The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Birmingham, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP is ‘always involved in the high-profile transactions’, through recommended partners such as the ‘pragmatic’ Mark Beardmore and the ‘commercial’ Charles Cook. Highlights included acting for Avon Cosmetics in its acquisition of Liz Earle Cosmetics, and advising Compass Group on its acquisition of VSG Group. Other clients include Barclays Ventures and Iron Mountain. John Campion is recommended for his experience in corporate finance transactions, while the ‘excellent’ Jim Lavery is praised for his private equity expertise.

Within Corporate tax, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP’s team has the ability to ‘offer very clear and concise advice on complex issues’, often on multi-jurisdictional deals, and is particularly active in property tax and share incentives. Highlights included advising the shareholders of Sophos on the sale of a majority stake in Sophos to Apax Partners. Major clients include RBS, Blackstone and Aviva. Mark Burgess is recommended.

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

The West Midlands offices of the following firms are on the Very High Cost Case panel: Challinors Solicitors; Glaisyers; Jonas Roy Bloom; Dass Solicitors; Frisby & Co Solicitors; and Lanyon Bowdler. The following firms are also on the panel: Cartwright King; DLA Piper UK LLP; Russell Jones & Walker; David Phillips & Partners; and Tuckers Solicitors.

Within Licensing Licensing

Within Commercial litigation: Birmingham, DLA Piper LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘excellent’ team at DLA Piper UK LLP includes Neil Bowker, who is a ‘sensible litigator and a team player’, and Nick Bamford, who has a ‘good eye for detail’. Key specialisms include domestic and international arbitration, procurement process challenges, pensions litigation and defamation/media work. Major clients include household names such as Kraft, Kodak and Cadbury. The team successfully defended Compass Group against a claim relating to an alleged agreement for introductory fees in the Middle East.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP has a ‘strong and well-established team’ which provides ‘robust and commercial advice’ on large transactions, and is recommended for its experience in leveraged finance and asset based finance. Key partners are the ‘very responsive’ Brian Woolcock and Stephen Bottley, who has ‘strong technical knowledge’. The group advised Barclays, RBS and Santander on the acquisition funding for the Extra MSA motorway service station group. It also acts for Lloyds TSB and Lombard. James Crellin joined as a legal director from Eversheds LLP.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP, under the ‘very level-headed and experienced’ Huw Dolphin, handles a considerable amount of lender-driven restructuring and property-related insolvency work. Key mandates included acting for PwC/Bank of Scotland in the administration of a property holding company which holds various bingo halls around England and Wales; and advising HSBC/BDO on the administration of a chain of furniture retailers based in and around London. Other clients include Begbies Traynor, KPMG and Baker Tilly.

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

‘Leading individual’ Nicholas Jew heads DLA Piper UK LLP’s team, which acts for Selfridges, IMI and Kodak. Highlights included Karen Macpherson advising Wipro Technologies on the employment details of various outsourcing deals. Sandra Wallace has a ‘no-nonsense, pragmatic and commercial approach’, and offers ‘knowledge and advice that is extremely valuable’. ‘The time the team invests into building client relationships sets it apart from much of the competition.’

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

Roy Tozer, frequently singled out as one of the top health and safety experts in the region, leads DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘first-rate’ team. The group successfully concluded the Buncefield case on behalf of Total UK, and has since been involved in a number of fatality cases.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP acted for Finning on the pension issues arising out of the sale of Hewden Stuart, which included three occupational pension schemes, and assisted Kodak in valuing its UK pension plan. Helen Miles heads the practice.

Within Personal injury: defendant Personal injury: defendant

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence

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

DLA Piper UK LLP continues to act for diverse national and international clients, with its recent high-profile transactions including advising Intertek Group on its £450m acquisition of Moody International. Its banking, commercial litigation and corporate restructuring and insolvency teams attract many plaudits.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP was appointed to the East Midlands LawShare panel; advised Coventry City Council on the Far Gosford Street regeneration project; and acted for Blackpool Borough Council on the redevelopment of the sea front. Robert Norris and associate David Brammer are the key contacts.

Within Commercial property: Birmingham, DLA Piper LLP is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper UK LLP has the ‘very competent’ David Hayes and Fiona Thomson, who produces work of the ‘highest quality’. The practice advised Trebor Developments/Wrenbridge JV on the development of a new Innovation Centre and business units for Decorum Borough Council, and also acts for Busy Bee Nurseries, Electrolux and Blacks Leisure Group. The ‘pragmatic’ Roger Collier has considerable mines and minerals expertise.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP advised Centro on the redevelopment of Snow Hill station, and Aviva Global Investments on contracts for the Plaza Development in Birmingham, and also acts for names such as Virgin Holidays, West Midlands Police, and Vue Cinemas. The ‘very experienced’ Graeme Bradley is recommended for his expertise in domestic and international engineering and construction projects.

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

The team at DLA Piper UK LLP, under Roy Tozer and Charles Arrand, is increasingly attracting instructions on advisory matters, permit appeals and criminal prosecutions in addition to transactional work. Key clients include National Express Group and Coors Brewers.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP remains active on major projects such as acting for Barratt Developments and Connolly Homes on a development of land that includes 3,000-3,500 homes and a broader mixed-use development. Peter Taylor has ‘built up a good team’, and associate David Brammer is praised by clients for his ‘professionalism’.

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

DLA Piper UK LLP’s ‘strongest qualities lie in its depth of knowledge, a thorough understanding of patents, and a team that is very communicative and inclusive of the client’. It advised Avon Cosmetics on the IP aspects of its acquisition of Liz Earle Cosmetics, and represented Aga Rangemaster Group in patent infringement proceedings. Marie McMorrow is ‘capable, committed and approachable’.

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

Simon Jones’ team at DLA Piper UK LLP has a central government and financial services focus, acting for clients such as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Barclays. The team advised the NHS on renegotiating its arrangement with Computer Sciences regarding the National Programme for IT.