The Legal 500

Established in 1846, Wright Hassall is a leading commercial law firm in the Midlands acting for clients both regionally and nationally. Clients range from owner-managed businesses and plcs to not-for-profit, partnerships and individuals across a variety of sectors, including technology, logistics, financial services, social housing, charities, retail, sport and agriculture.

The firm: The firm has increased its turnover for the sixth year running. A key driver behind this success has been the willingness to identify services which, for most firms might be considered left of centre such as the tax team which includes a senior non-lawyer as tax director and which provides cost-saving solutions for employers that can only be matched by the big four accountants. The firm has also won, and been short-listed as finalists, for a number of awards including ‘Best UK Transport Law Firm 2010’, ‘Credit Today Awards 2011’ (finalists — ‘Commercial Litigation Team of the Year’, ‘Collections Team of the Year’, ‘Credit Manager of the Year’)’ and Nick Abell, senior partner, won the ‘Legal Professional of the Year at Coventry & Warwickshire FirstPro Awards 2010’.

Types of work undertaken: The corporate team has an enviable track record in meeting the needs and aspirations of owner-managed businesses and mid-corporates, advising on company formations, structuring and restructuring, mergers, acquisitions and disposals, buy-outs and buy-ins, financial structuring and investment capital, and shareholder relationships and joint ventures. The commercial team advises clients on all commercial matters including contracts, outsourcing particularly in relation to the technology, logistics and financial services industries, financial regulatory matters, intellectual property, business immigration, licensing, and employment, including share incentive schemes and cost-saving initiatives.

The commercial property team, described by clients as pro-active, commercially-driven and reliable, handles a diverse range of matters from complex corporate transactions to straightforward lease negotiations. It acts for a wide range of clients including blue chip corporates and science parks and has significant experience in acting for multiple retailers several of whom are household names. A specialist team advises on planning, environmental and highways matters. The social housing team, led by Carol Matthews, continues to be rated as one of the best in the country. The agricultural and rural business team acts for landowners, farmers, tenants and rural associations and, in Paul Rice, has one of the leading legal specialists in the single farm payment scheme.

The dispute resolution team continues to grow and retains its excellent track record in banking, finance and asset tracing litigation. A particular feature is the provision of advocacy services to clients of the firm. All types of commercial litigation are undertaken including contractual disputes, professional negligence, employment, intellectual property and technology disputes, insolvency and business recovery and contentious probate. The recovery team operates a comprehensive live portfolio management and collections service using a leading-edge IT system. The property dispute team is particularly strong on landlord and tenant issues, the Party Wall Act, boundary matters and noise compensation claims. The construction team, working alongside litigation and commercial property handles all aspects of contentious and non-contentious work and, through Philip Harris, a commercial mediator and chartered arbitrator, offers an effective alternative dispute resolution service.

The private client team advises many of the firm’s commercial clients’ directors, charitable trusts and high-net worth individuals on wills, trusts, tax and probate matters, matrimonial, particularly complex financial cases, and child-related issues, residential conveyancing, and clinical negligence and personal injury cases.

Number of UK partners 32
Number of other UK fee-earners 95