The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is an established player in the corporate market, with a particularly strong presence within financial services. Significant mandates included advising Yorkshire Building Society on the acquisition of Egg Banking’s £2.5bn Savings business and £430m mortgage business. It also advised 3i in connection with the sale of RBG to Stork Technical Services and Arle, closing the deal within six weeks. Yunus Seedat and Neil Woolhouse enjoy solid reputations in the market, and Tim Wheldon has re-joined the firm following a number of years in-house. Simon Pilling recently left to take up an in-house position.

Within Corporate tax, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s team is ‘technically strong’, and its ‘pragmatic approach is a key differentiating factor’. It recently advised Sainsbury’s on cross-border taxation issues, and has a strong client base within financial services, including Yorkshire Building Society and Santander. Justine Delroy is ‘experienced and practical’.

Within EU and competition, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

The full-service competition team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP continues to act for Sainsbury’s in respect of its immunity position in the OFT’s tobacco investigation. Other key highlights included acting for Quarmby Construction and its parent company St James Securities in appealing a decision fining them for participation in the construction cover pricing cartel. Adam Aldred, who is recognised for his ‘niche in competition litigation’, heads up the Leeds arm of the department.

Within Banking litigation, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a strong presence within financial services. Recent mandates within the litigation sphere include advising a major asset finance provider on an appeal to the Traffic Commissioner Appeals Tribunal. Key clients include Santander, HSBC and Barclays. Sally Butt leads the team, which includes Ian Hastings and Ben Lowans.

Within Commercial litigation: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s recent accomplishments include playing a key role in a judicial review for Luton Borough Council, which led to a re-evaluation of the government’s decision to cancel parts of the £8bn Building Schools for the Future programme without consultation. Other mandates included acting on a £100m misrepresentation and breach of trust claim following the £400m demerger of a leading gaming company. Simon Kamstra is one of the region’s few international arbitration specialists, and Mark Amsden regularly acts in high-value IT project disputes.

Within Banking and finance, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘exceptional’ team provides a ‘premium’ service with ‘partner involvement in key decisions’. The firm is on the panel of major banks such as HSBC and Santander, and new client wins include Royal Bank of Canada and Credit Suisse. The ‘hands-on’ David Handy provides ‘clearly articulated advice’. Lee Shankland heads the housing finance team, and is ‘proactive and always helpful’. Karen Sewell is ‘technically proficient, helpful and organised’. The team is also noted for its ‘technically strong senior associates’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP, ‘the obvious choice on more complex cases’, is commended for its knowledge of the sector and quick response times. Recent mandates include advising Deloitte as administrators of Discover Leisure, and Silentnight Group on refinancing and restructuring. Graham Briggs is ‘excellent at project managing, and running the more complex cases where direction and leadership are required’. Andrew Smith has ‘solid intellectual capital and experience’; Richard Bellamy has ‘an excellent client-focused personality’; and James Davison is ‘very proactive, and his attitude is that nothing is too much trouble’.

Within Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP focuses on discrimination claims, whistleblowing and TUPE support. It advised Wolseley in relation to boardroom terminations, and Emma Whiting represented Barclays and Network Rail in tribunals. Practice head Rob Riley instils ‘great confidence’.

Within Health and safety, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s lawyers have ‘the best possible skills’, and provide ‘swift and comprehensive advice’ of ‘exceptional quality’. Mike Elliker is a ‘consummate professional of the highest order’, and specialises in mining safety prosecutions.

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

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides a ‘superb level of service to trustees’, and regularly advises blue-chip clients on scheme closures and amendments. Rachel Rawnsley is at ‘the top of her game’, and is an ‘impressive debater’. Her ‘quick’ and ‘impressive’ team is adept in pensions litigation and SIPP matters, with Britvic and trustees of the Asda Pension Plan among its key clients.

Within Professional negligence: claimant, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s client roster includes a number of regional building societies and national high street banks. The team, led by Sally Butt, is experienced in handling claims against solicitors, IFAs and architects.

Within Regional review, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s banking and finance capabilities are undisputed, as is its quality and strength in real estate and competition. The firm had a busy year on a number of private equity deals, and it remains the primary adviser in the region on building society mergers.

Within Agriculture and estates, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a third tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP advises landed estates on inheritance issues and land transactions. Real estate lawyer James Stone works closely with the firm’s private client practice.

Within Charities, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP advises charitable trusts, amateur sports associations, and charitable funds on registration, M&A and tax structures. Private capital specialist Pervinder Kaur heads the group, and Paul Howell regularly advises on Charity Commission investigations.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Pervinder Kaur’s team at Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a strong base of entrepreneur clients and a growing Indian business practice. The group advises on succession issues, Beddoe applications and proprietary estoppel claims. Corporate partner Tim Wheldon provides additional tax planning expertise.

Within Project finance and PFI, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP ‘always provides a timely response with senior-level involvement’. Public sector mandates included advising Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council on its £300m Wave 3 BSF scheme, and acting for Manchester City Council and others in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities solar project. The firm also acts for energy clients such as BiogenGreenfinch and Centrica/British Gas. Richard Goodfellow and Sandra Humphrey are recommended.

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

Led by Nancy McGuire, Addleshaw Goddard LLP advises on infrastructure projects for government schools, and accommodation schemes for universities. The practice has experience in BSF projects, and has strong links with Partnership for Schools. Key clients include Sheffield City Council and Opal Student Accommodation.

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

Addleshaw Goddard LLP advises councils across the UK on outsourcing, real estate and state aid matters. It is particularly active in adult social care, and LIFT schemes. Practice head Andrew Pettinger led the advice to Stoke City Council and Hull City Council on their respective extra care projects.

Within Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is ‘consistently good’, and commands ‘huge respect’ in the market. It recently advised Stadium Group on the sale of a 50% joint venture interest in German shopping centre CentrO Oberhausen, valued at €1.3bn and comprising 1.6 million sq ft. It also advised Oakgate on developing a retail scheme in York to help deliver a new football and community stadium; and was instructed by Sainsbury’s Property Investments on four depot developments with a combined project value of around £500m. Paula Dillon and Bruce Lightbody are recommended.

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

Addleshaw Goddard LLP maintains a reputation for excellence in all aspects of construction work. David Shaw and the ‘extremely responsive’ James Reynolds lead on the non-contentious side, while experienced arbitrator Mark Hilton leads on contentious matters. Recent work examples include advising John Laing and The Co-operative Group on onshore wind farm developments at Billsthorpe and Coldham respectively, and acting for Sainsbury’s in connection with its ‘crystal schemes’. Reynolds is also the firm’s national head of nuclear.

Within Environment, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has been advising clients including British Gas on a number of anaerobic digestion waste-to-energy plants. It is also proficient in advising on the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme, with recent clients including Semperian Capital Management. Other clients include Strawson Holdings. Amanda Beresford heads the team.

Within Planning, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP recently acted for Strawson Holdings in relation to the Secretary of State’s decision in a planning appeal over the proposed redevelopment of a former RAF site for a mixed-use development scheme. It also advised British Gas and Doncaster Metropolitan Council, among others. Amanda Beresford is recommended.

Within Property litigation, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a first tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP is ‘very successful’ in the area of property litigation, and recently acted for Jolan and others in the high-profile case Crossco v Jolan. It continues to advise Standard Life, Scottish Widows and Threadneedle on asset management issues such as break notices, dilapidations and service charge disputes. Julie Middlemass is the key figure in the practice, and is currently advising British Land on contentious matters relating to the Meadowhall Centre in Sheffield.

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

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has longstanding experience in social housing finance. It recently acted for Santander and Lloyds TSB on the £355m refinancing of Riverside Housing Association, and for RBS and the European Investment Bank on providing £520m facilities to Wakefield & District Housing. New client wins in 2011 included Credit Suisse and Royal Bank of Canada. Lee Shankland heads the practice.

Within Intellectual property, Addleshaw Goddard LLP is a second tier firm,

Addleshaw Goddard LLP acts for FTSE 100 companies and retailers in relation to licence agreements, IP exploitation, and trade mark infringement. Ian Sampson heads the Leeds group, which works closely with its Manchester counterparts on IP litigation and brand management issues.

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

Addleshaw Goddard LLP provides ‘very high-standard’ advice that is ‘always delivered in a professional manner’. It acts for IT purchasers, and is increasingly advising private sector clients on outsourcing instructions. The firm’s reputation in the financial sector is well established, and it recently advised an international bank on the development of a mobile trading platform. SAP implementations, contract disputes and data warehousing are all areas of strength, and key clients include Reckitt Benckiser and AA/Saga. Ian Sampson heads the team.

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

Addleshaw Goddard LLP has a ‘respected pedigree in the sports industry’. The ‘excellent’ and ‘efficient’ team is highly regarded for its ‘commercial’ approach and ‘breadth of experience’. Adidas UK is a key client, and it recently advised FL Interactive on a digital platform, as well as acting for Canterbury of New Zealand on the replication of Leicester Tigers sports kits.