The Legal 500

ELLENBOROUGH HOUSE, WELLINGTON STREET, CHELTENHAM, GL50 1YD, ENGLAND

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

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: M4 Corridor and Gloucestershire, Rickerbys LLP is a second tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP advised Vero Software on its £7.2m takeover by US-based Battery Ventures, while other clients include Severn Waste Management, Blanchworth Care Group, Cotswold Steel Stockholders and HLI UK. Edward Davies heads the team.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: M4 Corridor and Gloucestershire, Rickerbys LLP is a second tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP’s team of ‘solid performers’ defended a client regarding an alleged breach of the Environment Agency’s WEEE Regulations, and acted for a retailer regarding the repudiation of an agreement. Colin Gibson ‘thoroughly addresses key issues’.

Within Debt recovery, Rickerbys LLP is a third tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP’s team is led by Colin Gibson, who is aided by ‘the highly efficient and effective’ Claire Preece. The practice has a specialisation in the recovery of monies owed on private school fees.

Finance

Within Banking and finance, Rickerbys LLP is a third tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP advised an energy system operator on a €100m loan facility, and a savings bank on a counter guarantee as part of a finance-backed sale. Team head Tim Walker is ‘focused’ and ‘promptly available’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Rickerbys LLP is a third tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP’s Colin Gibson has recently acted for Hazelwoods, Svenska Handelsbanken and RSM Tenon.

Human resources

Within Employment: M4 Corridor and Gloucestershire, Rickerbys LLP is a first tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP provides ‘well-considered help and advice’ to clients including Stroud and Swindon Building Society. Education specialist Alice Reeve ‘provides excellent advice’.

Overview

Within Regional review,

Also of note are Wilsons in Salisbury, known for its strength in private client in particular; Charles Russell LLP and Rickerbys LLP in Cheltenham; and Withy King LLP and Stone King LLP in Bath.

Private client

Within Agriculture and estates, Rickerbys LLP is a third tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP demonstrates a ‘good deal of experience and knowledge’. It acted for a number of clients on multimillion-pound estate matters, and also on a grant of minerals lease for an estate. Practice head Robin Beckley is recommended.

Within Family, Rickerbys LLP is a second tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP acted in a number of complex matters, including a case involving a child with a limiting, long-term illness and a divorce case involving substantial business interests in the Caribbean. Carolyn Green heads the practice.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Rickerbys LLP is a second tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP’s team is ‘excellent in trusts and tax planning’, and has expertise advising agriculture and charities clients, and in assisting elderly and vulnerable individuals. Carolyn Green leads the practice, and Mark Hartley provides ‘sound, well-prepared and expert advice’.

Public sector

Within Education, Rickerbys LLP is a second tier firm,

Excellent in all respects’, Rickerbys LLP advised the University of Gloucestershire on selling London property and on employment matters. Other clients include Cheltenham Ladies’ College. Team head Alice Reeve provides ‘excellent knowledge and good commercial advice’.

Within Health, Rickerbys LLP is a third tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP provides ‘excellent and speedy’ responses. Derek Jones is able to ‘challenge public sector inequalities’ for clients; and the team provides ‘sound’ regulatory advice to many care sector clients. Team head Louise Crook is ‘approachable, with a high level of industry knowledge’.

Real estate

Within Commercial property: M4 Corridor and Gloucestershire, Rickerbys LLP is a first tier firm,

Rickerbys LLP’s Philip Parkinson provides ‘speedy, practical advice’, and Mark Fabian is ‘practical and thorough’. The University of Gloucestershire instructed the team on the £9.7m sale of its London campus.

Within Construction, tier 4

Rickerbys LLP provides ‘outstanding help’, and can handle ‘detailed and complex documentation’. Tim Walker heads the team.

TMT

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Tim Walker is recommended at Rickerbys LLP.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

Tim Walker’s three-partner team at Rickerbys LLP adopts a ‘pragmatic, business-savvy approach’. Its clients include The Dezac Group and Bristol Training Solutions.


Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to
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    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.
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