Firm Profile > Howes Percival LLP > Northampton, England
Howes Percival LLP Offices
NENE HOUSE
4 RUSHMILLS
NORTHAMPTON
NN4 7YB
England
Howes Percival LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the East Midlands Tier 1
In 2018, Howes Percival LLP was appointed to the UK Government Crown Commercial Service full service panel for England and Wales, with its dispute resolution practice well-placed to benefit as a result. Elsewhere, the firm acts for other commercial clients, which range in size from small owner-managed businesses to listed companies. The team includes Satnam Chayra, whose expertise includes shareholder, director and partnership claims, as well as property litigation. Practice head Geraint Davies regularly handles complex, multijurisdictional disputes. The firm's recent work involved matters connected with industries such as food and drink, manufacturing, real estate and construction.
Key clients
HM Revenue and Customs
Welcome Break Group Ltd
Getronics Services UK Limited
MPAC Plc (formerly Molins Plc)
Renewi UK Services Limited
Nampak Plastics Europe Limited
Darby Properties Limited/Darby Group Limited
Intertek Group Plc
Grace Foods UK Limited
Blue Skies (UK) Limited
Commercial property: elsewhere in the East Midlands Tier 1
Howes Percival LLP's East Midlands practice is spearheaded in Northampton and Leicester by Lucy Lord and the 'ultra-commercial' Nicholas James respectively. It handles a varied workload, including investment fund acquisitions and disposals, residential and commercial development, property finance (including portfolio lending and refinancing), and landlord and tenant work. In addition to James, Stuart Burns is another key partner in Leicester. Alexandra Kirkwood and Erica Gradus are highly regarded associates in Northampton.
Testimonials
‘Howes Percival is excellent at covering all the aspects of work undertaken by an investment and development property company. Complex lettings, land transactions and acquisitions are handled with great skill and practicality‘
‘Nicholas James is ultra-commercial and Stuart Burns is superb at detail‘
Key clients
Mulberry Property Developments Limited
Mulberry Commercial Developments Limited
Handelsbanken plc
Santander UK plc
HSBC UK Bank plc
C Brewer & Sons Limited
Motorvogue (Northampton) Limited
Davidsons Developments Limited
Charles Street Buildings Group
Henderson UK Property Fund
Persimmon Homes Limited
Welcome Break Group Limited
In ‘n’ Out Centres Limited
Grenson Limited
Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in the East Midlands Tier 1
Howes Percival LLP's top-ranking corporate team in Leicester underwent significant expansion in January 2019, when the firm recruited Jahid Ali and Oliver Brookshaw from Spearing Waite LLP. Ali is experienced in assisting private equity houses and management teams with private equity transactions, while Brookshaw advises listed companies on flotations, secondary share issues and public takeovers. Brookshaw also has fund (including venture capital) formation expertise. Also joining from Spearing Waite LLP was banking partner Haydon Simmonds, who has leveraged finance experience. Elsewhere, the firm is particularly well-known for acting for growing family-owned and management-owned private companies. Daniel Banton heads up the practice in Leicester, while Gerald Couldrake is the main contact in Northampton.
Testimonials
‘Personable and direct‘
‘No legalese – they just advise what needs to be done and by when‘
Key clients
C Brewer & Sons Limited
Briggs (UK) Limited
Fen Technology Limited
HSBC UK Bank Plc
The Shareholders of Atana Limited
Garashield Limited
Stonbury Limited
Model Citizens Limited
Buckingham Plant Hire Limited
BPW Limited and group companies
NatWest
Handelsbanken
Employment Tier 1
Howes Percival LLP’s core strengths lie in handling employment aspects of high-value corporate acquisitions, disposals and restructuring projects. Practice head Paula Bailey is an expert in TUPE projects and the negotiation of senior exits, while Graham Irons is particularly recommended for his Employment Tribunal advocacy. The team's sector expertise includes the automotive, food and drink, manufacturing and education industries. Gurdeep Boparai recently joined from Weightmans LLP.
