The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, tier 4

London-based Simon Stokes leads a team at Blake Lapthorn that focuses on outsourcing contracts in the banking, recruitment and non-profit sectors. Personnel-related BPOs were a strong focus for the team in 2010, drawing on Bridget Wood’s notable expertise in the recruitment sector.

Within Customs and Excise Customs and Excise

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

Martin Kay at Blake Lapthorn ‘understands the client’. The seven-partner team is valued for its ‘outstanding business acumen’, and regularly acts for Telecom Italia and The Royal British Legion.

Within Gaming and betting, tier 4

Blake Lapthorn continues to undertake debt enforcement work for a number of casinos.

Within Licensing, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

The three-partner licensing practice at Blake Lapthorn is praised for its ‘fantastic level of knowledge’. It recently assisted Stonegate Pub Company in the transfers of 109 premises licences and gaming machine permits. Longstanding client Mitchells & Butlers continues to instruct the team in relation to its 700 premises across London and the South. Phil Crier and Jon Wallsgrove are recommended for their ‘experienced’ and ‘personal’ approach.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy Defamation and privacy

Within Mediators,

Jonathan Lloyd-Jones, the Oxford-based chairman of Blake Lapthorn, is praised for his ‘good style of connecting not only with solicitors but also claimants. He reads people and situations well, which often leads to a settlement’. Clients also commend his persistent approach: ‘if a claim has not resolved at the mediation, Jonathan will always go the extra mile to see whether or not he can assist in resolving the claim thereafter’. He has recently acted in several multi-party professional negligence claims.

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

Key clients for the ‘impressive team’ at Blake Lapthorn include the Association of Accounting Technicians, the Access Dispute Committee, and the General Dental Council. Notable individuals include Christopher Alder, who is ‘highly recommended’; Nick Leale; Southampton-based Stephen Murfitt; and the ‘knowledgeable’ Bradley Albuery, who heads the eight-partner team.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 7

The London and Southampton based team at Blake Lapthorn is recommended for aviation finance.

Within Employment, tier 8

At Blake Lapthorn, practice head Alexandra Bonner and the ‘highly efficient’ Bridget Wood offer ‘direct, clear, and to-the-point’ advice on team moves, restrictive covenants, outsourcing and public tenders, particularly in the recruitment sector.

Within Education: institutions, tier 5

Martin Kay’s team at Blake Lapthorn was recently appointed to two lots of the LUPC. It represents over 30 colleges in Oxford, and universities including Sussex and Reading, on governance, property and employment law issues.

Within Local government, tier 6

Blake Lapthorn advises local authorities on procurement and PPP/PFI projects as well as governance issues. Clients include the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Consultant Mike Kendall heads the team.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Blake Lapthorn advises on commercial asset management and transactions, including investment sales and purchases, and on high-value residential property transactions. Philip Diamond and Jeremy Taylor are recommended.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Blake Lapthorn’s specialist trade mark team is led by Southampton-based Jill Bainbridge, and is handling all trade mark portfolio work for the Goodwood Estate. The group increased its international work, acting for French telecoms giant Alcatel-Lucent and Swiss cycling wear manufacturer ASSOS, and advising Akzo Nobel on its advertising campaigns. The ‘prompt, pragmatic and commercial’ Simon Stokes in London is recommended.

Within Franchising, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s lawyers have ‘extensive knowledge of franchising, and are involved at many levels in various organisations within the industry’. Southampton-based Jill Bainbridge handles contentious matters for franchisors and franchisees, notably acting for a group of franchisees negotiating to leave the failed Thresher network; and handling several matters for franchisor Molly Maid. On the non-contentious side, the team advised Costa on its acquisition of the business of one of its franchisees. Clients commend the ‘knowledgeable, professional’ Sheilah Mackie.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

The ‘prompt, pragmatic and commercial’ Simon Stokes and his team at Blake Lapthorn advise financial services, higher education and public sector clients on technology and digital media issues.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 5

Simon Stokes heads the team at Blake Lapthorn, whose active clients include ATG Media. Nick Arnold handles contentious work.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 5

Simon Stokes heads the publishing team at Blake Lapthorn, which advises publishers on matters including digital media. Clients include the Department for Education, the Antique Trade Gazette, and international publisher Story Worldwide. Joss Saunders has been advising traditional and new-media publishers on e-book publications.

Within Rail, tier 5

Blake Lapthorn’s Peter Barber and Stephen Murfitt were appointed to the Access Disputes Committee of the rail industry, which has already resulted in instructions. The team continued to advise Stagecoach on its South Western and East Midlands passenger franchises.