The Legal 500

Within EU and competition EU and competition

Within Flotations: small and mid-cap, Charles Russell LLP is a third tier firm,

Simon Gilbert at Charles Russell LLP advised Origo Partners on its $32.5m AIM placing. Clive Hopewell and Adam Carling advised Centamin Egypt on moving its corporate domicile to Jersey, which involved listing on the LSE main market.

Within M&A: mid-market, £50m-£250m, tier 4

‘Responsiveness and a willingness to take the time to understand the client’s business’ are attributes of Charles Russell LLP’s transactional practice, which navigated challenging market conditions to advise on £1.75bn-worh of deals in 2011. Highlights included advising European heating company BDR Therma Group on its initial acquisition of a 60% stake in Baxi Holdings and the subsequent purchase of the remaining 40%. Practice head Simon Gilbert is recommended.

Within Fraud: civil, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP’s team includes the ‘intelligent’ John Sykes and the ‘tenacious’ Stewart Hey. It is acting for Barclay Pharmaceuticals/AAH Pharmaceuticals in an action to recover substantial damages in connection with an allegedly fraudulent letter of credit. Other key clients include AWAL Bank BSC (in administration). Jonathan Ellis is also recommended.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Charles Russell LLP is ‘good at interpreting client needs’. The practice advised in an action to recover multimillion-pound damages resulting from a fraudulent letter of credit scheme. John Sykes is department head; and Patrick Russell, Stewart Hey, Edward Craig and Jonathan Ellis are other key figures.

Within Defamation and privacy, Charles Russell LLP is a third tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP is rated for its ‘great expertise’, ‘specialist personnel’ and the ‘size and calibre of its team’. Highlights included defending Noel Gallagher in a libel and malicious falsehood claim brought against him by his brother Liam Gallagher, and acting for the government of Norway in relation to a libel claim brought against the Ministry of Justice and police by an English solicitor. The team is ‘always available and helpful’, and practice head Duncan Lamont ‘understands journalists’; his ‘understanding of the emerging law of privacy is particularly helpful’.

Within Professional discipline, tier 4

Charles Russell LLP’s David Reissner is ‘in a league of his own’ when it comes to pharmacy-related matters; the firm is ‘pre-eminent’, and has ‘specialist knowledge’ in the field, and provides regular advice to the National Pharmacy Association. It also advises Sainsbury’s and DAS Legal Expense Insurers.

Within Investment funds Investment funds

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP has ‘excellent sector knowledge’, and continues in expansion mode under the leadership of Michael Powner, recruiting Bob Mecrate-Butcher from Pinsent Masons LLP and attracting new clients such as Sports Direct and City & Guilds of London Institute. Powner ‘challenges when appropriate, but is always supportive and commercially focused’. Nick Hurley is noted for his skill in fund management and City issues.

Within Pensions, tier 6

The team at Charles Russell LLP is ‘impressive and responsive’, and ‘goes the extra mile for its clients’. Caoimhe O’Neill and Michael Jones are building a solid pensions practice, and are recommended. Clients include Westminster Abbey, Pan Governance, and the EQL Pension Fund.

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence

Within Agriculture and estates, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Led by the highly regarded Christopher Page, Charles Russell LLP’s offering is split between London and Cheltenham. Page’s team carries out high-value tax and succession planning, as well as advising on the provision of loan facilities, high-value agricultural probates, and offshore matters. Robert Blower has expertise in heritage property exemptions, and Bart Peerless is expert in tax matters; both have superb reputations.

Within Art and cultural property, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP represents ‘unbeatable value for money’. Robert Blower ‘untangles complexities with disarming ease’; Suzanne Marriott has ‘a deep interest in her subject which underpins her expertise’; and solicitor Victoria Holvik is ‘well informed, logical, and exceptionally clear’. The firm acts for Sotheby’s across a range of art-related contractual, employment, and corporate matters. It also provided advice to a complex multimillion-pound estate in respect of the donation of a significant collection of Old Master works.

Within Charities and not-for-profit, tier 4

The ‘incomparably skilled’ team at Charles Russell LLP has ‘strength in depth beyond partner and associate level, with invaluable client care provided by assistants and trainees’. The firm has expertise in the military, education, and health sectors, and is also notable for its experience in dealing with charities set up as Royal Charter companies. The ‘precise’ Lynn Povey ‘will work all hours to conclude a deal’; Mike Scott’s knowledge is ‘unrivalled’; and assistant Sarah Rowley is ‘impressive’. Longstanding clients include Marie Curie, Alzheimer’s Society, and Eton College.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Charles Russell LLP is a third tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP has ‘substantial fire power’, and applies a ‘rigorous, sophisticated approach to litigation’. The firm is advising a beneficiary of a Far Eastern estate in a dispute over family assets including cash, property and gold. Duncan Elson is ‘experienced and unflappable’; and Suzanne Marriott and Patrick Russell are also recommended at partner level. Solicitor James Lister ‘anticipates all angles’.

Within Court of Protection, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP is ‘rated very highly’ on the conventional private client side of Court of Protection work. David Long is ‘a respected professional deputy in complex cases’; and Suzanne Marriott has ‘considerable experience and a substantial client base’. Marriott is a member of the Office of the Public Guardian’s panel of deputies.

Within Family, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP is noted for its ‘collegiate atmosphere’, and is ‘particularly attuned to mediation’, an area in which Sarah Anticoni has a strong reputation. The firm is also well known for cases involving farming, trusts, and estates. A group led by Tanya Roberts and Amy Radnor successfully represented a Japanese mother in the leave-to-remove case J v S. William Longrigg is ‘urbane and cool headed’, and Richard Collins is ‘outstanding’.