Key clients
Children’s Investment Fund Foundation
All3Media Group
Bosch Siemens Home Appliances
Welcome Break Group Limited
Marston’s PLC
Terex Corporation
Getronics Services UK Limited
Mercedes-Benz
Nampak Plastics Europe Limited
Tsys EMEA
Milton Keynes College
World Vision UK
University of Northampton’s Student Union
Hillarys Blinds Limited
RS Components Limitd / Electrocomponents plc
Health and safety Tier 1
Howes Percival LLP's ‘dedicated team of clever lawyers’ handles the full range of contentious and non-contentious work for clients from industries such as construction, manufacturing, healthcare and education. It is also particularly well-regarded in the minerals and extractives sector. Led by the ‘vastly experienced’ Alan Millband, the practice also generates work from several health and safety service organisations, consultancies and consultants. Nick Benton, who is an expert on employment-related health and safety issues, recently joined from Freeths LLP,
Testimonials
‘Associate solicitor Andrew Swarbrick is a rising star. He is a shrewd and clever young lawyer, who has a knack for spotting the way through difficult cases‘.
Key clients
Poundstretcher Limited
Citation Professional Solutions
Hamilton Deed (Health and Safety Services)
Welcome Break Group
Intellectual property Tier 1
Howes Percival LLP's team is particularly knowledgeable about the food and drinks industry, but it also acts for clients in other sectors, such as fashion, software and media. Practice head Matthew Talbot handles a wide variety of trade mark, copyright, patent and design rights disputes, and has notable experience of European Food Protection matters. The team's non-contentious work includes assisting several high-profile clients with trade mark filings and general portfolio management.
Key clients
Business Software Alliance, Inc. (“BSA”)
Coventry University
Start-rite Shoes Limited
FibreFab Limited
Sequin Art Limited
Just Hype Limited
Shoe Zone Retail Limited
Charles Martell & Son Limited
APT Training & Consultancy Ltd
Robovision Limited
Memorial Walls Ltd
Imperial International Ltd
The National Forest Company
Autodesk Ltd
National Business Register
Internetwork Media Ltd
Samworth Brothers Ltd
Property litigation Tier 1
Howes Percival LLP's head of property litigation in Leicester is Satnam Chayra, who primarily handles landlord and tenant matters (such as dilapidations, lease renewals, rent recovery, contentious breaks and forfeiture), although she is also active in other general property litigation, including boundary disputes and negligence cases. Also based in Leicester is Geraint Davies, who has more than 25 years of property litigation experience. Director Jane Bloomer leads on property litigation matters in Northampton and, like Chayra, is also known as a landlord and tenant specialist, but she is also strong in residential and commercial insolvency related possession claims, as well as matters involving rights of way, restrictive covenants, easements and adverse possession, among others.
Testimonials
‘Thorough and detailed approach to cases. An ability to cut to the chase and to give clear and concise advice‘
Key clients
C Brewer & Sons Limited
Kettle Interiors UK Limited
O Donovan Waste Disposal Limited
Welcome Break Group Limited
Nampak Plastics Europe Limited
Renewi UK Services Limited
Rodericks Dental Limited
Education Tier 2
Howes Percival LLP has a cross-practice team, which provides support on corporate, property, construction, commercial and data protection issues. Primary, secondary and faith schools turn to the group for advice on single academy conversions and multi-academy trusts. The firm also generates work from colleges and universities. Graham Irons (who co-heads the practice with Daniel Banton and Mark Davies) advises on restructuring and employment matters, as well as the management of parent companies.
Key clients
Milton Keynes College
Coventry University
De Montfort University
Learner’s Trust
Elston Hall Multi Academy Trust
Northwood Park Educational Trust
Learning Link Multi Academy Trust
Services 4 Schools Limited
Christ the King Catholic Collegiate
Perry Hall Multi Academy Trust
Lumen Christi Catholic Multi Academy Trust
Codsall Multi Academy Trust
St Bartholomew’s CE Multi Academy Trust
Family Tier 2
Howes Percival LLP is ‘capable of dealing with high-value and complex family law work’. Although financial cases (particularly those involving land and estate, tax, business and jurisdictional issues) are at the heart of the caseload, the team also undertakes a broad range of other family and child-related instructions. Examples include divorce and civil partnership dissolution, Children Act proceedings and cohabitation agreements. Amy Walpole and the ‘detailed, methodical’ Justine Flack jointly co-head the practice, which counts high net-worth individuals, CEOs, medical consultants and other professionals as key clients.
