The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a strong commercial focus on the retail, financial services and public sectors, and has amassed an enviable client roster that includes Diageo, RBS and Manchester City Council. Jonathan Davey and his commercial team enjoy a strong reputation in large-scale outsourcing and procurement projects, and have particular strength in payment services contracting. 2010 highlights for the team included its reappointment to the commercial panels of Sainsbury’s, Post Office Financial Services and The Co-Operative Group; and advising Diageo on the outsourcing of facilities management services for all its sites across ten jurisdictions. Former Taylor Wessing LLP partner Andrew Smith joined the practice in May 2011, bringing with him expertise in the consumer, travel and leisure sectors.

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within EU and competition , tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has undoubtedly made a major investment in its competition practice. Enhancing its litigation capabilities, the team welcomed Rona Bar-Isaac (‘very business focused and practical’) from WilmerHale, and appointed the highly regarded Bruce Kilpatrick as department head following Mark Clough QC’s departure to Brodies LLP. The team also won significant new clients in the retail, financial services, and energy sectors, strengthened relationships with key clients through secondments, and was appointed to Ofwat’s panel.

Within Financial services, tier 4

‘Responsive to clients ’ needs’, Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides advice across all aspects of banking, building society and investment regulation, and is establishing a strong reputation in the area of prudential regulation and in wholesale markets, where the practice advises multilateral trading facilities. John Ahern and David Heffron are key contacts, along with Elizabeth Robertson on the contentious side. Jonathon Watson, former UK head of legal at UBS Wealth Management, joined the team.

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is recommended for mid-market matters, with Simon Griffiths at the helm of the practice. In 2010, the team advised Rockhopper Exploration on its £206m share placing on AIM. Newly promoted partner Nick Pearey advised Betfair’s founder and chairman in the selling of his stake in the £1.3bn IPO. Macquarie Capital and Execution Noble are also clients.

Within M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, 250m+, tier 7

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has pushed hard to become one of the key advisers to all the leading banks for mid-market matters. James Dawson is the new head of the team, and Andrew Rosling is highly recommended. The team acted for Delta on its £285m takeover by Valmont Industries.

Within Partnership, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

An ‘acknowledged leader in the professional practices arena’, Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘energetic group always adds value’ in contentious and transactional partnership matters, and ‘continues to put clients ’ needs at the heart of its strategy’. 2010 saw Richard Linsell hand over leadership of the practice to William Wastie, on his retirement. Rachel Kiara, Aster Crawshaw and managing associate Jon Cheney ‘provide specialist strengths that combine to service the widest possible range of needs’.

Within Private equity: transactions , tier 5

Headed in London by Andrew Carpenter and aided by a significant regional presence, Addleshaw Goddard LLP represents a balanced array of sponsors, management and corporates in mid-market transactions. Recent highlights include advising management on the £325m disposal of Deb Group to Charterhouse Capital. Sponsor clients include 3i, Gresham and LDC.

Within Fraud: civil , Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s fraud team, which has expanded at associate level, continues to act in the high-profile and high-value Berezovsky litigation, and is advising billionaire property developer Thomas Kramer in a multi-jurisdictional fraud claim worth over £100m.

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a growing reputation in this field. Recent work includes advising the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding the police investigation into spot fixing. Elizabeth Robertson is ‘determined, charming, very experienced, and has good judgment and really cares’, and is also advising some household names on corruption matters.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is acting for a number of high-profile individuals in overseas investigations. The highly recommended Elizabeth Robertson acted for several Pakistani cricketers subject to the Metropolitan Police investigation into spot fixing.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a highly regarded practice valued for its ‘strong technical ability’ and ‘dynamism and hunger’; it is a ‘very agile firm’, and ‘shows more flexibility and openness to change than many of the currently dominant players’. The team has expanded at junior level, and invests in ongoing secondment arrangements with major clients. Recent work includes defending the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) against a claim by JP Morgan in the English courts involving swap transactions and European local authorities, with BVG’s jurisdictional challenge currently on referral to the ECJ. Michael Barnett and Mark Gill are both highly recommended.

Within Commercial litigation, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Totally trustworthy on every level’, Addleshaw Goddard LLP attracted a range of new instructions in financial services litigation, and continued to be instructed by a Russian oligarch in relation to claims he brought in the High Court. Contentious head Richard Leedham specialises in insurance and reinsurance litigation; and John Kelleher leads on product liability matters. Ben Lowans and Mark Molyneux were promoted to the partnership.

