The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Bristol, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP provides ‘London service for a competitive price’. The group advised Navetas Energy Management on its merger with Intelligent Sustainable Energy, and acted for Ross & Roberts on a share capital sale. Simon Staples has the ‘tenacity to complete the deal irrespective of unexpected problems’. Andrew Betteridge has a particular focus on corporate finance.

Within Corporate and commercial: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP fields a ‘broad range of specialists’ with a ‘high level of technical competence’. The ‘commercially astute’ Simon Rous heads the team, which includes George Wilkinson, who ‘has a commercial awareness few lawyers share’, and David Heard, who offers a ‘breadth of knowledge and a pragmatic approach’. The team advised Ross & Roberts on the £6m sale of its share capital, and acted for Sprue Aegis on a £20m exclusive distribution agreement.

Within Corporate tax, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP represented Enghouse Systems on its $23m share purchase of Mettoni, and Petrofac on the share purchase of Scotvalve Services, which has businesses in Scotland and North Africa. Angus Bauer heads the practice.

Within Crime, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s ‘very conscientious’ team is headed jointly by the ‘incredibly hardworking’ Jeremy Asher and Rob Jacobs. Recent work includes several fraud and assault cases.

Within Commercial litigation: Bristol, tier 4

Ashfords LLP is establishing its practice in Bristol, where Rory Mac Neice ‘exudes the perfect level of authority and expertise’.

Within Commercial litigation: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP provides ‘great value for money’. Highlights included advising Viridor on contractual matters; Itron Metering Solutions regarding a dispute with a supplier; and Accor Hospitality Germany on contract issues. Team head Antony Lee and Ian Daniells are recommended.

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

Ashfords LLP provides an ‘excellent level of service’. It acts on the recovery of unpaid invoices for goods and services, letting fees, and council tax for a range of clients, especially local authorities. Associate Victoria Bonnet is ‘exceptional’.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Ashfords LLP is ‘thorough in compliance issues’ and provides ‘excellent advice and guidance’. The group acted for National Australia Bank on a £30m project financing, and for Centrax Industries on a £50m refinancing. Clare Brewer heads the group.

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

David Pomeroy’s team at Ashfords LLP recently acted for the trustee of two bankrupts in obtaining formal recognition of the Australian bankruptcy in England under UNCITRAL.

Within Employment: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP provides ‘appropriate, invaluable and efficient’ advice to clients including North Yorkshire County Council and South West Grid for Learning. Team head Charles Pallot is recommended, along with Rhiain Lewis and Michelle Fox.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP is ‘excellent in all areas, especially in speed of response and its very user-friendly service’. The team represented four members of a family injured in an accident. Darren White jointly heads the team with Stephan Walker.

Within Personal injury: defendant, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s key clients include the Cornish Mutual Assurance Company. Flora Wood and Stephen Walker are ‘excellent value for money’.

Within Regional review, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP is a growing force in Bristol, while its Exeter base has strength across a wide range of corporate and private client matters; Beachcroft’s expertise in personal injury and other areas ensures that it remains a force to be reckoned with in the region; and Bond Pearce LLP has leading expertise in areas such as licensing and planning.

Within Bloodstock, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s team is ‘well respected’. It acted for Spain’s champion jockey in a regulatory tribunal hearing involving multiple horseracing jurisdictions, and for the British Harness Racing Club in bringing a ‘milkshaking’ doping prosecution. Practice head Rory Mac Neice is recommended.

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

Ashfords LLP’s ‘very effective’ team is headed by Tim Howells, and ‘gives sensible and innovative advice’. Key areas for the firm include the renewable energy sector and photovoltaic installations, as well as traditional estate matters.

Within Family, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP displays ‘efficiency and expertise, coupled with a high level of client care’. The team handles a range of divorce, financial settlements and childcare matters, with recent matters including a divorce and ancillary relief case involving four different companies and business assets exceeding £2m. Rachel Edwards heads the practice.

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

Ashfords LLP’s Michael Alden is a ‘first-class’ lawyer who ‘inspires confidence’. Jim McIntosh is also recommended.

Within Private Finance Initiative (PFI), Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ruth Murray heads the practice at Ashfords LLP, which advised Biffa Waste Services on a large waste project, and acted for Torbay Council regarding its £400m direct services and waste joint venture company project, a first-of-its-kind public sector outsourcing project. Mark Northey joined from DLA Piper UK LLP, adding international projects expertise.

Within Education, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Helen Tucker’s ‘efficient and hardworking’ team at Ashfords LLP acted for The Cathedral School in Llandaff on various discrimination matters and for other clients on redevelopment plans.

Within Local government, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s ‘excellent’ team has ‘demonstrable expertise’ in many areas. It advised Shepway District Council in negotiating a s106 agreement concerning a proposed runway extension and a new terminal at an airport. Other clients include Torbay Council and Lambeth LBC. Team head John Bosworth gives ‘sound advice, and is calm and unflappable’.

Within Commercial property: Bristol, tier 4

Ashfords LLP strengthened its Bristol offering with Thornton Allen relocating from Birmingham. Andrew Worley is the other partner in the team, which acted for Subway on matters including the negotiation of lease acquisitions.

Within Commercial property: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP provides ‘commercially sensible’ advice. The ‘exceptional’ Andrew Rothwell heads the team, which advised Persimmon Homes on the £3.4m purchase of a site with planning permission for over 100 dwellings.

Within Construction, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s ‘impressive’ Stephen Homer produces work that is ‘timely and to a very high standard’. The team handled a range of non-contentious project work, and also defended a client against a seven-figure claim by a subcontractor regarding a repairs-and-maintenance contract.

Within Planning, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP ‘goes the extra mile’, and ‘turns a job around at very short notice’. Highlights included negotiating a s106 agreement for Shepway District Council, and advising the Environment Agency regarding a compulsory purchase. John Bosworth heads the team.

Within Property litigation, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP advised on the exercise of break options and the pursuit of guarantors regarding default of lease obligations, and saw an increase in property-related professional negligence cases. Sian Gibbon heads the team.

Within Social housing, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP is recommended for contentious work and has been advising on housing management cases including service charge disputes and homelessness applications. Sian Gibbon heads the team, which is ‘reliable, efficient and experienced’.

Within Intellectual property, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Mark Lomas heads the practice at Ashfords LLP, which recently acted for Wasabi Frog on various trade mark filings, enforcement actions, oppositions and design infringement claims, and also advised the South West Grid for Learning Trust on the protection and exploitation of IP rights in E-Learning and E-Safety. Penhaligon’s, the perfume house, is another client.

Within IT and telecoms, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Garry Mackay’s group at Ashfords LLP advised De La Rue Holdings on its global WAN and telephony outsourcing deal with Reliance. It also assisted Thames Water on the potential outsourcing of its IT services. Pennon Group is also a client.

Within Sport, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Rory Mac Neice’s team at Ashfords LLP is appreciated for its ‘quality, efficiency and knowledge’, and includes Jamie Horner, who is ‘efficient and professional’ and produces ‘real solutions’. Clients include jockey Frankie Dettori, Exeter Chiefs RFC and the Racecourse Association.

Within Shipping, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP provides a ‘realistic, excellent and reliable’ service. The team advised Knutsen OAS on detailed MoD contracts for eight replenishment tankers and operations for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and represented the owners of a vessel involved in a collision. Charles Hattersley has a ‘wealth of knowledge’, and Jonathan Hadley-Piggin is ‘superb’.