Testimonials
‘ They are Among only a handful of firms in the East Midlands capable of dealing with high value and complex family law work‘.
‘Justine Flack has a detailed, methodical approach which instills confidence in clients and gets results‘.
‘They work together well, clearly good communication between the team members.
‘Justine Flack understands the complications around divorce and approaches this difficult process with clear guidance and advice. She is entirely focused on good outcomes for her clients‘.
Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 2
Howes Percival LLP's three-partner East Midlands team has a strong track record in government insolvency work, and retains a place on the Insolvency Service Panel; the scope of the firm's work includes public interest winding-up matters involving large-scale frauds and director disqualification proceedings, among other matters. In addition, the firm is also a supplier to the Government's Crown Commercial Service panel as part of a consortium, taking the lead on insolvency matters. Beyond government-related mandates, the team handles the gamut of contentious and non-contentious personal and corporate insolvency issues for insolvency practitioners, businesses (ranging in size from sole traders to listed companies) and business owners, as well as creditors. Leicester-based Carl Mifflin is the national head of the insolvency and restructuring practice. Deborah Nigh and Katie Summers are the lead partners in Northampton.
Testimonials
‘Howes Percival’s national coverage and depth of service gives them a market-leading offering.’
‘The partner led client care approach is easy to work with, with a single port of call for any query and referral.’
‘Carl Mifflin is one of the preeminent lawyers in the business recovery and Insolvency market, not only in the East Midlands but nationally.’
‘Carl Mifflin is the finest insolvency lawyer that I have worked with. His approach is robust, assured and commercial. He is my go-to lawyer.’
Key clients
Mazars LLP
BDO UK LLP
RSM Restructuring Advisory LLP
Grant Thornton UK LLP
SC Advisory Services Limited t/a Smith Cooper
KL Business Solutions Limited t/a Kingsland Business Recovery
Elwell Watchorn & Saxton LLP
ReSolve Partners LLP
The Insolvency Service
Blakethwaite Limited t/a Blades Insolvency Services
BRI (UK) Limited t/a BRI Business Recovery and Insolvency
Alexander Lawson Jacobs
Begbies Traynor
David Rubin & Partners
Bretts Business Recovery Limited
IT and telecoms Tier 2
The ‘incredibly responsive’ practice at Howes Percival LLP is renowned for its delivering of ‘client-focused solutions’. On the contentious front, areas of particular experience include IT contract disputes, IP infringements and acting on threats to suspend the provision of vital services. Key strengths in the non-contentious sphere span software development, maintenance and licensing, app development and outsourcing agreements, as well as data protection and security issues. Matthew Talbot heads up the practice.
Testimonials
‘Both Matthew Talbot and Jenna Bruce offer excellent advice and are always willing to accommodate. It’s also a real pleasure to talk to them and engage with them’.
Key clients
Business Software Alliance, Inc. (“BSA”)
Global Reach Technology Limited
Getronics UK Limited
Retail Assist Limited
FibreFab Limited
University of Coventry
Rodericks Dental
Autodesk Inc.
Internetwork Media Limited
Howes Percival LLP > Firm Profile
The firm: Howes Percival is a regional commercial law firm operating across the heartland of England. Howes Percival has expertise and resources usually associated with much larger national and City firms and provides top-quality legal services to businesses, the government and individuals. The firm prides itself on the agile, energetic and commercial approach of its lawyers.
Howes Percival values excellent client relationships and invests time and resources in understanding its clients’ businesses, the sectors they operate in and their requirements. The firm’s offices and teams then work closely together with its clients to provide them with a seamless, high-quality service. The location of the firm’s office network helps it provide services to clients across the country.
