The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in the North, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a second tier firm,

Tony Wentworth heads the Stockton practice at Mincoff Jacksons LLP. In 2008 the team advised on transactions with a cumulative value of approximately £70m. It acts for both owner-managed business and larger corporate clients such as PD Group.

Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, tier 4

Mincoff Jacksons LLP advised Northern Bear plc on a series of acquisitions with an aggregate value of more than £6.5m. Paul Hughes heads the practice.

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

Richard Arnot continues to grow the practice at Mincoff Jacksons LLP, where new clients include Tesco and Greggs. The practice includes gaming regulatory matters and licensing reviews.

Within Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a first tier firm,

Mincoff Jacksons LLP has seen a growing number of larger claims relating to the protection of confidential information, IP rights and the enforcement of restrictive covenants. Managing partner Nigel Kidwell is recommended.

Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, tier 5

Sara Keating leads Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s Newcastle offering. The practice is notable for its advice to individuals; recent examples include a partner in an insurance business and an accountant.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Stockton-based Geoff Skeoch leads Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s practice and specialises in property finance. Clients include Yorkshire Bank, Allied Irish Bank and the Co-Operative Bank.

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

Recent work for Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s team, under Stephen Wiles, includes acting for the administrators on a business disposal, and advising a group of directors threatened with prosecution by the DTI for wrongly re-using a company name.

Within Employment, tier 4

Joint senior partner Kevin Fletcher heads the employment team at the recently merged Mincoff Jacksons LLP. The practice advises plcs, SMEs and public sector clients. Recent highlights include appearances at the EAT and advising a national retail client on a restructuring.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a first tier firm,

Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s practice is headed by Alison Ainsley and handles a range of claims, including some over £1m.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

At Mincoff Jacksons LLP, Alison Ainsley is recommended. Her recent work includes an employer’s liability claim.

Within Agriculture and estates , Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

2008 saw Mincoff Jacksons LLP reappointed as the North East region’s NFU panel firm. The team is growing its equine law practice in addition to receiving instructions on estates worth over £3m. Adrienne Patterson is the name to note.

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

Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s team recently acted for the wife of a prominent footballer in a divorce and division of assets. Offering a strong child practice, Newcastle-based Mike Smith and Amanda Baker in the Tees Valley are both recommended.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4

Mincoff Jacksons LLP advises wealthy landowners and business owners predominantly across the North East. Rosemary Young heads the practice that recently advised in a large £3m estate.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in the North, Mincoff Solicitors LLP is a first tier firm,

Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s Teesside practice regularly advises on multimillion-pound transactions. Geoff Skeoch is the recommended partner in this office.

Within Commercial property: Newcastle, tier 4

New client The Works instructed Mincoff Jacksons LLP on the acquisition, renewals and release of its national leasehold portfolio. The team also advised clients in the leisure sector on portfolio management. Henry Cave and Howard Gold are names to note, and Phil Dean is recommended for his advice to FTSE 100 companies.

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

Mincoff Jacksons LLP’s agriculture and estates team, headed by Adrienne Patterson, advises on environmental issues including nuisance notices.

Within Planning, tier 4

At Mincoff Jacksons LLP, planning specialist Steven Heath is described by clients as ‘the oracle‘. The practice is well placed to provide advocacy at planning appeals.

Within Intellectual property and information technology, tier 5

Clients of Mincoff Jacksons LLP include a niche magazine publisher and various household brand names. A notable instruction saw the team acting for a UK manufacturing company in relation to the alleged infringement of US and Community patent rights. Paul Hughes is recommended.

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

Mincoff Jacksons LLP handles work for clients that include a UK supplier of limited edition artwork and an international provider of email-based marketing services and campaigns. Paul Hughes is recommended in this area.

Within Regional review,

October 2008 saw the merger of Newcastle-based Mincoffs Solicitors and Stockton firm Jacksons Commercial & Private Law LLP. Now benefiting from a cross-region presence, Mincoff Jacksons LLP boasts 21 partners and 150 staff.