The Legal 500

‘Once again a truly excellent service.’ Striving to achieve this level of satisfaction for each and every one of its clients is what makes distinctive regional firm BPE Solicitors the provider of choice for leading companies across the South West and further afield.

The firm: From offices in Cheltenham, BPE’s expert advisers work in partnership with business people and private individuals up and down the country to find innovative solutions to the legal obstacles they face.

PLCs, multinationals, entrepreneurs, local authorities and owner-managed businesses trust the firm to handle their legal affairs because, put simply, it delivers a gold-standard service.

Technical ability, commercial acumen and a proactive approach are a given for any adviser at BPE. What sets it apart from the competition is the unique experience and industry knowledge of its lawyers and their commitment to forging lasting relationships with the people and businesses for whom they act. Central to the firm’s success is the realisation that attracting, investing in and retaining high-calibre staff pays great dividends.

Types of work undertaken: In partner-led teams, BPE’s legal advisers provide guidance on a range of commercial and private matters, coming highly recommended in the following areas: corporate and commercial, commercial and residential property, construction, debt recovery, commercial litigation employment, IP and IT.

Corporate: adviser to many AIM-listed and public-listed clients, this team is regionally regarded as a market specialist. On a day-to-day basis it facilitates exits, strategic mergers and acquisitions, funding (including private equity/MBO/MBI) and flotation.

Commercial: a highly specialist department with a growing reputation for water-tight commercial advice. Strong in key areas, the team supports clients in e-commerce, competition, intellectual property, data protection, EU and high-value contractual matters.

Commercial and residential property: this dedicated team handles a full complement of property matters, from major acquisitions, disposals and leases to investment portfolio management and property delivery mechanisms. Clients praise the group for being ‘always on the ball and aware of the latest trends in the law’.

Employment: ‘top-rated’, ‘first-class’ and ‘excellent’ are just some of the superlatives used to describe this highly proactive team. With seven solicitors on hand, it has the strength and depth to provide prompt advice on contentious and non-contentious issues, including company reorganisations and redundancy programmes, TUPE, dismissals, discrimination, human rights and immigration.

Construction and engineering: this team has extensive regional and City experience. Members of the team provide practical advice on strategic procurement, building and engineering agreements and, where necessary, mediation, arbitration and litigation.

Commercial litigation: the seasoned negotiators and accredited mediators in the team have the experience to help clients avoid disputes arising where possible. If they do occur, they manage them with tenacity, balancing cost against benefit. Professional negligence, commercial contract, property, IP and IT disputes are just some of the areas where the firm can help.

Debt and asset recovery: with combined experience totalling 60 years, this team is well-equipped to provide expert advice to suppliers of both regulated and unregulated lending. In arranging the recovery of money and assets, it offers a professional, responsive and cost-effective service, managed through a bespoke collection and recoveries system.

Private client services and family: with a highly personal approach, this team takes time to understand what a client wishes to achieve before suggesting the best solution. Services range from inheritance tax planning, wills and deeds of variation, lasting powers of attorney and estate administration, to trusts and disputed wills. Private client services now incorporate the newly-acquired family team which provides solutions for matrimonial, child protection and cohabitation agreements.

Residential property: the residential property team handles the usual services for home movers and also has dedicated specialists for buy to let and new homes conveyancing. The team is recommended by national house builders to act for their purchasers. Using leading technology, the team handled more property transactions in 2011 than any other firm in Gloucestershire.

Other offices: Bath Science Park, Bristol and London

Number of UK Partners 20

Number of other UK fee-earners 43