Barton Legal Limited > Leeds, England > Firm Profile
Barton Legal Limited Offices
12 NEW ROAD SIDE
RAWDON
LEEDS
LS19 6HN
England
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Barton Legal Limited > The Legal 500 Rankings
Real estate > Construction Tier 2
Barton Legal Limited is a boutique firm that specialises in advising developers and contractors, as well as engineering and manufacturing companies, on large development and alteration projects. The team is also well equipped to act in high-value disputes related to contract breaches, project costs, and delays. Bill Barton, who leads the practice, is renowned as ‘a specialist who knows the sector inside out‘ and has wide-reaching expertise in both contentious and non-contentious mandates. Barton advises on contracts and documentation matters for a large volume of domestic and cross-border projects and is particularly noted for his expertise in the renewable energy sector.Practice head(s):
Bill Barton
Other key lawyers:
Harry Simpson
Testimonials
‘Very personable and approachable on all aspects. Fast turnaround on decisions is also a key attribute.’
‘Knowledge and experience of similar situations and the legal points governing these aspects. Bill Barton is outstanding in general, and he is growing a strong team around him, examples being Harry Simpson.’
‘Bill Barton is a specialist who knows the sector inside out!’
‘Bill Barton has built an excellent team, is pushing to innovate and collaborate. We have worked with Barton Legal on a range of projects and during the Covid pandemic witnessed their ability to adapt to new circumstances.’
‘We were interested in their capabilities relating to construction contracts (and specifically FIDIC contracts). We found their knowledge and understanding of the industry to be very good and insightful. What impressed us also was their attention to detail as well as their preference to find solutions rather than litigation as the way forward.’
‘Firstly, the legal advice is great. Secondly, you can’t get much more diverse than Barton Legal. Thirdly, you get more attention from Barton Legal than any other law firm I know.’
‘Bill Barton was focused and straightforward to deal with, providing exactly what was needed quickly and efficiently. Harry Simpson was patient and thorough with the contractor who did not have a full understanding of what was required to complete the contract.’
‘Bill Barton is a highly experienced individual who has a very different focus on his clients than others. The service provided is always personal and will always react to the client’s needs whatever the challenge. He is always focused on commercial outcomes. He always promotes dialogue with the other party, whatever the challenge, and will lead this dialogue where needed. Training support is provided to enable us to avoid challenges, and this up-front approach is of great benefit to our teams and clients.’
Key clients
ABM Precast Solutions Ltd
Brenntag UK Limited
Bush (Engineering Services) Ltd
Harepath SW19 Ltd
Stepnell Limited
WCO Properties Ltd
WW Medical Facilities Limited
Work highlights
- Advised WW Medical Facilities on the construction documents for a new £12m private hospital.
- Advised ABM Precast Solutions Ltd on its £5.6m claim against Matière SAS in respect of alleged breaches of contract relating to HS2.
- Advised Bush Engineering Ltd on its contract negotiations with Essar Oil.
Barton Legal Limited > Firm Profile
Barton Legal is a boutique firm, specialising in all aspects of construction and engineering, and commercial property. Based in Leeds and London, it has clients all over the UK, Italy, Switzerland, Tunisia, South Africa, Korea and China.
The firm: Barton Legal was formed in May 2007 as a niche firm, specialising in construction and engineering (contentious and non-contentious) and commercial property.
A highly specialised practice, it offers expert and commercial advice on a personal basis. It has a strong reputation for being practical, commercial and uncomplicated, with a forward-thinking approach and providing clear, unambiguous advice in plain language when communicating with clients. This approach has attracted such clients as Brenntag UK Limited, Falck Renewables Limited, Grimsby Fish Dock Enterprises, SER Sustainable Equity Return GmbH, Thorney Farm Developments Ltd, Infinergy Ltd, China Machinery Engineering Corporation, China Gezhouba Group Ltd, ABM Precast Solutions Ltd, Stepnell Ltd, Prax Lindsay Oil Refinery Ltd and A. Bush (Engineering Services) Ltd.
A further specialised area of expertise is working for other law firms that either do not have their own construction team, or whose team need additional support. Client firms include Wilkin Chapman LLP, Bridge McFarland LLP, HM3 Legal, Ashworths Solicitors LLP, Jury O’Shea LLP, AM Davies Solicitors, Yoon & Yang and Peters & Peters. Newstead & Walker, Nakamura Law Offices, Bell & Buxton Solicitors, Boardside Ltd, Hägen Wolf.
Fully engaged with the legal community, director Bill Barton is a past president of Leeds Law Society and has spoken at the IBA International Conferences in Sydney 2017, Rome 2018, Seoul 2019, Miami 2022 and will be speaking at the the Paris Conference in November 2023. Bill is also a regular speaker at international conferences on construction and engineering, such as the DRBF and will be speaking at the conference in Istanbul in October 2023.
The firm won the title of ‘Niche Law Firm 2016’ at the Yorkshire Legal Awards.
Recommended by:
British Legal Technology Awards: 2020 (Winner for Technology Venture of the Year)
Chambers & Partners: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 (Leading Individual)
Legal 500: 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (Leading individual)
Legal 500: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (Leading firm)
Yorkshire Lawyer Awards: 2016 (Winner Niche Law Firm)
Yorkshire Lawyer Awards: 2013 and 2014 (Highly Commended)
The Lawyer Awards:2014 (Shortlisted for Boutique Firm of the year)
In 2020 the firm demonstrated a pioneering solution required by the on-going impact of the pandemic, by successfully leading the first entirely remote trial in English legal history before the Technology and Construction Court. Barton Legal subsequently received recognition for this by winning ‘Technology Venture of the Year’ at the British Legal Technology Awards 2020.
Types of work undertaken
Construction and engineering: Barton Legal has particular expertise in renewable energy, such as wind, solar, biomass, as well as waste to energy. It also advises on contentious and non-contentious construction, ranging from office and leisure developments to flats and warehouses, large housing projects and civil engineering projects, as well as education and pharmaceutical. Additionally, the team has expertise in international litigation under ICC and LCIA, and mediation and adjudication. Its services are sought by both commercial clients and other law firms without construction expertise.
Barton Legal have a growing list of international clients. Examples include acting for law firms in Korea in relation to international disputes under English jurisdiction, to Chinese contractors working on diverse projects such as a $300million housing development in the Maldives and a £1.1billion dam project in Pakistan.
Commercial property: in combination with the team’s construction knowledge, the firm advises on all aspects of commercial property, including buying or selling land and/or buildings, promotion agreements and the granting and taking of options, and negotiation of s106 agreements, together with a variety of landlord and tenant-related matters, including negotiating leases, licences to assign and for alterations, deeds of variation and assignments and sub-leases.
The commercial property team is led by Director Trish Barton who has over 30 years experience in the sector and acts for a wide range of clients, from start-up business to multi-national plcs and works with all types of clients, whether individuals or sole traders, partnerships or companies.
The firm is also available for agency work.
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Senior partner | William A Barton | ||
Managing partner | Patricia K Barton | ||
Construction – non-contentious | William A Barton | ||
Construction – contentious | William A Barton | ||
Commercial property | Patricia K Barton | ||
Residential property | Patricia K Barton |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
Mr Bill Barton | Director | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 2 Number of other UK fee-earners : 6Languages
EnglishMemberships
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators International Bar Association Society of Construction Law Law Society of England and Wales Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association International Council for Commercial Arbitration Inter-Pacific Bar Association- Real estate > Construction