The Legal 500

5 OSBORNE TERRACE, NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, NE2 1SQ, ENGLAND

What we say about the firm's legal practice in North

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, tier 4

Mincoff Solicitors LLP acted for Northern Bear plc on constitutional, corporate governance and AGM matters, and Nichol & Laidlow on a £5.5m contract with United Biscuits. The ‘pragmatic and knowledgeable’ Paul Hughes heads up the team.

Crime, fraud and licensing

Within Licensing, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a first tier firm,

Associate Matthew Foster does a ‘good job’ at Mincoff Solicitors LLP. Key highlights included advising a number of charities on fundraising methods, handling s136 prosecutions, and varying several operating licences to include bingo and betting activities.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, tier 4

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s Sara Keating, who is praised for her ‘ability to think ahead’, is currently defending a claim in the High Court for injunctive relief, and continues to advise on property litigation matters.

Finance

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

2010 saw the team at Mincoff Solicitors LLP advise on alternative funding options and on the restructuring and amendment of existing credit facilities, for clients including Northern Bear plc. John Nicholson is the key banking contact.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

The two-partner team at Mincoff Solicitors LLP handled several business acquisitions on a pre-pack basis from administrators, as well as solvent reconstructions of existing businesses.

Human resources

Within Employment, tier 4

The team at Mincoff Solicitors LLP provides ‘good-quality advice’ and recently assisted clients with Employment Tribunal claims, injunction applications and TUPE matters. Nick Smith provides ‘appropriate and sound advice’ and is supported by Gillian Barlow, who recently arrived from Crutes Law Firm.

Within Pensions, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s Nick Smith has extensive pensions law experience and is currently advising employers on day-to-day issues regarding occupational pension trustees, and individuals on the management of personal pension schemes.

Overview

Within Regional review,

Other notable firms include Mincoff Solicitors LLP, in a broad range of areas including leisure and licensing; and Jacksons Law, which is consolidating its Stockton presence and steadily developing its Newcastle offering.

Private client

Within Family, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ Mike Smith at Mincoff Solicitors LLP continues to provide a ‘very good’ service to matrimonial clients, and is particularly strong on the financial settlement front.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4

Mincoff Solicitors LLP has entered the market with the recent hire of the ‘outstanding’ Louise Miller.

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Newcastle, tier 4

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s commercial property department is the largest in the firm, and includes Howard Gold and five associates. It continues to build on its extensive leisure sector expertise, and is currently advising the Factory Shop on several national retail leases in light of its plans to expand.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Intellectual property, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s IP practice went from strength to strength in 2010. It advised on an application to register a European trade mark, and successfully defended Nichol & Laidlow in trade mark opposition proceedings by Nestlé SA.

Within IT and telecoms, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Mincoff Solicitors LLP’s IT team is ‘absolutely top notch’, with John Nicholson singled out for his ‘visionary’ approach and Antony Hall for his dedication and support. The team provides day-to-day advice to Emailvision, an international provider of email-based marketing services, and recently advised Komodo Design on a range of complex agreements.

Within Media , Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a second tier firm,

2010 saw Mincoff Solicitors LLP act for a publisher on the production of a digital version of its magazine for the iPad and iPod, and for another client on an agreement to produce a television show for Virgin 1. It also advised Fighters Only on the production of magazines in various countries.


Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
  • COUNCIL TAX

    In Harrow LBC v Ayiku [2012] EWHC 1200 (Admin) Sales J held that the word “or” in the Council Tax (Exempt Dwellings) Order 1992, art 3 Class N, had a disjunctive meaning, therefore it was sufficient for the non-British spouse of a foreign student to satisfy one or other of the two conditions, namely being prevented from taking paid employment or being prevented from claiming benefits, in order to qualify as a “relevant person” who was exempted from liability to pay council tax.
    - 11KBW
  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
    - 11KBW
  • A justified retrospective

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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
    - 11KBW
  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
    - 11KBW
  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
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    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.