The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway recently advised Entec, a longstanding client, on its £60m sale to AMEC Group, and new client Baric Group on its sale to Colfax Corporation. Commercial practice head Colin Hewitt provides ongoing advice to North East Finance, the holding company for the £125m JEREMIE fund. Martin Hulls is the key corporate figure; Katherine Hay-Heddle is ‘impressive, focused and hugely committed to her clients’; and Andrew Finfer has recently joined the team.

Within Corporate tax, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

At Ward Hadaway, Paul Christian continues to handle complex tax matters for the likes of Entec, Torque Tensions Systems and Allied London.

Within EU and competition, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

With the arrival of specialist competition solicitor Andrew Finfer, Ward Hadaway is set to broaden its offering in this space after the departure of Angelo Basu.

Within Crime, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

At Ward Hadaway, Stephen Graham heads the team, which includes higher rights advocate James Thompson. It recently represented a large national company in relation to health and safety allegations relating to the exposure of hazardous substances, and a nursing home at inquests into the deaths of residents.

Within Licensing, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Stephen Graham’s team at Ward Hadaway continues to advise Hotel du Vin, Malmaison Hotels and a large national supermarket chain.

Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

Ian Collinson’s ‘first-rate’ team at Ward Hadaway includes fraud expert Mark Heath, who recently arrived from Watson Burton LLP, and the ‘outstanding’ Paula Myers. Robert Glassford led a team that acted for Nottingham City Council in novel judicial review proceedings against the Secretary of State for Education relating to funding termination through a BSF programme. Key clients include Persimmon plc, Newcastle Airport and City Electrical Factors. The firm is noted as ‘providing a wide range of funding options’.

Within Debt recovery, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

Pauline Appleyard’s team at Ward Hadaway includes nine legal executives and paralegals. It has a strong regional and national client base, and continues to build on its property-related experience.

Within Banking and finance, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

Julie Harrison, who provides a ‘commercial and practical point of view’, heads up the full-service team at Ward Hadaway, which is a panel firm for many prominent banks. It recently acted for Barclays on multiple high-value transactions, and for two substantial borrowers in relation to acquisition finance facilities.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

A major administration for a private debenture holder and a multimillion-pound preference claim against a pension fund kept Ward Hadaway active in 2010. The team includes Jim James, Leeds-based Steve Thomas, and Steven Petrie, who recently joined from Watson Burton LLP.

Within Employment, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway’s offering extends to both the private and public sectors; clients include over 65 NHS trusts and a plethora of councils across the North East, as well as Asda, Orange and Sage plc. Joe Thornhill and Bernard Hodgson, who is one of three part-time employment tribunal judges at the firm, jointly lead the team.

Within Health and safety, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

Kirsty Gomersal recently joined the team at Ward Hadaway from Cobbetts LLP. It successfully represented North Yorkshire County Council in a six-week trial following the fatality of a minor at a centre run by the council.

Within Pensions, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

The ‘very competent and knowledgeable’ Tristan Mander at Ward Hadaway is acting for Bonas and Van de Wiele in a test case concerning the Pension Regulator’s ‘moral hazard’ powers. Tushar Bhate and Kathryn Cowen left to set up their own specialist pensions boutique in 2011.

Within Clinical negligence: defendant, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Jeffrey Keeble’s team at Ward Hadaway was recently reappointed to the panels of four trusts, including Cumbria Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust, and saw an increase in instructions from the NHSLA and MPS.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Ward Hadaway is a third tier firm,

Roger O’Donnell’s team at Ward Hadaway covers a wide range of claims, including RTA and industrial disease work.

Within Personal injury: defendant, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

The ‘respected’ team at Ward Hadaway acts for 60 NHS organisations and corporate clients on work-related accident claims, and includes newly promoted partner Lisa Evans and Katy Lund. The firm remains on the NHSLA Non-Clinical Negligence Panel.

Within Regional review, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway continues to develop its offering in Leeds and Manchester, and maintains its strong reputation in the market as an ‘extremely competent, trustworthy firm with professional and personable staff’.

Within Agriculture and estates , Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

The team at Ward Hadaway handles a wide range of matters and has recently seen an increase in complex inheritance tax, high-value divorce and renewable energy instructions. Key clients include English Heritage, Northumberland National Park and The National Trust. William Green has left the firm.

