The Legal 500

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

Providing an ‘excellent level of service’, Blake Lapthorn’s ‘cracking’ team acts for Blade Dynamics, South East Seed Fund and David Lloyd Leisure. The ‘very wise’ Manoj Styche-Patel is a ‘good problem solver’ with ‘vast breadth of experience’, and led the team in CVS Group’s £12.2m acquisition of Veterinary Enterprises & Trading. The ‘pragmatic’ James Hawkeswood made partner in 2010, and Stephen Archibald is also recommended.

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

‘One of the best law firms’ in the region, Blake Lapthorn has a ‘broad range of skills and depth of experience across all areas of business’ and fields a ‘responsive’ corporate team in Oxford, which can call on region-wide resources for support where necessary. Corporate finance expert Edward Lee is ‘straight, honest, highly intelligent’ and ‘contactable day or night’. Nicola McConville, who has a ‘pragmatic approach’, advised the University of Oxford and the founder shareholders of Intelligent Sustainable Energy regarding its share disposal. The team also has notable green energy expertise.

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

2010 saw Simon Court’s team at Blake Lapthorn advise on tax issues arising from early-stage company investments, cross-border transactions and share disposals. Clients include universities, defence equipment manufacturers and retail sector companies.

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

The ‘excellent’ team at Blake Lapthorn regularly acts on dawn raids and OFT investigations, as well as general compliance issues. It recently handled two complex, high-value and wide-reaching OFT investigations. Practice head John Mitchell is ‘extremely knowledgeable’ and ‘excellent at managing client relationships’.

Within Crime, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn’s ‘first-class’ team specialises in motoring cases, including cases involving drink and dangerous driving, speeding, and accidents. John Mitchell heads the regulatory team, and the ‘very experienced’ Philip Somarakis leads the motoring offences team.

Within Licensing, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Phil Crier’s ‘all-round excellent’ team at Blake Lapthorn advises leading retailers and companies on licence applications. Recent instructions include acting for the Stonegate Pub Company on the transfer of 109 premises licences, as well as handling gaming machine permits and pavement licences. London-based Jon Wallsgrove has ‘excellent knowledge’.

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

The ‘extremely commercial and business-focused’ Blake Lapthorn was recently appointed to the panel of BAA and the Horticultural Development Board. The firm’s mediation service BL Resolve continues apace. Susie Dryden has ‘good commercial awareness’ and is a ‘pragmatic, tactical and thorough litigator’. Richard Portlock leads the team, and Stephen Murfitt has notable regulatory experience. Clients praise the team’s ‘skills and aptitude, equal to many City competitors’.

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

Blake Lapthorn provides a ‘Rolls-Royce service’ and ‘unsurpassed advice’, and recently advised the Bank of Scotland in defending a High Court claim brought by a German printing presses manufacturer. ‘One of the best solicitors’, Jonathan Lloyd-Jones has an ‘extraordinary grasp of facts, and a remarkable analytical mind and knowledge of the law’.

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

Sadak Miah’s team at Blake Lapthorn advises on return of goods and debt cases for high-profile clients such as the ISS Group and Mercedes Benz. New clients include Toyota Financial Services, and Hitachi Capital Services.

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

Blake Lapthorn acts for the likes of Barclays, HSBC and Santander, providing ‘concise and quick advice’ and a ‘practical approach’ on finance matters. The ‘knowledgeable’ Kath Shimmin has ‘good business acumen’, and the ‘flexible and proactive’ Richard Eldridge ‘thinks on his feet’. The team acted on transactions in the health, education and real estate sectors in 2010.

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

Following a transitional period, Blake Lapthorn has re-established a formidable practice, with knowledge that is ‘second to none’. It recently advised KPMG in a bankruptcy matter and BDO in an administration proceeding. Adrian Owen is ‘very commercial’, and Mike Pavitt gives ‘good, practical advice’. Asset-based lending specialist Chris Willison in London is ‘technically excellent’, and consultant Paul Rippon in Oxford is ‘hugely experienced’.

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

Blake Lapthorn delivers ‘practical and pragmatic advice tailored to clients’ needs’. In 2010 the team advised Kerry Foods on trade union membership matters, and Xyratex Technology in an unfair dismissal and sex discrimination claim. Max Craft is an ‘outstanding employment law practitioner’ with a ‘calm, measured and assured manner’. The ‘extremely pragmatic’ Marianne Pieterse and Sarah Peacock are also recommended, along with highly rated barrister Tim Forer, who recently joined from Clarke Willmott LLP.

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

‘Very quick and pragmatic’, Blake Lapthorn fields an ‘excellent team of employment lawyers’. In 2010, it acted for Allport in an employment tribunal claim for unfair dismissal, and also assisted Bouygues in a race discrimination claim. Jim Whiter is a ‘really robust and responsive lawyer’.

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

John Mitchell’s team at Blake Lapthorn advises companies and individuals in HSE investigations. The team also handles advisory and regulatory work.

Within Pensions, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

The ‘responsive and professional’ team at Blake Lapthorn is headed by the ‘excellent’ Adrian Lamb, and recently welcomed Ian Flowers from Pitmans LLP and Alex McGill from Lawrence Graham LLP. Clients include Johnson Controls, Goodwood Estates and the Swatch Group.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

John White’s team at Blake Lapthorn is ‘fantastic on all levels’, and advises clients on a range of matters, including brain injury, birth accidents and complex delays in diagnosis claims. Work highlights included a £9m case involving a late delivery that resulted in cerebral palsy. Alison McClure is recommended.

