The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Hampshire, Coffin Mew LLP is a third tier firm,

Coffin Mew LLP’s ‘very strong’ team recently acted for the sellers in the £2.8m disposal of Frutina to Slush Puppie. Amanda Brockwell, Nick Gross and Owen Santry are key contacts, following Malcolm Padgett and Anne Morgan’s departure to set up their own insurance regulation practice.

Within Licensing Licensing

Within Commercial litigation: Hampshire, offin Mew LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘extremely professional and knowledgeable’ team at Coffin Mew LLP saw a steady stream of shareholder disputes and increased activity in restrictive covenant enforcement litigation in 2011. Christian Smith provides ‘invaluable support’, and Tim Gleeson is ‘a commercial law expert’.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Coffin Mew LLP is a second tier firm,

Coffin Mew LLP is highly regarded for its experience in advising on insolvent partnerships. Malcolm Niekirk and associate Heather Dobson are both ‘very helpful lawyers’, and recently acted for RSM Tenon Recovery, Begbies Traynor and Portland Business & Financial Solutions.

Within Employment: Hampshire, Coffin Mew LLP is a third tier firm,

Dorlee Monschau leads the team at Coffin Mew LLP, which saw an increase in healthcare, technology, education and charity matters. The firm handles both contentious and non-contentious mandates.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant Clinical negligence: claimant

Within Personal injury: claimant Personal injury: claimant

Within Regional review,

2011 also saw a number of new office openings, including Penningtons Solicitors LLP in Guildford and Birkett Long LLP in Basildon, growing its already significant Essex presence. In Hampshire, Coffin Mew LLP opened a larger Portsmouth office, and Moore Blatch LLP expanded its presence through a new Whiteley base. Despite this increased South East coverage for some, many firms are going through a period of consolidation. Charles Russell LLP closed its Oxford office; Blake Lapthorn shut its Winchester base; and Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP now operates from London and Watford following the closing of its Milton Keynes office.

Within Charities Charities

Within Family: Hampshire, Coffin Mew LLP is a second tier firm,

Coffin Mew LLP’s family practice is led by senior associate Sally Pike, who is ‘particulary wise and measured in her advice’. The firm focuses on divorce and financial issues. Chris Upfield is also recommended.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Hampshire Personal tax, trusts and probate: Hampshire

Within Commercial property: Hampshire, Coffin Mew LLP is a third tier firm,

Coffin Mew LLP impresses with its ‘very proactive and deal-focused approach’, and acts for clients such as Santander UK, Bargate Homes and the University of Portsmouth. Led by Victoria Walker, the department has niche expertise in pension property investment matters. Peter Fellows is ‘both technically proficient and very practical in his outlook’.

Within Social housing, Coffin Mew LLP is a first tier firm,

Headed by Jennifer Bennett, Coffin Mew LLP’s team is ‘one of the few true specialists’ in the sector. The group acts for a wide range of housing associations and developers on the full range of issues, and in 2011 handled a number of contentious housing benefit and tenancy matters. Litigation expert Michael Owen is ‘a clear leader in his field’, and attracts praise for his anti-social behaviour expertise.

Within Intellectual property Intellectual property

Within IT and telecoms IT and telecoms