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

The team at Gorvins Solicitors brings significant transactional expertise to national and regional clients ranging from public and private companies to owner-managed businesses and corporate funders. The firm has developed a reputation for excellence in several core sectors, namely media and publishing, market research, construction, and healthcare. Andrew Curwen heads up the practice; his highly regarded team includes Christian Mancier – who is noted for his work with family businesses – and consultant Paul Lupton – who focuses on advising SMEs. Senior associate Gemma Lingard is also noted.

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

Gorvins Solicitors is known particularly for its company commercial and partnership litigation expertise, with the firm receiving regular instruction from both corporations and shareholders. The team is also noted for its strong insolvency disputes offering; practice head Mark Deverell is highly regarded in this area, as is the rest of the group, particularly David Guest. Guy Lightowler – whose expertise extends to international mandates, and whose client base consequently includes both major local and multinational names – completes the roster of core practitioners.

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

Gorvins Solicitors' broad commercial property practice covers estate management, secure lending, development agreements, as well as both commercial and corporate property acquisitions and disposals. Additionally, the team is experienced in advising bridging finance and lending clients. the team is co-led from Stockport by Martin Hoare, who specialises in both commercial and residential development and investment, and Claire Beaumont, who regularly advises lending institutions and works on high value investment and development transactions

Dispute resolution > Debt recovery Tier 2

Gorvins Solicitors often acts for insolvency practitioners to collect debts on behalf of liquidators and administrators and recovery of monies due under guarantees. Mark Deverell heads the team, handling debts relating to the provision of bulk chemical supplies. David Guest is a name to note, specialising in both corporate and personal insolvency. Senior associate Danielle Clements offers expertise in contentious probate matters, whilst associate Sunita Patel has experience dealing with multi-track claims and debt collection out of jurisdiction.

Employment > Employment: employee/union firms Tier 2

Gorvins Solicitors provides full service employment advice and representation to employees and senior executives, with expertise ranging from redundancy and maternity and pregnancy discrimination to negotiating settlement agreements. In recent years it has seen a noticeable increase in multiple departure exercises. New practice head David Rogers joined from Tetrosyl Limited in February 2022, bringing his extensive experience in representing clients at Employment Tribunal and on employment-related aspects of corporate M&A transactions to the table. David Walton and Danielle Ayres departed in February 2022 and November 2021, while associate solicitor Matthew Davis joined from Forbes Solicitors in January 2022, adding further settlement agreement strength to the practice.

Private client > Contentious trusts and probate Tier 2

Gorvins Solicitors is particularly strong advising on Inheritance Act claims, disputed estates, and challenging and contesting wills. It has niche experience dealing with fraudulent wills and invalid wills involving mental capacity. Michael Smoult was promoted to practice head in June 2021 and specialises in contentious estates, Inheritance Act 1975 claims, and disputed wills. Other key contacts include Julie Burgess, who made partner in December 2021,  and senior associate Danielle Clements, who focuses on court litigation, often involving contentious probate and challenges to the validity of wills. Christine Thornley departed in September 2021.

Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 2

Gorvins Solicitors advises on a wide range of family succession matters, including family business wills, Court of Protection work, contentious probate, and inheritance tax planning. Michael Smoult was promoted to department head in August 2021 and focuses on inheritance tax planning and will preparation. Julie Burgess was promoted to partner in December 2021 and advises on lasting powers of attorney and inheritance tax planning, as well as complex estate administration. Associate solicitor Almas Patankar is a specialist in Court of Protection matters and inheritance tax planning. Tasoula Addison  departed in July 2021, while Christine Thornley  departed in August 2021.

Insurance > Personal injury and clinical negligence: claimant Tier 3

Gorvins Solicitors specialises in military, serious sports and spinal cord injuries from its Stockport base.  The practice also handles cases involving traumatic brain injuries and chronic pain. Stuart Biddle leads the personal injury team, focusing on brain and back injuries as well as pain disorders. Gary Boyd is head of the military and serious sports injuries claims team, recognised for his expertise in this niche as well as other life changing injury claims, particularly spinal cord and brain injuries and amputations.

Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 3

Gorvins Solicitors defends complex professional negligence and liability claims against legal professionals, surveyors, valuers, architects, accountants and insurance brokers. Co-heads Mark Deverell and Guy Lightowler are regularly instructed in professional negligence matters primarily concerning legal advisors and surveyors. David Guest completes the management team.

Private client > Family Tier 4

The boutique family law team at Gorvins Solicitors provides specialist matrimonial and family law work to medium-to-high-net-worth individuals, with related work for public sector clients such as police federations in the UK. Additional work includes financial remedy proceedings, non-molestation orders, and allegations of abuse. Practice head Nicola Fraser is noted for her expertise in complex divorce settlements and children disputes.

Real estate > Property litigation Tier 4

Specialising in both commercial and residential disputes, the team at Gorvins Solicitors advises landlords, property owners, and commercial tenants. The practice is led by Guy Lightowler who regularly handles complex High Court-level cases and advises both landlord and tenants on a range of matters. Senior associate Danielle Clements is also recommended.

Employment Tier 5

Gorvins Solicitors frequently advises on redundancy; bulk settlement agreements; disciplinary and grievance matters; and cancer, pregnancy, and disability discrimination cases. Newly-appointed practice head David Rogers joined from Tetrosyl Limited in February 2022. He covers reorganisations, collective redundancies, and Employment Tribunal claims. Danielle Ayres departed in November 2021, followed by David Walton  in February 2022.

Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 5

Gorvins Solicitors is able to provide a blend of individual insolvency work, primarily representing directors in fraud cases, and corporate clients in wind-up proceedings. Mark Deverell, David Guest and Paul Lupton lead the Stockport-based team, respectively advising on litigation, personal insolvency and corporate insolvency matters.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property Tier 5

Gorvins Solicitors advises clients across intellectual property matters including copyright, design rights and trade marks. The team also handles intellectual property licenses either on a stand-alone basis or as part of a wider commercial or corporate arrangement. Andrew Curwen, head of the corporate/M&A department, leads the team and focuses on non-contentious IP work. Co-head Guy Lightowler acts for clients on IP disputes, while Christian Mancier deals with IP issues that arise during corporate transactions.