The Legal 500

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that it has recruited John Hargreaves to head its healthcare team. John joins Penningtons as a partner from Stephenson Harwood, where he had led the health and care group for the past five years. He will be based at Penningtons' City office.

Nichola Carter, partner and head of immigration at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, was one of the speakers at the Westminster Higher Education Forum on 2 February. The seminar was an opportunity to assess the role of UK universities in a rapidly changing global market for higher education. Nichola discussed the student immigration system including current Government policy and ways in which the UK's reputation as an international centre of education can be improved.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP was delighted to be one of the sponsors of the Shooting Star CHASE carol concert which took place in the packed to capacity Holy Trinity Church in Guildford on 14 December.

Private Client Practitioner magazine, one of the top publications for private client professionals, has announced that Lesley Lintott is among the 50 leading practitioners in the private client field this year. Its list of 50 people reflects the full range of private client expertise available to clients and comprises lawyers, accountants, investment managers, professional trustees, private bankers and independent advisers.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP's Hampshire office has hosted an event with a difference at Brighton Hill Community College in Basingstoke. With a group made up of local families and clients, the firm organised a series of lasertag competitions in wheelchairs.

Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession has recommended 29 lawyers from Penningtons Solicitors LLP as 'leaders in their field' in its newly published 2012 guide. The directory, which is produced annually and is considered as the Who's Who of the legal sector, was launched at a prestigious reception attended by over 500 guests at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London at the end of October.

The recent Channel 4 Dispatches programme (3 October 2011) revealed that failing doctors are still slipping through the system and there are clearly still some fundamental problems concerning the monitoring and regulation of doctors. Many of the recommendations from the £25 million Shipman Enquiry for safeguarding patients are still to be implemented.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce the appointment of David Kendall as a partner in its corporate team. David, who joins from Stevens & Bolton LLP in Guildford, where he was a senior associate, will be based at Penningtons' Godalming office and work alongside head of corporate, Simon Bickerdike.

Sarah Cardew, a partner in Penningtons' Basingstoke office, has received an important Law Society appointment which will result in her providing commentary to the Government on proposed changes to the VAT legislation.

Stephen Ralph, a consultant in Penningtons' commercial dispute resolution team, has been appointed to the Law Society's Panel of Arbitrators.

A group of over 20 staff from the Godalming and Basingstoke offices of Penningtons Solicitors LLP took to their bikes on Friday 9 September along the waterways of Surrey and Hampshire to raise funds for the brain injury association Headway which provides support for people with brain injuries as well as their families and carers.

Jon Heuvel, joint head of Penningtons' employment team, was invited to speak on Radio 4's You and Yours programme on Tuesday 30 August as part of a live broadcast which examined why, despite high unemployment, many employers still complain that they are unable to find suitable staff.

As the university year starts again, Philippa Luscombe, clinical negligence partner at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, urges people not only to be alert to the symptoms of meningitis but also to challenge doctors who say that they or their children are 'too well' to have meningitis. Leading clinical negligence solicitor advises public to challenge doctors to prevent misdiagnosis of meningitis.

Anna Bruce-Smith, a solicitor in the private client team in Penningtons' City office, has been included in this year's 'Top 35 under 35' list published by the highly regarded publication Private Client Practitioner. Anna is among 70 individuals, 35 men and 35 women, who have been named in the 2011 list.

Penningtons employment partner Julian Yew, who specialises in the hotels and leisure sector, has been invited by the British Hospitality Association (BHA) to lead a webinar for members on The Agency Workers Regulations which come into force on 1 October.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised property investment company Redicent Limited on the sale of Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London.

Martin Codd, a partner in Penningtons' Commercial Property Division, was one of a panel of experts who went online earlier today to provide a sounding board for people seeking advice on the home buying process and the residential property market in general.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has settled a claim for the family of Kenneth Thomas of Esher who died in July 2009 after he was dropped by an ambulance crew and hit his head while being carried into an ambulance. The key issue in this claim was the failure of the ambulance crew to document and report the incident which meant that the hospital caring for Mr Thomas did not investigate the possibility of a head injury until it was too late for him to receive treatment.

Penningtons' London based property investors team has acted for Aviva Investors Pensions Limited (AIPL) in relation to its acquisition of a recently completed development in Welling, Kent.

A team from Penningtons has taken an active part in the 2011 summer school run by the City Solicitors' Educational Trust (CSET), an organisation which supports students who are interested in exploring the career paths open to them in the legal profession.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has boosted its corporate practice with the appointment of James Klein as a partner.