Within Overview,

On the family front, firms such as Charles Russell LLP, Hughes Fowler Carruthers Ltd, Manches LLP, Payne Hicks Beach, Stewarts Law LLP and Withers LLP compete for a small pool of ultra-high-net-worth work which tends to be litigation-oriented and is invariably multi-jurisdictional. At the same time, there is a trend for other forms of dispute resolution, whether it be arbitration, collaboration, or mediation, with Family Law in Partnership LLP a notable pioneer.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘strong’ team at Charles Russell LLP is noted for offshore work, in addition to its core will-writing strength. In one highlight, Robert Blower advised a prominent Middle Eastern family on a multibillion-pound property restructuring. Bart Peerless and George Duncan are highly recommended; Piers Master ‘exudes competence’; and Suzanne Marriott is a ‘real star’.

Within Mining and minerals, tier 5

Charles Russell LLP ‘provides a high standard of service’. Highlights for Clive Hopewell’s Africa-focused team included advising Centamin Egypt on its successful $11.75m bid for PLUS-listed Sheba Exploration.

Within Education: schools, Charles Russell LLP is a third tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP advises various independent schools, including Lord Wandsworth College and Eton College. Team co-heads Andrew Cameron and Duncan Elson are recommended, as are associates Sarah Chiappini and Helen Hutton.

Within Healthcare, tier 4

Charles Russell LLP advises various pharmaceutical and dental clients including Lloyds Pharmacy, National Co-operative Chemists and new client J Sainsbury, and recently successfully defended Teva Pharmaceuticals in a case concerning abuse of a dominant position. The ‘expert’ David Reissner heads the practice, and has ‘excellent knowledge of the pharmacy market’. New partner Noel Wardle is also recommended. Senior associate Jenin Khanam, who specialises in dental issues, joined in 2011 from Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP.

Within Commercial property, tier 4

Charles Russell LLP’s practice spans the charity, technology, healthcare, retail, design and leisure sectors, and is particularly strong on the investment side, where it acts for Aberdeen Asset Management portfolios. Recent mandates include advising Trevor Osborne Property Group on renegotiating a £40m development agreement. Lynn Povey, Simon Davies and Simon Ewing are ‘excellent on all counts’.

Within Property finance Property finance

Within Property litigation, Charles Russell LLP is a third tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP provides residential property advice to estate owners and not-for-profit entities, and a growing number of commercial clients instruct the team on dilapidation claims and business tenancy renewals. Clients include Ballymore Group. Team head Robert Highmore has ‘in-depth knowledge of his subject area’, and ‘strategic litigator’ Emma Humphreys shows ‘good commercial awareness’.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Charles Russell LLP ‘considers matters from both a business and legal perspective, which is rare and valuable’. It handles IP protection and enforcement matters for clients such as Arcadia Group, Nike International, Cadbury UK, and Wagamama. Trade mark attorney Kate O’Rourke ‘gives practical advice’, and Mary Bagnall has ‘in-depth knowledge of UK trade mark and copyright law, and is extremely detail oriented’, with particular expertise in protection issues for shape and colour trade marks.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Charles Russell LLP has recently handled some significant contentious matters alongside its transactional work, and also has a trade mark filing practice, led by Kate O’Rourke. Ian Wood has been representing Mölnlycke and Sandvik in patent disputes. Patrick Gearon acted for the claimant in MMI Research v cellXion, and represented Nike in OHIM oppositions. Mary Bagnall advised Cadbury in defending opposition proceedings regarding protection for its purple colour trade mark.

Within IT and telecoms, tier 4

Charles Russell LLP gives ‘solid, commercially pragmatic advice’ on IT and telecoms matters, recently advising the government of the Bahamas on privatising its telecoms company, and online publisher Miniclip on e-commerce issues. Practice head Vincenzo Lanni has ‘vast experience’ in international matters. Mark Moncreiffe adopts ‘a calm yet authoritative stance in negotiations’.

Within Media and entertainment, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP’s ‘impressive, practical and commercial’ team advised ITV on broadcasting and regulatory issues and on Project Tunnel, the sale and purchase of Channel Television Holding by ITV Broadcasting. Duncan Lamont heads the practice, which also includes Mark Moncreiffe and Nick Armstrong, as well as Paul Stone, who advised joint venture YouView on regulatory issues. Lamont represented Noel Gallagher in a dispute with Liam Gallagher. Digital content specialist Vanessa Barnett, who is recommended for ‘great technical knowledge and skills without being overly legalistic’, advised new client Westfield on digital media initiatives. Jason Saiban and the ‘clear-thinking, practical’ Jaclyn Wilkins advised Ncsoft, the MMORPG publisher. Other clients include Channel 4, Nike, social media agency Made by Many, and publisher Seven Digital.

Within Sport, Charles Russell LLP is a second tier firm,

Charles Russell LLP has a ‘strong, dedicated sports law practice which is efficient, knowledgeable and responsive, and has a high level of commercial acumen’. The group acts for sports bodies, event organisers, clubs, sponsors and individuals across football, rugby union, athletics, horseracing, cricket and Formula One motor racing. Regulatory and disciplinary work is an area of strength, with recent work including re-drafting disciplinary regulations for the RFU and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU). The team is well known for representing The FA, is sole UK legal adviser to Nike’s sports and marketing division, and acts for Manchester United Merchandising Ltd. The firm also has a healthy practice in football transfers. Jason Saiban and associate Jonathan Walters are ‘good at giving practical and easily digestible advice’; Ian Lynam provides ‘first-class advice’; Jonathan Ellis and Patrick Russell are ‘very knowledgeable and pragmatic’; and Chris Evans and practice head Keir Gordon are also recommended.