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

Blake Lapthorn’s ‘very knowledgeable and well-respected’ team advises on a range of complex and high-value cases, including road traffic accident and industrial disease claims. Practice head Claire Howard and Alison McClure are both ‘excellent’, and recently secured a £7.2m settlement in a severe head injury case.

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

Richard Portlock’s team at Blake Lapthorn acts for clients across a range of professions. Work highlights included a number of complex and high-value pensions cases, and a case involving failure to define contractual post-termination terms.

Within Regional review, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Shoosmiths has the widest regional capabilities of the heavyweight firms, with offices in Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton, and Milton Keynes. Thomas Eggar LLP and Blake Lapthorn also provide broad coverage across the South East, and are very well known in Sussex and Hampshire respectively.

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

The team at Blake Lapthorn advises on the acquisition, partition and sale of estates worth up to £15m, and has been developing its strength in the renewable energy market. Team head Mark Charter is recommended.

Within Charities, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn advises major national and regional clients including the Northmoor Trust on specialist issues such as amalgamating trusts. Practice head Elizabeth Davis recently advised Pilgrim Homes on the acquisition of three care homes. Alison Talbot is ‘committed, responsible and very perceptive’.

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

Simon Burge at Blake Lapthorn has ‘professionalism, patience and a sympathetic manner’.

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

Blake Lapthorn has ‘high standards and levels of experience in family law’, with ‘proactive, approachable and effective’ partner Christine Plews singled out for her ‘shrewd and thorough advice’ delivered with ‘unflappable calm’. The team has experience in handling pre- and post-nuptial agreements.

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

The ‘friendly, approachable, sensitive and knowledgeable’ team at Blake Lapthorn advises on estate administration, trust management, and French property matters. Practice head Rachel Brooks handles mental capacity and Court of Protection cases. Senior associate Catherine Paget is an ‘adept negotiator’.

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

The ‘very well-informed’ James Antoniou heads up the practice at Blake Lapthorn. The team delivers ‘knowledgeable, helpful and competitively priced advice’, and remains sole legal adviser for the online wills service of Which? Legal Service.

Within Education, Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Martin Kay’s team at Blake Lapthorn advises a number of key universities, including Reading, Sussex, Winchester and Southampton. In 2010 the team advised on student disciplinary matters and procedures, Charity Commission registrations and property issues. Alison Talbot is ‘quick and effective’, and John Deech is ‘hardworking and committed’.

Within Health Health

Within Local government Local government

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

Blake Lapthorn’s team is ‘extremely professional’ and ‘cares down to the smallest detail’. It has substantial residential development expertise, advising the likes of Devine Homes and Bloor Homes, and provides ‘credible advice based on a depth of past experience’. Led by Sean Palka, the team advised Harlequins RFC on the relocation of its training facilities. John Steel and Oliver Sowton are ‘technically strong and respond quickly and effectively’. John Russell and a team of eight other lawyers from Clarke Willmott LLP joined the practice in May 2011.

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

Delivering ‘prompt responses’, Blake Lapthorn’s client base includes developers and several Oxford colleges. The ‘very good’ Andrew Miscampbell recently advised Deutsche Bank on the property holdings of one of its subsidiaries. Liam Desmond has ‘sound technical knowledge’ and expertise in charity retail work, advising Age UK and Northmoor Trust.

Within Construction , Blake Lapthorn is a first tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn strengthened its transactional and contentious construction practice in 2010 through the recruitment of consultant David Miles, who has vast experience in construction mediation. The team, led by Richard Wade, is advising the Mary Rose Trust on design and construction matters relating to a new museum at Portsmouth’s historic dockyard, which is set to display Henry VIII’s flagship. Other key clients include David Lloyd Leisure and Berkeley Homes.

Within Environment, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Regulatory litigator John Mitchell leads Blake Lapthorn’s environment practice, which handles contentious issues and complex transactional work.

Within Planning, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Blake Lapthorn provides a full service to clients seeking advice on town and county planning law, and has recently undertaken advocacy at planning inquiries involving Winchester City Council and St Albans District Council. Department head Guthrie McGruer has expertise in both contentious and non-contentious planning matters.

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

Advising high-profile clients such as BAA, Costa and Stagecoach, Blake Lapthorn handles the whole spectrum of contentious property issues. Practice head Amanda Morris has ‘deep understanding of the law and tactics surrounding real estate disputes’.

Within Social housing Social housing

Within Intellectual property , Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

The ‘responsive and proactive’ Blake Lapthorn advised French telecommunications corporation Alcatel-Lucent on its UK trade mark strategy. Akzo Nobel is also a client. Jill Bainbridge has ‘up-to-date knowledge’ and experience in IP rights and domain name disputes.

Within IT and telecoms, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

Senior solicitor Sheliah Mackie is the key contact at Blake Lapthorn’s Southampton office. She can call upon the support of the London office to offer clients contentious and non-contentious IT advice. Clients include the University of Reading and Southampton Solent University. Geoffrey Sturgess retired from the firm in 2010.

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

With a core focus in publishing, Blake Lapthorn’s team includes Elaine Heywood, who has experience handling privacy, libel litigation and defamation, and reputation management. Joss Saunders has expertise in rights concerning e-books. Taylor & Francis/Informa remains a key client.

Within Aviation, Blake Lapthorn is a second tier firm,

New clients for Blake Lapthorn include Heathrow Airport and AWAS. The firm also saw an increase in work from its large corporate client base, notably TUI on aircraft finance issues and BAA on real estate matters. Ben Graham-Evans leads the practice, specialising in international aviation transactions.