What we say about the firm's legal practice in East Midlands
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Nottingham and Derby, tier 4
Clients have ‘total confidence’ in Smith Partnership, where Fiona Boxwell and the ‘fair-minded and rational’ Fraser Cunningham are praised for their ‘immense technical qualities and ability to convey legal terms in an understandable way’. Boxwell focuses on transactions for healthcare clients, and in 2010 was active across a range of MBOs, share sales, restructurings and acquisitions. Cunningham focuses on commercial contracts for OMBs and corporates.
Crime, fraud and licensing
Within Crime, Smith Partnership is a second tier firm,
Smith Partnership has three partners acting for clients ranging from a major UK food manufacturer to healthcare practitioners in relation to HMRC, BIS and environment agency investigations, and also has six partners active on criminal instructions. Kevin McGrath is noted for his recent successes defending local authority prosecutions. Stephen Chittenden defended a multinational food processing company in 2010.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation: Nottingham and Derby, Smith Partnership is a third tier firm,
Smith Partnership combines general commercial litigation expertise at a high level with the ability to specialise and handle large-scale instructions for major clients. The ‘customer-focused’ Bally Atwal has ‘in-depth knowledge’ of aviation-sector disputes; and practice head Russell Davies is a licensing and drinks-industry expert.
Within Debt recovery , Smith Partnership is a second tier firm,
Smith Partnership ‘provides an exceptional service’, reflected in new client gains such as Cadbury and its retention of prestigious existing clients for volume recoveries. Andrew Hambleton is ‘exemplary and thorough’.
Finance
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Smith Partnership is a third tier firm,
Rachel McCahill-Brown at Smith Partnership is an experienced insolvency specialist and ‘technically excellent’, and is noted for her ‘depth of knowledge and commercial capabilities’. The firm assisted S Robinson & Sons on a sale, and provided advice to directors on personal guarantees and purchases of business and assets following administration.
Human resources
Within Employment, tier 4
At Smith Partnership, newly promoted partner James Johnson and new hire Louise Haward provide a ‘very high standard of service’ to clients in the healthcare sector and new gain Office Depot.
Private client
Within Family, Smith Partnership is a second tier firm,
Smith Partnership is distinguished by its holistic practice, offering a range of separation advice to public or privately funded clients, together with a specialist childcare department. Peter Dadswell is a ‘lovely knight in shining armour’, and Muctar Johal’s ‘commitment to his clients is outstanding’.
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4
Smith Partnership has a highly experienced team that handles an increasing volume of wills.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Nottingham and Derby, Smith Partnership is a third tier firm,
At Smith Partnership, practice head Peter Smith advised on a substantial refinancing involving a 100-property development; landlord and tenant specialist Sharon Molloy assisted Global Crossing Telecommunications with its relocation to new headquarters in London; and aviation expert Jo Backhouse was involved in the Heathrow Terminal 5 property reorganisation. Martyn Scott-Jones is active in the licensed property field.