Within Defamation and privacy, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘first-rate’ and ‘proactive’ team has a ‘strong’ reputation management practice, acting for well-known companies and their officers; it advises high-profile names such as Barclays Bank, British Airways, Co-Operative Group, Primark Stores and Tiger Aspect Productions. It also advises on defamation matters for its strong corporate client base. Practice head David Engel is ‘excellent’, and managing associate Korieh Duodu is also recommended.

Within International arbitration, tier 5

London and Leeds-based Simon Kamstra leads the group at Addleshaw Goddard LLP, which received new instructions from a number of FTSE 100 clients. Jon Tweedale, Jamie Harrison and Kent Phillips are also recommended, along with new partner Mark Molyneux.

Within Mediators Mediators

Within Acquisition finance, tier 6

Bolstered by the arrival in September 2010 of John Cutler from DLA Piper UK LLP, Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides ‘very commercial and pragmatic advice’ to an increasingly robust roster of banks that includes HSBC, RBS and Barclays. On the sponsor side, the firm has handled a raft of refinancings for 3i. Claire Denison is well regarded, and David Handy in Leeds is praised for his ‘focus on getting the deal across the line’.

Within Asset finance and leasing, tier 5

At Addleshaw Goddard LLP, the ‘excellent’ and ‘highly technical’ Rory MacCarthy is the principal contact for aviation finance instructions. Praised for his willingness to go ‘beyond the normal call of duty’, he advises an airline-focused client base that includes BA, LAN Chile, and Flybe. Manchester-based Andrew Maskill handles general equipment finance for a strong lender client base including BAL Global Finance and Investec Asset Finance.

Within Bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans , tier 5

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a growing presence in the London market as a result of some key hires in 2010, including ‘the commercially aware’ Dominic O’Brien from Herbert Smith LLP, and has picked up a greater level of corporate lending work for clients such as HSBC and Barclays. ‘Professional, knowledgeable, detailed and flexible’, O’Brien recently advised HSBC on the restructuring of Norbain Group. Other clients include RBS, Co-operative Group and National Australia Group.

Within Corporate restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s team is in the ‘premier league’ for insolvency matters, and is seeing a growing share of bigger-ticket restructurings; its roster of institutional clients has expanded to include non-clearing banks such as Allied Irish, Bayern LB, and Bank of Ireland. The ‘feisty and sure-footed’ Alison Goldthorp has ‘fantastic restructuring skills’, and has led on a number of large instructions for the firm. John Joyce continues to head the practice.

Within Islamic finance, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Always accessible and responsive’, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is expert in complex shari’ah-compliant real estate, funds and asset management. Clients include Gatehouse, CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad, and Coutts plc. Practice head Andrew Petry has ‘very good knowledge of Islamic finance’.

Within Securitisation, tier 5

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s Mark Thomas set up a third party financing structure for Citigroup’s supply chain finance programme, and advised Barclays Capital on the sale of its mortgage servicing arm to Capita. The firm represents many building societies, including advising the Chelsea on its merger with the Yorkshire and the resulting issue of contingent convertible bonds.

Within Trade finance, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP now has a dedicated trade finance practice, led by Claire Denison. Strong in litigation and supply chain finance, the firm counts Citibank and Bank Leumi as clients. Mike Davison, who joined from Squire Sanders Hammonds, is ‘a deal-focused lawyer with a true understanding of real-life commercial imperatives’.

Within Employee share schemes, tier 4

The ‘excellent’ team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP is ‘attuned’ to the ‘legislation, governance and best-practice’ developments in the sector. It acted for Capita Group on the incentives issues arising in several acquisitions, and advised Assura on share scheme matters. Michael Carter is ‘approachable’ and ‘considers the whole picture’.

Within Employment, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is instructed by FTSE 100 companies and financial services organisations, including Associated British Foods, BAE Systems, Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank. A highlight of 2010 was the successful defence of a whistleblowing case against Laing O’Rourke, involving an unusual award of an indemnity costs order; Michael Leftley, who ‘never fails to deliver’, was the key partner on this. Alasdair Simpson has a strong board-room following, and delivers ‘outstanding service in terms of responsiveness, effectiveness, and value for money’.

Within Pensions, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a specialist, national SIPPs and pensions product practice, and advises corporate and public sector clients as well as trustees. Recent transactional work includes advising new clients Wolseley, Barclays and the AA. Catherine McAllister, who recently completed a six-month secondment at Barclays, leads the pensions group, which includes Rachel Rawnsley, Jade Murray and litigator Susan Garrett.

