The Legal 500

Within Corporate tax, tier 4

Nabarro LLP has an excellent name in property-related corporate tax matters, and is also notable for its expertise in large international joint ventures and funds. It acted for Land Securities on the sale of 20 Fenchurch Street to a newly formed partnership between the client and Canary Wharf Group. Clients note the ‘high technical ability’ of the group and also its ‘friendly approach’; Michael Cant is ‘particularly strong in property-related transactions’.

Within EU and competition , tier 5

Nabarro LLP is praised for its ‘very good partner-level attention’. The team is building strength in litigation, where it recently successfully intervened for a major provider of electronic payment services in Camelot’s application to the National Lottery Commission to use its Lottery terminals for bill payments and mobile top-ups. Other work included representing Mercedes Benz in the OFT’s inquiry into the commercial vehicles market; and several high-value merger transactions. Brian Sher is ‘proactive, and quick at understanding complex businesses and issues, and has very good communication skills’.

Within Financial services, tier 6

Nabarro LLP’s team head Adrian Brown and Sam Robinson joined from SJ Berwin LLP. The practice advised on a pre-packaged administration sale, the role involving liaising with the FSA to ensure compliance prior to administration. Rob Moulton moved to Ashurst LLP.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Iain Newman leads the ‘very capable’ team at Nabarro LLP. Highlights of 2010 included advising Cenkos as NOMAD and broker on the £130m IPO of SKIL Ports & Logistics, and Sportingbet in its move from AIM to the main market. Alasdair Steele advised Arden Partners as financial adviser and broker on KSK Power Ventur’s secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Within M&A: lower mid-market, £50m-£250m, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘practical’, ‘cogent’ and ‘commercial’ practice, headed by Iain Newman, has an enviable roster of AIM-listed clients. The ‘practical’ Warren Taylor led a team advising Caledon Resources on successive takeover approaches, with the final one, from Guangdong Rising Minerals for £252m, still ongoing. Clients praise the ‘authoritative’ Andrew Inkster and Patrick Speller.

Within Partnership Partnership

Within VAT and indirect tax, tier 4

SDLT and VAT expert Michael Cant is recommended at Nabarro LLP.

Within Venture capital, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Led out of London by Andrew Wigfall and aided by a significant presence in Sheffield, Nabarro LLP has a well-established reputation in the technology sector. Aided by a new entrepreneurs group targeting start-up companies, the firm has been particularly active on the investee side, for the likes of Supreme Biotechnologies, which it advised on two rights issues.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 5

Nabarro LLP is acting for San Marino bank CRSM in a claim against Barclays regarding complex debt products. The team was also appointed to the Lloyds Banking Group panel for insurance litigation and contentious regulatory matters. Jonathan Warne heads the department; and insolvency partner Patricia Godfrey is ‘always on top of her subject’.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 4

Nabarro LLP’s ‘responses are practical and relevant’. The practice advised Etihad Airways and Aldar Properties in their successful appeal against a judgment issued in favour of Force India Formula One Team. Jonathan Warne heads the team; Peter Fitzpatrick is ‘adept at managing complicated cases’; and George Maling is also recommended.

Within International arbitration International arbitration

Within Mediators Mediators

Within Professional discipline, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Led by Peter Fitzpatrick, who is ‘strong on tactics’, the team at Nabarro LLP provides ‘consistently high-quality advice’, and is particularly ‘highly regarded in medical and dental discipline’. It advises members of the MDU in regulatory proceedings before the General Medical Council and in disputes with primary care trusts.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Patricia Godfrey at Nabarro LLP has ‘first-class technical knowledge, and communicates effectively’. The firm’s wider team includes Glen Flannery, who ‘while appearing modest is a very strong lawyer’. The firm acted on the Dunfermline Building Society administration, the Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander liquidation, and the Cloud9 Mobile Communications liquidation.

Within Investment funds, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘thorough and methodical’ team works across the hedge, private equity and real estate fund sectors. It advised Goodman Industrial Trust on establishing UK and European real estate funds, of £400m and €400m respectively. Group head Amanda Howard is ‘not only a good lawyer but very good at organising delivery of service’; she and Deborah Lloyd are recommended for real estate funds, and Andrew Wylie for private equity and hedge funds.

Within Islamic finance, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Practice head Habib Ullah led Nabarro LLP’s advice to The Investment Dar on financing and developing the £350m Grosvenor Apartments in Park Lane. It also advised Zain on the commodity murabaha financing of its Sudanese subsidiary.

