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The Legal 500 Hall of Fame Icon The Legal 500 Hall of Fame highlights individuals who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence. The Hall of Fame highlights, to clients, the law firm partners who are at the pinnacle of the profession. In the United Kingdon, the criteria for entry is to have been recognised by The Legal 500 as one of the elite leading lawyers for eight years. These partners are highlighted below and throughout the editorial.
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United Kingdom > Yorkshire and the Humber > Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire > Law firm and leading lawyer rankings

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  1. Commercial litigation: Sheffield, South Yorkshire
  2. Leading individuals
  3. Next Generation Partners
  4. Rising stars

Leading individuals

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Next Generation Partners

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Rising stars

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The commercial litigation team at CMS is frequently instructed in a range of commercial, contract and corporate disputes and is developing a particular niche in the healthcare, public procurement and technology sectors. Names to note include 'ingenious innovator' George Lubega, who heads up the team and has a broad practice assisting public and private sector clients, and senior associate Richard Wilson, who has particular experience acting for international clients in overseas matters and excels in the financial services, sport and infrastructure sectors.

Practice head(s):George Lubega

Other key lawyers:Richard Wilson

Testimonials

'George Lubega acts as a seamless extension of client's in-house teams and is genuinely driven to understand the client's objectives.'

'George Lubega demonstrates the candour to manage client expectations and displays a brilliance in forward planning and strategy.'

'George Lubega is a trusted adviser to clients; he is always available and has the ability to reach practical solutions in technically complex matters.'

Key Clients

Cantel UK Limited

Community Resourcing Ltd

Consort Medical Plc

Holland & Barrett

Industrial Chemicals Group Limited

New Balance Athletic Shoes (UK) Limited

Qatar Airways

Verity Trustees Limited (trading as TPT Retirement Solutions)

Wildlife Group Limited

Writtle Holdings Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Consort Medical in a cross-border dispute over the agreement for the development and manufacture of a medical device.
  • Acted for Community Resourcing in a dispute relating to the lawfulness of a procurement process for HR services.
  • Instructed by Qatar Airways in a number of passenger disputes, including complex compensation claims and general contractual disputes.
  • Defended New Balance Athletic Shoes in a claim brought by the management companies of footballer Marouane Fellaini relating to a product endorsement contract.
  • Acted for Wildlife Group in a contractual dispute with an information technology company, which involved issues of unjust enrichment, damages and the delivery up of property.

DLA Piper UK LLP assists its impressive client roster, which spans a broad range of public and private sector clients across the IT, engineering, manufacturing and transport sectors, with a range corporate, commercial and contractual disputes. Practice head Richard Norman is highlighted for his expertise in handling IT, outsourcing and telecoms disputes, while senior associate Barney Connell has particular experience advising the financial services sector. Other names to note included senior associates Harriet Farrant, James Watson and David Molyneux for construction industry, technology sector and pensions disputes respectively.

Practice head(s):Richard Norman

Other key lawyers:Barney Connell; Harriet Farrant; James Watson; David Molyneux

Testimonials

'The dispute resolution practice at DLA Piper UK LLP provides clear, practical and honest advice and deals with matters as economically as possible, taking into account the long term interests of the client.'

'The commercial litigation team at DLA Piper UK LLP has the ability to understand the central issues and to recommend the most appropriate means of dealing with them as quickly as possible.'

Key Clients

CBRE

Telenor

Boots plc

Arqiva

Coal Authority

Merlin Entertainments

Tata Communications

Verizon

Bighand

Atos

Sivantos

Colt Technology

Work highlights

  • Acted for Boots in a claim for significant historic overcharging for water management services provided by Severn Trent Water at Boots' Beeston site.
  • Defended The Coal Authority in a subsidence claim relating to Wentworth Woodhouse.

Freeths LLP handles a variety of contentious matters ranging from shareholder and partnership disputes to public procurement challenges, contractual claims, insolvency matters and reputation management work. James Hartley, who splits his time between the Leeds and Sheffield offices, heads up the team alongside the 'super smart' James Berry, who attracts praise for being 'very personable and quick on the uptake' and focuses on the manufacturing, construction and technology sectors. Senior associate Mark Gudgeon acts for clients in a range of commercial disputes including public procurement challenges.

