What we say about the firm's legal practice in South West
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Bristol, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Simon Hewes at Bond Pearce LLP ‘exhibits good judgement even when not all the facts are known’, and clients also have ‘great confidence’ in Paul Stone. RWE npower renewables, Hydro International, Alterian, Spinnaker International and Tradewind Turbines are clients. The practice is deemed ‘equal to London firms but better value’.
Within Corporate and commercial: The West Country, Bond Pearce LLP is a third tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP acted for Airsprung on its £2.5m acquisition of Collins & Hayes Furniture Limited, and advised Screwfix on establishing a new trading arm to promote eco-savings to homeowners. The team also represented Elixir Petroleum on its acquisition of the share capital of East Paris Petroleum. Simon Hewes heads the team.
Within Corporate tax, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP recently advised Piper Private Equity on its investment in the MBO of Weird Fish clothing. The team also acts for Devon Waste Management, Chemring Group, Southern Co-Operatives and Coral Racing. Brian Garner heads the group.
Within EU and competition, Bond Pearce LLP is a third tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP has a highly regarded team led by Southampton-based Nick Page, who has ‘excellent technical skills’. Stephen Lister leads in Bristol, and has been acting for International Power regarding a European Commission investigation.
Crime, fraud and licensing
Within Licensing, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s ‘strong’ team provides ‘excellent technical and commercial advice’, and acts for high-profile clients including Accor, Carlsberg, Superdrug, Hilton Corporation, and Marks & Spencer. The team handled the application for extension of licence terms for Virgin Clubs’ Kensington Roof Gardens premises. Team head Tim Davies provides ‘sound commercial advice’.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation: Bristol, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP acted for Matrix-Securities and Capita Alternative Fund Services regarding breach of contract actions brought against surveyors, and for Pension Protection Fund on the recovery of unpaid pension protection levies. Stephen Lister’s advice is ‘always appropriate to needs’, and Anna Maxwell is ‘seriously impressive’.
Within Commercial litigation: The West Country, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP acted for The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation in a multimillion-pound property action, and for Samworth Brothers Group – Tamar Foods regarding damage done to industrial equipment. B&Q and Princess Yachts International are also clients. Gareth Kagan heads the practice.
Within Debt recovery, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Gareth Kagan leads the group at Bond Pearce LLP, which acts for a range of national clients including Royal Mail Group, B&Q and Sainsbury’s. The team also represents Carlsberg UK on mainstream debt recovery claims relating to its lending portfolio and free trade customers.
Finance
Within Banking and finance, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s Julian Kinsey ‘knows when to concede points and when to hold firm’, and Tony Woodward has ‘incredible knowledge of FSA matters and compliance’. The team advised Oman’s Authority for Electricity Regulation on reviewing cross-border project finance documentation.
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s Joanne Rumley ‘speaks about complex issues with clarity’ and ‘understands when advice is needed urgently’. The team provides ‘innovative’ advice with ‘no time wasting or padding’, and has continued to develop relationships with innovative funders. It advised More or Less on acquiring the distressed debt of Faith Shoes, and also acted for PwC, Deloitte and BDO.
Human resources
Within Employment: Bristol, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s practice is headed by Simon Richardson, and acts for clients such as thetrainline.com. It also advised a multinational company on various employment law issues, notably regarding its Scandinavian operations. Tim Woodward joined from Bevan Brittan LLP.
Within Employment: The West Country, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s team successfully represented Sutton Harbour Holdings (and its subsidiary Air Southwest) on a Unite statutory recognition bid. The team, led by Nikki Duncan, also represents several major public sector organisations.
Within Health and safety, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP has an excellent reputation, with Jon Cooper’s 15-fee-earner team counting Bhs and Royal Mail Group as clients. The team also acted for New Look Retailers on the first appeal case under the new fire safety regime.
Within Pensions, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s ‘excellent’ team is led by Charmian Leatt, and acts for clients including Brittany Ferries and Teachers Building Society. Richard Lister is also recommended.
