The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Manchester, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Gateley’s full-service corporate practice advises on a high volume of transactions. Among these, practice head Charles Glaskie acted for Gazprom Marketing & Trading and Eveden Group on disposals, and Rebecca Grisewood represented Air Energi Group shareholders on the company’s secondary buyout by LGV Capital. Key clients include Palatine Private Equity, Inspired Energy Group and MBE Mineral Technologies, while Boston Healthcare, Metronet and Kirona Group are among the firm’s new client wins.

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Within Corporate tax, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Gateley hired former Cobbetts LLP partner Richard Clitherow as the firm’s core Manchester-based corporate tax lawyer, offsetting the departure of Bernard McIlroy and Fiona Sutherland, who both left to set up MSA Law Limited.

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Within EU and competition, Gateley is a third tier firm,

Gateley’s Jonathan Moakes has strong experience in merger issues and Competition Act matters, particularly in relation to commercial, IP and IT agreements.

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Within Commercial litigation: Manchester, Gateley is a third tier firm,

Gateley’s practice includes contractual, shareholder, professional negligence and judicial review cases. It has recently handled a number of cross-border matters, and has particular expertise in the healthcare sector. Sarah Sabin leads the team on corporate, multi-party and surety claims work. Clients include Manchester City FC, Nuvia and BMA.

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Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Gateley’s team of ‘good-quality people’ advises major and high street banking groups as well as regional and blue-chip corporate clients. The ‘very knowledgeable’ Rick Sealy and Susan Molloy handle corporate, structured, leveraged and real estate finance transactions.

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Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Gateley provides ‘lots of experience and a value-for-money service’ on transactional acquisition and disposal work. Andrew Buchanan is ‘a tough negotiator who gives clear and practical commercial advice’. He advised Linder Myers LLP on its acquisition of Rowlands Field Cunningham, and advised directors of La Tasca on its voluntary arrangement.

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Within Employment, Gateley is a first tier firm,

Gateley’s large employment team recently advised the British Medical Association on the high-profile industrial action taken by over 100,000 of its members. Department head Michael Ball is ‘personable, detailed in his approach and reassuring as required’. Experienced advocates Stephen Hills and Chris Thompson are also highly regarded. Senior associate Rizwana Ishaq specialises in immigration matters.

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Within Pensions, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Led by Patrick Kennedy, Gateley’s pensions team advises clients such as Federated Flexiplan No. 1, Nuvia Limited and the British Medical Association across a wide range of issues. Ian O’Toole is recommended.

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Within Regional review Regional heavyweights

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Within Family, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Gateley has handled a number of significant divorce settlements, and is seeing an increasing number of Children Act instructions. Department head Elizabeth Hassall is ‘determinedly clear thinking and client focused without being combative’.

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Within Commercial property: Manchester, Gateley is a third tier firm,

Gateley recently represented WD Westgate Partners on a retail sector acquisition, and advised Santander on refinancing the Quorum Estates property portfolio. It also acted on regional developments, and has a number of retailer and occupier clients. Andrew Piatt heads the team.

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Within Construction, Gateley is a third tier firm,

At Gateley, Karen Spencer leads the firm’s bond and surety work and David Vayro focuses on procurement matters. The practice successfully acted for the claimant in ALHCO Group v Aster Properties. Clients include Manchester City FC, Nuvia, Aviva and HSBC.

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Within Planning and environment, Gateley is a third tier firm,

Gateley’s planning practice successfully won consent for Elan Homes to build residential housing on a greenbelt area, and Yorkcourt Properties to develop a community stadium in Wakefield. Andrew Piatt heads the team.

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Within Property litigation, Gateley is a third tier firm,

Gateley advises homebuilders and retail occupiers such as La Tasca Restaurants, Kwik Fit, Manchester Building Society and WD Westgate Partners. Senior associate Gary Bird is ‘very experienced and commercial, and understands clients’ needs’. He successfully acted for the defendant in Taylor v Couch, a case over rights of pre-emption.

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Within Intellectual property, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Gateley’s IP practice is led by experienced litigator Jonathan Moakes, who has ‘enormous experience and wisdom in IP matters’. John Burns is ‘knowledgeable of the industry, and has a personable and realistic approach in order to reach a quick resolution’. The department is handling IP licensing and development for a number of new clients in the biomedical field.

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Within IT and telecoms, Gateley is a second tier firm,

Gateley’s client base includes Legal & General, Stanleybet and Suffolk Life. In 2012, the firm advised on a variety of domestic and cross-border IT matters, including contract negotiations, outsourcing, and ERP procurement transactions. Peter Budd is the key contact.

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Within Media and entertainment, Gateley is a first tier firm,

Gateley recently advised Manchester Airport on its agreement with Garden Productions Limited in relation to a programme commissioned by Channel 4. Team head John Burns is also advising a client seeking to make an application under News Group Newspapers’ Voicemail Interception Compensation Scheme.

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Within Sport, Gateley is a third tier firm,

Gateley has a particular focus on licensing matters and acts for football, rugby and hockey clients. Team head John Burns is advising Manchester City FC on the franchising of its football academies.

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