What we say about the firm's legal practice in North
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Sintons LLP’s Christopher Welch, who ‘never fails to impress on all fronts’, and Karen Simms, who provides an ‘excellent standard of advice’, jointly lead a ‘top’ team. Recent highlights include acting for Pyeroy Group on its acquisition of CEI Electrical, and for Smith Electric Vehicles US in its acquisition of its UK counterpart from Tanfield Group plc. Key clients include Pickerings Lifts, Technology Services Group and various high-net-worth individuals.
Crime, fraud and licensing
Within Licensing, Sintons LLP is a first tier firm,
The service provided by Sintons LLP is of the ‘highest quality’. The team advised the University of Northumbria in its application for a new premises licence for its £42m Sport Central building, and handles 70% of the licensing applications submitted to Newcastle County Council. Practice head Sarah Smith is recommended.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Sintons LLP is acting for Technology Services Group in a number of defended contractual claims relating to software and hardware systems, and for a specialist finance broker in a misrepresentation claim brought by a major plc. Angus Ashman is ‘very perceptive and provides quality advice in a timely manner’. The firm continues to offer CFAs and ATE insurance to its clients.
Within Debt recovery, Sintons LLP is a second tier firm,
Sintons LLP recently handled complex debt recovery matters for Nissan, Technology Services Group and a number of leading educational establishments.
Finance
Within Banking and finance, Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Sintons LLP advised on the refinancing of a £14m care home portfolio, and the restructuring of a £10m leisure portfolio, and also assisted a bank with a security review relating to a £20m facility. The team counts AIB Group, Dunbar Bank and Davenham Group plc as clients.
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Sintons LLP recently acted for lenders on administrations, liquidations and LPA receiverships, and purchasers on high-value acquisitions of distressed assets. Clients rate Matt Collen as ‘knowledgeable’ and ‘very personable’.
Human resources
Within Employment, Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Keith Land heads the employer-focused team at Sintons LLP, which has seen the arrival of two fee-earners from Muckle LLP. It continues to act for Arriva, the Eric Wright Group and T&G Allan, and recently represented the Jesmond Group in a High Court action against a number of former employees for breaches of confidentiality. In 2010 it launched ‘Assero Employment Protection’, a fixed-fee retainer service for clients to ensure compliance.
Insurance
Within Personal injury: claimant, Sintons LLP is a second tier firm,
Jim Dias leads the 37-fee-earner team at Sintons LLP, which includes Mark Quigley. It recently secured a £3.65m award for a tetraplegic claimant involved in an RTA, and also advised on multiple mesothelioma cases.
Within Personal injury: defendant, Sintons LLP is a first tier firm,
The team at Sintons LLP provides a ‘very high level of service’, ‘understands the insurance world’, and ‘negotiates quick and economic settlements’. Jamie McCabe, who specialises in brain and spinal cord injury cases, is regarded as ‘one of the best catastrophic injury lawyers in the country’. The team counts Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) and Tokio Marine/R-Tek as clients.
Within Professional negligence, Sintons LLP is a second tier firm,
Clients find Sintons LLP’s ‘quiet but knowledgeable approach to be a refreshing change’. Recent highlights include securing a six-figure sum for a private individual against a major regional law firm relating to a negligent Coal Authority search for a residential property.
Overview
Within Regional review, tier 4
Sintons LLP is an increasingly strong contender in the market, and has a ‘very long-established partnership with a good reputation’.
Private client
Within Charities , Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Clients have ‘no hesitation in recommending’ the team at Sintons LLP, and rate its services as ‘excellent on all levels’. Tim Gray’s team continues to advise the Virgin Mary Trust and the dioceses of Newcastle and Carlisle. Amanda Maskery’s ‘great ability to explain complex issues in a clear and simple manner’ is valued by clients.
Within Family, Sintons LLP is a second tier firm,
The ‘excellent’ Tim Gray is a standout figure at Sintons LLP, and Jo Whitfield is notable for her experience in advising non-UK residents seeking divorce and financial provision in England. Key highlights included several divorces for prominent individuals in the North East.
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Sintons LLP’s team provides ‘a very good service’, with Alan Dawson and Julie Garbutt considered ‘very client friendly’. It continues to provide tax-planning advice to high-net-worth individuals, and has recently received referrals from Coutts Bank.
Public sector
Within Health, Sintons LLP is a second tier firm,
Amanda Maskery at Sintons LLP specialises in the dental sector, recently advising on a record number of sales, acquisitions and incorporations. Practice head Hilary Parker advised GPs and consultants, including Matrix Orthopaedics, on entrepreneurial projects and partnership agreements.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Newcastle, tier 4
The ‘exceptional’ Andrew Walker and Hilary Parker jointly head the real estate department at Sintons LLP. The team provides asset management services to the Church Commissioners for England and several high-net-worth individuals, and recently advised Northern Developments Group on a redevelopment project that included a £12m student village.
Within Construction , tier 4
Sintons LLP’s Jamie Corcoran, who is praised for his ‘dedication and drive to achieve optimal solutions under extreme pressures’, recently advised NAREC in relation to a £10m maritime testing facility at its Blyth site.
Within Environment, Sintons LLP is a second tier firm,
Sintons LLP’s Paul Liddle acts for the second and third-largest coal producers in the UK, and also advises developers in relation to options for opencast coal and wind farm developments.
Within Planning, tier 4
Chris Checkley recently joined the team at Sintons LLP as practice head. His recent work includes successfully appealing against a planning decision relating to the redevelopment of a vacant social club.
Within Property litigation , Sintons LLP is a first tier firm,
Sintons LLP’s ‘very impressive’ Gavin Winter acted for various commercial landlords in actions for non-payment of rent against tenants and in challenges relating to the validity of tenant break notices.
Within Social housing, Sintons LLP is a third tier firm,
Sintons LLP counts Four Housing Group as a client. Hilary Parker is the chair of Three Rivers Housing Association.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Intellectual property, tier 4
Pippa Aitken at Sintons LLP advised Technology Services Group on the purchase of IP from a developer, and various other clients on registered design disputes, trade mark applications and a copyright infringement claim.