Julia Thackray, head of Penningtons Solicitors LLP's family team, recently joined a panel of experts at a debate which analysed the use of pre-nuptial agreements.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has won damages for its client, Roger Baker, a diabetic who lost part of his foot following inappropriate treatment of an ulcer by his GP practice and the Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust (now Croydon Health Services NHS Trust). The case was highlighted by The Guardian yesterday in an article which examines the current standard of diabetes care in the NHS >>.

A new survey by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and Penningtons Solicitors LLP reveals that London employers are ill-prepared to deal with the implications that the abolition of the default retirement age (DRA) may have on managing their workforce. 

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that it has appointed Andrew Casstles as a partner in its highly regarded social housing group. Andrew, who joins from Devonshires Solicitors where he had been a partner for four years, will be based at Penningtons' City office.

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has reinstated Glasgow Caledonian University's tier 4 Highly Trusted Sponsor status with immediate effect. This follows the university's full cooperation with the UKBA in addressing concerns specific to a group of international students on its BSc Nursing/BSc Professional Development programme.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that it has recruited Tim Randles to the employment team at its Godalming office. Tim joins from Laytons Solicitors in Guildford where he was head of employment and regulatory crime.

Amrita Therapeutics has appointed Penningtons as its sole international legal counsel following a detailed application process. Penningtons will advise the company on all its cross-border legal requirements, including intellectual property, corporate and commercial, banking and finance matters as well as joint ventures, fund raisings, technology collaborations and dispute resolution.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has recently settled a claim for professional footballer, Ryan Scott, following errors in his medical treatment after breaking his leg during a match while playing for Aldershot Town Football Club.

Mr Scott suffered a fracture of his right leg during a match at Altrincham Football Club in April 2007. He was admitted to the Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester where he subsequently had surgery in May 2007. This involved nailing the fracture in position to enable healing but, during the course of the procedure, the nail used was incorrectly positioned within the bone intruding into soft tissue causing pain and affecting knee function. Mr Scott's failure to recover as expected was investigated in July 2007, the mal-alignment of the nail was identified, and he had further surgery to replace the nail with a correctly sized and positioned one.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP and Dawsons Solicitors have finalised the terms of a merger of their practices which has taken effect from 1 May 2011. The agreement sees Dawsons' employment, litigation, private client and commercial and residential property teams join Penningtons. The combined business will operate under the Penningtons name.

Four out of ten people claim not to know any of the symptoms of bowel cancer, the UK's second biggest cancer killer, according to new data from Beating Bowel Cancer, the charity behind Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

Philippa Luscombe, clinical negligence partner at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, urges people not to die of ignorance: "As solicitors who deal with complex and distressing negligence claims, we are frequently approached by people with concerns about delays in the diagnosis of their cancer who are upset or angry at perceived failures in their care and worried at the potential impact of a delay in diagnosis."

The Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) has announced the list of panel deputies that it has appointed following a thorough application process. Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to be included in that list. The appointment means that private client solicitor Gillian de Freitas will act as deputy in her own right and PennTrust, Penningtons' trust corporation which has a number of experienced deputies, will also be instructed to act in cases where the Court of Protection decides that someone lacking capacity has no-one else who is suitable or willing to act in such a role.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has been recognised as being among the top law firms in the UK in Private Client Practitioner magazine's latest analysis of the best private client law firms which has been published today.

Teja Picton-Howell, a consultant in the corporate team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, is one of a number of guest contributors in an upbeat new business book produced by Levi Roots, the creator of Reggae Reggae Sauce and a past star of the BBC TV programme 'Dragons' Den'.

A man in his eighties has been awarded £30,000 in compensation after the negligent care he received following a hip operation at Worthing Hospital led to him developing extensive pressure sores, exposing muscle and bone. As a result, he needed a further operation to address the sores and remained under NHS care for seven months instead of the two months which had been anticipated before the operation. The case, which has been settled by London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP, highlights the concerns raised by Health Service Ombudsman, Ann Abraham, in her recently published official report on the treatment of elderly patients in England.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce the recruitment of three senior lawyers to its City office. Clare Archer joins the private client team as a partner while Saionton Basu has been appointed joint head of the firm's India group, with Rustam Dubash. Also joining the India team is corporate and commercial consultant Teja Picton-Howell.

The immigration team at Penningtons has published its response to the proposed changes to the student immigration system, put forward by the Government. The team acts for a large number of education providers including schools, universities and private colleges. It also acts for adult students and families based abroad who are planning to have their children educated in the UK. 

The immigration team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP has published its response to the proposed changes to the student immigration system, put forward by the Government.

Welcome to the latest issue of this update, keeping you informed of new developments in immigration law.

