The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Birmingham, Cobbetts LLP is a third tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP provides an ‘excellent service’; key figures include the ‘astute’ Nigel Gardner, the ‘clear’ Adrian Cutler, and Graham Muth, who is praised for his ‘keen business mind’. The team advised Village Hotels & Leisure on a wide range of issues including a sponsorship agreement with Dame Kelly Holmes. It also advised Rotary (UK) on its acquisition of CA Sothers.

Within EU and competition, Cobbetts LLP is a third tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP represented Walsall Council on state aid issues related to a series of investments in the Walsall region, and has also been advising on OFT cartels and merger investigations. Jonathan Branton is the principal contact.

Within Commercial litigation: Birmingham, Cobbetts LLP is a second tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP’s team includes ‘sharp and detailed thinker’ Andrew Leach and the ‘very bright’ Richard Whittingham. In one standout matter, the team acted for a Russian oligarch in the defence of a personal guarantee claim (worth $50m) in proceedings before the London Court of International Arbitration, involving the co-ordination of litigation in Cyprus and Russia.

Within Banking and finance , Cobbetts LLP is a third tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP advised NatWest on the provision of £18m development facilities to Drayton Manor Park Hotels. It acts for borrowers and lenders, and secured a number of key bank panel appointments in 2010. Ian Ilersic is ‘very experienced’, and has particular expertise in acting for banks in funding transactions in the healthcare sector.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , tier 4

At Cobbetts LLP, directors Alan Meiklejohn and recent addition Daryl Shorthose (formerly of Shoosmiths) are part of an ‘experienced and capable team’ which provides ‘proactive and robust advice’. Key mandates included acting for Begbies Traynor and RSM Tenon as administrators of Octavian. Zafar Rafiq left the firm.

Within Employment, Cobbetts LLP is a second tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP’s team provides ‘advice that is down to earth and well thought through’. The team successfully appealed race findings for a large PCT, and advised a housing association on the restructuring of its senior executive team. Ashley Norman ‘provides innovative ideas’, and Kathy Halliday is recommended for matters in the housing sector.

Within Regional review,

Areas of focus for Cobbetts LLP include the public sector and international work.

Within Charities, Cobbetts LLP is a second tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP’s ‘work is timely, accurate and well presented’. The group counts the Royal Agricultural Society of England and the MS Society as clients. Keith Mills heads the team.

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

Cobbetts LLP advised on setting up trusts to receive death-in-service benefits, and assisted a US lawyer with inheritance tax planning for UK and US based clients. Terry Cooper is ‘unflappable and very thorough’.

Within Local government, tier 4

Cobbetts LLP acts for clients such as London Universities Purchasing Consortium, Birmingham City Council and Renewable East. Tiffany Cloynes leads the team.

Within Commercial property: Birmingham, Cobbetts LLP is a third tier firm,

Adrian Watson is the key contact at Cobbetts LLP, which acted for W Wing Yip and Brothers Property and Investments in the acquisition of two investment portfolios, and whose other clients include Jaguar Land Rover and Accord Housing Group. Eleanor Deady has left the firm.

Within Construction, tier 4

Cobbetts LLP acted for Whitbread Premier on a number of projects, and resolved various performance issues, defect claims and fee claims for Conwy County Borough Council. It has also been involved in a number of prestigious international projects. James Bessey is recommended.

Within Social housing Social housing

Within Intellectual property, Cobbetts LLP is a third tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP’s ‘advice is always timely, relevant, and tailored to the client’s situation’. The group advised EMIS on the IP aspects of entering the AIM market and its subsequent acquisition of the majority of the share capital of RX Systems. Frances Anderson has a ‘quiet authority and no-nonsense approach that gets the deal done’.

Within IT and telecoms IT and telecoms

Within Media and entertainment , Cobbetts LLP is a second tier firm,

Cobbetts LLP won new clients such as BFC Media and Middle Ground Theatre Company, and continued to act for First Light Movies and Performances Birmingham. Frances Anderson is an ‘expert in contracts and rights for film making’.