The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Blake Lapthorn is a third tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn added to its track record of involvement in cross-border transactions across Europe, advising on a £5m joint venture for a factory outlet development in France in 2008. Edward Lee’s corporate team receives praise from clients for its ‘great strength in depth and pragmatism‘. The firm has a market-leading presence in corporate finance through its Southampton office.

Within Corporate and commercial: Hampshire, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn fields a strong practice; Nick Gent and Stephen Archibald are ‘stand-out lawyers‘. The latter advised Imprint on a £45m recommended takeover offer by Premier Group. Simon Treherne heads the team and clients include Stagecoach Group and South West Trains.

Within Corporate tax, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s corporate tax practice, spread across its Oxford, Winchester and Portsmouth offices, offers advice to both UK and international clients. The firm recently advised the founders of an Oxford University spinout on its first investment round. Simon Court is recommended.

Within EU and competition, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s EU and competition practice is spread across its Oxford, Southampton and London offices, with clients praising the firm’s ‘responsive, client-focused and helpful‘ service. The firm is acting for Alcatel-Lucent on a number of multi-party proceedings, and is on the dawn raid panels for a number of high-profile clients including Shell and Stagecoach Buses.

Within Crime, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s ‘work is always of the highest professional standards with excellent attention to detail‘. John Mitchell specialises in prosecutions and investigations by regulatory authorities. ‘Very helpful and courteous‘ motoring offences expert Philip Somarakis was made partner in May 2008.

Within Licensing, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn is ‘excellent in every area‘ of licensing; ‘really first class‘. Team head Phil Crier is recommended as ‘understanding the bigger picture‘. The firm is sole licensing adviser for the BBC and Live Nation music event organisers. Jon Wallsgrove is recommended for his pubco work.

Within Commercial litigation Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn has a considerable reputation for its banking litigation practice, and was recently awarded the tender to handle all of the UK litigation for Banque PSA, a French finance company owned by Peugeot Citroën. Chris Potts and his team have the expertise to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional cases, such as a recent £25m claim involving substantial VAT carousel fraud. The team, which is ‘always open to debating points and tactics‘, has a sterling mediation figure in Jonathan Lloyd-Jones.

Within Commercial litigation: Hampshire, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

With the promotion of Elaine Heywood, Blake Lapthorn now has a six-partner team, led by well-established litigator Richard Portlock. In response to the increasing trend for mediation solutions, the firm has established a Civil Mediation Council accredited mediation brand: BL Resolve.

Within Debt recovery , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

At Blake Lapthorn, ‘excellent partner‘ Sadak Miah heads a sizeable team praised as ‘organised, innovative and responsive‘. Key clients include Mercedes Benz Financial Services and BAA.

Within Debt recovery , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s Sadak Miah handles asset and debt recovery and the litigation which flows from such cases. Clients include DaimlerChrysler Financial Services UK Ltd and BAA.

Within Banking and finance, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

The ‘always approachable‘ Kath Shimmin runs the team at Blake Lapthorn, where ‘an excellent value-for-money service is provided on all transactions‘. Richard Eldridge - ’a very sound and experienced banking lawyer‘ - was made partner in May 2009. The firm is on the panels for Abbey, HBOS and Clydesdale Bank.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

David Oliver heads the practice at Blake Lapthorn, which was joined by former Ashurst LLP non-contentious restructuring expert Michael Moore. Clients include Tenon Recovery and Buchanans.

Within Employment Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Jim Whiter’s employment practice at Blake Lapthorn’s Oxford base complements its broader network of offices to provide corporate support on restructuring and redundancy programmes, as well as continuing to act for high-profile charities and car manufacturers. Clients praise the team’s ‘tact and diplomacy‘.

Within Employment: Hampshire, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Max Craft leads a four-partner team at Blake Lapthorn where ‘advice is typically pragmatic and responsive to business needs‘. Gillian Leach has a strong reputation for her employment tribunal work. The firm’s fixed-cost retainer service, Vigil, is praised by clients.

Within Health and safety, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s John Mitchell is ‘measured, detailed, commercially orientated and sensible‘, and is a leading authority on the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act. The firm advises on civil and criminal litigation.