Practice head(s):James Hartley; James Berry

Other key lawyers:Mark Gudgeon; Ciaran Dearden

Testimonials

'Freeths LLP commercial litigation team provides a very professional and pleasant approach to clients.'

'Freeths LLP is an excellent choice for anyone (claimant or defendant) who requires advice or representation in commercial disputes, whether in Yorkshire or indeed nationally.'

'Freeths LLP's dispute resolution team is very experienced, competent, professional and good value.'

'Freeths LLP's provides partner-led client engagement with a broad range of specialist areas and an effective network of wider business contacts.'

'Freeths LLP litigation team provides clear advice, unwavering support, genuine interest in the client's business, unprompted updates and engagement.'

'James Hartley has a great reputation in Yorkshire for commercial litigation.'

'James Berry is quick to respond and is able to confidently and concisely provide sound advice that is understandable and clear to a lay person.'

'James Berry is absolutely first rate — he is highly intelligent, strong analytically and strategically, extremely hardworking and excellent with clients.'

'James Berry is the man you want on your side in commercial litigation; he is the complete package.'

'Associate Ciaran Dearden is one to watch as he is smart, diligent and dedicated to the client's interests.'

Key Clients

Global Technologies Racing Limited

MGS Technical Plastics Limited

Paragon Quality Foods Limited

Additive Manufacturing Technologies Limited

Advanced Alloy Services Limited

Solpro Manufacturing Limited

C Spencer Limited

EMP Technologies Limited

EMC Solihull MBC

Jacobs

Healthcare Business Solutions (UK) Limited

FISC Limited

Engie Fabricom UK Limited

Zoll Medical UK Limited

EMC Melton Borough Council

Rafico Engineering Ltd

Work highlights

  • Acted for Global Technologies Racing in a dispute relating to the manufacturing of hydro-foils for use in the round the world yacht race, The Vendee Globe.
  • Represented Jacobs in a case brought by Marston challenging the public procurement process taken by The Ministry of Justice in awarding five regional contracts for national enforcement and debt collection services, two of which had been awarded to Jacobs.
  • Acted for a metropolitan borough authority in a public procurement challenge brought by a prominent waste provider.
  • Advised a metropolitan borough authority in human rights and personal injury claims brought by two minors relating to the authority's alleged failure to place them into care early enough to avoid psychological harm.

Irwin Mitchell's team handles a range of commercial, contractual and corporate disputes including shareholder and derivative claims and restrictive covenant litigation. The group counts retail, professional services, insurance, IT and manufacturing companies as well as high-net-worth individuals among its client base. Steven Beahan heads up the team and has particular experience in insurance sector disputes, while Dorrien Peters focuses on IT, manufacturing, engineering and construction disputes.

Practice head(s):Steven Beahan

Other key lawyers:Dorrien Peters

Testimonials

'Dorrien Peters has extensive experience of heavy litigation and shows great coolness of thought under pressure, good judgment and excellent strategic analysis.'

'Dorrien Peters  is a quality lawyer.'

Key Clients

Westfield Health

Arc Legal Assistance Ltd

DAS

Natural Instinct Limited

Aviva PLC

Allianz

Laver Leisure

Janspeed Technologies Limited

Pegler Yorkshire

National Grid

Work highlights

  • Represented an offshore investment fund in an expert determination worth over £2m.
  • Acted for a training provider in a complex claim involving allegations of fraud with a value of over £450,000.

Keebles has notable experience handling a range of contentious matters, with particular expertise in the manufacturing, creative and digital industries and healthcare waste management sectors. Michael Peacock heads up the team, which includes Giles Searby, whose experience includes handling contentious IP and international trade issues; property litigator Andrew McKenzie Smith and Doncaster-based Sarah Burton, who is frequently instructed in disputes with a cross-border element.

Practice head(s):Michael Peacock

Other key lawyers:Giles Searby; Andrew McKenzie Smith; Sarah Burton

Testimonials

'Keebles provides an excellent commercial litigation and dispute resolution service, combining a high level of legal expertise and efficiency with a practical and business like approach to dispute resolution which fulfils the commercial needs of its clients. It is a leading firm in Sheffield.'

'All of the solicitors at Keebles are thoroughly professional and effective lawyers and also a pleasure to work with.'

