The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, EMW is a second tier firm,

The ‘well-organised’ EMW was recently reappointed to Santander’s legal panel, and also acted for the shareholders of a waste company in its sale to Viridor Waste Management, valued at £15.8m. On the commercial side, it advised Rightmove Group in relation to the valuation of a major bank’s mortgage portfolio. Ian Mabbutt is head of corporate, and Liz Appleyard heads the commercial practice.

Within EU and competition EU and competition

Within Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, EMW is a second tier firm,

EMW successfully represented Levi Roots, owner of the Roots Reggae Reggae Sauce brand, in a breach of contract claim. Damon Watt heads the dispute resolution team, which gained British Standards Institution and Monarch Airlines as clients in 2011.

Within Banking and finance, EMW is a second tier firm,

EMW’s team is highlighted for its ‘extremely high level of service, good commercial acumen and competitive prices’, and advises in areas such as acquisition and leveraged finance, property finance and asset-based lending. Clients include Santander UK, Lloyds TSB and RBS. ‘Highly committed’ department head Ian Mabbutt has ‘strong interpersonal skills and a great work ethic’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery Insolvency and corporate recovery

Within Employment: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, EMW is a first tier firm,

EMW counts Santander UK, General Motors, and Electrolux plc among its clients. The firm is experienced in handling large restructurings, office moves and employment issues relating to corporate transactions.

Within Regional review, EMW is a second tier firm,

In Milton Keynes, EMW is recognised for its expertise in employment, commercial and property matters; and Dentons is well regarded for corporate work, with the firm’s construction practice also going from strength to strength. In the Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx region, Taylor Walton LLP is particularly strong in private client matters; and IBB (Iliffes Booth Bennett) ranks highly across the board.

Within Local government Local government

Within Commercial property: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx, EMW is a first tier firm,

EMW won a place on Santander’s business banking panel, and worked on a £56m transaction for Inter MK Ltd to create a retail park as part of the Milton Keynes Dons’ football stadium project. The 11-strong team includes Simon Ingram, who ‘has huge knowledge and commercial acumen’. Other clients include Adobe Systems Inc, Wickes and Travis Perkins.

Within Construction, EMW is a third tier firm,

EMW’s construction highlights included advising in relation to a data centre for a financial institution valued at £200m; a waste to energy plant in Wales; and the development of nine retail units in Milton Keynes. Anna Stillman heads the team.

Within Planning, EMW is a third tier firm,

EMW continues to provide planning advice to Inter MK Ltd in relation to the major project to provide an international football stadium in Milton Keynes. It also assisted two councils on a proposed residential development for 230 homes.

Within Intellectual property, EMW is a third tier firm,

EMW’s Mark Finn has over 25 years of IP experience, particularly in contentious matters, while Liz Appleyard handles non-contentious mandates at both national and international level.

Within IT and telecoms, EMW is a second tier firm,

EMW provides a ‘very prompt service and appropriate advice’, and advises clients including Rightmove Group, the Energy Auditing Agency and Quality Technology Systems. Liz Appleyard is the key contact.