Addleshaw Goddard's national transport practice is run out of its Leeds office, encompassing national and international rail, road, airport and shipping work, at a contentious and non-contentious level; clients include rail franchises, government departments and local authorities. The practice is jointly led by Paul Hirst, a specialist in rail and transport infrastructure matters, and transport real estate leader Anna Heaton. As well as construction, procurement, and governmental advice, the team also has litigation capabilities through Bill Gilliam and managing associate Ryan Geldart. Director Sara Gilmore is noted for her rail and bus infrastructure work, while associate Jack Harris has led on several rail projects across the country.
Transport in Yorkshire And The Humber
Addleshaw Goddard
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Testimonials
‘Hugh Lauritsen and Victor Oderinde – practical, solution focused plus expertise; Natalie Steur – dedicated and solution focused.’
Key clients
Department for Transport
Hitachi Rail
Merseytravel
West Midlands Combined Authority
Volkswagen AG
The Road Haulage Association
London Luton Airport
Sealink Travel Group
Manchester Airport Group
Transport for Greater Manchester
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Work highlights
- Advising the DfT on a multi-year mandate on the new rail franchise which will combine the current InterCity West Coast services with the development and introduction of High Speed 2 services.
- Advising Merseytravel on its bus services options appraisal including advising on the formulation of an assessment as required under the Bus Services Act to improve the delivery of bus services within the Liverpool City Region using the powers available to Merseytravel as a combined authority with a Metro Mayor.
- Advising WYCA on its stations programme including the new White Rose, Elland and Thorpe Park stations and a new station on the Leeds-Harrogate line to interface with Leeds Bradford airport and surrounding road links.
Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP
Dominic Ward heads up the team at Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP, which has long-standing expertise in wet and dry shipping matters, including vessel finance work, cargo and logistics issues, and high-value commercial and international trade work. The practice works closely with ship operators and port authorities and is increasingly active in cross-border work originating outside the UK. Ward handles a range of shipping and transportation issues, acting in cargo claims and party disputes, and assisting with cross-border commercial agreements, while Andrew Oliver specialises in vessel finance and marine fisheries work.
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Testimonials
‘Full support received at all times (responses received even when Senior Partner on holiday). Expertise and industry understanding superb.‘
‘Dominic Ward and Hannah Horth – both marine experts, excellent communications and legal support.‘
Key clients
Associated British Ports
SMS Towage
Blue Water Shipping
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
vac-Q-tec
Jotun Paints
Braemar Group
Work highlights
- Advised va-Q-tec on producing contracts for the operation of customer service centres worldwide.
DLA Piper
DLA Piper acts for major public sector and local authority bodies on sector-critical developments for rail, bus, and airport infrastructure, with a growing number of mandates relating to aviation. The team advises on a variety of Northern Powerhouse projects alongside national work. Matters encompass planning and development issues, financing matters and litigation, forming a full-service transport offering. The practice is led by Robert Smith in Leeds, who advises public and private sector rail and aviation clients, and Sheffield-based Petra Billing, who specialises in property litigation.
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Testimonials
‘We have a long and well-established relationship with DLA going back over 12 years. This allows for us to deal with things in a mature way, where DLA understands what we need and helps us get towards it, without the short-term approach to fees that you get with other consultants.’
‘Carla Hancock is brilliant to work with. Not only is she superb at what she does, Carla has an excellent understanding of our business and how we operate, combined with a thorough approach to getting the detail right and managing other resources within the firm where appropriate. This has helped us complete some extremely challenging agreements, and we literally could not have done it without her.‘
‘DLA’s expertise has always seemed to be second-to-none in my eyes. They have a wealth of experience and knowledge from previous matters that they have been able to bring to the table and their knowledge of local government, particularly in relation to powers and functions, have been extremely useful.‘
‘Robert Smith’s knowledge and technical expertise has been invaluable, particularly from both a local government and transport sector point of view.‘
Key clients
Department for Transport
Merseytravel
Transport for Greater Manchester
Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive
Highways England
HS2
Volkerrail
British Airways
Hitachi Rail Europe
National Air Traffic Services
Transport for Wales
Transport for the North
Work highlights
- Advising DfT on the £1.4bn Thameslink Rolling Stock Project.