'Andrew McKenzie Smith in particular is efficient, diligent and always delivers on time.'

Key Clients

Sharpsmart Ltd

Franke UK Ltd

Riverside Park Ltd

Electrosteel Castings Ltd

City Estates Ltd

Independent Forgings & Alloys

Palram Group

Chesterfield FC

Motorway Direct plc

Purex International Ltd

Delicious Alchemy Ltd

Togel Construction Ltd

Work highlights

  • Represented Sharpsmart in a claim against Healthcare Environmental Services for sums payable for services rendered.

Wake Smith Solicitors Limited handles a range of contentious matters spanning contractual disputes, tort and professional negligence claims and property litigation. Nick Lambert, who focuses on handling complex contractual disputes, heads up the team, which includes IP litigation expert Mark Serby, and directors Holly Dobson and Elizabeth Shaw, who specialise in inquests and data protection, and property litigation respectively.

Practice head(s):Nick Lambert

Other key lawyers:Mark Serby; Holly Dobson; Elizabeth Shaw

Testimonials

'Wake Smith Solicitors Limited's dispute resolution team is very professional and provides excellent advice.'

'Nick Lambert is very pragmatic and deals with matters extremely effectively and efficiently.'

The commercial litigation team at Bell & Buxton is instructed by a combination of private clients and SMEs on a range of contentious matters from property disputes to passing off claims and professional negligence matters. Practice head Emma Digby has broad experience in contentious matters relating to employment, property and contractual issues.

Practice head(s):Emma Digby

Work highlights

  • Advised a professional executor on forfeiture and commercial debt recovery matters relating to a substantial estate.
  • Acted for a client in a passing off claim against a competitor.
  • Defended a substantial dilapidations claim made following the departure of commercial premises.
  • Acting for a client in the property sector with a professional negligence claim brought against the managing agent of several of the client's properties.
  • Acted for an engineering company in a threatened passing off action.

Lupton Fawcett is instructed by private clients and companies in the manufacturing, trading, property and educational sectors. Simon Lockley handles a range of litigation spanning shareholder and partnership claims, civil fraud and contractual disputes, while Rob Cooke has particular experience in acting for pub landlords in disputes arising from The Pubs Code Regulations 2016.

Practice head(s):Simon Lockley

Other key lawyers:Rob Cooke

Testimonials

'The dispute resolution team at Lupton Fawcett is on the ball, positive and ready to come up with good solutions to all issues.'

Key Clients

Seabrook Crisps

JCT600

FirstGroup

SafeStyle

TNT Fireworks

Yorkshire Cancer Research

Hand Picked Hotels

Chaucer Foods Limited

York Mailing Group Limited

Survey Roofing

Work highlights

  • Acting for a private individual looking to recover around £750,000 that has been misappropriated by a limited company.
  • Defending the sole director of a company in a £2.6m claim for employment benefit trusts.
  • Successfully represented a client in a claim against a party wall surveyor for a seven-figure sum of damages.
  • Defending a client in a complex contractual claim, and acting for the same client in a counter claim.
  • Successfully acted for a property developer in obtaining an injunction for a client, enabling a large development of residential houses to proceed.

Taylor & Emmet LLP is instructed by a range of private clients and corporates and has notable expertise in the automotive, retail and manufacturing industries. Paul Smith, who has a breadth of expertise in a range of commercial disputes, arbitrations and adjudications, leads the practice, which includes associate Adam Hollis, who has particular experience in handling residential landlord and tenant matters and insolvency disputes.

Practice head(s):Paul Smith

Other key lawyers:Adam Hollis

Key Clients

Televideo Limited

Greenhill Air Conditioning Limited

Dealer Management Systems Limited

Carrs of Sheffield (Manufacturing) Limited

Gemini Computer Systems Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented several individuals in disputed multi-party leasehold enfranchisement proceedings.
  • Advising property search companies in a high-value claim against a number of national water and sewerage undertakers.
  • Represented individuals in a multi-party neighbour dispute over an easement.
  • Acted for a director and shareholder, who had been excluded from his business by his co-director and co-shareholders.
  • Acting in an agricultural partnership dispute, with claims by the exiting partner for estoppel against a farm owned by his father, who is also a partner in the business.

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