BURLINGTON HOUSE, BOTLEIGH GRANGE BUSINESS PARK, HEDGE END, SOUTHAMPTON, SO30 2DF, ENGLAND
What we say about the firm's legal practice in South East
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Hampshire, tier 4
Following Sally Norcross Webb’s departure in December 2010, newly promoted partner Kelvin Balmont was called on to head the ‘excellent’ team at Clarke Willmott LLP, which also features Michael Storar. Together with the firm’s other offices, the Southampton team advised on the purchase of Evergreen Extra MSA Holdings.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation: Hampshire, Clarke Willmott LLP is a third tier firm,
Practice head Estelle Dimelor joined Clarke Willmott LLP from Spratt Endicott in January 2011. Senior associate Zoe Kirby has a ‘caring, effective and efficient approach’, and Paul Cox has expertise in contentious IP cases. The team provides a ‘good balance of legal and commercial advice’. Clients include Bandai and Sony.
Within Debt recovery Debt recovery
Finance
Within Banking and finance, Clarke Willmott LLP is a third tier firm,
‘Excellent in all areas’, Clarke Willmott LLP added HSBC and Lloyds to its client roster in 2010. It also advised on the £200m facilities relating to the acquisition of the Extra MSA chain of motorway service stations by Evergreen Real Estate Partners. Kelvin Balmont is ‘very responsive’.
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Clarke Willmott LLP is a first tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP impresses with its ‘insolvency knowledge and experience’ and ‘speedy responses’. Qualified insolvency practitioner Matthew Barker is a ‘sound strategist’, and advised RSM Tenon on the administration of a research and development business. Associate Maz Rahmati is a ‘powerful networker’. Clients include NatWest, Middleton Partners, Bibby Trade and Bibby Factors.
Human resources
Within Employment: Hampshire, Clarke Willmott LLP is a second tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP has a ‘friendly, client-facing attitude’. Practice head Mike Wilson is ‘outstanding’ and ‘operates in a commercially practical way’. The team draws on sector-specific expertise to act for social housing and sports clients. Clients include the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants, Bandai and several independent schools. The ‘extremely capable’ Marc Long is noted for his advocacy experience.
Insurance
Within Personal injury: defendant, Clarke Willmott LLP is a second tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP is ‘excellent’ on multi-track catastrophic injury cases, and its business acumen is ‘second to none’, although practice head Rod Evans has recently left for Greenwoods Solicitors.
Overview
Private client
Within Agriculture and estates Agriculture and estates
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Hampshire, Clarke Willmott LLP is a first tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP’s ‘first-rate’ practice continues to build a strong reputation and client base. Jessica Wiltshire is ‘absolutely brilliant’ and has an ‘an excellent approach in every way’. The firm is appointed to the panel of wealth management group St James’s Place.
Public sector
Within Local government Local government
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Hampshire Commercial property: Hampshire
Within Planning, Clarke Willmott LLP is a second tier firm,
Michael Mundy’s planning group at Clarke Willmott LLP continues to go from strength to strength, and saw a significant increase in public sector work in 2010. It welcomed 30 new instructions from the Isle of Wight Council on planning matters relating to development on the Island.
Within Social housing , Clarke Willmott LLP is a second tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP’s ‘professional and proactive’ cross-office team counts Arcadia and Guinness Hermitage as clients. Work highlights included advising on a £19m development. Practice head Anne Hayward has a ‘wealth of experience’.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Intellectual property , Clarke Willmott LLP is a second tier firm,
The ‘commercial, responsive and practical’ team at Clarke Willmott LLP delivers ‘a great service to rival any London firm’, with ‘second-to-none’ knowledge. The ‘superb’ Paul Cox ‘displays endless legal knowledge of IP law’. Estelle Dimelor joined from Spratt Endicott in 2010, and has contentious IP experience. Trade mark manager Philippa Olden is recommended.
Within IT and telecoms, Clarke Willmott LLP is a third tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP is advising the Association of Certified Chartered Accountants on the outsourcing of IT functions. Paul Cox handles IT disputes, and associate Chidem Aliss is recommended. The team is appreciated for its ‘incredibly fast response times’.
Within Sport, Clarke Willmott LLP is a first tier firm,
Clarke Willmott LLP’s standout sports practice is the ‘first port of call’ for many clients. The team has expertise across corporate finance, M&A, commercial rights, IP and regulatory work, and was appointed to the panel of UK Sport in 2010. It also advised Newmarket, Goodwood and others in the creation of the British Champions Series of Horseracing. Trevor Watkins provides ‘very good service’, and Bilal Mirza is also recommended. Southampton FC, Middlesex CCC and Venatrack are also clients.