The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Leeds, West Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at DLA Piper UK LLP is ‘strong at all levels’, and ‘approachable, dedicated and brilliantly knowledgeable’. The firm’s international network has contributed to a steady flow of work from developed and emerging markets of late; these included significant deals such as the 11-jurisdiction acquisition of EMB Software for Towers Watson. Practice head Jonathan Proctor is ‘an outstanding M&A lawyer’, and John Gallon is ‘very good in negotiations with the other side’.

Within Corporate and commercial: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at DLA Piper UK LLP ‘goes above and beyond what is expected’, and is regularly instructed on high-value transactions. Recent highlights include acting for Mothercare on the strategic acquisition of its maternity brand Blooming Marvellous; and advising the shareholders on the sale of Sphinx Group to Arrow Enterprise Computing Solutions. Richard May leads the practice, and Jon Kenworthy and Catherine Simister are also recommended.

Within Corporate tax Corporate tax

Within Licensing, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

At DLA Piper UK LLP, national head of safety, health and environment Teresa Hitchcock heads a well-regarded team, working closely with head of UK litigation and regulatory David Grey in Manchester. Key clients include the Empire cinema chain, and the P & A Partnership.

Within Banking litigation, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s banking litigation team is appreciated for its ‘strong legal advice and commercial drive’, and has an enviable client base of major UK and global financial institutions. Recent work includes successfully acting for Barclaycard Business in the Court of Appeal case Lancore Services v Barclays Bank. Other clients include Anglo Irish Bank, BNP Paribas and Lloyds Banking Group. Key contact Hugh Evans is highly recommended.

Within Commercial litigation: Leeds, West Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP has ‘an excellent range of skills’ and ‘a high level of expertise’. The team’s recent successes include defending an application for a Group Litigation Order against Miller Argent on behalf of 517 residents in Merthyr Tydfil, relating to allegations of noise and dust nuisance emanating from the company’s Ffos-y-fran Land Reclamation Scheme. ‘Impressive litigator’ Paul Stone heads the department, which includes the ‘responsive and attentive’ Simon Kenyon. David Young ‘stands out for his business knowledge’.

Within Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP has traditionally acted on contract and trading disputes, with an emphasis on IT and telecoms clients such as Verizon, while others have included Bradford & Bingley and Lombard North. Ashley Mott, Richard Norman and Stephen Sly are the department’s leading lawyers.

Within Banking and finance, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at DLA Piper UK LLP is ‘very experienced and hugely commercial in its approach’. In addition to the refinancing and restructuring work dominating the market, the team has been active in MBO financings, mixed debt and bond financings, project finance and some structured property finance. It recently advised on a loan to part-fund the £75m secondary buyout of Allied Glass Holdings by Barclays Private Equity and management and to provide working capital facilities. Sarah Day heads the team, and has an excellent reputation in the market.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

Renowned for its ‘first-class and timely service’, DLA Piper UK LLP has the capability to handle complex multimillion-pound assignments but is equally adept within the middle market. It recently acted for Dyson in a complex debt-for-equity and pension restructuring, valued at £100m. Leeds-based practice head Mark Jackson is ‘the font of all sound commercial knowledge’. Also in Leeds, Colin Ashford has ‘superb technical knowledge’. Duncan Mosley oversees the Sheffield office.

Within Employment: South Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s team, led by Alan Chalmers, had some significant client wins in 2010 including Intercontinental Hotel Group, and Verizon UK. It also successfully tendered for the Sheffield University panel, and was instructed by Simco in a high-profile disability discrimination claim.

Within Employment: West Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘simply excellent’ 16-fee-earner team at DLA Piper UK LLP, led by Guy Lamb, continues to advise on high-profile matters for AXA and RBS. It received instructions from new client the Yorkshire Building Society in 2010, and won a place on the Lloyds Banking Group HR Panel. Adam Hartley is noted for his ‘no-nonsense, common-sense approach’, and legal director Jane Hannon is an ‘excellent support’.

Within Health and safety, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘responsive’ 11-fee-earner team at DLA Piper UK LLP is led by the ‘excellent’ Teresa Hitchcock. Key clients include BUPA, Carillion, HSBC and Pfizer.

Within Pensions, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘very strong’ Vikki Massarano and ‘extremely good’ Kate Payne lead the ‘first-class’, 11-fee-earner team at DLA Piper UK LLP, whose recent work includes assisting on the closure of a large final salary scheme for Stanley Black & Decker, and advising timber merchants Arnold Laver on a scheme buyout. Other clients include Market Harborough Building Society, Persimmon and Nikon.

