Gorvins Solicitors > Stockport, England > Firm Profile

Gorvins Solicitors > The Legal 500 Rankings

Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in the North West Tier 1

Gorvins Solicitors‘ extensive corporate and commercial practice ranges from acquisitions, MBOs, and disposals to outsourcing, e-commerce and agency arrangements. The firm is noted for its capabilities in the media and publishing sectors, as well as for its burgeoning position in the wealth management world. Practice co-chair Andrew Curwen is experienced in venture capital and debt finance work, while fellow co-chair Christian Mancier is a key port of call for a number of family-owned businesses. Other key names to note include Paul Lupton, whose broad coverage includes logistics and technology sector matters; Gemma Lingard, who often advises on company restructurings and contractual issues; and Rowan Uren, praised by clients for his ‘strong technical acumen‘ and ‘eye for detail‘. All named lawyers are based in Stockport.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the North West Tier 1

Gorvins Solicitors is recognised for its expertise in insolvency litigation in addition to disputes arising out of commercial matters, warranty claims, breach of contract and partnership issues. Mark Deverell co-heads the team out of Stockport and acts on behalf of businesses, principal shareholders and directors. Other co-head Guy Lightowler works on cross-border disputes for SMEs, PLCs and multinationals. Danielle Clements is well-versed in property litigation in addition to contentious probate matters.

Real estate > Commercial property: elsewhere in the North West Tier 1

The team at Gorvins Solicitors, based in Stockport, has commercial property specialists Claire Beaumont and Martin Hoare at its helm, both of who are particularly adept at advising on investment, development and redevelopment work of significant value. The team’s workload is varied and includes advising on complex landlord and tenant-related issues; estate management; and acquisitions and disposals. Its noteworthy portfolio of clients uniquely includes a number of institutional lenders. In June 2022 the team was strengthened with the arrival of partner Paul Dowdall from Addleshaw Goddard.

Dispute resolution > Debt recovery Tier 2

Operating in conjunction with the firm’s dispute resolution and commercial litigation teams, the Gorvins Solicitors debt recovery practice represents a number of credit unions as well as clients in specific industries. Practice head Mark Deverell is frequently instructed for debt collection and recovery work, while recently promoted partner Danielle Clements offers expertise in contentious probate matters. Associate Sunita Patel, experienced in debt collection outside of this jurisdiction, is also key. David Guest left the firm in December 2022.

Private client > Contentious trusts and probate Tier 2

Gorvins Solicitors possesses impressive corporate, commercial and litigation departments who collaborate with the three-partner strong contentious trusts and probate team to deliver a comprehensive service to trustees and beneficiaries. Under the leadership of Michael Smoult, whose recent work highlights included the disputed estates of high-profile sport and media individuals, the firm engage with contested and fraudulent wills, the removal and replacement of trustees, and complex Inheritance Act claims. Julie Burgess specialises in matters that concern foreign property and agricultural elements, while Danielle Clements, who was promoted to partner last year, advises on the full range of practice matters, with a notable track record on coercive behaviour and undue influence-based claims.

Employment > Employment: employee/union firms Tier 3

Gorvins Solicitors employee and trade union offering is overseen by David Rogers, who leverages over twenty years of sector experience to advise on collective redundancy arrangements, senior executive departures and post-termination restrictions, as well as competently representing clients in Employment Tribunal claims. A key point of differentiation for the group is its sector expertise in maternity and pregnancy discrimination matters, with the ‘excellent’ Amanda Isherwood actively involved in disciplinary processes and settlement negotiations. David is also well versed in issues emerging from complex TUPE arrangements, including negotiating with Trade Union representatives and handling tribunal claims.

Insurance > Personal injury: claimant Tier 3

Gorvins Solicitors‘ Stockport-based personal injury team is led jointly by Stuart Biddle, a highly experienced litigator who specialises in brain and spinal injuries and pain disorders, and military and sports injury specialist Gary Boyd. The latter has a strong record in complex military injury claims against the MOD, covering matters including non-freezing cold injuries and PTSD. Cerys Jones, who is also a military injury specialist, is a further key name to note.

Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 3

Gorvins Solicitors acts on claims against legal professionals, architects, surveyors, valuers and more. The team is jointly led by managing partner Mark Deverell, who primarily works on claims regarding legal professionals in this space, and experienced litigator and arbitrator Guy Lightowler. Cases involving the negligent handling of property matters constitute a specialism for the firm.

Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 3

Gorvins Solicitors advises on a broad range of wills, trusts and succession planning mandates, as well as undertaking Court of Protection work, such as acting as deputies and submitting applications. The firm has a specialist family business team which leverages expertise from its deep bench of private client lawyers to offer a full service including corporate and commercial, wills, trusts and probate, and also employment law counsel. Head of department Michael Smoult jointly heads the family business team and has extensive experience in matters concerning inheritance tax planning, will preparation, and protecting the assets of clients with disabled beneficiaries. Julie Burgess has expertise advising on complex estates, including agricultural property and foreign assets, as well as lifetime planning for disabled and vulnerable children. Almas Patankar is involved with inheritance tax planning and Court of Protection matters.

Private client > Family Tier 4

Gorvins Solicitors advise on the full range of matrimonial finance and childcare mandates, with key work highlights from the past twelve months showing complex cases involving an overlap of both areas of family law, with additional complications such as crypto assets and high-value pensions. Team head and ‘stand out partner‘ Nicola Fraser specialises in financial settlement disputes involving a large array of assets, especially when they pertain to corporate structures. Experienced mediator Rachel Edwards Barrott is also active on a wide breadth of firm cases, and is chiefly noted for her expertise in domestic violence, cohabitation agreements and Schedule 1 Children Act matters.

Real estate > Property litigation Tier 4

The team at Gorvins Solicitors is equipped to represent its clients on a range of disputes, regularly working on key construction and development projects. Danielle Clements is a noteworthy team member, with experience handling matters involving issues with service charge, ground rent, dilapidations and the array of landlord and tenant claims. The practice is led by Guy Lightowler from Stockport, who is considered ‘fantastic to deal with’.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property Tier 4

The team at Gorvins Solicitors handles both litigious intellectual property work, including high profile defences against allegations of trademark infringement, and corporate transactional work in the tech space. Experienced corporate and M&A lawyer Andrew Curwen leads the non-contentious arm of the practice, while litigator Guy Lightowler, who has a strong track record in trademark and copyright disputes, including cases before the High Court and European Intellectual Property Office, oversees contentious matters. Christian Mancier and Paul Lupton are also key.

Employment Tier 5

Gorvins Solicitors has seen an uptick in litigation work over the past twelve months, especially regarding Covid-19 and discrimination disputes, as well as collective redundancies and employee exit issues. Team head David Rogers is a go-to advisor for the firm’s extensive list of clients in the manufacturing and distribution industry for TUPE advice, due to his previous in-house counsel experience, and is also well versed in large scale reorganisation mandates and disciplinary disputes. Amanda Isherwood has a broad practice particularly concentrated on senior executive arrivals and exits, as well as contentious matters involving disability, maternity and pregnancy cases.

Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: general crime and fraud