The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Duncan Reid heads the team at Watson Burton LLP, which is praised as ‘caring about its clients and the work they do’. It represented Tanfield Group plc on the $15m disposal of Smith Electric Vehicles UK to the company’s US counterpart, and the shareholders of Innocore Holding on the sale of the company to Advantech Europe BV. Helen Milburn recently joined the team from Ward Hadaway.

Within Corporate tax, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP’s Richard Sowler acts as retained tax counsel and continues to provide dedicated support to the firm’s corporate finance team.

Within Licensing, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP’s Richard Arnot recently acted for Co-operative Food Group in its application for a new premises licence for a flagship store on The Strand, London, and successfully represented a nightclub owner in a four-day appeal against Northumbria Police.

Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP offers funding alternatives through ATE insurer FirstAssist, and recently acted in several high-value breach of warranty claims arising from corporate transactions and partnership disputes. It recently saw the departure of Mark Heath to Ward Hadaway, Tristan Meears-White to DWF LLP, and Lee Dixon to Winn Solicitors LLP.

Within Debt recovery, Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

Anthony Brown’s team at Watson Burton LLP has merged with the firm’s commercial department. It is a panel firm for Halifax, and has recently acted in disputes involving the installation and maintenance of hardware and software systems.

Within Banking and finance, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

At Watson Burton LLP, Mark Lazenby is an ‘invaluable source of help on banking matters’, and heads the practice, which spans the firm’s Newcastle and Leeds offices. It is a panel firm for many leading banks, and has a strong borrower client base. Key highlights included advising Watchmoor Estates, a longstanding client, on the restructuring of a £34m property acquisition credit facility.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Dispute resolution associate Kevin Anderson and banking partner Mark Lazenby handle some insolvency work at Watson Burton LLP.

Within Employment, Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

Michael Ord joined the team at Watson Burton LLP from Crutes Law Firm, and has since mediated a £3m sex discrimination case. Relying on its own advocacy capability, the firm also handled a claim for unpaid wages and a claim for damages relating to an employer’s discretionary bonus scheme. Practice head Christopher Graham and David Jenkins are highly rated, and the team is praised as providing ‘excellent technical advice with a commercial slant’. Paul McGowan recently left to set up Collingwood Legal.

Within Health and safety, Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

Associates Eric Cambridge and Caroline Rye at Watson Burton LLP recently acted for James Swinton & Co in a complex fatality case.

Within Pensions, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

London-based Robert O’Donovan heads up the team at Watson Burton LLP, which advised the trustees of the Stephen Easten Pension Scheme on a novel application to the Pension Protection Fund.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP’s Helena Motherway recently settled a £1.25m cross-border motorcycle accident claim and a £95,000 mesothelioma claim.

Within Personal injury: defendant, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Helena Motherway provides a ‘first-class service’ at Watson Burton LLP, and handles respiratory disease, vibration white finger and deafness claims.

Within Professional negligence, Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

The large team at Watson Burton LLP maintains particular expertise in the construction, legal and finance sectors. Notable highlights included successfully defending a £8m claim against an engineer by a French claimant in the French Court of Appeal. Team head Richard Palmer is a ‘trusted panel lawyer’.

Within Regional review, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP has undergone a substantial restructuring process following its decision to refocus its business model. It saw the departure of key partners such as Rob Langley, Keith Hately, Andrew Cawkwell, Simon Scougall and Paul McGowan.

Within Charities , Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP recently handled the Gateshead Dispensary Nursing Home (Craigielea) and Gateshead Dispensary Housing Association merger, and has been active in creating and registering charitable companies, including the Tony Blair Sports Foundation. Katrina Brady is the firm’s primary contact for charities work.

Within Energy, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Mark Whitehead is the key contact for energy matters at Watson Burton LLP.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Andrea Gardner heads up the projects and PFI department at Watson Burton LLP.

Within Education, Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP has an ‘outstanding’ education practice led by Gillian Hall, whose project management skills are ‘first class’. Key highlights included advising Gosforth School on its conversion to academy status, and University of Sunderland on the sale of two halls of residence to U Student (Sunderland).

Within Local government, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP continues to advise Nottingham City Council on its proposed development of a £60m football stadium, and handles high-value public sector outsourcing matters for Eaga plc and North Yorkshire County Council.

Within Commercial property: Newcastle, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

The team at Watson Burton LLP continued to provide specialist advice on two major projects in the North in 2010, namely Silverlink Property Development plc’s £200m mixed-use project, and SAS Trust’s mixed-use development project at Durham Gate. Simon Scougall left to join Bellway plc’s in-house team.

Within Construction , Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

At Watson Burton LLP, Roddy Gordon and Mark Lawton are ‘very capable and experienced lawyers’. The team is currently acting for Mansion Group and Bellway on several major projects. In a significant departure, the highly rated Rob Langley moved to Muckle LLP.

Within Environment, Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP is engaged by the Environment Agency to conduct prosecution work, and has a niche advising developers on contaminated land issues. Eric Cambridge is a key figure in the team.

Within Planning, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Amanda Campbell recently moved to Watson Burton LLP from DLA Piper UK LLP, joining Bryan Riley. Recent highlights include advising Bellway on a s106 agreement relating to a 400-dwelling development in Stockton, and Walters Power on an energy-related planning application.

Within Property litigation , Watson Burton LLP is a first tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP’s Richard Pickersgill is rated for his ‘excellent knowledge and wealth of experience’, and recently advised a mix of landlords and tenants, on matters including a dilapidation claim and a lease forfeiture notice.

Within Social housing, Watson Burton LLP is a third tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP continues to advise Cheviot Housing Association, Bellway Housing Trust, and various private sector housebuilders.

Within Intellectual property, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP’s ‘superb’ Ed Meikle acted for Panasonic and Mamas & Papas in various IP issues and disputes.

Within IT and telecoms, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP advises purchasers and suppliers of IT systems and services. Mark Whitehead recently advised a longstanding client of the firm on the preparation of enterprise licence terms for core products.

Within Sport, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Watson Burton LLP’s Ed Meikle continues to advise Newcastle City Council on England’s FIFA World Cup 2018 bid.