The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Cumbria, Burnetts is a first tier firm,

At Burnetts, practice head John Noctor (‘an expert who can very quickly assess a situation and provide clear advice on very complex transactions’) recently advised on the Gen II and Energus merger, and Vaughan Jones acted for DFB Housing Solutions in its bid to become FSA authorised. Public sector clients include Cumbria County Council.

Within Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North, Burnetts is a first tier firm,

Patricia Hall leads the four-solicitor team at Burnetts, which includes new arrival Sian Spencer from Cumbria County Council. The team recently acted in architect and developer disputes, and in agency agreement disputes in the agricultural sector. It counts UCLan and the CN Group as clients.

Within Employment, Burnetts is a third tier firm,

Burnetts’ team is considered a ‘credit to the legal profession and a credit to Carlisle’. Compromise agreements, major restructurings and tribunal claims kept the team active in 2010. The ‘industrious and personable’ Kuba Strycharczyk advised multiple public bodies on equal pay issues, and the ‘valued’ Natalie Ruane acted for an HIV-positive client in a disability discrimination case against his NHS employer. Part-time employment tribunal judge John Morris is very well respected by clients, and heads the team.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Burnetts is a second tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ nine-fee-earner team at Burnetts, which is praised for its ‘real commitment to clients’, recently represented families at inquests, and several women who were wrongly given the all-clear in relation to breast cancer. The ‘highly experienced’ Angela Curran and practice head Vicki Jagger have neonatal injury expertise.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Burnetts is a third tier firm,

Burnetts’ Nick Gutteridge settled a multimillion-pound claim for a C6 incomplete tetraplegic client injured in a farm accident, and a £180,000 claim for a fisherman injured by a trawler.

Within Professional negligence, Burnetts is a third tier firm,

Burnetts has a niche negligent conveyancing offering, and is currently advising on claims against an accountant and a firm of family law solicitors. Patricia Hall is the key contact.

Within Agriculture and estates , Burnetts is a third tier firm,

Richard Miller’s team at Burnetts recently advised on the sale of a £2.75m farm in Cumbria, and the cross-border sale of a farm and former animal testing laboratories to a US buyer. It also acted for Lloyds TSB Bank and Clydesdale Bank on multimillion-pound agriculture financing transactions.

Within Family, Burnetts is a third tier firm,

Burnetts exclusively acts for private clients, and recently handled a high-value farming divorce and an application for a residency order by a set of grandparents.

Within Education, Burnetts is a second tier firm,

Burnetts’ team counts UCLan, 12 active further education colleges and all of the academies in Cumbria as clients. Recent highlights include advising Seaton Infant School in Workington on its transfer to academy status. John Morris is the key contact.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in the North, Burnetts is a first tier firm,

Burnetts continues to advise UCLan on its £80m development at Burnley College, and on Blackburn College’s new £60m campus.

Within Construction , tier 4

Burnetts’ practice head John Priddle is currently advising Thomas Armstrong, a major construction and civil engineering contractor, on a £4m development in Kendal.

Within Planning, tier 4

Douglas Claxton is the key contact at Burnetts.