Within Charities , Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Charity law specialist Fiona Wharton recently joined the team at Ward Hadaway from Wrigleys Solicitors LLP. Key highlights included advising the board of Age Concern Federation on negotiations for a new brand partnership agreement with Age UK, and advising PC David Rathband in setting up a charity. The ‘professional and personable team is extremely competent and trustworthy’.

Within Family, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway recently handled an application to vary a periodical payments order and a complex relocation case. Jonathan Flower leads the experienced team, which was recently joined by Teresa Davidson from Dickinson Dees LLP.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

At Ward Hadaway, Alison Hall and Andrew Facer specialise in succession planning for entrepreneurial and landed clients.

Within Energy, Ward Hadaway is a third tier firm,

Ward Hadaway counts Emerald Biogas, NAREC and Cleaner Air Solutions as clients, and continues to act for landowners granting wind farm leases to developers.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway is currently advising North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust on various matters relating to its £450m hospital scheme. Practice head Melanie Pears is said to ‘consistently deliver the goods’, and Karen Andrews recently joined the team from Trowers & Hamlins LLP.

Within Education, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ team at Ward Hadaway recently advised Nottingham City Council on the delivery of new projects through its Local Education Partnership, which included an £8m ICT facility to a local school. It also acted for The Northumberland Church of England Academy on a broad range of complex matters.

Within Health, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

Jeffrey Keeble’s team at Ward Hadaway is currently advising NHS Rotherham on the development of joint service facilities for Rawmarsh and Kimberworth, and NHS Doncaster on the development of a new local GP surgery and a healthcare hub. It also advised North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust on its contribution to the Redfern Inquiry.

Within Local government, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

The team at Ward Hadaway is said to ‘add value by going the extra mile when needed’. It recently won a competitive tender to advise Eden District Council on the renewal of a £17m refuse, recycling, cleaning and leisure contract. Melanie Pears, Robert Glassford and Karen Andrews are highly regarded.

Within Commercial property: Newcastle, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway is advising Nexus on complex agreements relating to the £20m development of Haymarket Metro Station, and Ebac on the sale of its former manufacturing plant and office premises to Tesco. Simon Priestley’s public sector team continues to advise a large number of NHS trusts and local authorities on property matters, with Simon Errington a specialist in this area. Key clients include Barratt, Persimmon and Ben Bailey Homes.

Within Construction , Ward Hadaway is a third tier firm,

Ralph Wrighton heads up the three-partner team at Ward Hadaway, which recently advised Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council on a £25m collaboration agreement with the Environment Agency, and on several engineering contracts relating to the renewal and replacement of facilities at Boulby Potash Mine.

Within Environment, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

‘Very effective relationship manager’ Neil Robson leads the team at Ward Hadaway, which recently acted for Emerald Biogas on a proposed biogas scheme, and also counts Niramax, Asda and Aldi as clients.

Within Planning, Ward Hadaway is a first tier firm,

Drawing upon practice head Robin Atkin’s village green expertise, Ward Hadaway acted for Persimmon in a landmark case in the Supreme Court. The team also acted for Sage (UK) on the review of a substantial s106 Agreement, and Northumbrian Water on compulsory purchase issues. Kevin Sanderson and Michelle Spark recently joined the team.

Within Property litigation , Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway acts for housebuilders, developers and retail clients as well as public sector and healthcare clients. Philip O’Loughlin is the key contact.

Within Intellectual property, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway’s practice head Alex Shiel is ‘very good at understanding a problem and suggesting alternative courses of action’, and recently acted for Sunrich Clothing in opposition proceedings against a trade mark application by Armani. Manchester-based Laura Harper provides specialist support.

Within IT and telecoms, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Judy Baker handles non-contentious matters at Ward Hadaway, while Tim Toomey handles contentious matters. Recent highlights include advising Nexus on the back-office IT system for its regional travel smart card. Other clients include Sage (UK) and Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Within Media , Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway’s Alex Shiel advised Game-a-day in its joint venture with various companies to deliver a new game each day to mobile phone users, and Beat Suite on copyright matters. Charities lawyer Fiona Wharton also advises media clients.

Within Transport, Ward Hadaway is a second tier firm,

Ward Hadaway’s Judy Baker and Lesley Fairclough are advising Nexus on the implementation of a regional travel smart card and the £22m redevelopment of Haymarket Metro Station. Melanie Pears heads up the team.