The Legal 500

Within Corporate and M&A, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a second tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin is an ‘excellent, time and quality-driven practice’, which represents many 
charities, technology companies, investors and property interests. It advised Xerox Corporation on acquiring Imaging Business Systems (NI); advised on structuring and incorporating Full Circle Management Solutions Ltd; and acted for ADL Tile & Stone Ltd on acquiring the business and assets of A Donnelly Ltd from administration. Charities and technology expert Jennifer Ebbage and the ‘excellent and tireless’ Scott Kennedy are recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin is representing Titanic Quarter in disputes relating to its waterfront development, and acted for Hammerson plc in a Chancery Court case. It won sizeable awards in liability cases for several individual plaintiffs, but also represents defendants. Jonathan Forrester provides ‘excellent litigation advice’. Practice head Patrick Fleming and William Cross are also recommended.

Within Banking and finance, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a third tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin acted for Silicon Valley Bank on Aepona Group’s refinancing. Other clients include Barclays, Bank of Ireland, RBS and The Co-operative Bank. Stephen Cross heads the practice, and associate solicitor John Kirk is ‘impressive’ and appreciated for his in-house experience.

Within Insolvency, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a second tier firm,

Jeanette Donohoe heads the practice at Cleaver Fulton Rankin, which is advising BDO on Bargain Books’ administration; PwC on the administration of a large property company; and Caterpillar Financial Services Ireland plc as a secured creditor.

Within Employment, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin is seeing more tribunal claims, and advises public and private sector clients on matters including redundancy programmes, restrictive covenants, dismissal and disciplinary procedures, and discrimination cases. Michael Black heads the practice.

Within Regional review, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Increasingly, the full-service firms in the province boast cross-border capabilities. Arthur Cox and A&L Goodbody Northern Ireland trade on their ‘all-island’ offering, while McGrigors Belfast LLP – the former L’Estrange & Brett – is leveraging ties to its Scottish and English offices. Carson McDowell (with one large office in Belfast), Cleaver Fulton Rankinand Tughans have strategic alliances with Dublin firms.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin has ‘extensive experience, in-depth knowledge, and resources to back it up’, and ‘operates in a proactive, businesslike fashion, but retains the personal touch’. Team head Alastair Rankin, an expert in trusts and estates, and recently promoted partner Michael Graham are ‘very capable’. Recent instructions include divorce and ancillary relief matters, and trust and estate planning for individuals and organisations. Clients include the Alzheimer’s Society and Northern Bank Executor & Trustee Company.

Within Project finance and PFI, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a third tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin advised in relation to Belfast Metropolitan College and the Northern Ireland Public Record Office at Titanic Quarter. It also advised Biffa on its bid for SwaMP2008, and advises Invest NI and Lisburn City Council on procurement. Patrick Fleming heads the team, which has strong credentials in IT procurement.

Within Commercial property, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin advised Scottish and Southern Energy plc on various wind farm acquisitions. James Houston advised a financial institution on acquiring Shore Road Retail Park, and practice head Kathryn Collie is representing Northern Ireland Science Park (Property) Ltd on lettings at its Queen’s Road site. The team also advises charities such as Age Concern NI and Mind Wise New Vision.

Within Construction, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin represents developers and contractors on major projects. It advised Titanic Quarter Ltd on the construction contract for the £17m Public Records Office; Harcourt Construction on the £90m Titanic Signature Project; and Ivywood Colleges Ltd on the £44m Belfast Metropolitan College PPP. Practice head Patrick Fleming provides ‘excellent advice on construction matters’. The ‘excellent’ Jonathan Forrester specialises in construction disputes, and advised North West Regional College regarding a £500,000 building defects claim.

Within Environment and planning, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin delivers ‘excellent service, immediate responses, and excellent business acumen’. It has been representing Belfast City Airport on its runway extension application and proposed amendments; and continued to advise The National Trust on a new visitor centre at the Giant’s Causeway. The group also advises the Department of Social Development on community master planning. Karen Blair has ‘a lot of expertise on environment matters’, and is ‘diligent, well organised, polite and knowledgeable’.

Within Intellectual property, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a second tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin advises on IP licensing and other commercial agreements, and also acts for clients in media matters such as defamation defence. Clients include Caterwaste Services and Northern Ireland Science Park. Practice head Scott Kennedy is recommended, and has ‘good customer-facing skills’.

Within IT and telecoms, Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a first tier firm,

Cleaver Fulton Rankin is a go-to IT firm for Invest NI, and is advising Hibernia Atlantic UK on several matters including the laying of a fibre-optic cable. It advised Hewlett-Packard on IT transactions, and Arqiva and O2 on mobile mast installations. Team head Scott Kennedy and Jennifer Ebbage are recommended, and the group as a whole is ‘very good – responsive, insightful and with good industry knowledge’.