The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire, Clarion is a third tier firm,

Clarion wins plaudits from clients and peers alike for its ‘outstanding’ practice, which is ‘highly client focused’ and offers ‘good value for money’. Recent client wins include Callcredit, Centrica and Kingspan. Christian Hunt is ‘personable and easy to work with’, and ‘highly informed about legal matters’. Richard Moran heads the team.

Within Crime, Clarion is a first tier firm,

The ‘reliable and astute’ Rob Rode leads the ‘very competent’ team at Clarion, which handles serious fraud and general crime matters. It has recently been instructed in an international money-laundering case and a property franchise fraud, and also worked on three large-scale drug conspiracy cases. The ‘excellent’ Steve Milner is recommended.

Within Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire, Clarion is a third tier firm,

Simon Young heads Clarion’s practice, which recently gained new instructions from Grattan and Hesco Bastion, and was appointed to the panel of Yorkshire Forward.

Within Debt recovery, tier 4

Andrew Howard heads the ‘effective’ debt recovery team at Clarion, which saw the arrival of Daniel Carlton from Ford & Warren. The team received instructions from new clients Sanderson Weatherall and the WYG Group in 2010.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Led by Christian Hunt, Clarion’s clients include HSBC, which recently appointed the firm to its commercial panel. It also acted for Co-operative Bank in relation to the provision of acquisition finance for the buyout of British Thornton Direct.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Clarion is a third tier firm,

The team at Clarion is ‘courteous and knowledgeable, and has strength in depth’. It continues to act for KPMG as supervisor of the CVA of Industrial and Corporate Finance, a subprime lender owing over £35m to creditors. Practice head Ryan Millmore is ‘particularly good’, and David Arundel has ‘an excellent working knowledge of the industry’.

Within Employment: West Yorkshire Employment: West Yorkshire

Within Regional review,

Other notable firms in Leeds include Cobbetts LLP; DWF LLP; Gordons LLP; Clarion; and Schofield Sweeney; and they are set to be joined by Dickinson Dees LLP, which has recently announced plans to move its Yorkshire base to the city from York. Harrogate is home to McCormicks, while Hull’s leading players include Rollits LLP and Andrew Jackson.

Within Agriculture and estates, Clarion is a second tier firm,

The team at Clarion continues to advise Camp Hill Estate, Bedale and the Outward Bound Trust. It also advised Leeds City College on the renegotiation of grazing licences.

Within Family: Leeds and West Yorkshire, Clarion is a third tier firm,

The ‘excellent, very professional’ team at Clarion, led by the ‘extremely knowledgeable and proactive’ Justine Osmotherley, has experience drafting high-value pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and in 2010 took on a number of collaborative cases.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Clarion is a third tier firm,

Sara Rogers heads the ‘excellent’ team at Clarion. The team’s response times are ‘fantastic’.

Within Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire, Clarion is a third tier firm,

Clarion delivers ‘speedy and cost-effective solutions’, and is ‘commercial, pragmatic, diligent and very attentive’. Martin Grange heads the practice, which has particular expertise advising housebuilders.

Within Property litigation Property litigation

Within Intellectual property , Clarion is a second tier firm,

The team at Clarion, led by Leigh Martin, is instructed by major national companies including Hermes, Pace, LNT Group, and Music Sales Limited.

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

Clarion’s team was bolstered by the arrival of Matthew Hattersley from Eversheds LLP. The team advises British Gas, Callcredit and Vocalink.

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

Clarion’s team acted for the BBC and Music Sales Limited, and also provided legal advice on Emmerdale scripts in 2010. It also advises on publishing issues, for clients such as Barker Brooks Media.

Within Sport, Clarion is a second tier firm,

The team at Clarion has a solid corporate client base and was bolstered in 2010 by the hire of head of IP Leigh Martin from Lupton Fawcett LLP and head of commercial Matthew Hattersley from Eversheds LLP; both regularly handles sports-related matters.