The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Newcastle, tier 4

The ‘impressive’ team at Crutes Law Firm now includes David Crone, who joined from Ward Hadaway. Anne Spetch acted on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of SGW Construction (Redcar), and advised Transcendit on its acquisition of Nectar Electronics.

Within Crime, DWF LLP is a first tier firm,

Crutes Law Firm has a white-collar crime practice and is routinely instructed to defend public sector organisations in relation to workplace injuries, and large companies in relation to alleged health and safety breaches. It also advises private clients on road traffic accidents and trading standards breaches.

Within Licensing Licensing

Within Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the North, DWF LLP is a second tier firm,

At Crutes Law Firm, commercial property litigator Michael Robson recently handled land ownership, easement and probate disputes.

Within Commercial litigation: Newcastle, DWF LLP is a third tier firm,

Helen Ager’s team at Crutes Law Firm, which includes new arrival David Summerhayes from Watson Burton LLP, successfully acted for a local NHS Foundation Trust in obtaining a £5m award in arbitration against a national housebuilder. Key clients include Bellway plc and Metnor plc.

Within Debt recovery, DWF LLP is a second tier firm,

Debt recovery is a growth area for Crutes Law Firm. Tom Whitfield and the team continue to represent Go-Ahead, and Barrow and Durham Councils.

Within Employment, DWF LLP is a third tier firm,

David Gibson at Crutes Law Firm is increasingly active in Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal matters, and recently handled a high-profile inquest into the deaths of patients of a local GP.

Within Health and safety, DWF LLP is a first tier firm,

At Crutes Law Firm, Rod Searl’s national team counts 55 local authorities as well as Bellway and Gentoo as clients, and recently acted for new client Hargreaves plc in an inquest following a fatality at one of its mines.

Within Pensions, DWF LLP is a second tier firm,

DWF LLP’s team head Martin Jenkins, Leeds-based Kate Byers and associate Lucy Herbert are rated for their ‘depth of industry knowledge’ and drive to ‘acquire insight into clients’ pension schemes’. Risk management proposals and company and scheme reconstructions kept the team active in 2010.

Within Personal injury: defendant, DWF LLP is a first tier firm,

Bellway and Hargreaves plc are new additions to Crutes Law Firm’s strong client base, which includes 55 local authority clients. Notable highlights included acting for Brit Insurance in a serious road traffic claim that settled for £3m. Rod Searl heads up the large team, which was boosted by the arrival of Ruth Markham.

Within Professional negligence, DWF LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘respected’ Helen Ager heads up the team at Crutes Law Firm, which provides an ‘excellent service that is very client focused’. Recent highlights include advising on a claim against solicitors relating to a piece of allegedly landlocked land. Tom Whitfield is ‘top of his game’.

Within Regional review,

The market saw the arrival of a number of niche firms, such as Neon Legal, Silk Family Law and Collingwood Legal, as well as the entry of established firms such as DWF LLP and Hempsons.

Within Family, DWF LLP is a third tier firm,

The Carlisle-based team at Crutes Law Firm almost exclusively acts for private clients, and specialises in police pension issues related to divorce and ancillary matters.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, DWF LLP is a third tier firm,

Newly promoted partner Paul Nickalls leads the team at Crutes Law Firm, which increasingly advises high-net-worth individuals and handles tax-planning referrals. Carlisle-based Emma Fidler recently joined the team from Gorvins.

Within Health, DWF LLP is a third tier firm,

Crutes Law Firm broke into the sector with the hire of health sector specialist Alison Oliver from Lockharts.

Within Local government, DWF LLP is a second tier firm,

Crutes Law Firm currently advises 55 local authorities, including Stockton on Tees Borough Council, and remains on the panel of three public sector insurers. Recent highlights include successfully defending Northumbria Police against various claims.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in the North, DWF LLP is a first tier firm,

Crutes Law Firm’s Gareth Jones recently advised The Helmsley Group on its acquisition of three single-let investment properties for £8m.

Within Commercial property: Newcastle, tier 4

Paul Earnshaw’s team at Crutes Law Firm advised longstanding client Wordie Properties on the purchase of the 18,000 sq ft Manor View House, and acted for St Oswald’s Hospice in lease negotiations for several new shops. It continues to provide advice on property investment and development, landlord and tenant issues and secured lending, particularly in the healthcare and leisure sectors.

Within Social housing, DWF LLP is a second tier firm,

Crutes Law Firm handles a high volume of tenancy enforcement cases for East Durham Homes and Milecastle Housing, and acted for Endeavour in the acquisition of 95 properties by way of plot build agreement in Darlington and Middlesbrough.

Within Intellectual property, tier 4

Bob Elliot at Crutes Law Firm advises established businesses on design rights, trade mark infringement and IP ownership, as well as start-up businesses on a wide range of issues.

Within IT and telecoms, DWF LLP is a third tier firm,

At Crutes Law Firm, Bob Elliot drafts a wide range of software agreements, acts as a domain name expert on the dispute resolution panels maintained by Nominet and the Czech Arbitration Court, and actively assists on local initiatives such as Sunderland Software City.