The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn acts for clients ranging from start-ups to multinationals, in areas including business process outsourcing and human resource outsourcing. Simon Stokes has notable experience advising banking clients, and recruitment and resourcing specialist Bridget Wood advises suppliers and end users of staffing services in Europe and worldwide. CGI Information Systems is a longstanding client.

Within Customs and Excise Customs and Excise

Within Financial services, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn ‘impresses clients’. The team assists firms with the FSA authorisation, variation of permission and individual approval processes; product design and marketing; commercial arrangements; and FSA Handbook requirements. Felicity Rowan is ‘extremely knowledgeable’.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Blake Lapthorn is a third tier firm,

Led by Martin Kay, Blake Lapthorn’s eight-partner team has expertise in the IP, food supply, recruitment and education sectors. 2011 highlights included advising AIM-listed company Quindell Portfolio plc on its reverse takeover of Mission Capital.

Within Fraud: civil, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn is a ‘strong firm’, and is particularly rated for its confiscation work. Associate Lucy Edwards is ‘technically sound’.

Within Gaming and betting, tier 4

Blake Lapthorn’s experience includes international litigation for casinos.

Within Licensing, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

The ‘proactive’ team at Blake Lapthorn is led by Jon Wallsgrove, and has an ‘excellent’ understanding of clients’ businesses. With a focus on the leisure and retail sectors, its clients include John Lewis, Waitrose, Amazing Retreats and the BBC. Phil Crier has a ‘thorough grasp of the law’, and associate Stephen Drake is also recommended. Philip Somarakis left the firm to join Davenport Lyons.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy Defamation and privacy

Within Mediators Mediators

Within Professional discipline, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn was recently instructed by the General Social Care Council in prosecuting a social worker who allegedly failed to provide an appropriate service to vulnerable children; and also assisted the General Osteopathic Council in investigating allegations of unacceptable professional conduct towards patients. The practice is led by Nick Leale and Bradley Albuery; the latter is ‘an excellent advocate’ who is ‘client focused’, and ‘always able to take a committee with him’. Chris Alder has ‘an amiable approach to client care’ and is a ‘gifted problem-solver’, while barrister Guy Micklewright is ‘extremely analytical in determining the appropriate way forward’.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 7

Blake Lapthorn has a six-partner team across London and Southampton, and acts for financiers, lessors, airlines, individuals and manufacturers. Ben Graham-Evans heads the team, which was boosted by the arrival of David Daws.

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, tier 8

Alexandra Bonner continues to grow the London practice at Blake Lapthorn, winning new clients such as Astadia Consulting UK. The team acts for a number of clients in the recruitment sector, with the Agency Workers Regulations a key area of work.

Within Immigration,

Also notable for their work in the area of immigration are: Birnberg Peirce & Partners; Blake Lapthorn; Blakemores; Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Eversheds LLP; Luqmani Thompson & Partners; Macfarlanes LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; QualitySolicitors FJG; RadcliffesLeBrasseur; Russell-Cooke LLP; Simons Muirhead & Burton; Travers Smith LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, tier 4

Kingsley Napley LLP is a ‘first-rate’ firm where the professionalism of its practitioners remains paramount; a ‘well-run’, ‘outstanding’ team, it is ‘really thorough, and prepared to take on difficult cases’. Kate Rohde is ‘immensely experienced’; Stephanie Code has ‘excellent judgment’; and Alison Moore and Terrence Donovan are also well regarded. Attracting referrals from other lawyers, experts and previous clients, it has a varied caseload including cerebral palsy, negligent surgery and wrongful birth cases. It saw the departure of ‘leading light’ Dr Jock Mackenzie, who left the firm for Blake Lapthorn, and Ross Brain has also left the practice.

Within Charities and not-for-profit, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn acts for an impressive roster of leading charities including Oxfam, Catch 22, and Save the Children. Elizabeth Davis heads the team.

Within Education: institutions, tier 5

Martin Kay heads Blake Lapthorn’s multidisciplinary team, which operates from three offices. Longstanding clients include ISIS, the University of Reading and the University of Winchester.

Within Local government, tier 6

Blake Lapthorn’s practice includes Code of Conduct matters. Consultant Mary Cox joined from Hampshire County Council. Mike Kendall, also a consultant, heads the team.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Blake Lapthorn focuses on investment work, primarily for property companies and overseas investors, and asset management for large corporate occupiers. The firm is also attracting a growing flow of funding instructions from major banks. Philip Diamond and Jeremy Taylor are recommended.

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn provides a ‘a professional level of service’ on lease renewals, and specialises in advising retailers and charities (including Oxfam). Team head Mark Brassey is ‘exceptionally good’, and ‘technically very able’.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Blake Lapthorn’s extensive trade mark practice, led by Jill Bainbridge, acts for clients such as Akzo Nobel and Alcatel-Lucent on brand protection and enforcement issues.

Within Franchising, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s Southampton-based team of three partners and six assistant solicitors provides contentious and non-contentious advice to franchisors and franchisees, as well as franchise consultants. The group prides itself on acting for ethical franchisors, with clients including The Southern Co-operative, Molly Maid and new client Prokill UK. Sheilah Mackie heads the team.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn advises media, arts and technology sector clients on commercial matters, particularly regarding copyright and digital media issues. Simon Stokes leads the team.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn advises customers and suppliers on IT matters. Practice head Simon Stokes has ‘industry and legal knowledge, coupled with wisdom’. Nick Arnold handles contentious matters.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 5

Simon Stokes’ publishing team at Blake Lapthorn advises on apps and digital media. Clients include the Antique Trade Gazette, children’s publisher Noisy Crow, and Pavilion Publishing. Stokes and Oxford-based Joss Saunders advise publishers on ebooks. Southampton-based commercial litigator Elaine Heywood advised the International Institute of Strategic Studies.