The Legal 500

Paris Smith LLP

NUMBER ONE LONDON ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON, SO15 2AE, ENGLAND
Tel:
Work 023 8048 2482
Fax:
Fax 023 8063 1835
DX:
38534 SOUTHAMPTON-3
Web:
www.parissmith.co.uk
Email:
Southampton SO15, Southampton

What we say about the firm's legal practice in South East

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Hampshire, Paris Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Paris Smith LLP delivers ‘high-quality and consistent advice’, and has experience in the technology, leisure and retail industries. The team added BOX-IT to its client roster in 2010. ‘Intuitive to clients’ needs’, Sean Davies is recommended for his contract drafting skills. Andrew Heathcock has a depth of commercial experience.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Hampshire, Paris Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘very good’ Clive Thomson at Paris Smith LLP and Peter Taylor are highly recommended. The group recently handled several claims in the public sector regarding liability cases and contractual disputes.

Finance

Within Banking and finance, Paris Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

James McNeil’s team at Paris Smith LLP provides a ‘cohesive service’. It advises on property, acquisition, leverage and project finance transactions, and recently assisted in Sisco’s sale of Fibercore for $22m.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery Insolvency and corporate recovery

Human resources

Within Employment: Hampshire, Paris Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellentParis Smith LLP is noted for its tribunal expertise. Clive Dobbin and David Roath are ‘totally professional and very knowledgeable in all aspects of employment law’. The team’s client base includes Southampton FC and Bournemouth FC.

Overview

Within Regional review Regional heavyweights

Private client

Within Charities Charities

Within Family: Hampshire, Paris Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Paris Smith LLP provides ‘excellent client service’ and represents high-net-worth individuals in ancillary relief cases. With expertise in inheritance matters, Huw Miles is ‘extremely good’, and Neil Davies and Frank Prior have ‘excellent knowledge’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Hampshire, Paris Smith LLP is a first tier firm,

Paris Smith LLP’s ‘excellent’ team handles tax planning, trusts and estate planning work. David Bird and Crispin Jameson have longstanding experience in the arena.

Public sector

Within Local government Local government

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Hampshire, Paris Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Paris Smith LLP fields an 11-partner real estate team. It includes Mark Howarth, who is advising Rose Bowl (Hampshire County Cricket) on its planned development, including £30m hotel, conference and club house facilities; Stuart Allen, who handles property finance matters for the likes of Clydesdale and Co-operative Bank; and Nick Vaughan, who recently advised Eastpoint Centre on a £10m redevelopment scheme.

Within Planning, Paris Smith LLP is a third tier firm,

Janet May heads a specialist planning legal and consultancy team at Paris Smith LLP, which handles large-scale development projects across the region. Current work highlights include advising on the redevelopment of Hampshire cricket venue the Rose Bowl.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

Within Intellectual property Intellectual property

Within IT and telecoms IT and telecoms

Within Sport, Paris Smith LLP is a second tier firm,

Paris Smith LLP acts for several sports clubs in Hampshire. Planning expert Janet May advised Hampshire Cricket Club regarding a new golf club, hotel and stand at the Rose Bowl Stadium. Portsmouth FC and Southampton FC are also clients.


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.
    - 11KBW
  • 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

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
    - 11KBW
  • 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.
    - 11KBW
  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    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.