Within Personal injury: defendant: North, East and South Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘excellent’ team provides a high level of advice on risk and liability, and has an impressive roster of clients including Barclays, Deloitte, Zurich and Yorkshire Water. Alan Dury leads the team, and Alison Moss and associate Tracey Hulme are also recommended.

Within Professional negligence: claimant, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ 27-fee-earner team at DLA Piper UK LLP in 2010 attracted mandates from Barclays Bank and Leeds Building Society, among others. ‘Very experienced and extremely able litigator’ Hugh Evans and Adam Ibrahim head the group.

Within Regional review, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP has offices in Leeds and Sheffield, and dominates across a number of practice areas. Benefiting from the firm’s global network, it attracts a high volume of international instructions, including advising Yorkshire businesses with an international element and corporates investing into the UK. The corporate team is regularly involved in significant deals, such as the recent 11-jurisdiction acquisition of EMB Software for Towers Watson.

Within Project finance and PFI, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘knowledge of commercial contracts and regulatory environments is superb’. The firm has strong credentials within transport, and 2010 highlights included advising the City Council on the Birmingham Highways PFI Maintenance Project, valued at £2.7bn. Paul Hirst is ‘outstanding’, and is ‘always well researched’. Allison Page heads the department.

Within Education, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP was one of three firms to be reappointed in 2010 to the University of Sheffield’s panel. It also counts Leeds Metropolitan and Huddersfield universities as clients. Andrew Clarke heads the team, which provides a ‘high level of service’ and has a ‘good understanding of the client’s business and legal position’. Jon Kenworthy and Roger Gough are recommended.

Within Health, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP advises a range of care homes, NHS trusts and private hospitals. Clients include the Mental Healthcare Group, the Salvation Army and Eastwood Care Homes. Teresa Hitchcock is the key partner.

Within Local government, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

The 29-fee-earner practice at DLA Piper UK LLP has expanded to cover waste management, education and corporate governance matters.

Within Commercial property: Leeds and West Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP has a sizeable real estate practice and is regularly involved in major projects. Recent examples include advising Keepmoat on housing market renewal pathfinder schemes, including issues such as overarching development agreements and the drawdown of initial development parcels. It also advised Tata Steel on aspects of the sale of its TCP business. Tim Field heads the practice in Leeds.

Within Commercial property: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s large and well-respected practice is headed by Nigel Howard, and is regularly involved in major transactions. Recent highlights include acting for Keepmoat on housing market renewal pathfinder schemes valued at around £20m, and representing Sheffield City Council in the competitive dialogue process to select a private sector partner for Sheffield Local Housing Company. The firm is also a trusted adviser to Tata Steel, Barclays, National Express and HSBC.

Within Construction, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s practice is praised as ‘customer focused and approachable, with a “can-do” approach’. It is regularly involved in high-value transactions, and recently advised JD Sports Fashion on the construction of its new warehouse and distribution centre in the North West. Other clients include Bullock Construction, Leeds City Council and Priory Group. Julie Morrissy heads the department.

Within Environment, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP has a ‘very good-quality’ practice. It is regularly called on to advise on climate change issues, and is increasingly active in relation to the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme. Other areas of expertise include contaminated land. The team recently advised ICL in relation to its offer to acquire the Global Professional Business of the Scotts Miracle-Gro company. Teresa Hitchcock ‘understands issues, and is very experienced and responsive’.

Within Planning, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

Glenn Sharpe heads the team at DLA Piper UK LLP, whose project work includes proposals relating to the Electricity Act, energy-from-waste power stations and waste PFI projects. The team has also been advising National Air Traffic Services Limited (NATS).

Within Property litigation, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP acts for an impressive array of clients including Arcadia Group, Dixons Retail, Mothercare, and the Coal Authority. Areas of specialism include minerals litigation, public sector, telecoms and commercial landlord/tenant matters. Petra Billing in Sheffield and Matthew Lonergan and John Kittle in Leeds are the practice’s leading individuals.

Within Intellectual property , DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s clients include Puma, Mothercare and Swan Vesta. It also recently advised the Catholic Church, on trade mark issues relating to the Pope’s visit to the UK in 2010. Richard Taylor, who leads the team in Sheffield, is noted for his ‘excellent knowledge’, and Chris Tulley leads the team in Leeds.

Within IT and telecoms, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP acts for both public and private sector clients, and in 2010 handled a significant amount of international work. Mark Vipan heads the department, which recently assisted National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) in relation to its personal accounts programme.

Within Sport, DLA Piper LLP is a third tier firm,

The team at DLA Piper UK LLP operates on a national and international scale. Recent clients include the administrators of Crystal Palace FC, and Yorkshire County Cricket Club.