What we say about the firm's legal practice in Wales
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Cardiff and South Wales, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s ‘extremely professional’ team is recommended for its experience in acting for local authorities. Its client base also includes regional companies such as Tinopolis, Inexus and Nuaire. Corporate finance expert Robert Cherry advised longstanding client PHS Group on high-value acquisitions. Johnathan Rees focuses on M&A and private equity deals, recently advising a local authority on the sale of its transportation division to Stagecoach Group.
Crime, fraud and licensing
Within Licensing, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s regulatory head Claire Rawle acts for Les Croupiers Casino, independent operators, and Capper and Co (the owner of various Spar stores in South Wales).
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation , Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s specialist strengths include IP, procurement and public sector disputes. Allan Wilson led for Milford Haven Port Authority in the high-profile multi-defendant Pilots’ pension scheme litigation. The team, which includes ‘technically good, astute’ IP litigation specialist Lee Fisher, was also instructed by PHS and The Wandsworth Group on high-value disputes. Associate David Hudson, who was based in Swansea, has moved to Eversheds LLP.
Within Debt recovery, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s well-regarded practice head Amanda Wooding leads a Swansea team whose focus includes the insurance and utilities sectors. New clients include Brit Insurance, Santia Ltd and Thrifty Rental, and it continues to advise AXA, PHS and various local authorities in England and Wales.
Finance
Within Banking and finance, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole ‘calls on various specialist teams to provide an all-round commercial solution’. It acted for HSBC and Lloyds on secured lending matters, and provided regulatory advice to Finance Wales, housing associations and building societies. Practice head Meryl Morgan ‘brings an additional commercial perspective to her role gained from working within the banking sector’.
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
At Morgan Cole, licensed insolvency practitioner Paul Caldicott specialises in corporate recovery and restructuring, and leads a team whose recent work includes acting for administrators and LPA receivers on property-related matters. Clients include KPMG and Deloitte.
Human resources
Within Employment: Cardiff, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
The team at Morgan Cole attracts praise for its insight and industry knowledge. Michael Clarke provides ‘extensive public sector knowledge and is pragmatic and sensible’, recently advising NHS trusts and health boards on equal pay claims. Joanne Davies is ‘particularly aware of business needs and able to offer practical advice in all circumstances’, and advised Avon Cosmetics and Welsh Ministers. Tribunals lawyer Matthew Smith is ‘a constant guru providing wise advice that implements “real world” solutions within the required legal framework’.
Within Health and safety , Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s Robin Havard leads on prosecutions, and recently acted for the HSE in a number of high-profile Crown Court successes. Claire Rawle handles defence work, advising NHS bodies and care home operators on patient safety issues.
Within Pensions , Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole provides ‘measured and appropriate’ advice, primarily acting for public sector trustees. Michael Prior is ‘extremely customer focused, with a wealth of experience in pensions law’. Allan Wilson advised Milford Haven Port Authority on the Pilots’ pension scheme litigation.
Insurance
Within Clinical negligence: defendant, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s ‘well-led, hardworking team’ is headed by the ‘commercially minded and sensible’ David Mortimer. It is instructed by Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, and represents professionals through the Medical Protection Society.
Within Personal injury: defendant, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
New clients for Morgan Cole include Cardiff Council and Wales & West Utilities. ‘One of the foremost experts in his field’, Simon Cradick has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge of claims for asbestos exposure’; and John Sherratt handles catastrophic injury claims. The firm is acting in a test case in the Employers’ Liability Trigger Issue litigation, set to go the Supreme Court.
Within Professional negligence, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole is ‘a top firm in the field of professional negligence in its part of the country’. Clare Hughes-Williams is ‘fearless when needs be, but commercially sensible’ and has expertise in claims against solicitors; and associate Catrin Davies is ‘very much a rising star’. Clients include Capita and Zurich, while new instructions came from Liberty Mutual, Lemma Europe and Travelers Insurance. The firm recently handled a number of large coverage investigations with potential multimillion-pound liabilities.
Overview
Within Regional review, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole retains a strong public sector practice, with a depth of expertise in health sector matters. It also has a well-regarded construction practice.
Private client
Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole acts for public and private sector clients. The practice is now led by Claire Johnson, who joined from Leo Abse & Cohen, with former head Richard Hale now a consultant. Jean Abell supports on wills, probate and inheritance tax matters.
Project finance and PFI
Within Project finance and PFI, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s practice is led by Paul Millar, who has advised on the procurement of various energy developments. Consultant Paul Brennan advised a Petronas subsidiary on a force majeure claim affecting Milford Haven gas terminals. The practice also advised on energy efficiency issues.
Public sector
Within Public sector , Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s strength lies in health and social care, acting for local health boards, NHS trusts and regulatory bodies. Eve Piffaretti specialises in mental health equality. In the education sector, Emyr Lewis is experienced in high-value projects, while Matthew Smith leads on employment matters. The firm also advised on multiple race discrimination claims.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Cardiff, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole acts for public and private sector clients and institutional groups, including local health boards and Welsh Power Group subsidiaries. The well-regarded Philip Jardine led on completing a development agreement for Igloo Regeneration Partnership regarding a £30m BBC/Assembly Government media village project. Geoffrey Reed acted for Rush Projects on a multimillion-pound mixed-use redevelopment in Cardiff city centre.
Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in Wales, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s Nigel Griffiths has ‘a proactive approach’ and focuses on retail property, with clients including Canary Wharf Group and Crabtree & Evelyn. Philip Jardine has recently acted for NHS trusts and Welsh universities on development matters.
Within Construction , Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Providing ‘personalised service and experienced, business-focused input’, Morgan Cole’s practice spans the public, energy and utility sectors. Practice head Paul Millar focuses on procurement, recently advising Infinergy, Wyre Power and Nevis Power on renewables matters. On the contentious side, Joanna Rees successfully defended Castleoak Care Partnerships.
Within Property litigation , Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s advice is ‘unfailingly appropriate and accurate’. Practice head Siân Jones has been focusing on public law rights in residential matters, and associate Russell Price acted on various insolvent portfolios. On the social housing side, the firm advised Cardiff YMCA and Cardiff Community Housing.
Within Social housing, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole has ‘a comprehensive service and high-calibre team’, handling regeneration agreements alongside contentious construction and contaminated land issues. New clients include Merthyr Tydfil Housing. Eve Piffaretti is a regulatory law specialist, while Philip Stewart ‘possesses broad and detailed knowledge’.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Intellectual property , Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole advises public sector organisations and private manufacturers. Lee Fisher advised PHS on due diligence and contentious matters, including copyright infringement, and is also advising on licensing for the E-Crime Wales initiative.
Within IT and telecoms, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole mainly advises public sector organisations, although notable private sector clients include IFDS. It acted for new client Siemens Enterprise on a bid for a region-wide public sector broadband project. Justin Harrington handles IT matters, and Emyr Lewis has experience advising public bodies.
Within Media and entertainment, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,
Morgan Cole’s practice is led by Emyr Lewis. Welsh independent producer Tinopolis is its main client, with recent work including new media rights matters. The firm also acts for Brighton-based Wild Dream Films on UK and international production issues.