The Legal 500

Within Partnership, tier 4

Winckworth Sherwood has ‘taken a quantum leap in its partnership practice’, thanks to the lateral hire of Jo Keddie from Dawsons LLP.

Within Licensing, Winckworth Sherwood is a third tier firm,

Winckworth Sherwood advises luxury hotels including Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and The Ritz. Robert Botkai and his team also handle all licensing related issues for Sainsbury’s.

Within Employment, tier 8

The arrival of Jo Keddie and Susan Kelly at Winckworth Sherwood has seen the practice expand to include advice to individuals and SMEs, as well as educational bodies. The team is ‘willing to go the extra mile to deliver a high standard of service’.

Within Charities and not-for-profit , tier 5

The ‘knowledgeable’ Simon Randall and ‘responsive’ Joanne Bussell joined Winckworth Sherwood from Lawrence Graham LLP in 2010. The firm is strongly geared toward advising the voluntary sector, acting for many educational, housing and religious charities and not-for-profit organisations. Owen Carew-Jones is also recommended for his charities expertise.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4

The ‘knowledgeable and sound’ Hugh MacDougald heads an ‘exemplary’ private client practice at Winckworth Sherwood, which advises private individuals, trustees and executors on domestic and international tax and trust structuring. It is noted for its ‘high service levels, with considerable strength in depth’. Tim Snaith is also recommended.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI) , tier 6

Winckworth Sherwood is known for its housing practice, under team head Andrea Squires.

Within Education: schools, Winckworth Sherwood is a second tier firm,

Winckworth Sherwood has a strong following among faith schools clients such as the London Diocesan Board for Schools. It acted on a number of academy conversions, including that of The Kemnal Academies Trust – the first multi-academy trust to be established.

Within Local government, tier 4

Winckworth Sherwood’s team has ‘wide-ranging expertise’ in procurement, shared services and alternative delivery options, and acts for over 100 local authorities in relation to transfers of services. The team has particular experience in the establishment and use of charitable entities for procurement and regeneration projects, such as the Cornwall Council Heartlands Project, which is supported by £22m from Big Lottery Funding. Joanna Bussell is recommended for her ‘expertise and knowledge in the area and ability to deal with stakeholders’. She co-heads the team with consultant Simon Randall.

Within Parliamentary , Winckworth Sherwood is a first tier firm,

The ‘commercial and realistic’ team at Winckworth Sherwood provides ‘excellent specialist advice’ on major infrastructure projects. It is instructed by Associated British Ports in relation to wind turbine schemes at Grimsby and Hull Docks. Alison Gorlov has an ‘incredible depth of knowledge’, and obtained a historic victory on questions of hybridity in the Local Government Bill. The ‘brilliant’ Paul Irving heads the practice. Associate Hazel Anderson is also recommended.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Winckworth Sherwood’s ‘service is extremely good: it is very commercial and the expertise is strong’. The residential development practice is thriving and has been advising Barratt Homes on real estate in London. Bellway Homes and Redrow are also clients. Louis Robert is ‘exceptional’, Sam Dighton and Francesco Ferrari have ‘great general knowledge of the subject area’, and Roger Fitton is also recommended.

Within Construction,

Bird & Bird recently advised an NHS trust in construction defects claims under a PFI contract. Renewables sector and non-contentious work increased. Colin Hall left for Winckworth Sherwood in May 2011.

Within Planning, tier 5

Winckworth Sherwood is well regarded for its parliamentary expertise and advice, which is ‘commercially focused and tailored to clients ’ business needs’. The firm recruited new practice head Karen Cooksley and two other lawyers from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP. The team’s mix of public and private sector clients includes Wimpey, the Department for Transport and the Diocese of Oxford. The practice completed s106 agreements for Barratt Homes’ regeneration schemes, including the £1.5bn Canada Water Basin development. Sara Hanrahan, who has ‘a practical approach to resolving issues and good knowledge of the intricacies of planning issues’, acted for Hanover Housing Association on a mixed-use redevelopment, and is also advising on Crossrail.

Within Social housing: finance, Winckworth Sherwood is a second tier firm,

Winckworth Sherwood advised Alie Street LLP on a £100m development joint venture, and is advising on drawing down the loan. It advised Genesis Housing Group on property aspects of its £250m own-name bond issue. Housing Solutions, Howard Cottage and Notting Hill Housing Trust are new clients. New practice head Louise Lever joined from Clifford Chance, and is ‘commercially and legally astute’. New partner Patricia Umunna is also recommended.

Within Social housing: local authorities and registered providers, Winckworth Sherwood is a second tier firm,

Winckworth Sherwood’s ‘superior’ team advised Thames Valley Housing Association Limited on its purchase option concerning a 19-acre greenfield site in Wokingham. It also advised Genesis Housing Group on its complex mass regeneration of the Woodbury Down estate. Practice head Andrew Murray is ‘very knowledgeable’, Richard Tinham adopts a ‘very practical approach’, and Louis Robert is also recommended. The team expanded with the addition of Simon Randall from Lawrence Graham LLP; Louise Lever from Clifford Chance; Ruth Barnes from Barnes Morley; and Charlie Proddow from Bevan Brittan LLP.

Within Rail, tier 6

Winckworth Sherwood regularly advises on key strategic work for clients such as Network Rail, Crossrail and various government bodies. Paul Irving and Alison Gorlov advised the Secretary of State in relation to the Crossrail Act 2008, and on subsequent matters as its provisions came into force.