Within Insurance and reinsurance litigation, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP advised Japanese reinsurer Aioi Nissay Dowa, a new client, on potential claims relating to World Trade Center liabilities exceeding $300m. Clients commend the ‘excellent service and commercial approach’, and practice head Richard Leedham is ‘very knowledgeable and user friendly’. The firm recruited Jamie Harrison from Winston & Strawn London, while Simon Twigden and Michael Green left to found niche litigation practice Enyo Law LLP.

Within Insurance litigation: for policyholders , Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP joins the ranking, with a rapidly growing reputation in policyholder representation. Practice head Richard Leedham led the team in acting for Standard Life in a £100m professional indemnity coverage claim testing liability to third-party customers for alleged mis-selling of pension funds.

Within Insurance: corporate and regulatory, tier 5

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s core strengths in non-contentious insurance work include regulatory advice, broker-related corporate matters, and distribution deals. The team, headed by David Heffron, advised Engage Mutual on its £270m acquisition of 25,000 policies from Ecclesiastical Life, and is advising Aviva on a distribution transaction.

Within Product liability: defendant, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is widely respected for its broad coverage, international capabilities and the reputation of John Kelleher. Recent instructions include defending GlaxoSmithKline against claims relating to its antidepressant drug Seroxat.

Within Oil and gas, tier 6

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s Andrew Petry is ‘an outstanding lawyer with in-depth knowledge of the business’. Rockhopper Exploration instructed the firm on three fundraisings and its hire of the Ocean Guardian drilling rig.

Within Overview,

Outside of the major City firms, national specialists have seen their piece of the pie increase as projects become more standardised. Practices at Pinsent Masons LLP, Eversheds LLP and Addleshaw Goddard LLP all continue to rise in profile.

Within Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables) , tier 4

In 2010, Addleshaw Goddard LLP hired Roger Clayson, former head of legal at the NDA, as legal director. The practice encompasses conventional energy, nuclear and renewables, and was recently instructed by Geothermal to review the regulatory regime in England and Wales.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI) , tier 4

Michael O’Connor’s team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP saw the departure of Richard Guit in 2010, but welcomed the arrival of legal director Roger Clayson from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). Waste is a prolific area for the firm; it recently advised Biogen Greenfinch on five food waste treatment procurements.

Within Education: schools, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has strong sector experience within the projects field, and continues to act in Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes on behalf of sponsors, subcontractors and local authority clients. Nancy McGuire leads the team from Manchester.

Within Healthcare, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s transactional practice continues to act on PFI/PPP health projects, and in 2010 advised on transformational schemes and possible judicial reviews within the sector. Highlights included advising a group of public sector partners on the redevelopment of the former Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester. Head of infrastructure, projects and energy Michael O’Connor leads the team with healthcare head Sandra Humphrey.

Within Local government, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP acted for Cheshire West and Cheshire Council on the transfer of two-thirds of the council’s leisure business back to the council. The team is currently advising City of London on its procurement and procure-to-pay outsourcing scheme, and the Homes and Communities Agency on varying its £40m funding of the Kidbrooke Vision regeneration scheme in Greenwich. Mike O’Connor co-heads the team with Andrew Pettinger, who is undertaking a part-time secondment at Luton Borough Council.

Within Commercial property, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP fields ‘a very strong team with real client focus’. It acts for every active major lender in the UK real estate market, and its funds practice is thriving. Asset management and restructuring are busy areas, and the firm advised Anglo Irish Bank on enforcement options regarding a £100m portfolio. Adrian Collins heads the team, and the ‘very bright and technically excellent’ Jane Hollinshead is highly regarded. Alan Duncan and Lucy Sturrock are also recommended, as are managing associates Andrew Martin and Tony Norris.

Within Construction, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP advised The University of Oxford on the £20m development of the Said Phase 2 building for executive education, and also advised new client Hyundai Engineering Co Ltd in LCIA arbitration proceedings concerning a power station in Nigeria. On the contentious side, Mark Hilton is ‘a true marketer and first-class lawyer to boot’, Simon Palmer has ‘great charm’, and Jonathan Tattersall is a ‘good all-rounder’. Andrew McVeigh leads on non-contentious matters.