- Advising Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive on the £350m procurement of new rolling stock and associated long term maintenance arrangement.
- Representing DfT against Stagecoach’s legal challenge against The Secretary of State for Transport in relation to the decision to disqualify it from the South Eastern franchise.
Plexus Law
Plexus Law fields a dedicated aviation team, led by specialist Jarrod Parker. The practice advises insurers and insured clients including airlines, airport operators and suppliers on a national basis, with matters including aircraft damages and losses claims, personal injury claims, matters arising from fatalities and contractual disputes. Other members of the team include associates Jennifer Chan, an expert in airport liability claims and litigation; Louise Brown , who works on fatality issues; and Jennifer Howden, who is an experienced practitioner in general aviation losses.
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Key clients
Global Aerospace
Chubb
AIG
Allianz
La Reunion Aerienne
Starr Underwriting Agents
Brit
Generali
Nexus
Tokio Marine Kiln
Manchester Airport
Stansted Airport
East Midlands International Airport
Work highlights
- Defended Global Aerospace in a multi-million dollar dispute arising from damage caused to a Boeing A330 aircraft while on the ground.
- Defending Assicurazioni Generali UK in a claim arising from a collision with an Embraer Phenom 300 aircraft whilst it was on the ground, causing very serious structural damage to the wing.
- Defending Chubb in claims arising from damage to an Airbus A320’s main landing gear which was being transported at the time.
Knights plc
Knights plc has added the dedicated road transportation practice of Shulmans LLP to its offering; the group supports clients throughout the industry including operators, transport managers and drivers, in contentious and non-contentious matters. Work includes representing clients in public inquiries, public authority investigations and litigation, as well as providing compliance advice and handling specific road transport employment and HR considerations. The practice has also expanded its work with funders including advising on the regulatory aspects of road financing matters, and also fields a crisis response team. The practice is led by specialist road transport litigator Richard Wadkin, with Jim Wright handling employment mandates.
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Key clients
Leisure Displays t/a Ontime Logistics
YEP Travel
Ian Martin Buckley t/a MSB Transport
FNCSR
Chemplus
Sam Wilson
Specialist haulage operator
Former company director
Specialist haulier
Work highlights
- Represented Leisure Displays t/a Ontime Logistics in a complex public inquiry which had significant commercial implications for the business and its future development.
- Represented Chemplus in a public inquiry relating to an application for a new O Licence.
Myton Law
Myton Law is active in the shipping, logistics and rail sectors at a national and international level, with clients including operators and insurers. Areas of strength in the shipping sector include wet shipping issues, personal injury and fatal accident claims, dry shipping work including freight forwarding matters, and commercial marine litigation relating to build and repair disputes and ship arrests. Other matters include transport-related health and safety work and regulatory issues. Scott Yates focuses on wet shipping issues, while dry shipping is primarily handled by John Habergham. Chris Thornes is a commercial property lawyer with a specialism in rail and logistics.
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Testimonials
‘Highly competent and experienced fee earners, genuine partner led involvement on all instructions, London quality work at a very competitive price.‘
‘John Habergham – a former police officer with a wonderful instinct for sniffing out answers. Scott Yates – combines commercial acumen with a sound legal knowledge.‘
Key clients
Samskip Multimodal
TT Club
Post & Co
PD Ports
Thor Shipping & Transport UK
DC Rail
Eco-Railfreight
Wascosa AG
Moorland & City Railway
Railheads
Work highlights
- Acted for a logistics provider in obtaining a groundbreaking precedent that the common law rule against set-off and freight should extend to carriage by air.
- Represented N R Burnett at a Traffic Commissioner’s public inquiry regarding the client’s Operator’s Licence.
- Representing a global freight forwarder in a high-value lien dispute arising out of the insolvency of customer.