Within Pensions, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s practice has a reputation for ‘sound, informed, practical advice, which is apposite and swift‘. Practice head Maria Riccio - ‘a friendly, but professional personality‘ - and John Hamilton are both considered leaders in this field.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s practice is headed by Alison McClure, ‘a formidable businesswoman‘. Dual-qualified doctor and senior solicitor John White is recommended for his impressive track record; he is ‘extremely professional and conscientious‘.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

As well as absorbing Barrett & Co’s team into its Oxford office, Blake Lapthorn was supplemented in 2008 by dual New York and UK qualified travel specialist Daniel Scognamiglio. Claire Howard and Alison McClure ‘have maintained the ethos of the client being at the heart of the firm‘.

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

Blake Lapthorn fields a team of ‘highly professional lawyers‘. Richard Portlock leads the practice and the firm launched a new service in 2008 - Riskgard - to advise professionals on claims prevention.

Within Agriculture and estates, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Mark Charter at Blake Lapthorn is particularly noted for his equine, agricultural and rural property expertise. The practice recently advised on complex succession claims relating to the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986.

Within Charities, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn draws on its cross-sector expertise, with a particular emphasis on educational and faith-based charities work. The firm recently advised on a successful merger between charitable client Rainer and Crime Concern Trust. Clients recommend Elizabeth Davis for governance issues.

Within Family Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Christine Plews at Blake Lapthorn recently advised on a number of complex, high-value ancillary relief claims, including acting for the wife of a Conservative MP in successfully obtaining 50 percent of the matrimonial assets.

Within Family: Hampshire, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn partner Simon Burge was joined in Winchester by senior executive Nigel Hubbard in 2008. The team has experience in multimillion-pound ancillary relief cases.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Blake Lapthorn is a third tier firm,

At Blake Lapthorn, department head of the firm’s Oxford private client team Jeremy Irwin-Singer is recommended.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Hampshire, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Rachel Brooks’ team at Blake Lapthorn lost two partners in 2008: Philippe Piedon-Lavaux retired and tax expert Michael Profit became a consultant. Nevertheless, the practice still offers expertise on French property, succession and tax matters.

Within Education, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn provides specialist advice to over 20 higher education institutions, including 11 Oxford colleges. Elizabeth Davis heads a team with particular strength in employment matters.

Within Local government

Within Commercial property Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40: , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Fielding a team that ‘benefits from strength and depth in property expertise‘, Blake Lapthorn acts for a number of residential property developers on mixed-use and hotel development matters, and recently advised a major European bank on the rationalisation of its property holdings. Andrew Miscampbell heads up the team, while John Deech is recommended for his work with educational institutions.

Within Commercial property: Hampshire, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

The promotion of Martin Hirst in 2008 brings the partner tally in Blake Lapthorn’s commercial property practice to six. Practice head David Gallaway is an expert in the property aspects of insolvency and advises several large developers, including Bloor Homes, Carmargue Monks Brooks and St Modwen. Asset management, landlord and tenant work, environmental issues and rural property matters are all strengths.

Within Construction , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn has a strong non-contentious construction practice. The team recently won a tender to advise the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea on the redevelopment and pedestrianisation of the area around the V&A, Science and Natural History museums. ‘Very competent‘ partner Richard Wade is recommended.

Within Environment, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s environmental practice focuses on contentious matters relating to contaminated land for householders and corporate clients. The team also advises public bodies on contamination and climate change, such as Wolverhampton County Council. Andrew Wiseman is recommended.

Within Planning, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn handles High Court judicial reviews, compulsory purchases and planning appraisals for high-profile developers such as Beechcroft Developments and Whitbread, as well as gaming and ecclesiastical clients. Guthrie McGruer leads a team that delivers a ‘first-class service‘.

Within Property litigation, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s team has been expanding its profile into the rail sector, having been appointed by Stagecoach plc to act for its group of companies, which include South Western Trains, on dilapidation and public rights of way claims. The ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ Amanda Morris heads the practice.

Within Social housing

Within Regional review

Within Intellectual property and information technology, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Litigator and mediator Jill Bainbridge leads Blake Lapthorn’s IP group. IT expertise is provided by Geoffrey Sturgess and the ‘especially strong‘ Simon Smith. 2008 highlights included advising Supermassive Games, a new video games company; acting for a Dutch TV content supplier; and representing an online business insurer. IP clients included Alactel Lucent, the University of Surrey and Goodwood Estate Company.

Within Media and entertainment, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s team comprises technology partner Simon Smith, publishing partner Joss Saunders and media partner Elaine Heywood.

Within Aviation, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s clients include Bank of Scotland and Aercap Ireland, and the firm has a broad international capacity as a founder member of L2B Aviation. The team includes securitisation specialist Kath Shimmin, although Chris McClure has left for Shoosmiths.