The Legal 500

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

Clients assert that Watson Burton LLP ‘stands head to head with the very best legal firms in the region and beyond‘, offering the ‘the full range of services whilst retaining an ability to be flexible‘. It acted for Waters & Robson Limited, owners of Abbey Well mineral water, on its sale to European Refreshments, a subsidiary of Coca Cola Enterprises. Gillian Hall heads the team and is noted for her ‘complete professionalism‘.

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

Richard Sowler leads the Newcastle offering at Watson Burton LLP, which recently made a successful claim against HMRC for tax wrongly deducted.

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

Tristan Meears-White handles licensing at Watson Burton LLP. The team advised the University of Sunderland in relation to its new student union bar.

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

‘Focused and tenacious‘, Watson Burton LLP provides ‘cost-effective, practical solutions‘; results are ‘nothing short of spectacular‘. Recent highlights include unlawful termination and breach of warranty cases, and Mark Heath has a good reputation for his commercial fraud work. Allan Henderson has recently left the firm.

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

Watson Burton LLP receives instructions from Halifax plc and industrial automation equipment distributor Parmley Graham Ltd.

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

Watson Burton LLP provides ‘invaluable‘ advice to borrowers and lenders. It acted for Mansion Group Ltd on a recent £8m refinancing with Barclays. Clients praise Mark Lazenby for his ‘breadth of view‘, and the ‘refreshingly commercial‘ Gillian Hall.

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

Watson Burton LLP is ‘great to deal with‘. It advised The Style Group Limited on its acquisition of Plasmo Profiles Ltd from KPMG as administrative receivers, and acted for Deloitte on the administration of Wilcomm Bespoke Living Ltd.

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

The ‘customer-focused and professional‘ Watson Burton LLP team is praised for ‘legal responses tempered with common sense and the realities of life‘. It has advised numerous local authorities throughout the UK on large-scale reorganisations. Paul McGowan is recommended for his ‘depth of knowledge and thoroughness of approach‘, and clients single out ‘outstanding‘ associate Sarah Barratt.

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

Watson Burton LLP delivers an ‘excellent service with a high level of knowledge‘. Robert O’Donovan - a ‘breath of fresh air‘- is recommended.

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

Watson Burton LLP is focusing more on defendant work but still receives claimant instructions in areas such as RTA. Helena Motherway is the name to note.

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

The ‘very highly rated‘ practice at Watson Burton LLP offers particular strength on construction claims. Richard Palmer has ‘excellent strategic abilities in claims resolution and good critical analysis skills‘, with Rob Langley praised for ‘in-depth analysis of contractual liabilities‘. Instructions include defending a housebuilder against allegations of negligence/breach of contract.

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

Many of the big-name clients of Watson Burton LLP’s practice are in the sports sector. The team advises the FA Premier League and Football League Trust on community schemes, and charitable trusts and foundations. Other clients include Great North Air Ambulance Service and Fryers Green Millennium Green Trust, the latter being a new win for the practice. John Devine is recommended.

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

Instructed on cases with asset values often over £5m, the ‘extremely competent‘ Watson Burton LLP team is headed by Leeds-based Lyn Ayrton.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘absolutely excellent‘ and ‘superb‘ Watson Burton LLP rises in the ranking this year. Clients speak exceptionally highly of Keith Hately and his ‘knowledge, approachability and great reputation‘.

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

Watson Burton LLP boasts UK and international clients that include TNEI and Gaz de France. Mark Whitehead is recommended.

Within Public sector, Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients describe the Watson Burton LLP practice as ‘first in class‘. The team of ‘consistent performers‘ includes Paul McGowan, offering employment advice to high-calibre education clients, and Rob Langley, who has recently advised a number of local authority clients.

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

Watson Burton LLP acted for developer Bellway on the sale of its ground rent portfolio to The Brandeaux Fund. The deal was valued at circa £11m and consisted of over 90 estates comprised of 3,500 individual properties. New clients included Highbridge Business Park Limited and Marick Developments Limited. Richard Freeman-Wallace heads the team and Barney Frith is recommended.

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

Watson Burton LLP provides ‘very detailed and thorough advice‘ and ‘value for money in a tightening market place‘. Robert Langley heads the team, which acts for some of the UK’s largest housebuilders and developers. Clients state that the team ‘has good strength in depth from junior members of staff through to partners‘ and single out ‘reassuringly skilled‘ associate James Harrison. Mark Lawton is recommended for his ‘ability to pick up key issues quickly and identify pitfalls‘.

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

Watson Burton LLP has advised clients through Environment Agency investigations, and has been instructed by the Agency itself on prosecution matters. Tristan Meears-White and Bryan Riley are recommended.

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

Bryan Riley at Watson Burton LLP has a strong education client base, and was appointed by Barnsley College as lead planning adviser for a proposed extension. The firm also advised on the planning aspects of the multimillion-pound JCB Academy.

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

The Watson Burton LLP team is ‘very well informed and offers depth of knowledge‘, and Richard Pickersgill is singed out for his ‘meticulous and precise work‘. Clients include developers and utility companies.

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

Watson Burton LLP receive instructions from RSLs, and public and third sector clients. Louise Kelly is the name to note.

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

New client wins for the ‘very responsive and technically sound‘ team at Watson Burton LLP include Fenwick Ltd, Nova International and Strategic Thought. Notable transactions included acting for Minorplanet Systems plc on an R&D collaboration agreement with O2. Boasting an impressive list of sports clients, the team advises Newcastle United FC, Everton FC and Sunderland AFC on brand management and protection issues. Mark Whitehead and Ed Meikle are recommended.

Within Media and entertainment , Watson Burton LLP is a second tier firm,

There is an IP/IT trend to the work handled by the team at Watson Burton LLP. It advised eaga plc on the £650m outsourcing of the digital switchover help scheme by the BBC. Mark Whitehead and Ed Meikle are the key contacts for this area.

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

Watson Burton LLP’s client list includes The Premier League and the Football League Trust, Manchester United Foundation and Colchester United Community Sports Trust.

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

Ward Hadaway opened its first out-of-region office in Leeds in June 2008. Following on from Dickinson Dees LLP and Watson Burton LLP, the firm is the third to break out of the Newcastle market and look south to Yorkshire. This expansion south is not limited to the top-tier firms; BHP Law opened in Halifax in April 2008 through its merger with local firm Clarksons.