The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Bristol, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Providing ‘consistently good, pragmatic and timely advice to clients‘, Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ 12-partner team, led by David Emanuel, acted on several dozen deals in 2008. Key transactions included advising the shareholders on the £4m sale of the share capital of Gardner Energy Management to Canadian listed company Thermal Energy International. Ben Willis is praised for ‘concentrating on key issues‘, while Nathan Guest ‘leads by example‘, Simon Staples ‘always goes the extra mile‘, and Nick Smith is ‘exceptional‘.

Within Corporate tax, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers counts GEM, Essilor International and Peterstow Aquapower Limited as clients. The ‘highly recommended‘ Richard Pincher leads the team.

Within EU and competition, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

The ‘responsive‘ team at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers moves up the ranking this year. It is led by David Worthington, who is consistently singled out for praise by clients. The group continues to advise Somerset County Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council and Somerset Police Authority in relation to the £500m Improving Services in Somerset PPP.

Within Licensing, tier 5

Jason Prosser leads a team at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers that advises Caerphilly County Borough Council and Wiltshire Police Authority. Headband Limited instructed the team regarding a licence application for new premises.

Within Commercial litigation: Bristol, tier 4

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ three-partner team provides ‘prompt and knowledgeable service‘, and is led by Nigel Puddicombe. Notable cases include advising Cardiff County Council over a £750,000 remedial damages claim. Tabitha Cave is also recommended.

Within Debt recovery, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Simon Heald leads the ‘helpful and knowledgeable‘ two-partner team at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers. Recent highlights include acting for The Pensions Regulator, EDF Energy and Brandon Hire plc.

Within Banking and finance, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ five-partner practice is praised for its ‘excellent response times and proactive approach‘, and is led by David Emanuel. Noteworthy clients include Dunbar Bank, HSBC and Clydesdale Bank.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Simon Heald heads the two-partner team at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers. The practice acted for the liquidators of Airfreight Express (UK) Limited. Other notable clients include EDF, Mazars and Baker Tilly.

Within Employment: Bristol, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

The ‘fast and effective‘ Julie Davis at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers heads an ‘excellent‘ team. Clients ‘would not like her to work for the other side‘. Gareth Edwards joined from Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP. He advised CB Richard Ellis on a headcount reduction, and C&J Clark International instructed the team on a multimillion-pound IT services outsourcing.

Within Health and safety, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Tabitha Cave at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers advises Airbus UK Limited among others.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers provides ‘great client care and post-investigation advice‘. The ‘efficient and reliable‘ Jan Markland and ‘hardworking‘ Nicola Bickham advised the Royal College of Nursing and National Accident Helpline.

Within Professional negligence, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Nigel Puddicombe leads Veale Wasbrough Lawyers, where Tabitha Cave is a new partner. Clients include Charleston Homes.

Within Charities, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers is ‘always committed‘ and ‘willing to listen‘, according to clients, advising on merger activities and governance issues. Barney Northover’s team advises the British Paralympic Association and The Royal West of England Academy.

Within Family, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ Oliver Early is recommended.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Malcolm Gibbs has joined Veale Wasbrough Lawyers from BPE Solicitors.

Within Energy, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Pinsent Masons LLP has a renowned national energy practice, while Priscilla Hall heads the renewable energy team at Clarke Willmott LLP, where key work includes advising Good Energies (UK) LLP on the sale of wind turbines to a Czech utility company. Exeter-based Robert Camp and Truro-based Richard Baker lead Stephens Scown’s mining and minerals practice. Tim Smithers leads Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ two-partner team, which has niche expertise in oil pipeline work.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ team, led by Sue Nokes, provides ‘thorough and well-thought-out advice‘. In 2008, it advised the MoD on its £800m PFI development at Corsham. Other clients include Hills Waste Solutions Limited and Borough and County of Poole Council.

Within Education, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a first tier firm,

Barney Northover and Simon Bevan lead Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ ‘outstanding‘ education practice. The team has been bolstered by the arrival of Karen Stephenson, former head of legal at London South Bank University, and new head of pastoral Yvonne Spencer, formerly of Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP. The ‘dynamic and knowledgeable‘ team represents over 800 clients including independent schools, nurseries, academies, maintained schools, colleges and universities.

Within Health, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ team is ‘on top of its game‘ under the stewardship of Ben Willis, who is praised for his ‘ability to put in a lot of detailed work in a short time‘, and Derek Bellew. Oliver Pool is also recommended. Clients include Assura Medical Ltd and Spa Dental Management LLP.

Within Local government, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Simon Baker leads the ‘highly recommended‘ team at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers. Clients include Borough and County of Poole Council, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Cheltenham Borough Council and Torfaen County Borough Council.

Within Commercial property: Bristol, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ Ben Willis ‘finds solutions to complex land issues‘. Gary Philpott and Michelle Bendall are also recommended. Clients include St John’s School and Community College and the Environment Agency.

Within Construction, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

The team at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers offers ‘excellent service‘ and is ‘proactive in progressing various issues‘. Huw Morgan particularly is recommended. The team acted for the Environment Agency, and for Airbus on the construction of a £85m factory. The MoD is another noteworthy client.

Within Environment, tier 4

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers recently advised Hills Waste Solutions Limited on a MBT plant PPP solution.

Within Planning, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

The ‘committed and proactive‘ practice at Veale Wasbrough Lawyers displays ‘considerable business acumen‘; and is ‘honest and refreshing‘. West Wiltshire District Council was advised on matters concerning a village green, while Meadgate Homes instructed the team on planning application matters. Tim Smithers is the contact.

Within Property litigation, Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a third tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers houses ‘experienced litigators‘ who ‘punch above their weight‘. Among them, Michelle Bendall has an ‘excellent technical grasp‘ and is ‘very client focused‘. The team manages estates for DCLG on a national basis, and is also advising it on the Govflex Project. PwC instructs the team on dilapidation claims.

Within Regional review, tier 4

There have been some significant changes in management for several firms in the South West recently. Among these, Veale Wasbrough Lawyers appointed insolvency and corporate recovery specialist, Simon Heald, as managing partner; Chris Jackson took over managing-partner duties at Burges Salmon LLP in May 2009; and John Westwell was named as the new managing partner of Foot Anstey in November 2008.

Within Intellectual property and information technology , Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a second tier firm,

Veale Wasbrough Lawyers’ ‘very efficient and knowledgeable‘ five-partner team is led by Doug Locke, who is consistently commended by clients. The team acted on well over 100 deals in 2008, including advising C & J Clark International Limited in relation to a multi-channel e-commerce retail project.