The owners of a private hotel in Bristol have been ordered to pay compensation to a gay couple who were refused a double room because of their sexual orientation. This precedent setting case is likely to have important legal implications for hotel owners throughout the UK.

Donald Lambert, a partner in the business services team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, has been appointed chairman of the Mediation and Arbitration Committee of the Minor Metals Trade Association (MMTA). The MMTA is the world's leading minor metals industry organisation and promotes the interests of companies actively involved in the international trade of minor metals – such as tungsten, cobalt, tantalum and molybdenum.

The High Court has ruled that the temporary cap on non-EU migrants is unlawful.

Donald Lambert, a partner in the business services team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, has been appointed chairman of the Mediation and Arbitration Committee of the Minor Metals Trade Association (MMTA). The MMTA is the world's leading minor metals industry organisation and promotes the interests of companies actively involved in the international trade of minor metals – such as tungsten, cobalt, tantalum and molybdenum.

Personal injury lawyers are expressing concern that Lord Young's recently published report 'Common Sense, Common Safety', produced following a review of health and safety laws and compensation claims in the UK, may restrict access to justice and funding for rehabilitation for those involved in serious injury claims.

Lawyers across Penningtons have been rated as being among the top in their field in the country in the latest edition of the national legal directory Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession, which has just been published.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised The Dame Vera Lynn Trust for Children with Cerebral Palsy, a nationally recognised organisation for the care of disabled children, on its takeover of the Suffolk School for Parents.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce the appointment of Julian Yew as a partner in its employment team. Julian, who was previously a partner at Wedlake Bell LLP, will work alongside head of employment Jon Heuvel at Penningtons' London office to expand the practice, particularly in the hotels and leisure sector. 

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to welcome Kay Taylor, who was previously department head at Shoosmiths, to its clinical negligence team as part of its ongoing expansion. 

Two lawyers from Penningtons Solicitors LLP's private client team have been recognised by Private Client Practitioner magazine as being among the top young practitioners in their field worldwide.

Several of the legal teams at Penningtons Solicitors LLP have been ranked as leaders in their field in the latest edition of national legal directory The Legal 500, which has just been published.

Philip Barth, partner and head of the immigration team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, has successfully negotiated the reinstatement of the sponsor licence of a private college in the education sector.

A new initiative comes into force today aimed at enabling businesses to attract the best global talent to the UK. Developed and operated by GTI Recruiting Solutions, on advice from Penningtons Solicitors LLP's immigration team, the scheme is backed by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and regulated by the UK Border Agency.

Penningtons client wins High Court judicial review case on English language courses under the points based visa system

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has recruited John Kyriacou as a partner in the London office to further strengthen the firm's rapidly growing clinical negligence team of 17 fee earners in London and the South East. His appointment follows the recent hire of the high profile clinical negligence lawyer, Grainne Barton, from Charles Russell in June.

Penningtons client wins High Court judicial review case on English language courses under the points based visa system

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that Grainne Barton, who is recognised as a leader in the clinical negligence field, has joined the firm's highly regarded clinical negligence team as an associate.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that it is teaming up with Surrey Sports Park to sponsor its ‘Summer of Sport', an exciting programme of events running up to the end of September 2010.

Lesley Lintott, who heads Penningtons' private client team, has been honoured in the 2010 Citywealth Awards, which took place at London's Landmark Hotel on 13 May and were attended by over 300 guests from the private wealth management industry.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is pleased to announce that Nicole Curtis, a barrister specialising in professional regulation, has been appointed a partner.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to be sponsoring the Winchester Fine Food and Wine Show for the third year running.

A new initiative has come into force aimed at enabling businesses to attract the best global talent to the UK. Developed and operated by GTI Recruiting Solutions, on advice from Penningtons Solicitors LLP's immigration team, the scheme is backed by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and regulated by the UK Border Agency.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to be taking a leading role in Capital Careers 2010, an initiative organised by the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry to increase careers awareness among young Londoners as part of its London Young Chamber programme.

Philip Barth, partner and head of the immigration team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP, has successfully negotiated the reinstatement of the sponsor licence of a private college in the education sector.

The UK Border Agency has announced proposed fee changes for immigration and nationality applications for 2010/11 that are set at levels above the administrative costs of the service. The negative regulations that specify the fees set at or below the administrative costs of the service will be laid in Parliament on 10 February 2010.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised Link Microtek, an internationally recognised electronic engineering company, which has its headquarters in Basingstoke, on its purchase of Southampton based infra-red communications systems specialist Azdec Limited.

NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) figures indicating that both the number and value of clinical negligence claims are still rising while clinicians continue to ignore Medical Defence Union (MDU) and NHSLA advice to apologise for their errors are revealed today in a new report published by Penningtons Solicitors LLP.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP's clinical negligence team has negotiated a settlement of a claim on behalf of Haslemere widower, Eric Mizen, in relation to treatment provided to his late wife, Barbara, by a Thamesdoc out of hours service GP two days before her death.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has secured substantial damages from Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and Winchester & Eastleigh NHS Trust for the civil partner of a 42 year old woman, Tina Lane, from Shaftesbury in Dorset, who died following a series of delays in both the diagnosis and treatment of her ovarian cancer. The National Health Litigation Authority has accepted that the woman 'would have had a high prospect of being cured of her disease' if she had been treated with appropriate care.

Oxford University has recognised Penningtons' contribution to a leading educational trust by appointing Chris Lintott, a partner in the firm's private client team, to its Chancellor's Court of Benefactors.

Six music students from the University of Surrey have competed in a lunchtime recital concert to win the Penningtons Scholarship Award. The winner was Simon Randall, a bass guitarist, who took the award home for his amazing and lively performance of his own composition ‘Memoirs’.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP is representing the widow of a Basingstoke man who died, aged 59, from renal cancer following a series of alleged errors by his treating hospital which twice left him and his GP unaware of the fact that he was suffering from cancer, despite test results confirming his illness. Court proceedings have recently been issued in the High Court.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has made four high profile, partner level, lateral hires – Russell Jarvis, Stephen Law, Julia Thackray and Peter Bond have all joined the firm this autumn. These appointments – which bring the total number of partners at the firm to 53 – are key to Penningtons' strategy of expanding the capability of its core practice groups to secure the long term growth of the firm. At a time when some firms have reduced their commitment to certain areas of work, Penningtons is continuing to invest right across its business.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP is delighted to announce that Rika Tanaka-Blease and Penny Salmon from KPMG have accepted offers to join its immigration team. Their appointments confirm Penningtons' position as a key player in the business immigration field.

The family of a Hampshire man killed by a hit and run driver, who left the scene of the accident without even calling for an ambulance, have expressed their disbelief and frustration at the sentence given to him today at Winchester Crown Court.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has been shortlisted for the Law Society Excellence Awards which showcase excellence across every facet of the legal profession and are considered to be one of the most prestigious events in the legal calendar.

Clinical negligence solicitors are seeing a significant increase in enquiries and claims arising from badly performed surgery for hip and knee replacements according to London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP. This is set to continue as the NHS outsources hip and knee replacement surgery to private treatment centres to cut waiting lists.

UKBA has announced new changes for sponsors and an updated set of sponsor guidance notes.

London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has negotiated damages on behalf of a young man in his 30s, Anthony Venner, who despite being admitted to Eastbourne District General Hospital with classic symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, became a victim of bed shortages and lack of appropriate assessment, management and communication. There was a delay of 24 hours in performing surgery on him which, in the view of independent medical experts, should have been regarded as an emergency. As a result, Mr Venner has been left with a considable degree of disability and has had to give up his career.

A solicitor from the Goldalming office of London and South East law firm Penningtons Solicitors LLP has gained the highest mark in the country in her professional legal exams.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP's professional regulation group is celebrating two key appointments with the news that it has been successful in tenders to advise both the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and The Farriers Registration Council.

Penningtons Solicitors LLP has advised international tour operator Australian Pacific Touring (UK) Limited on its purchase of a majority share in GW Travel Limited, the market-leader in long-distance luxury rail tours. GW Travel's flagship holidays are trips on the world-famous Trans-Siberian Express.

Catherine McCann, a trainee solicitor at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's City office, has been invited to contribute to a new guide published by the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry to help young people consider the many types of jobs available in the capital.

Donald Lambert, a partner in the business services team at Penningtons Solicitors LLP's London office, has been invited to join the arbitration panel of the Minor Metals Trade Association (MMTA). This organisation promotes the interests of companies actively involved in the international trade of minor metals - such as tungsten, cobalt, tantalum and molybdenum.

Lesley Lintott, who heads Penningtons' Private Individuals Division and who was named as a top 20 lawyer and a top 20 woman in private wealth management in the 2009 Citywealth leaders' lists, has also now been selected as runner up in the 'Woman of the Year' category. This was announced at the Citywealth Magic Circle Awards which took place at a gala dinner, at which Gyles Brandreth was the main speaker, and which was attended by over 200 people, on 14 May 2009.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into effect in April 2008 after a number of failed corporate prosecutions – including those relating to the Southall rail crash. There was much debate as to the implications and as to how widely it would be used. One year on the first prosecution is taking place.