The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , tier 5

Thomas Eggar LLP’s Newbury office provides ‘good value for money and advice that cuts to the chase‘, and has made significant strides in the last year, building an impressive portfolio of sports clients which include Gloucester RFC. 2008 saw the team act for Acuity Capital on the acquisition of one of the UK’s leading ice cream suppliers.

Within Corporate and commercial: Hampshire, tier 4

Thomas Eggar LLP opened a Southampton office in September 2008. Caroline Armitage leads the corporate practice and advised Avialec International on its £3m sale.

Within Corporate and commercial: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Thomas Eggar LLP is a first tier firm,

The growing team at Thomas Eggar LLP was joined at the beginning of 2009 by corporate finance partner Matthew Newman, formerly of asb law. The firm acted for the shareholders of Evans Cycles on an equity injection by Active Partners Equity and the subsequent refinancing. It also advised the management team of Communisis on a £12.5m MBO. Respected partner Neil Hart heads the practice from the Gatwick office.

Within Crime, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

James Morgan-Harris is the partner contact at Thomas Eggar LLP.

Within Licensing

Within Commercial litigation: Kent, Surrey and Sussex, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

At Thomas Eggar LLP, Victoria Brackett heads the commercial litigation team, under the departmental guidance of insolvency expert Martin Cross. The four-partner practice spans insurance, IP, banking and regulatory, company and partnership disputes and also aviation, leisure and travel litigation. A particular niche is providing independent advice to corporate directors.

Within Debt recovery

Within Banking and finance, Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP opened a Southampton office in September 2008, and was joined by care industry specialist Estelle Clarke. The firm acts for HSBC, RBS and HBOS, as well as enjoying strong borrower and private investor practices.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Thomas Eggar LLP is a first tier firm,

International insolvency and fraud expert Martin Cross and restructuring team head Gary Player are the main partner contacts at Thomas Eggar LLP. The firm’s client base includes Grant Thornton and Benedict McKenzie, as well as new wins Harrisons and McIntyre Hudson.

Within Employment Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP’s Simon Fenton heads up the firm’s employment team.

Within Employment: Kent, Surrey and Sussex, Thomas Eggar LLP is a first tier firm,

Peter Stevens leads the practice at Thomas Eggar LLP from the Chichester office. Significant clients include Southern Water and marketing giant Valassis.

Within Health and safety, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

A significant player in the region, Thomas Eggar LLP advises an impressive array of both corporate and private clients. The arrival in December 2007 of Andrew Jackson and Michelle di Gioia, following the firm’s absorption of the Newbury office of Penningtons Solicitors LLP, adds further weight to the team. Respected practitioner James Morgan-Harris has retired as a partner, although he remains at the firm as a practising consultant.

Within Pensions, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Associate Jennie Kreser provides pensions advice at Thomas Eggar LLP and was previously legal director at the Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority (OPRA).

Within Personal injury - claimant, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Headed by lung-disease specialist Gareth Wheeler, Lamport Bassitt continues to enjoy a reputation for top-quality work. Hearing loss expert Steven Eldred left in April 2009 to join Thomas Eggar LLP; Peter Hilditch was promoted to replace him.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephen Richards and Eva Pendreich lead Thomas Eggar LLP’s practice, which benefits from a close association with the National Accident Helpline.

Within Professional negligence

Within Agriculture and estates, Thomas Eggar LLP is a first tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP’s well-respected private client practice has helped it to attract large landed estates, advising them on contentious matters as well as complex transactional work. Richard Kyrke leads the practice.

Within Charities, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP acts for charities in the ecclesiastical, educational and sport sectors.

Within Family Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP’s Claire Hamilton-Russell handles all aspects of family law including ancillary relief and contact issues.

Within Family: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP’s practice revolves around the quality pairing of partner Jill Goldman and associate Margaret Hatwood. Both are accredited members of Resolution and have expertise in high-net-worth divorce cases. The firm is handling more international work, especially in relation to Islamic law divorces.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Much of Thomas Eggar LLP’s private client work encompasses matters for charitable trusts, thanks to Julian Chadwick’s charities expertise. Clients praise the team’s ‘good attention to detail‘.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Thomas Eggar LLP is a first tier firm,

For the size and scope of its practice, Patricia Woolgar’s team at Thomas Eggar LLP takes some beating. Especially bright stars in the group include head of tax and trust compliance Michael Taylor, head of personal wealth Nicola Plant, and succession-planning specialist Richard Jordan.

Within Education, Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP has a particularly strong focus on capital development projects works for a client base that includes University of Chichester, Central Sussex College and University College London. Tina Webster heads up the team.

Within Commercial property Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , tier 4

At Thomas Eggar LLP, Newbury-based partner Tom Rossiter handles a raft of commercial property transactions including advising on development work and commercial leases.

Within Commercial property: Hampshire, Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

In 2008, secured lending partner Richard Purcell launched Thomas Eggar LLP’s Southampton property practice.

Within Commercial property: Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

Iain Macleod leads Thomas Eggar LLP’s practice. As well as acting for developers and utility companies, the firm has a blossoming specialism advising educational establishments, driven by partner Chris Baker.

Within Construction , Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP has a significant profile in the education sector, with the team’s appointment to the panel of Crescent Purchasing Consortium, made up of approximately 400 further education colleges, a significant highlight for 2008. Mark Clinton is recommended.

Within Planning, Thomas Eggar LLP is a third tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP regularly advises clients on planning concerns.

Within Property litigation

Within Social housing

Within Regional review, Thomas Eggar LLP is a first tier firm,

September 2008 saw the opening of Thomas Eggar LLP’s Southampton office. The firm now operates across the region through five offices, in addition to its base in London.

Within Intellectual property and information technology

Within Sport

Within Aviation, Thomas Eggar LLP is a second tier firm,

Thomas Eggar LLP’s strong London practice is supported by Dawn Stallwood in Gatwick and finance expert Estelle Clarke in Southampton. The firm offers ‘value for money and partner time, which is sometimes lacking in larger City firms‘, say clients which include Zenith Capital, Lonrho Group and Arik Air.