Within Employment, tier 4

The ‘approachable and knowledgeable’ Julie Quinn at Nabarro LLP is active on behalf of finance sector clients such as HSBC in High Court and tribunal matters, from team moves to bonus payments and discrimination. She is also instructed on strategic HR issues and national and international projects. The team is ‘accessible, and gives practical and easy-to-follow advice’.

Within Health and safety, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘very able’ Lukas Rootman heads Nabarro LLP’s ‘commercially astute’ regulatory defence team. The group handles complex instructions from clients in the risk-prone sectors of chemicals, waste, and mining, and provides strategic advice to ensure compliance and protect reputation.

Within Pensions, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Nabarro LLP rises a tier in the non-contentious ranking this year. Clients include IBM UK Pensions Trust, Arcadia Group, and the Legal Services Commission Pension Scheme, and it advised the Shoreham Port Authority in Pilots. Jennifer Bell ‘delivers well-thought-through, clear, practical advice and doesn’t sit on the fence’. Also of note, Kate Richards is ‘very thorough and receptive to suggestions to adapt service delivery to suit the client’s needs’. Disputes specialist Jonathan Warne is ‘very experienced, and entirely on top of his subject’.

Within Clinical negligence: defendant , Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

At Nabarro LLP, Peter Fitzpatrick continues to lead the team in defending cases for the Medical Defence Union, including clinical, cosmetic and dental claims. Chris Horsefield and senior associate Yvonne Screene are also recommended.

Within Mining and minerals, tier 4

Nabarro LLP provides ‘clear, strategic and relevant advice’ under group head Niall Logan. Contentious work is a strong area, and the firm is representing the Department of Energy and Climate Change in the £14bn Miners’ Knee Group Litigation, one of the largest group litigation claims in the UK.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 5

Nabarro LLP provides ‘advice tempered with technical knowledge’, to clients such as UK Power Networks and Barking Power. Tom Bainbridge is well respected for his ‘easy-going manner and high level of understanding’.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI) , tier 5

Nabarro LLP’s Stephen Matthew gives ‘clear, concise advice’, and has a ‘commercial appreciation of the issues’. The firm is acting for Wandsworth Borough Council on its £300m BSF project and the separate delivery of the Bolingbroke Free School.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 4

Led by Elizabeth Cooper, Nabarro LLP has a focus on projects, joint ventures, regeneration and public procurement work. Neal Gibson has experience in judicial reviews and procurement challenges. Stephen Matthew is advising the three land-owning stakeholders on the £1bn Watford Health Campus project.

Within Education: institutions, tier 6

Nabarro LLP is a ‘a national firm with a local presence’ that provides clients with ‘extremely good’ advice. Work highlights included advising the University of the Arts on a redundancy program, and Middlesex University on student protests.

Within Education: schools, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘highly responsive, very professional’ projects-focused team advises local authority clients on complex BSF programmes, and recently acted on behalf of Kent County Council in the delivery of five academies. Within Elizabeth Cooper’s team, associate Janet Lewis provides a ‘universally high-quality service’.

Within Healthcare, tier 4

Warren Taylor’s team at Nabarro LLP handles corporate and projects matters for clients in the public and private sectors. In 2010 the group advised HCA International on its joint venture with The Christie NHS Trust, and Watford Health Campus on the delivery of a new 600-bed hospital.

Within Local government, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s team acted for Sandwell Metropolitan Authority on its £650m waste recycling and street cleansing procurement. It is also acting for Westminster City Council on procurement, PPP, property development and conveyancing matters, as well as its joint venture BSF programme. Stephen Matthew heads the team.

Within Commercial property, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s ‘service is very seamless and well co-ordinated’. The firm advised longstanding client Land Securities on the sale of 20 Fenchurch Street to a newly formed joint venture partnership with Canary Wharf Group; and acted for Great Portland Estates on creating the Great Star Partnership and acquiring two multi-let City buildings. Other highlights included advising Hammerson and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on acquiring 10 Gresham Street. Kevin Stimpson heads the team, and is recommended along with Ciaran Carvalho, Deborah Parry, Justin Cornelius (who ‘brings great clarity to a complicated subject’), Martin Grabiner (a ‘good leader’), James Trundle (‘hardworking and commercial’) and Amanda Howard.

