debt recovery at Michelmores LLP, and recently advised on recovery procedures for one of the UK’s largest lottery fund distributors.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Charles Maunder’s team at Michelmores LLP advised the majority shareholder on the refinancing of the Mint Hotel Group’s senior and mezzanine facilities, and advised St Austell Breweries as borrower of new loans totalling £30m.

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

Charles Maunder’s three-partner team at Michelmores LLP has ‘good industry knowledge’ and ‘knows what it is doing’. It advised Begbies Traynor on the administration of wetsuit manufacturer Gul International.

Within Employment: The West Country, Michelmores LLP is a first tier firm,

Nikki Duncan, formerly head of Bond Pearce LLP’s employment practice, joined Michelmores LLP in October 2011. The group acts for Tomy, Cambium UK and Devon NHS Trust on a variety of tribunal and reorganisation matters. Practice head Andrew Tobey is ‘an exceptional, reliable lawyer’.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Michelmores LLP is a first tier firm,

Laurence Vick at Michelmores LLP is an authority on ‘medical tourism’ and advises on jurisdictional issues relating to surgery abroad. Cosmetic procedures are a niche area of expertise for the team, including claims concerning PIP breast implants. Bernadette McGhie is recommended for obstetric birth injury claims.

Within Regional review, tier 4

Elsewhere in the region, Charles Russell LLP has excellent corporate abilities in Cheltenham. Clarke Willmott LLP has regrouped following past troubles and grew with several lateral hires, including Peter O’Brien from Osborne Clarke; traditional strengths of the practice include agriculture and estates and private client. Foot Anstey has followed the example of several Exeter firms and opened a Bristol office; its broad practice is admired but, in a flat market, it remains to be seen how the new office will fare in an already crowded city. Lester Aldridge LLP in Bournemouth has a wide-ranging practice that leads the market locally and across Dorset. Exeter-based Michelmores LLP has an excellent, comprehensive offering. Thrings LLP has formidable expertise and coverage along the M4 corridor and has seen growth in insolvency and commercial litigation. Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a dependable firm with longstanding expertise in education, general commercial and health matters for regional SME clients. Stephens Scown LLP is a good regional firm covering Cornwall and Exeter, and has a loyal following locally. Bath-based Withy King LLP has seen growth in personal injury, clinical negligence and Court of Protection work.

Within Agriculture and estates, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Michelmores LLP’s ‘well-connected’ team is led by Philip Wolfgang, who gives ‘clear, independent and professional advice’.

Within Charities, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Litigator Tony Cockayne leads Michelmores LLP’s team, which acts for a range of educational and religious charities including Woodard Corporation, Grenville College and the dioceses of Exeter and Truro.

Within Family, Michelmores LLP is a second tier firm,

Family finance and childcare are core areas of expertise at Michelmores LLP, which shows ‘incredible focus on the individual client’s particular needs’. Team head Simon Thomas focuses on ancillary relief and financial disputes following cohabitation. Zoe Porter is ‘efficient and approachable’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Michelmores LLP is a first tier firm,

Michelmores LLP recently advised a Middle Eastern family with £15m assets in five jurisdictions, and acted for a widow in relation to a £54m estate. Adrian Miller has ‘great expertise’, and acts with ‘finesse and kindness as well as efficiency’. Jonathan Riley is well liked and team head Will Michelmore is also recommended.

Within Project finance and PFI, Michelmores LLP is a second tier firm,

Carol McCormack OBE’s team at Michelmores LLP has experience across the defence, education, health and emergency services sectors. It also advised HM Treasury on a workspace optimisation project.

Within Education, Michelmores LLP is a second tier firm,

Emma Honey heads the department at Michelmores LLP, which acts for London Metropolitan University, the University of Exeter and Plymouth College. Carol McCormack OBE, who advised Aberystwyth University on a £100m student residence project, is highly respected and Samantha Billingham is also recommended.

Within Local government, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Michelmores LLP’s Carol McCormack OBE is experienced in advising on all aspects of PPP and PFI projects for government departments and other public sector organisations.

Within Commercial property: The West Country, Michelmores LLP is a first tier firm,

Michelmores LLP’s team has strength in investment, public sector, local authority and residential real estate matters. Clients include Santander, European Land and London & Wharfedale. The eight-partner team includes ‘redoubtable’ team head David Howe and the ‘always dependable’ Emma Honey.

Within Construction, tier 4

Gerald Offen and Gareth Morgan at Michelmores LLP act on both contentious and non-contentious matters, and have expertise in healthcare, social housing, renewable energy and education. The team acted for Goldtree on the construction of a new palm oil mill plant in Daru, Sierra Leone.

Within Environment, tier 4

Mark Howard’s group at Michelmores LLP advises in relation to contaminated land, waste, pollution, and breaches of permits, including handling litigation.

Within Planning, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Michelmores LLP acted for Blackpool Airport on a proposed development at a former Pontins site in Blackpool. Rob Nicholson heads the team, which includes Mark Howard, who is recommended. Graham Cridland left for Ashfords LLP in 2011.

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

Michelmores LLP’s Rob Nicholson has repositioned his team with greater focus on the private sector, complementing its existing expertise in the public sector. It acted for restaurateur Kevin Viner in a landlord and tenant dispute relating to his restaurant in Cornwall.

Within Intellectual property, Michelmores LLP is a second tier firm,

Michelmores LLP’s lawyers ‘confidently support their clients’ across the breadth of IP matters. Clients include Tomy Europe, Gro Group and Powerplate. Department head Rehman Noormohamed leads advice to the University of Plymouth.

Within IT and telecoms, Michelmores LLP is a third tier firm,

Michelmores LLP advised Somerset County Council on a high-value Broadband UK project, and acted for Brake Bros in a multimillion-pound transformational outsourcing matter. Team head Rehman Noormohamed is singled out for the quality and style of his advice; he shows ‘a real ability to act as both facilitator and deal broker’.