Insurance
Within Personal injury: defendant, Bond Pearce LLP is a third tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s clients include Groupama, Liberty Mutual, Mitsui Sumitomo Europe and Tokio Marine. David Brown is the member of the team in Bristol, which focuses on serious and catastrophic injury cases.
Within Professional negligence, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s team is headed by Ian Peacock, and acts for clients including Capita and Chartis. It recently advised insurers on their obligations in a dispute involving a multimillion-pound IT infrastructure project. Gary Oldroyd is also recommended.
Overview
Within Regional review, Bond Pearce LLP is a third tier firm,
Ashfords LLP is a growing force in Bristol, while its Exeter base has strength across a wide range of corporate and private client matters; Beachcroft’s expertise in personal injury and other areas ensures that it remains a force to be reckoned with in the region; and Bond Pearce LLP has leading expertise in areas such as licensing and planning.
Private client
Within Charities Charities
Projects, energy and natural resources
Within Energy, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP provides ‘practical and technical guidance’, and is ‘recommended for wind and renewable energy planning advice’. It acts for East Anglia Offshore Wind, Centrica, and RWE npower are clients in renewables matters, and Afren, BG and Petrofac in oil and gas. Luke Gabb heads the team.
Public sector
Within Education, Bond Pearce LLP is a third tier firm,
Bettina Rigg’s team at Bond Pearce LLP acts for many higher education institutions, such as advising Southampton Solent University on real estate, employment and student disciplinary issues. Other clients include the University of Portsmouth and Cornwall College.
Within Local government, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP has been assisting Reading Borough Council on the redevelopment of Chatham Street, and advised new client Greenwich LBC on a £35m district heating project. Richard Guyatt and practice head Jonathan Bower are recommended.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Bristol, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s team is of ‘great calibre’ and ‘highly recommended for investment-related work’. It advised the BBC on the £28m disposal of a redundant building, and the Homes and Communities Agency on a regeneration project. Fiona O’Kane heads the team.
Within Commercial property: The West Country, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP has Nigel Theyer and Craig Moore in Plymouth, whose recent work includes advising on property portfolio issues relating to Faith Shoe Group’s administration.
Within Construction, Bond Pearce LLP is a third tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP acted for retailer New Look on its expansion, and advised Carlsberg on a brewery site demolition and redevelopment. The ‘commercially astute’ Christine Hanley ‘manages a phenomenal workload’, and David Skelton is ‘always on top of issues’.
Within Environment, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP can ‘call upon a multidisciplinary team when required’. It advised ScottishPower Renewables, and conducted a review for another renewables client regarding multimillion-pound wind farm projects. Sarah Holmes is able to ‘pitch a legal resolution and make it understood by all’. John Houghton heads the team.
Within Planning, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s planning team provides ‘timely advice at a competitive cost’. It advised Veolia Environmental Services in relation to a waste-to-energy facility, and Eneco Round 3 Development in relation to three offshore wind farms. Richard Guyatt is ‘very experienced and knowledgeable’, and provides ‘great advice in an approachable manner’.
Within Property litigation, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP defended a recycling business against a nuisance claim, and represented English Heritage in an action to recover money. Patrick Wetherall’s advice is ‘always valuable, concise and to the point’, and James Rees is ‘very responsive to and conscious of clients ’ needs’.
TMT
Within Intellectual property, Bond Pearce LLP is a first tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s clients include B&Q, Royal Mail, English Heritage and new client Qinetiq. It provides J Sainsbury with a legal audit service for all of its grey market trading, including trade mark analysis, and assisted Marks & Spencer in IP litigation. Tom Phipps heads the team.
Within IT and telecoms, Bond Pearce LLP is a second tier firm,
Bond Pearce LLP’s team advised Hutchison 3G UK on joining the VocaLink pay-as-you-go mobile top-up service, and English Heritage on outsourcing its ICT support services. Royal Mail Group is another client. Bristol-based Gareth Jones heads the team.