Within Construction, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s team has a ‘good instinct for identifying the key commercial issues that matter’. It advises suppliers and developers, and is particularly strong on domestic projects. Recent highlights include advising Great Portland Estates on its £400m development at 100 Bishopsgate. Practice head Terry Fleet is recommended, as are Steven Williams (‘thoughtful and highly effective’), Jonathan Douglas (‘a great litigator’), and Penny Moore, whose ‘quality of drafting is impressive’.

Within Environment, tier 4

Nabarro LLP is particularly strong in the waste sector. Practice head Clare Deanesly is ‘the specialist in the waste quarrying industry for environmental matters; a strong lawyer with excellent understanding of risks’. Recent highlights include assisting on Biffa Waste Services’ £1bn contract PPP for a biological waste treatment facility, and advising on CCS aspects of the Barking Power Station development. James Snape is ‘a strong commercial lawyer’ for waste projects; and Tom Bainbridge leads on climate change and energy matters.

Within Overview,

Competition for big-ticket jobs remains fierce, but those firms with strong corporate and finance offerings – such as Clifford Chance and Linklaters LLP – are generally faring better than most. Clients are also looking to full-service real estate practices of established players such as Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP and Nabarro LLP, who also dominate in property litigation.

Within Planning, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP represents developers on high-value, landmark schemes. Practice head Martin Evans is leading on the £4.5bn Brent Cross/Cricklewood regeneration scheme, which was granted planning consent, and on the Chelsea Barracks redevelopment proposals. Wesley Fongenie is advising Segro on the Slough Trading Estate regeneration and on rail freight infrastructure proposals. Joshua Risso-Gill has been advising Investream on The Quill student accommodation project.

Within Property finance, Nabarro LLP is a second tier firm,

Nabarro LLP is ‘one of the most used and useful firms’. With its expertise in student accommodation, the team advised Unite Group on the £67m development financing for the Moonraker site. In retail, it advised Grosvenor Liverpool Fund on refinancing the development facility for the Liverpool One shopping complex. Andrew McLean, Amanda Howard and James Dakin are ‘thoughtful, intelligent and responsive’. Duncan Hubbard joined Norton Rose LLP.

Within Property litigation, Nabarro LLP is a first tier firm,

Nabarro LLP’s blue-chip property clients include Land Securities, Hammerson and British Land. The team recently advised Great Portland Estate and Brookfield on a vacant possession strategy for the £800m redevelopment of 100 Bishopsgate in the City. Jennifer Rickard and practice head Iain Travers are recommended.

Within Brand management, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Practice head Guy Heath at Nabarro LLP wins praise for his ‘excellent negotiation skills’, and advises Diesel on marketing and compliance matters. Contentious work included successfully representing Ryanair in a domain name complaint. Jonathan Radcliffe joined Mayer Brown International LLP.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Nabarro LLP’s ‘top-flight’ team is headed by Guy Heath, who wins praise for his ‘excellent negotiation skills, subject matter expertise and practical business results’, and handles trade mark infringement work for Levi Strauss. New clients include Abbott Laboratories. The ‘efficient, capable’ Louise Gellman and Eesheta Shah are also singled out for praise.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

At Nabarro LLP, IT practice head Tony Bailes has retired from the partnership, but remains as a consultant. Geoff Mendelsohn and George Wheeler-Carmichael, who is representing CSC in disputes involving the NHS National Programme for IT, jointly head the team, which is recommended for its ‘practical, industry-relevant advice’. Mendelsohn advised Reading Borough Council on major projects, and assisted Agilisys with an innovative joint venture for the supply of ICT.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Nabarro LLP is a third tier firm,

Recent work for Nabarro LLP includes representing Abbott and the European-based inventors of biologic blockbuster drug Humira in the world’s largest patent action. Guy Heath wins praise for his ‘excellent negotiation skills and subject matter expertise’, and recently promoted partner Eesheta Shah is also recommended. Other clients include ratiopharm and GlaxoSmithKline. Patent litigator Jonathan Radcliffe joined Mayer Brown International LLP.

Within Aviation, tier 5

Recent work for Nabarro LLP includes advising Ryanair in its dispute with Gatwick Airport on the new ‘per passenger’ method for calculating the charges it levies on airlines, as well as on its successful appeal against the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s decision that BAA should not be required to dispose of three airports. It also advised Etihad on the preparation of a suite of commercial contracts. George Maling heads the team.