The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, tier 4

‘Outstanding in every way’, Morgan Cole’s team provides a ‘high level of service’. It advised gaming business Rank on the disposal of its railside pitch portfolio, and also advised Scalable Communications on its £7.5m acquisition by Alternative Networks. Michael Stace is a ‘very commercially minded lawyer’. Guy Constant and Bruce Potter are also recommended.

Within EU and competition, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole’s cross-office team supplemented its existing strength in the automotive and consumer industries with growing healthcare-sector expertise, acting on several merger clearance matters before the NHS’ competition regulator. Former team head Toby Tyler left for an in-house position in 2011.

Within Licensing Licensing

Within Commercial litigation: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole’s ‘knowledgeable team’ provides ‘very good service’, and has experience in commercial agency, contractual and healthcare sector disputes. Practice head Stephanie Walls is ‘clearly an expert in her field’. The group advised Mair Property Services in a professional negligence claim, and other clients include The National Trust and NRS Media.

Within Banking and finance, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Highlights for Guy Constant’s team at Morgan Cole included advising HSBC and HSBC Invoice Finance on the funding of Logicalis Group to refinance its existing debt. Based in Reading and Oxford, the team counts Svenska Handelsbanken, HSBC and Co-operative Bank as clients.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery Insolvency and corporate recovery

Within Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

The ‘top-quality’ team at Morgan Cole is based in Oxford and Reading and provides ‘professional and commercial support’. It won House of Fraser as a client in 2010, and also advised a charity on TUPE regulations. In Oxford, Rebecca Ireland has ‘great enthusiasm for her work’, and William Downing provides ‘thorough legal advice backed with practical business understanding’. Matt Jenkin in Reading is ‘very commercially aware’.

Within Health and safety, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole’s cross-office team is headed by ‘immensely experienced’ regulatory expert Paddy Roche. Acting on high-profile HSE prosecutions was the practice’s main focus in 2010.

Within Pensions Pensions

Within Personal injury: defendant, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Neil McLaughlin’s team at Morgan Cole provides ‘consistent, quality service’, and acts for Aviva, Travelers and ACE among others. Nick Richards has ‘terrific depth of knowledge’.

Within Regional review Regional heavyweights

Within Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole handles ancillary relief and offshore trust work with the ‘utmost professionalism’. Jenni Howard is ‘able to cut through to the essence of a case without sacrificing detail’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Morgan Cole is a third tier firm,

Providing ‘high-quality advice’, Morgan Cole provides advice to several sizeable trusts. Associate James Greig is ‘ethical, knowledgeable and responsive’.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole has an excellent reputation for energy PFI projects, and advises Infinenergy, Wyre Power, and Welsh Power. Paul Brennan advised Green Frog Power and Cale Power in agreements with the National Grid’s Short Term Operating Reserve. Active in education projects, the team acts for Oxford Brookes University.

Within Education, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Associate Clara Snow’s team at Morgan Cole recently advised Cherwell Valley College on a student’s rights to attend the college without parental consent. William Downing recently joined the team from Manches LLP.

Within Health, Morgan Cole is a first tier firm,

Morgan Cole’s ‘pre-eminent’ and ‘extremely responsive and knowledgeable’ team is jointly led by Gayle Curry and Bruce Potter. Work highlights included advising the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on fertility services legislation. Potter has ‘unique and valuable sector knowledge’.

Within Local government Local government

Within Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

‘Proactive and very approachable’ and with a ‘can-do attitude’, Morgan Cole advises clients from the health, banking, education and energy sectors. Ruth Leadbitter assisted the subsidiaries of MedicX Fund on eight primary healthcare facilities worth £35m. Reading-based associate Paul Brame acts for Santander.

Within Construction , Morgan Cole is a third tier firm,

Morgan Cole’s cross-office construction practice brings together lawyers from Oxford, Bristol and Cardiff. The Thames Valley team is led by the ‘client-focused’ John Conder, who specialises in public sector work.

Within Environment Environment

Within Planning, Morgan Cole is a third tier firm,

Morgan Cole has extensive expertise in planning matters and procedures, with sector strengths in energy, health and education. Ruth Leadbitter and Daniel Scharf are the key contacts.

Within Social housing Social housing

Within Intellectual property , Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole has ‘very good knowledge of the legal field’. It is known for its healthcare sector expertise, and counts Oxford Radcliffe NHS Trust, London SHA (National Cancer Action Team) and the Department of Health as clients. The team also advised Raymond Blanc and Blanc Restaurants in 2010. Reading-based Alison Patten-Hall and Gayle Curry in Oxford are recommended.

Within IT and telecoms, Morgan Cole is a second tier firm,

Morgan Cole advises health bodies, including the London Strategic Health Authority, on IT issues. It is also advising a local school on the redevelopment of a software platform. Alison Patten-Hall and Bruce Potter are recommended.