The Legal 500

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, tier 4

John Turnbull at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP advised BWA Group on its admission to PLUS in 2010. The team continues to advise AIM-listed clients including Quadrise Fuels and Metrodome Group.

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a second tier firm,

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s M&A team racked up 22 transactions totalling over £300m in 2010. Its standout deal was advising Smurfitt Kappa on its asset swap with Mondi Group with a total cash cost of £45m. John Turnbull heads the practice.

Within Employment, tier 7

Jesper Christensen heads Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s team, whose credentials in public and private sector industrial action make it a strong choice for employers seeking to prevent business disruption.

Within Agriculture and estates, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a second tier firm,

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP has a dedicated agriculture and estates team advising on a broad range of matters, from complex trust and family structures to agricultural tenancy issues and planning appeals. Clients appreciate its ‘detailed knowledge of the agricultural industry’ and ‘breadth of skills’. Practice head Christopher Findley is a ‘consummate professional’, and senior associate Henry Cecil is a ‘go-to’ lawyer for sales and purchases involving substantial landed estates. Highlights included advising on the sale of a £15m landed estate in the Cotswolds.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a third tier firm,

Penny Chapman heads an ‘excellent’ charities practice at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, which provides a ‘personalised service; the team is always available, informed, and helpful, without being overly legalistic or formal’. The firm has a varied client base of charities, covering education, arts and religious organisations. Simon Weil has a strong practice, and is ‘very knowledgeable about charities while understanding the commercial realities’. Jonathan Brindsen is ‘excellent in every way’, and Ben Brice is one to watch.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a third tier firm,

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP ramped up its contentious trusts and probates practice with the appointment of Nick Holland as practice head, who joined from Caymans Islands firm Solomon Harris. Its diverse workload includes offshore trustee litigation and complex family disputes. Clients include entrepreneurs, corporate trustees and landed estates.

Within Family, tier 6

The ‘efficient’ Sian Jones heads the family team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP, which acted in the Robson case in the Court of Appeal. John Darnton is recommended for his expertise in complex disputes.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a second tier firm,

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP fields a strong team of practitioners including new department head Helen Ratcliffe, noted for her ‘shrewd commercial awareness, and sympathetic handling’; the ‘affable and incisive’ James Johnston; and the ‘responsive and effective’ Stephen Lewin . The team is considered to put a high store on technical knowledge, and receives plaudits for its close attention to client service. Hugo Smith is one to watch.

Within Infrastructure, tier 6

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s government and infrastructure team, led by Robbie Owen, excels on the planning and procurement sides. The firm is advising Treasury Holdings on proposals to extend the Northern Line to serve its development at Battersea Power Station.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 5

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is advising National Grid on the planning and property aspects of the Hinckley Point Transmission upgrade. Robbie Owen heads the team.

Within Water, tier 4

Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP’s ‘consistently excellent team’ is now led by Patrick Somers following John Hurdley’s departure to Bircham Dyson Bell LLP in 2010. The firm is advising trophy client Thames Water on numerous projects including the Thames Tunnel; the Mogden STW extension; and the Deephams Sewage Treatment Works extension.

Within Administrative and public law, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a third tier firm,

David Mundy’s team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP ‘turns work around very quickly and professionally’. Its strong parliamentary practice provides contentious advice to regulatory bodies as well as private sector clients. The team is advising the Port of London Authority on the exercise of its compulsory purchase powers, and also acts for the Health Professions Council and TfL. Jonathan Bracken and Richard Langley are recommended.

Within Education: institutions, tier 4

In 2010 Bircham Dyson Bell LLP handled governance issues, alternative structures and charity law matters for clients such as University College London and The College of Emergency Medicine. Within Penny Chapman’s team, Jonathan Brinsden has an ‘excellent manner underpinned with strong knowledge’.

Within Education: schools, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a third tier firm,

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s ‘excellent’ team is appreciated for ‘exemplary quality of service’, and demonstrates ‘first-class professional expertise ’. The team, led by Penny Chapman, acts for clients such as Eltham College and Vernon Educational Trust.

Within Healthcare, tier 5

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP advises clients on outsourcing of NHS and private hospital services, PPP/PFI projects, and construction matters.

Within Local government, tier 5

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP undertakes work for local authorities and statutory bodies. Recent work includes advising TfL on its cable car scheme; advising on the proposed Northern Line extension to Battersea Power Station; and advising Nottingham City Council on its groundbreaking and controversial workplace parking levy scheme. Robbie Owen heads the department, and is supported by commercial projects head Nick Maltby, who joined from DLA Piper UK LLP.

Within Parliamentary , Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP continues to advise National Grid in relation to the high-profile Hinkley Point nuclear power station project, and is assisting Lafarge in its applications to the IPC for the diversion of a railway. It is also acting for Able UK on several wind turbine projects. Practice head Robbie Owen is recommended, as are Ian McCulloch, Paul Thompson, Nicholas Brown and Jonathan Bracken.

Within Public affairs, Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is a second tier firm,

The team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP advises on the delivery and development of public affairs, appears before Parliamentary Select Committees, and handles crisis communications and media relations. It is currently advising the Health Professions Council on the coalition government’s health reforms. Jonathan Bracken heads the team, and Robbie Owen is also recommended.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP’s ‘outstanding’ team is ‘expert in the industry’, with recent mandates including advising TfL on acquiring land for the London Cable Car project. Andrew Smith ‘advises in a very clear way without losing time on unimportant things’.

Within Construction, tier 5

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP primarily acts for public sector clients in non-contentious matters. Nigel Brown heads the team, which recently advised Gosport Borough Council on the tender and building contract to replace the existing Gosport Ferry Terminal.

Within Environment, tier 4

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP advises its core client, the Environment Agency, on utility and infrastructure projects. Other clients include South East Water, TfL, and Esso. Paul Thompson heads the group.

Within Planning, tier 4

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP leverages its public affairs and parliamentary law expertise to advise on infrastructure projects, such as TfL’s Thames cable car scheme and Able UK’s plan to develop a £400m quay to service offshore wind farms. Other clients include National Grid and English Heritage. Mark Challis and John Qualtrough are recommended.

Within Property finance Property finance

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Bircham Dyson Bell LLP has built up excellent knowledge of leasehold reform and compulsory purchases. It advises Network Rail on compulsory purchase orders and related litigation for the Thameslink programme. Simon Painter and Andy Couch are recommended.

Within Rail, tier 6

Robbie Owen’s team at Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is advising Treasury Holdings on its proposals to extend the Northern Line of the London Underground, and Network Rail on three proposed upgrades. It has ‘great experience in industrial action in the rail industry’.