The Legal 500

This prominent North West practice offers a wide range of legal services through its branch offices in Alsager, Chester, Congleton, Crewe, Nantwich, Northwich, Sandbach and Warrington. Its offices are readily accessible to clients nationwide and has been established for over 120 years.

The firm: This modern and forward-thinking firm has evolved from small beginnings into a sound knowledge-based practice with expertise in certain areas that equals that of City firms. The firm’s investment in highly qualified individuals and advanced technology enables it to provide a level of expertise and a quality of service that is second to none.

Types of work undertaken: The commercial property department, headed by Dianne Mooney, deals with a wide range of work. The commercial property and development team are able to expertly deal with all aspects of developing, leasing, buying and selling all types of commercial property. Whether clients are leasing a small retail unit or acquiring a multimillion pound building, the team can be relied on to deliver accurate, efficient and commercially aware advice. The team of corporate lawyers in Cheshire operate from the commercial property centre in Sandbach, representing individuals and businesses from across the region, and are readily accessible to clients both locally and nationally, with excellent links to the North West, Midlands and beyond. The team has the expertise and resources to offer an individual service or, for more complex transactions, a team-based integrated service to suit sellers and buyers, landlords and tenants alike.

With several offices based in the heartland of the farming community of Cheshire, Poole Alcock has many years of expertise in agricultural and estates work, including partnership, sale and purchase, leasing and all matters affecting arable land and livestock. The department is headed by Mike Bracegirdle, who understands the issues faced by the farming community and can be relied on to give sound technical, as well as practical, advice.

The private client tax and trust department is headed by Charles Smalley who, as a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, is well-qualified to provide advice on a range of taxation and trust issues, particularly to high-net-worth clients. Charles has an excellent reputation in his field and the department applies its expertise to provide the best advice to clients on an individual basis.

The commercial/civil litigation and dispute resolution department is headed by Phillip Harrison, who has built up a respected practice in this area based on his wealth of experience. If a client’s business becomes involved in a dispute, Phillip is quick to act but always gives sound advice on the economics of litigation. The team advises clients, including a national firm of estate agents, on disputes in areas such as contracts; commercial landlord and tenant; partnership; insolvency; construction; debt recovery; and alternative dispute resolution.

The large residential conveyancing department is headed by Sarah Jarrett. The team has extensive expertise and experience in all matters relating to residential property, including both local and national sales and puchases; transfers of equity; equity releases; shared ownership; new build purchases; residential leases (including buy to let); and remortgages. The team also has a specialist leasehold department that can advise on and deal with lease extensions; collective enfranchisement; right to manage; and assured shorthold tenancies.

Personal injury work of all types is undertaken by Andrew Roberts and his team. Andrew is an accredited member of the Law Society personal injury panel, the Motor Accident Solicitors Society and APIL, and has a wealth of experience to draw on.

The matrimonial department is headed by Caroline Green. Family expertise covers divorce (including the financial aspects of marital breakdown); separation agreements; co-habitation and civil partnership agreements; pre-nuptial agreements; and cases involving children. The department is committed to finding ways to resolve family breakdown in a sympathetic and supportive manner.

The firms’ criminal department is highly regarded. Scott Harding is notable for his success on behalf of motoring client’s, while David Gaut has impressive credentials in dealing with all manner of crime, including white-collar crime and fraud. The department also deals with regulatory defence in matters such as environmental health and safety issues.

The firm also deals with all types of employment law, whether arising from the sale or purchase of businesses or business assets; dismissal; redundancy; or discrimination, and provides representation at employment tribunals.

Number of UK partners 15
Number of other UK fee-earners 31