The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Liverpool, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Following its merger with Mace & Jones, Weightmans LLP has increased firepower to direct at its traditional expertise in advising owner-managed businesses and public sector clients. Team head Ian Vicary advised Bibby Distribution on its acquisition of Taygroup UK Holdings.

Within Corporate and commercial: Manchester, tier 4

Headed by Paul Raftery, Weightmans LLP handles a range of M&A, JVs and general commercial advice, as well as being on hand to assist the firm’s banking team in acquisistion financing matters. Clients include ANS Group, Montpelier Group and Bangor University.

Within EU and competition , Weightmans LLP is a third tier firm,

At Weightmans LLP, Martin Vincent provides EU procurement advice to a host of education institutions such as Bangor University and Royal Holloway, University of London.

Within Commercial litigation: Liverpool, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by the ‘attentive’ Michael Green, Weightmans LLP’s team has the critical mass to handle a tremendous volume and variety of commercial disputes for regional, national and, increasingly, international corporates. National practice head Andrew Cox has an excellent reputation in financial services disputes, and recently represented a bank in an OFT investigation into its charging order policies.

Within Commercial litigation: Manchester, tier 4

At Weightmans LLP, department head Charles Tomlinson is particularly accomplished in construction and property disputes. Clients appreciate the firm’s ‘strong and aggressive approach to litigation’.

Within Debt recovery, Weightmans LLP is a first tier firm,

Andrew Cox took over as practice head at Weightmans LLP following the departure of Jill Cox, and is noted for his ‘solid industry knowledge and effective commercial/business acumen’. The team added BCW Group and Clarity to an already varied client base, and took five matters to the Court of Appeal.

Within Banking and finance, tier 6

Weightmans LLP’s practice head Mike Yardley is recommended.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4

Recently enhanced by the firm’s merger with Mace & Jones, Weightmans LLP’s team advises a robust mix of banks and IPs including Bank of Ireland, PKF and Baker Tilly. Dominic Vincent and Michael Green are recommended.

Within Employment, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Weightmans LLP was successfully retained in 2010 for employment work on both the North West NHS consortium and the North West Local Government consortium. The team’s presence in the public sector was strengthened by the firm’s merger with Mace & Jones, whose clients included the North West Development Agency, and the Health & Safety Executive. Mark Leach is an ‘outstanding lawyer, very capable, unflappable’, and Stuart Jones is also recommended. Emlyn Williams is ‘able to combine impressive legal knowledge with an in-depth understanding of the public sector and its nuances’; and the ‘unflappable’ Mark Hatfield is ‘always on top of a case’.

Within Health and safety, Weightmans LLP is a third tier firm,

David Lewis is the practice head at Weightmans LLP and wins exceptional praise from clients for his ‘compassion and understanding in disturbing circumstances’. The team also has the benefit of former HSE inspector Nick Wilson.

Within Clinical negligence: defendant , Weightmans LLP is a first tier firm,

Weightmans LLP’s practice head Victoria Morris deals principally with high-value birth injury cases for the NHSLA. Consultant David Simpson is highly regarded, and conducts his own advocacy.

Within Personal injury: defendant, Weightmans LLP is a first tier firm,

Weightmans LLP is rated ‘very highly indeed’ for high-value and complex catastrophic injury work, where it acts for a wide range of public bodies. David Holt is ‘top of his game’; and Victoria Coleman is a strong choice ‘for the most difficult of cases’. Kieran Jones heads the disease unit; and Roddy Macleod is recommended for stress-related claims.

Within Professional negligence, Weightmans LLP is a first tier firm,

The growing team at Weightmans LLP ‘never fails to impress’, and continues to attract work from professionals and major insurers such as QBE, and new client Hannover. It has also been appointed to the Howden RICS panel. Mickaela Fox and Mike Grant are recommended.

Within Regional review, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Following its merger with Mace & Jones in May 2011, Weightmans LLP employs more than 770 people in the North West. The combined entity provides a full service, although it has particular strength in private client and insurance.

Within Family, Weightmans LLP is a first tier firm,

Notable work for the team at Weightmans LLP included advising on complex company law and trust structures in a number of ancillary relief and Schedule 1 Children Act cases, with assets ranging between £20m to £50m. Carole Atkinson, also a Deputy District Judge, is recommended.

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

Recent additions to the ‘superior’ team at Weightmans LLP include two associates from George Davies Solicitors LLP, and associate Jane Gray.

Within Education, Weightmans LLP is a third tier firm,

As well as acting for higher and further education institutions and independent schools directly, Weightmans LLP also receives instructions from insurers. The team is led by Andrew Cooper, and now also benefits from Mace & Jones’ relatively new education practice, which was recently appointed to several University purchasing consortia.

Within Health, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

With dedicated employment, property and corporate teams focusing on healthcare, Weightmans LLP is well placed to advise its expanding client base on the full range of issues. Recent work includes advising a PCT on a TCS Programme involving property issues, asset divestment and monitoring requirements, and policy considerations. Practice head Richard Jolly is recommended.

Within Local government, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Weightmans LLP provides a full support service to local authorities. Highlights included the successful defence, by practice head Andrew Cooper, of Essex County Council in a Supreme Court case regarding human rights to education. The team has also been reappointed as a partner firm to the North West Legal Consortium.

Within Commercial property: Liverpool, Weightmans LLP is a third tier firm,

Weightmans LLP’s property offering was enhanced by its recent merger with Mace & Jones, particularly for developer work. Areas of strength include the local authority and education sectors. David Tabinor is ‘a safe pair of hands’, and Janice Weatherly is ‘very competent and responsive’.

Within Commercial property: Manchester, tier 4

At Weightmans LLP, Karl Jackson has a particular focus on commercial development and urban regeneration. He recently advised Barratts plc on the purchase of five residential development sites across the North West.

Within Construction, tier 4

Weightmans LLP provides a ‘fast, reliable and efficient’ service in contentious and non-contentious matters to both private and public sector clients. Bolstered by the firm’s merger with Mace & Jones, the enhanced team includes the ‘practical and commercial’ Charles Tomlinson, and Paul Donnelly, who has ‘excellent knowledge of construction contracts and disputes’.

Within Planning and environment, tier 4

At Weightmans LLP, consultant Lewis Denton has wide-ranging experience and is ‘always on top of things’. Clients include Derwent Holdings.

Within Property litigation, Weightmans LLP is a third tier firm,

Sian Evans at Weightmans LLP handles a range of commercial and residential property disputes.

Within Social housing, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Weightmans LLP’s five-partner team continues to go from strength to strength, with successes including securing a six-year contract for housing management work on behalf of Guinness Northern Counties in a tender process with nearly 40 firms. Team head Sian Evans is ‘very knowledgeable, always gives good practical advice, and is good at presenting arguments in court’, and was recently appointed chair of the Law Society’s Housing Committee.

Within IT and telecoms, Weightmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Weightmans LLP has recently been involved in a number of large-scale IT procurement projects, primarily for public sector clients. Sean Crotty advises public sector clients as well as many technology and creative clients in the private sector. John Schorah leads the team.

Within Transport, Weightmans LLP is a first tier firm,

At Hill Dickinson LLP, David Wareing is recommended for ‘his depth of industry knowledge’ and Adrian Marsh for ‘his technical excellence’, on the shipping side; and Greg Plunkett handles aviation work. Phil James left for Weightmans LLP.