The Legal 500

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Collyer Bristow LLP is a second tier firm,

Collyer Bristow LLP’s team, led by Paul Sillis, was strengthened by the arrival of Nick Gould from Ince & Co. The team counts Banco do Brasil and Middlesex University among its key clients.

Within Banking litigation: investment and retail, tier 5

Collyer Bristow LLP’s Stephen Rosen is ‘a real rainmaker who wins the confidence of clients and is very commercial in his approach’. The team has been acting against banks in matters involving the misselling of CDO structures, and ISDA agreements.

Within Defamation and privacy, Collyer Bristow LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Highly competent and timely in its advice and work’, the team at Collyer Bristow LLP recently welcomed Kate Macmillan from boutique firm Gallant Macmillan LLP. Team head Steven Heffer is ‘very good at getting to the core of an issue’, and Dominic Crossley is also recommended. The firm acts for Max Mosley in libel, harassment and privacy matters, and is leading his application in the ECHR challenging the current application of privacy law in England and Wales.

Within Emerging markets, tier 4

Silvia Fazio at Collyer Bristow LLP is dual UK/Brazil qualified, and regularly advises Banco do Brasil, the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Banco Santander Totta.

Within Family, tier 4

Collyer Bristow LLP has a ‘quality’ family practice which handles a range of work, from complex finance cases to multi-jurisdictional pre-nups and contested ancillary relief claims. The ‘committed’ Toby Yerburgh heads a strong team which includes standout practitioners Michael Drake, Gillian Rivers and father-and-son duo Geoffrey Rutter and Philip Rutter. The team provides ‘a Magic Circle service without the Magic Circle fees’.

Within Heritage property, Collyer Bristow LLP is a third tier firm,

Collyer Bristow LLP’s head of private client Andrew Dixon has experience in heritage tax matters, such as acceptance in lieu of IHT arrangements and private sales.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 4

Andrew Dixon heads the five-partner practice at Collyer Bristow LLP, which benefits from the firm’s Geneva office. The practice handles domestic and international tax and trust planning, cross-border probate and succession planning. Rosamond McDowell and senior partner John Saner are popular with clients.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Collyer Bristow LLP’s ‘absolutely excellent’ group acted for Crest Nicholson on a £100m development for a mixed-use town centre development in Camberley. Roger Woolfe is ‘efficient and proactive’, and Dominic Giacon is ‘very professional and commercial’.

Within Construction, tier 5

Collyer Bristow LLP recently advised Utopia Leisure in a professional negligence claim against an architect regarding a hotel extension. Jane Hughes is the main contact.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Collyer Bristow LLP is ‘a pleasant firm to work with’, and recently advised New Century Reversions in litigation resulting from the sale of its offices. Matthew Marsh is ‘canny and a master of detail’.

Within Brand management, tier 4

Patrick Wheeler leads the brand management team at Collyer Bristow LLP, which was boosted by the arrival of Kate Macmillan and Annsley Ward from Gallant Macmillan LLP, and Neil Eagleton from Silverman Sherliker. Joe Cohen advises Sanrio, owner of the Hello Kitty brand. Litigator Steven Heffer is also recommended. Other clients include Boardman Bikes.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Collyer Bristow LLP’s contentious capability was strengthened by the arrival of litigators Kate Macmillan and Annsley Ward from Gallant Macmillan LLP, while on the non-contentious side Neil Eagleton joined from Silverman Sherliker. Practice head Joe Cohen acted for Italy’s Fabio Perini in a successful patent infringement claim in the Court of Appeal.

Within Media and entertainment, tier 4

Steven Heffer heads Collyer Bristow LLP’s ‘absolutely fantastic’ and ‘efficient and knowledgeable’ team, which recruited Kate Macmillan and associate Annsley Ward from Gallant Macmillan LLP in 2010. Howard Ricklow has recently advised on the commissioning, songwriting and soundtrack agreements for films such as Made in Dagenham and Morning Glory. The firm also advises a number of individuals including Raymond Blanc and John Prescott on reputation management issues. Associate Neil Eagleton is also recommended.

Within Sport, tier 6

The seven-partner team at Collyer Bristow LLP advises governing bodies as well as sports industry professionals, including former FIA president Max Mosley and former cricketer Chris Cairns.