The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Bristol, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

‘Excellent in every way’, Osborne Clarke is ‘proficient and efficient’, and acts for clients including Motorola, LDC and Imperial Tobacco. It also advised the purchasing vehicle on the $200m buyout of SPTS Technologies UK. Alisdair Livingstone and Lara Burch lead the team, which was strengthened by the hire of funds expert Tim Simmonds from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP.

Within Corporate tax, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke acts for clients including Lloyds Development Capital and Barrett Developments. It advised the Carphone Warehouse on the reorganisation and demerger of the Best Buy Mobile business. Michael Bell is ‘proactive and gives sound advice’.

Within EU and competition, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s ‘knowledgeable’ team, which is ‘very good value for money compared with City firms’, acted for Everything Everywhere on a mobile commerce joint venture with Telefónica UK and Vodafone UK. Team head Simon Neill is ‘a strong competition lawyer’.

Within Commercial litigation: Bristol, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Peter Clough’s team at Osborne Clarke provides ‘pragmatic advice that reflects good knowledge of the client’s business and aims’, and acts for clients including British Gas, Dell and Bank of Ireland. The team acted for Turbo Centre and others in a $300m bondholder dispute relating to a development financing in Russia. ‘Rising star’ Catherine Wolfenden was made up to partner in 2011; and Charlie Wedin is ‘relevant, focused and pragmatic’.

Within Banking and finance, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke acts for clients including RBS and Barclays Corporate. It also advised Lloyds TSB Development Capital on an acquisition facility borrowed from a club of three banks, and acted for HSBC on providing leveraged facilities for the reorganisation and acquisition of Medex Global Group. Practice head Omar Al-Nuaimi is ‘highly competent and respected’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke is ‘excellent on all counts, especially in speed of response and value of advice’. The team acted for KPMG on the trading administration of a number of care homes and going concern sales, and for Grant Thornton on the administration and sale of a VW automotive business. Other clients include Baker Tilly, Barclays and RBS. Team head Nigel Boobier is ‘a great figurehead who continues to grow in stature’.

Within Employment: Bristol, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

At Osborne Clarke, Paul Killen, and recently acted on the UK employment aspects of a $975m network sale by Motorola Solutions. The team’s work is increasingly international and it is developing expertise in advising Indian companies in Europe-wide outsourcing. Phillip Chivers, who leads the firm’s employment tribunal work, and tax and pensions expert Paul Matthews are also significant contributors to the practice.

Within Health and safety, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s ‘diligent’ health and safety team is led by ‘thorough’ and ‘no-nonsense’ senior associate Andrea Tithecott. It recently advised Western Power Distribution, Motorola Solutions and Eurostar.

Within Pensions, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s pensions team has benefited from the addition of Keith Webster, who joined from CMS Cameron McKenna LLP. Webster advised Wedgwood Group on a £220m pension plan fund, and the team also advised Bank of Ireland and the Environment Agency. Lead partner Jonathan Hazlett has ‘a superb mind’ and is extremely well regarded, and Paul Matthews has ‘gravitas and depth of experience’.

Within Professional negligence, Osborne Clarke is a third tier firm,

Peter Clough’s team at Osborne Clarke represents clients including The Co-operative Bank, NatWest and Platform Funding. Clare Robinson has been involved in high-profile litigation in the region and is highly recommended.

Within Regional review, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke is the other leading firm in the region. It has leading expertise in corporate and real estate and has seen growth in sectors such as natural resources and digital sectors. The firm’s international reach – it has offices in the US and Germany – gives it an extra dimension and is a distinguishing feature in the regional market.

Within Agriculture and estates, Osborne Clarke is a third tier firm,

Robert Drewett at Osborne Clarke represents The Co-operative Farms as well as other landowners and developers.

