The Legal 500

North West: Corporate and commercial

Corporate and commercial: Manchester

Corporate and commercial: Manchester - ranked: tier 2

Gateley Plc

Highlights for Gateley Plc’s ‘quality practice’ included advising Palatine Private Equity on the £37m sale of Electranet to Capita, and assisting Palatine Private Equity with the MBO of Vernacare. National department head Charles Glaskie is ‘first class’ and is supported by Nigel Brown, who specialises in funding and public company work and leads on Asia-related instructions; Rebecca Grisewood and Paul Jefferson, who are recommended for private equity work; and Khurshid Valli, Mark Halliwell and Chris Dunn, who focus on acquisitions and disposals.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

Corporate tax

Corporate tax - ranked: tier 2

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

At Gateley Plc, legal director Richard Clitherow works closely with the firm’s Birmingham office to advise clients across the North West.

[back to top]

North West: Dispute resolution

Banking litigation

Banking litigation - ranked: tier 4

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

[back to top]

Commercial litigation: Manchester

Commercial litigation: Manchester - ranked: tier 4

Gateley Plc

Gateley Plc is a ‘strong player in the North West’ and acts for clients such as British Medical Association, Alpha Panareti Public and CHUBB Insurance. Janine Allen and Sarah Sabin jointly lead the team.

[back to top]

North West: Finance

Banking and finance

Banking and finance - ranked: tier 3

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Gateley Plc’s team acts for lenders and borrowers including AIB Group (UK), Beechbrook Capital, Palatine Private Equity and NM Rothschild & Sons. Department head Richard Sealy is recommended. Senior associate Richard Cowan joined from Pannone Corporate LLP in 2016.

[back to top]

Insolvency and corporate recovery

Insolvency and corporate recovery - ranked: tier 2

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

The ‘excellent’ team at Gateley Plc advised Intertain on its restructuring and the successful implementation of a company voluntary arrangement of the trading subsidiary. Key figures include the ‘exceptional’ Andrew Buchanan, legal director Gavin Clarke, and senior associate Danielle Haston, who delivers ‘robust advice’.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

North West: Human resources

Employment

Employment - ranked: tier 1

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Gateley Plc’s ‘very reliable’ team is led by the ‘very experienced, commercial and personable’ Michael Ball, who has particular expertise in the retail and leisure sectors. The team is also noted for its expertise in the healthcare, insurance, energy, sport and travel sectors. Clients include Halfords Autocentres and The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group. Chris Thompson provides ‘robust and professional advice’.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

Immigration

Immigration - ranked: tier 1

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Led by senior associate Rizwana Ishaq, Gateley Plc is an established name for immigration advice. Key clients include Manchester City Football Club and DJI Holdings.

[back to top]

Pensions

Pensions - ranked: tier 2

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Clients of Gateley Plc include CILIP, the British Medical Association and Frank Roberts & Sons Limited Pension Scheme. Patrick Kennedy heads the team, which advises on innovative funding issues such as asset backed funding structures for pensions.

[back to top]

North West: Real estate

Commercial property: Manchester

Commercial property: Manchester - ranked: tier 3

Gateley Plc

Dean Copley and Darren Hughes head the team at Gateley Plc, which attracts praise for ‘getting under the skin of complex matters’. It advised London & Manchester Healthcare on the development of a number of care homes, and acted for Liveman Properties on the development of The Dock Office in Salford Quays. Gareth Atkinson is also recommended.

[back to top]

Construction

Construction - ranked: tier 3

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

The ‘strong’ team at Gateley Plc acts for clients such as ACE European Group, Keepmoat and Manchester City Football Club. Contentious team heads Karen Spencer (who is ‘excellent on disputes’) and Emlyn Hudson (who is ‘first-rate’) are recommended alongside senior associate Hayley Sullivan, who heads the non-contentious team.

[back to top]

Planning and environment

Planning and environment - ranked: tier 5

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

[back to top]

North West: TMT (technology, media and telecoms)

IT and telecoms

IT and telecoms - ranked: tier 2

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Gateley Plc’s ‘very skilled and technically able team’ is headed by Peter Budd, who combines ‘excellent legal and technical knowledge with good commercial sense and strong negotiation skills’. Budd has extensive experience in data flows, cloud computing and large-scale IT procurement. Clients include Lookers and Ladbrokes.

Leading individuals

[back to top]

Intellectual property

Intellectual property - ranked: tier 2

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Led by the ‘technically able’ Jonathan Moakes, Gateley Plc’s team acts for a host of major clients including Harman Technology. It has been advising Manchester City Football Club on copyright and trade mark issues relating to the adoption of a new badge by the club. John Burns is recognised for his expertise in brand licensing and legal director Robert Lye is recognised for his work on contentious matters.

[back to top]

Media and entertainment

Media and entertainment - ranked: tier 1

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

The ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic’ John Burns at Gateley Plc is ‘very experienced in the music sector’. Clients include production companies, musicians, film companies, record labels, authors, management and software developers.

[back to top]

Sport

Sport - ranked: tier 1

Gateley Plc (Manchester)

Gateley Plc has a team of ‘strong advisers that is trusted across the board by clubs, players, regulators and commercial stakeholders’. It was recently appointed as key legal adviser to Sport and Recreation Alliance. Other clients include Everton FC and International Netball Federation. John Burns has a ‘real presence in the market’ and heads the ‘excellent, dynamic and well-connected’ team.

Leading individuals

[back to top]