Weightmans
Weightmans advises clients in the transport and logistics industries, including hauliers, post and courier service providers, and infrastructure operators. It also has a bespoke transport regulatory service, which encompasses licensing and regulatory compliance issues alongside representing clients in regulatory tribunals and criminal proceedings relating to accidents, fatalities and vehicle seizures. In the Leeds office, Ben Daniel concentrates on employment issues, including representing clients in industrial disputes.
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Key clients
FirstGroup
National Express Group
Hoyer Group
Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Turners (Soham)
Work highlights
- Represented a local authority in a public inquiry in relation to its operator licence following a fatal road traffic incident and DVSA investigation.
- Represented a national haulier in a public inquiry following a maintenance and systems investigation by the DVSA.
- Representing the director of an energy company following a road traffic fatality.
Wrigleys Solicitors LLP
Wrigleys Solicitors LLP fields a dedicated rail property practice, working with train operating companies across the UK on issues relating to station redevelopments, retail property tenancies, whole franchise leasings and wider strategy planning issues. The team also provides training to franchises, particularly new entrants to the market, on UK legal issues relating to protected tenancies and planning regulations, utilising the firm's 'superb legal knowledge' in the sector. Elizabeth Wilson leads the team, with extensive experience in acting across all areas of rail property, supported by property department head Rachel Meredith. Richard Marson was promoted to partner in 2019, having won plaudits for his 'judgement and advice'.
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Testimonials
‘We continue to use Wrigley’s for all property law and lease management issues. Their specific legal knowledge and experience in the field of railway property management is superb, and the partner(s) we use are proactive, excellent communicators.‘
‘I usually turn to Richard Marson not just for management of our leases, but also for any general advice on property law issues – including landlord / tenant issues. I trust his judgement and advice in these particular fields and am fully assured that he is 100% representing our interests as client.‘
‘You are dealing directly with very experienced and senior practitioners who are also personable.‘
‘The Wrigley’s team is highly experienced in the rail property and rail regulation. They provide concise and thorough advice on complex matters. Wrigley’s offer exceptional value for money specifically in respect of property transactions on stations.‘
‘The team is expertly led by Elizabeth Wilson, with Richard Marson ably supporting her. Response times are first class and both make themselves as required for telephone calls and meetings.‘
‘Wrigleys are for me the go to firm in dealing with matters on the operational rail estate. The team have wide industry knowledge and in depth experience. This is their USP from others in the sector. Partner availability and Partner mentoring of associates ensures that standard of work is exceptional.‘
‘Unrivalled knowledge and understanding of all things railway and the complex matrix of legal documentation relating to operational railway property including depots and qualifying expenditure of maintenance equipment, long term charges and the inter relationship with Network Rail responsibilities. There are few other firms who have the experience of how matters have developed, altered and precedence set since privatisation in 1996 and this knowledge provides invaluable insight and protects their client’s interest to the full. The benefits of being fully au fait with the commercial arrangements gives them an unrivalled and unique advantage.‘
‘The transport team, led by Elizabeth Wilson, all have an ethos of being approachable and the unusual ability to explain the implications, reasons and consequences of various lease clauses often on the telephone has a huge advantage and provides the client or instructing surveyor with a clear and concise understanding. Rachel Meredith and Richard Marson are particularly approachable and provide a first class service in documenting all manner of leases, licences, development agreements, sale contracts and all manner of legal advice in a clear and sound manner.‘
Work highlights
- Advised a train operating company on the property aspects of its franchise demobilisation.
- Dealt with the property elements of a £20m new station development on behalf of a train operator.
- Dealt with retail lettings across a rail franchise portfolio of almost 200 stations for a train operator.
DWF
DWF focuses on road transport regulatory work including civil and criminal proceedings, with particular expertise in public inquiries relating to health and safety violations and dangerous and careless driving issues; it also provides regulatory compliance advice on a continuous basis, acting for clients in the logistics and retail industries. The practice in Leeds is led by dedicated regulatory transport lawyer David Chant, who works across Yorkshire and the North West on the contentious and criminal elements of transport industry instructions.
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Testimonials
‘Excellent service provided. Very comprehensive advice provided, regularly, to all persons involved regarding both criminal and civil matters.‘
Key clients
NFU Mutual