Within Charities, Osborne Clarke is a second tier firm,

Osborne Clarke is ‘superbly efficient in its transaction execution’, and its advice is ‘always clear, prompt and to the point’. Team head Mark Woodward is highly regarded and Alexandra Casley is ‘outstanding’. Clients include The Shaw Trust, Bristol Zoo and Battersea Dogs’ and Cats’ Home.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke acts in the full range of personal tax and trusts matters. Mark Woodward acts for individuals as well as Coutts and RBS. Practice head Sandra Brown is also recommended.

Within Energy, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke is ‘excellent across the board’, and highlighted for its ‘great senior involvement in the details of transactions’. The team acted for the project vehicle in the Gwynt-y-Môr wind power project off the North Wales coast. Team head David Ferris is ‘superb at high level and in the detail, with good commercial judgement’.

Within Project finance and PFI, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s six-partner group acts for clients including Kier, and its work spans defence, security, waste to energy, renewables and student accommodation. It acted for Babcock International Group on the building of a CHP plant on land at HM Naval Base Devonport. The ‘very visible’ Chris Wade and Phil Davies are recommended.

Within Health, Osborne Clarke is a third tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s lifescience and healthcare department acts for clients including Castleoak Care Developments and The Co-operative Bank. Janita Good heads the team, which includes Catherine Wolfenden, who assisted Bromley PCT with the procurement of major contracts for drugs support services.

Within Commercial property: Bristol, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s team is ‘commercially astute’ and ‘best in class’ for investment, student accommodation and general development work. Clients include Barratt, Marks and Spencer, and Taylor Wimpey. It advised Aviva Investors: Apia Regional Office Fund on the sale of property in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. The ‘commercial and diligent’ Ian Wilkinson heads the team, which includes Tim Simmonds, who joined from Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, and newly promoted partner Michelle McGurl.

Within Construction, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s five-partner team ‘provides high-quality and timely legal advice tailored to the commercial needs of the client’. It advised the developer, RWE npower Renewables, regarding the 576MW Gwynt-y-Môr offshore wind farm. Other clients include Capita Group and Barratt Developments. Philip Davies leads the team, and Jonathan Brooks ‘provides practical options for resolving complex legal disputes’.

Within Environment, Osborne Clarke is a second tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s three-partner group is known for its renewables, waste industry and environmental work, acting for clients such as RWE npower and SITA UK. It acts for Associated British Ports on environmental transactions and projects across the client’s 21 UK ports. Alan John and Brian Greenwood head the department.

Within Planning, Osborne Clarke is a second tier firm,

Osborne Clarke is ‘very good and very professional, with good response times’. It advises Asda on all contentious and non-contentious planning matters involved in its new store programme, and other clients include Associated British Ports and Taylor Wimpey. John Baird is recommended.

Within Property litigation, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Leona Briggs’ two-partner team at Osborne Clarke acts for clients including Persimmon and NatWest. It also represented Barratt Homes in a development agreement dispute with Gold Group Properties.

Within Intellectual property, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s lawyers are ‘professional and passionate in their approach to their clients and the law’. Team head Clare Robinson leads work for Eurostar, Ultra Electronics and Nutricia. Lead lawyer for Mulberry Douglas Peden is ‘personable and approachable’.

Within IT and telecoms, Osborne Clarke is a first tier firm,

Osborne Clarke’s ‘extremely good’ team is headed by the widely respected James Mullock. It provided advice to Everything Everywhere on its new Quick Tap payment service, and advised Mulberry on its e-commerce platform. Clare Robinson has experience advising multinational technology suppliers and particular expertise in relation to the US.

Within Rail, Osborne Clarke is a second tier firm,

Lara Burch leads Osborne Clarke’s team, which is lauded for its ‘very good depth of industry knowledge’ and ‘fresh approach’ and has ‘the ability to pitch advice perfectly to the particular client’. It represented Arriva UK Trains in its bid for the Intercity West Coast mainline rail franchise, and advised on the sale of Grand Central Railway Company. It also acted for Eurostar, First Capital and Amey.