The Legal 500

20 REGENTS STREET, NOTTINGHAM, NG1 2AX, ENGLAND

What we say about the firm's legal practice in East Midlands

Corporate and commercial

Within Corporate and commercial: Nottingham and Derby, tier 4

Actons’ ‘depth of knowledge is second to none. The quality of advice is excellent, appropriate, entirely sound, concise, honest and reliable’. The ‘switched-on’ Simon Dakin regularly acts for the London branch of a Spanish finance house in relation to the financing of acquisitions, and in 2010 advised a US technology company on the £50m financing of a UK joint venture. He is ‘very approachable, and has good attention to detail’. Peter Flowerday ‘excels in his consummate professionalism, thoroughness, depth of knowledge, accuracy, clarity and comprehensive advice’.

Dispute resolution

Within Commercial litigation: Nottingham and Derby, tier 4

Clients of the ‘top-class’ team at Actons range from a Swiss bonds company to residential landlords and brothers in a partnership dispute. Chris Murratt is ‘in a class of his own’ and ‘thinks outside the box’. Caroline Bowler handles equine cases.

Within Debt recovery , Actons is a third tier firm,

Actons is noted for its personalised service, and attracted work from a Beijing client for B2B recovery in addition to existing instructions from private schools, accountants and insolvency practitioners.

Finance

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Actons is a first tier firm,

Actons’ advice to insolvency practitioners ‘reflects the vast experience amassed by the team’, with its ‘strong commercial acumen overlaying robust technical analysis of complex issues’. Practice head Nicky Calthrop-Owen and consultant Richard Leman ‘epitomise’ the team’s strong skill set and level of service, and Chris Murratt is noted for his ‘experience, knowledge and people-management skills’.

Human resources

Within Employment, tier 4

A highlight for Actons was providing multiple compromise agreement advice to NHS employees nationally. Claire Bell typically acts for public, private and third sector commercial clients and senior employees.

Insurance

Within Personal injury and clinical negligence: claimant, Actons is a third tier firm,

Actons is active across a variety of areas including employer’s and public liability, and has a developing niche in beauty treatment injuries.

Overview

Private client

Within Family, Actons is a third tier firm,

Senior practitioner Michael Spencer at Actons operates at the higher end of ancillary relief claims, as well as children matters, and has a growing practice advising on pre-nuptial agreements.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Actons is a third tier firm,

Actons’ team, headed by Mandy Kelly, assists wealthy and elderly clients with estate, pension and tax planning.

Real estate

Within Commercial property: Nottingham and Derby, Actons is a third tier firm,

Actons is noted for its responsiveness to the needs of its clients, which range from individuals to SMEs and banks. The practice includes mortgage transactions, acquisitions, relocations and leases. Susan Lawson and Amanda Gordon are appreciated for their ‘first-rate service’.


Legal Developments in the UK

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

    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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  • QUEEN’S SPEECH

    Bills already introduced pursuant to the Queen’s Speech on 9 May 2012 include Local Government Finance Bill and Electoral Registration and Administration Bill, both accompanied by Explanatory Notes, which in each case address ECHR compatibility.
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  • Standards

    In R (Calver) v Adjudication Panel for Wales [2012] EWHC 1172 (Admin) Mr Calver was a member of Manorbier Community Council who successfully challenged the decision of the Panel to dismiss his appeal against a decision by Prembrokeshire County Council Standards Committee censuring him for a number of comments or blogs posted by him on a website he owned and controlled.
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  • A justified retrospective

    Clive Sheldon - QC debates the pros & cons of retrospective tax legislation
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty (“PSED”)

    In R (Greenwich Community Law Centre) v Greenwich LBC [2012] EWCA Civ 496 the Court of Appeal held that the Council had had “due regard to the PSED when making changes to its funding of community legal advice services”. At para 30 Elias LJ said:
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  • Public Sector Equality Duty

    Surrey County Council conducted a review of its Library Service. This culminated in a Report to the Council’s Cabinet. The Recommendations in the Report included that there should be consultation about a community-partnership approach at selected Libraries.
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  • Judicial Review

    The Judgment of Lindblom J in The Manydown Co Ltd v Basingstoke and Deane BC [2012] EWHC 977 (Admin) repays attention. The Claimant sought to challenge by judicial review 2 decisions of the Council: (1) the Council’s refusal to reconsider its position on the development of a site that it owns (and is the subject matter of a Joint Development Partnership Agreement with the Claimant); and (2) a decision of the Council’s Cabinet approving a selection of sites for development which did not include this site.
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  • The Health and Social Care Act 2012: impact on adult social services

    After its torrid passage through Parliament, the Health and Social Care Bill received Royal Assent on 27 March 2012. The Act deals principally with healthcare reform, but it also contains some amendments to the legislative framework for social care. It will come into force on a day yet to be appointed by the Secretary of State.
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  • Immigration update May 2012

    In this issue:
  • Premium service for tier 2 and 5 sponsors to be launched

    A premium service for sponsors will be launched by the UKBA on 6 April 2012. The service is designed specifically for companies that sponsor international employees under tier 2 and 5 of the points based system and aims to provide them with enhanced support.