The Legal 500

Within Commercial contracts, tier 5

Commercial contracting work goes to the heart of Kemp Little LLP’s practice. As well as a being a ‘niche firm for IT outsourcing’, it handles procurement, supply and facilities management mandates, and is noted for its ‘good competitive rates’. The team advised FTSE 100 technology company Smiths Group, a longstanding client, on a strategic offshore outsourcing contract, and Accenture in relation to the provision of outsourced services to the Department for Work and Pensions, a deal worth more than $100m per annum. Richard Kemp and head of outsourcing Paul O’Hare are highly rated.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Kemp Little LLP is a second tier firm,

Kemp Little LLP’s ‘responsive and pragmatic’ corporate team ‘always brings the right level of expertise and resources to bear’, with a focus on technology and media businesses. In 2011 it acted for Thomson Reuters (Markets) on its acquisition of GFMS, a gold and precious metals pricing data business. Andy Moseby is ‘a pleasure to work with’.

Within Venture capital, tier 6

Praised for its ‘partner-led approach’, Kemp Little LLP’s small team provides ‘very commercial advice’ and a ‘real understanding of the legal nuances’, in particular to investee companies in the technology and digital media sectors. Team head Charles Claisse is ‘very focused and brings a good, pragmatic and commercial approach to negotiations’.

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, tier 7

The ‘commercial’ David Williams leads the practice at Kemp Little LLP, advising a client list including bmi, Charteris plc, and Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Trust on tribunal claims, outsourcing projects and restrictive covenant litigation, among other matters.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Kemp Little LLP’s Paul Garland is ‘a strong and measured lawyer who has built up a very capable team of IP lawyers’ to handle technology-related IP matters. Clients include SITA, the Financial Times Group, and McKesson.

Within IT and telecoms, Kemp Little LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Very sensible, thorough and commercial’, Kemp Little LLP is ‘expert in all aspects of the highly complex and rapidly evolving field of ICT and telecoms law’. The practice recently handled global outsourcings, and also advised financial services sector clients. Team head Richard Kemp ‘always gives pragmatic views and solutions, and a good feel for what is current best industry practice’. Calum Murray, who ‘delivers a smart, personal service and is always on top of both commercial and legal issues’, acted for Expedia on contractual arrangements for telecoms and technology services. Outsourcing head Paul O’Hare ‘has lots of experience and a strong network, which he uses to maintain bang-up-to-date market information’.

Within Media and entertainment, Kemp Little LLP is a second tier firm,

Kemp Little LLP adopts ‘a pragmatic, commercial approach’, and has expertise in digital media. Practice head Calum Murray and IP partner Paul Garland now represent LOVEFiLM, following its acquisition by Amazon. Murray also acts for Activision and Ubisoft. Paul O’Hare advised digital media agency AKQA, and Andrew Moseby’s team advised Thomson Reuters on nine acquisitions. The group recruited Glafkos Tombolis from Charles Russell LLP and consultant Rachel Boothroyd from WTS Development.