Within Environment, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides ‘very thorough, appropriate advice’ on regulatory and compliance issues, and has ‘in-depth industry knowledge’. A substantial portion of the practice involves transactional support for clients such as Brunner Mond and Travelodge, but the team also recently advised Threadneedle and new client Semparian Capital Management on CRC regulations. Practice head Claire Sheppard ‘applies her high knowledge to clients ’ issues in a thorough way’.

Within Planning, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s expertise includes waste, infrastructure and retail developments as well as projects in the City. Highlights included a successful appeal for J Sainsbury to win consent for extending its Chesterfield store. Other clients include Taylor Wimpey and Peel Environmental. Practice head Marnix Elsenaar is recommended for advice on energy-from-waste projects.

Within Property finance, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP focuses on bank-led finance work, particularly for German lenders, and is ‘familiar with issues affecting the banks’. It advised a bank syndicate on a £121m development facility for The Heron in London, and a syndicate led by Bayerische Landesbank on acquisition financing for Bishops Square in Spitalfields. ‘Extremely commercial’ senior partners Emmett Peters, Dave Wilson, Alan Duncan and Martin O’Shea demonstrate ‘impressive willingness to go the extra mile’. Andrew Besser, Paul Salsbury and James Salford are also recommended.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

At Addleshaw Goddard LLP, ‘queries are answered quickly, precisely and professionally’. The team remains busy on asset management work for institutional landlords and retailers such as Standard Life, Scottish Widows, Primark and Travelodge, and has seen an increase in litigation arising from break notices. Practice head Andrew Blower is ‘personable and knowledgeable’.

Within Social housing: finance, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is ‘the law firm of choice’ for social housing finance. It advises on ALMO transfers, and ISDA and LSVT transactions, and recently acted on a three-layered secured loan facility. It acts extensively for Yorkshire Building Society. National head of banking Richard Papworth is recommended, as is social housing team head Lee Shankland, who has a ‘pragmatic, commercial’ approach. Knowledgeable legal director Nick Barlow is also recommended.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Manchester-based Paul Bentham heads Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘commercial, responsive’ team, which advised Liverpool FC on brand filing strategies. James Whittaker advised PZ Cussons on its acquisition of the St. Tropez brand. The group handles trade mark portfolio work for Harrods, Home Retail Group and Kickers International.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Led by senior partner Monica Burch, Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s national group handles non-contentious work for brands such as Sainsbury, and advises Primark Stores on contentious IP matters. Clients appreciate its ‘good service and response times’. Emma Armitage is ‘tenacious in following up strong arguments to maximum effect’; and the ‘diligent, commercial’ Jamie Harrison is an ‘excellent, client-focused partner’. Paul Bentham in Manchester handles trade mark matters for Alexander McQueen.

Within IT and telecoms, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is commended for its ‘significant depth of resources and talent’ and ‘first-class, timely’ advice to financial services and public sector clients. Managing associate Marc Cropper assisted Sainsbury with its Coupon-at-Till system and a new fuel monitoring system. ‘Strong negotiator’ Michael Lowry, who heads the London team, is advising Digitalk Group on mobile virtual network aggregator arrangements with Vodafone. Rona Bar-Isaac joined from WilmerHale, and Mark Deem was promoted to partner. Outsourcing specialist Damon Rosamond-Lanzetta, a managing associate, is ‘reliable, honest and forthright’.

Within Pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s John Kelleher is defending GlaxoSmithKline in a group litigation order relating to Seroxat, one of 2011’s leading cases on the application of the Consumer Protection Act to pharmaceutical products.

Within Sport, tier 4

Addleshaw Goddard LLP represents sports equipment suppliers, supporters and sponsors, advising on sponsorship, litigation and corporate issues, and also advises governing bodies. The ‘outstanding’ James Whittaker, who heads the department from Manchester, advises adidas on sponsorship and advertising. Ian Hargreaves and Manchester-based Jonathan Davey are also recommended. The former recently advised Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd in disputes and regulatory matters, and the latter advised Sainsbury’s on sponsoring the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

Within Aviation, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Rory MacCarthy’s team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP may be smaller than many of its competitors, but it acts for an impressive number of leading aviation clients, including British Airways, LAN Chile, Rolls-Royce, American Airlines and Aviation Capital Group. Advising LAN Chile on its $3.4bn purchase of 50 Airbus A320 aircraft was the group’s largest deal in 2010; other highlights included advising on slot agreements for a major airline, and representing a leasing client on the default termination of an aircraft lease agreement and the repossession and deregistration of the aircraft. Andrew Smith, who focuses on operational work and regularly acts for British Airways, joined from Taylor Wessing LLP.