Types of work undertaken: The firm was recently appointed to the Government’s Crown Commercial Services General Legal Services Panel for England and Wales.
The firm provides services to a range of clients including, Marston’s Mercedes-Benz, Persimmon Homes, the University of Cambridge, Greene King and All3Media. However, it also has a large client base of owner-managed businesses and individuals. It has particular expertise in the automotive, development and construction, education, food and drink, and leisure and tourism sectors.
Corporate and commercial: Howes Percival is a market leader in corporate work and has particular expertise in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, disposals, MBOs and MBIs, and private equity transactions. All aspects of banking law are dealt with and insolvency is a particular specialism. In the commercial arena the firm is also recommended for outsourcing agreements, joint ventures, manufacturing and supply agreements, IT work and intellectual property agreements.
Commercial property: Howes Percival has a highly skilled and extremely well-regarded commercial property team providing specialist advice on all aspects of the sale and purchase of residential and commercial development land and built out sites, option and clawback arrangements, commercial leases and property portfolio management, banking and finance, planning, environmental issues, mines and minerals, construction and property tax.
Dispute resolution, insolvency, intellectual property, property litigation and regulatory/environmental: the firm has an extremely experienced dispute resolution team which deals with disputes inside and outside the UK. It also has highly regarded construction, intellectual property/IT, insolvency, property litigation and regulatory/environmental teams.
Employment: an award-winning team providing the full range of contentious and non-contentious work for clients across the country, carrying out high quality work for a range of clients, from household names to owner managed businesses, and gaining new instructions based on reputation alone. Members of the team provide solution-focused commercial employment advice, taking a robust approach to litigation (having gained a number of costs awards in favour of clients) and are particularly experienced in handling high-value litigation disputes.
Family: the team has national and international reach, providing high-level advice upon divorce and relationship breakdown as well as wealth preservation to high-net-worth individuals including company directors, entrepreneurs and celebrities. The team provides expertise in cases involving family businesses, farming businesses, landed estates and trusts. The practice deals with children and private law matters and has two qualified collaborative lawyers.
Private client: a highly respected team providing advanced estate planning including preparation of wills, formation of trusts and bespoke tax solutions for landowners, directors and high-net-worth individuals with extensive experience advising farms and estates, administering trusts and advising charities. The team includes three Fellows of the Agricultural Law Association and is a retained adviser on Camelot’s legal panel. Team memberships include ACTAPS and STEP.
Offices: Cambridge, Leicester, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Norwich
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banking | Daniel Banton | ||
| Banking | Haydon Simmonds | ||
| Banking | Ian Ilersic | ||
| Banking | Tessa Haskey | ||
| Charities | Tom Lawrence | ||
| Charities | Richard Lovett | ||
| Commercial contracts | Gerald Couldrake | ||
| Commercial property | Tessa Haskey | ||
| Commercial property | Jonathan Greenhalgh | ||
| Commercial property | Lucy Lord | ||
| Commercial property | Nicholas James | ||
| Corporate finance | Gerald Couldrake | ||
| Corporate finance | Robert Colman | ||
| Corporate finance | Daniel Banton | ||
| Corporate finance | Edward Lee | ||
| Education | Graham Irons | ||
| Education | Daniel Banton | ||
| Employment | Paula Bailey | ||
| Employment | Graham Irons | ||
| Employment | Simon DeMaid | ||
| Employment | Matthew Potter | ||
| Family | Amy Walpole | ||
| Family | Justine Flack | ||
| Farms and estates | Catherine Scott | ||
| Farms and estates | Stuart Maggs | ||
| Farms and estates | Jonathan Wortley | ||
| Fraud recovery | Geraint Davies | ||
| Government recovery | Morris Peacock | ||
| Health and safety | Alan Millband | ||
| Insolvency | Carl Mifflin | ||
| Insolvency | Katie Summers | ||
| Insolvency | Deborah Nigh | ||
| Insolvency | Michael Green | ||
| Intellectual property | