The Legal 500

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Penningtons Solicitors LLP’s combination with Dawsons LLP in mid 2011 has done much to boost the firm’s M&A profile. New product areas have been introduced, including private equity and joint venture capabilities along with the establishment of an India desk. Simon Bickerdike leads the team.

Within Partnership, tier 4

Stephen Ralph joined Penningtons Solicitors LLP from Dawsons LLP, and is a leading figure for contentious matters.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Overview,

The market remains competitive and fluid. Halliwells’ collapse provided Clyde & Co LLP with the lateral hire of Marko Kraljevic, while Stephenson Harwood beefed up with Sean Jeffrey arriving from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP and Sara George from Allen & Overy LLP. Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP’s former litigation chief Julian Randall exited for Taylor Wessing LLP. Others have been busy consolidating; in 2011, seven partners from Dawsons LLP, plus their assistants, joined Penningtons Solicitors LLP, while Stewarts Law LLP acquired litigation practice Masseys LLP.

Within Professional discipline, Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a second tier firm,

Praised for its ‘ability to understand the needs of the client’, the team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP continues to advise a range of large regulators across the fields of healthcare, veterinary medicine, law and accountancy, such as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the General Pharmaceutical Council. The ‘brilliant’ Nicole Curtis was promoted to the partnership in 2010; Katrina Wingfield is an ‘outstanding advocate’; and Geoffrey Hudson’s ‘knowledge and expertise are particularly comforting in complicated disciplinary proceedings’.

Within Commodities: physicals, tier 4

Donald Lambert at Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a specialist in minor metals disputes.

Within Trade finance, Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Penningtons Solicitors LLP’s Abraham Ezekiel is ‘an excellent lawyer in the field of trade and receivables finance’. His team has ‘superb knowledge and a good business approach, and is good value for money’

Within Employment, tier 8

Penningtons Solicitors LLP was joined by Paul Mander from Dawsons LLP, and hotel and leisure specialist Julian Yew from Wedlake Bell LLP.

Within Immigration, Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a first tier firm,

At Penningtons Solicitors LLP, Nichola Carter is ‘very easy to work with’ and now heads the firm’s business team, focusing on the needs of corporate and education sector clients, while Philip Barth takes on high-level asylum cases. A particular highlight of 2010 was the judicial review of a decision made on a language teaching case which has had a decisive effect on the PBS.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Penningtons Solicitors LLP enhanced its capabilities in London in 2010 by recruiting the ‘first-class’, ‘charming and client-friendly’ John Kyriacou from Pattinson & Brewer. Also recommended is Philippa Luscombe, who is ‘professional, sensitive and caring’; the ‘very tenacious’ Tim Palmer; Alison Appelboam-Meadows, who ‘really gets to grips with cases and sorts out difficult problems’; and associate Grainne Barton.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, tier 4

Michael Cash at Penningtons Solicitors LLP has a first-rate reputation, handling probate cases with ‘calm diplomacy’. Standout instructions included acting in Ferneley v Napier, which clarified the standard of proof required when trying to prove a will where no copy exists. Sian Hodgson is ‘second to none’.

Within Family, tier 7

The ‘extremely sound’ Julia Thackray at Penningtons Solicitors LLP is ‘highly experienced’ in complex finance cases, and specialises in divorce and children cases with an international element.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Penningtons Solicitors LLP is a third tier firm,

Lesley Lintott heads the newly merged team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, which is ‘responsive and able’, and now fields six partners in London, including former Dawsons LLP partners Wynne Thomas and Neil Morris, who boost the practice’s offshore expertise. The practice covers domestic and offshore tax and trust planning, cross-border probate and succession planning. Clare Archer also joined, from Rooks Rider.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Penningtons Solicitors LLP advised Aviva Investors on a £100m property portfolio sale, and Bank Santander on commercial loans. The ‘excellent’ team includes Peter McElligott and Richard Hunter, who is ‘experienced, pragmatic and commercial’.

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is recommended for landlord and tenant advice. Donald Lambert heads the team and is noted for his experience advising institutional landlords. Jenny Reid is ‘quick to grasp requirements and goals’.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Anna Frankum’s ‘excellent all-round’ team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP specialises in trade mark and copyright work. Clients include Andreas Stihl and Levi Roots. Joanne Vengadesan and Linda Burke are ‘professional, pragmatic and knowledgeable’.