The Legal 500

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Davenport Lyons is a second tier firm,

Davenport Lyons continued to strengthen its financial services capability with the hire of Abesh Choudhury, who joined from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP. He joins a team with historic strength in the media sector, with recent work including advising Yattendon on the sale of Channel Islands commercial television broadcaster Channel Television to ITV.

Within Partnership Partnership

Within Crime Crime

Within Fraud: civil, tier 5

Julie Killip at Davenport Lyons has conducted many large-scale fraud actions for corporate clients involving urgent pre-action injunctive relief and the tracing of assets. Trevor Sears recently represented a leading insolvency practitioner in a Ponzi-related liquidation.

Within Licensing, Davenport Lyons is a third tier firm,

The ‘proactive’ team at Blake Lapthorn is led by Jon Wallsgrove, and has an ‘excellent’ understanding of clients’ businesses. With a focus on the leisure and retail sectors, its clients include John Lewis, Waitrose, Amazing Retreats and the BBC. Phil Crier has a ‘thorough grasp of the law’, and associate Stephen Drake is also recommended. Philip Somarakis left the firm to join Davenport Lyons.

Within Defamation and privacy, Davenport Lyons is a first tier firm,

Davenport Lyons has ‘a great reputation for representing high-profile and high-net-worth people’. Recent successes include acting for key client MGN in claiming that the system of recoverable success fees in CFA-funded cases against the media was an infringement of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Other highlights included defending a libel claim brought by Frankie Boyle against the Daily Mirror, and advising Ian Hislop on giving evidence to three parliamentary committees considering defamation, privacy, and injunctions respectively. It is also assisting the Private Eye editor in relation to the Leveson Inquiry. Kevin Bays and Robin Shaw are highly recommended.

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, Davenport Lyons is a third tier firm,

Davenport Lyons handles a steady flow of contentious matters for well-known companies, including Austin Reed Group, Stringfellows and John Laing Integrated Services. The firm is also acting for Alshaya on its purchase of La Senza following the latter’s administration. Marie van der Zyl leads the practice, assisted by ‘great rainmaker’ Nic Hart.

Within Immigration,

Also notable for their work in the area of immigration are: Birnberg Peirce & Partners; Blake Lapthorn; Blakemores; Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Eversheds LLP; Luqmani Thompson & Partners; Macfarlanes LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; QualitySolicitors FJG; RadcliffesLeBrasseur; Russell-Cooke LLP; Simons Muirhead & Burton; Travers Smith LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Family, tier 6

The ‘impressive’ team at Davenport Lyons is led by John Burrell, who has ‘outstanding empathy’. In 2011, the team assisted on a varied mix of abduction matters, Schedule 1 applications, and separation agreements.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, tier 5

Jeffrey Cohen heads the team at Davenport Lyons, and associate Nicholas Hall provides ‘top-quality service’. The firm advised in relation to Will Aid 2010/11.

Within Commercial property, Davenport Lyons is a second tier firm,

Stuart Darlington and Paul Hicks lead the retail and leisure team at Davenport Lyons, which handled a range of transactions for fashion retailers such as Armani and DKNY Jeans, and acted for Evans Randall on the £116m sale of 60 Gracechurch Street.

Within Property finance Property finance

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Davenport Lyons acts in a range of commercial and residential disputes for purchasers, landlords and tenants. Janice Northover recently advised a landlord in a service charge dispute at the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal. Janet Ayres heads the group.

Within Intellectual property, tier 5

Davenport Lyons focuses on soft IP matters for media, sports and technology sector clients. Jim Dennis represented Shebang Technologies in a trade mark dispute with Google over its Nexus brand. The practice also advised the co-owner of ‘The Gherkin’ (The Swiss Re Tower, 30 St Mary Axe) on IP protection rights.

Within Media and entertainment, Davenport Lyons is a first tier firm,

At Davenport Lyons, practice head Leon Morgan provides ‘excellent response times and value for money’. The film and TV team advises on production and financing. Fraser Bloom advised Scott Free Films on the crowd-sourced documentary Life in A Day. Richard Moxon and Sam Tatton-Brown advised Piccadilly Pictures on The Numbers Station. Kevin Bays heads the publishing team, which acts for MGN, with Robin Shaw advising Ian Hislop and Adam Glass representing Macmillan. Music lawyer Michelle Brown acted for BMG Rights Management in its unsuccessful bid for EMI’s music publishing division. Nigel Davies, who is praised for his ‘wide sector knowledge’, assisted Digital Theatre in acquiring rights to the theatre production of Much Ado About Nothing. David Marchese is also recommended. The firm recently recruited litigator Nick Goldstone from Magrath LLP, and music copyright specialist Sebastian Davey from Swan Turton.

Within Media finance, Davenport Lyons is a first tier firm,

Davenport Lyons’ Sam Tatton-Brown and his team assisted Piccadilly Pictures with equity investments in The Numbers Station, and Richard Moxon advised on Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) finance for Resistance. Fraser Bloom advised DCM Productions on its equity investment in Quartet.

Within Sport, tier 5

Davenport Lyons focuses on sports media matters.

Within Aviation, tier 5

Headline work for the team at Davenport Lyons included advising the administrators in relation to a variety of claims following the failure of Kiss Flights. Practice head Trevor Sears is recommended for commercial litigation, fraud and general insolvency matters. Michael Hatchwell is experienced in issues relating to executive jets, including acquisitions, disposals and leasing/chartering arrangements.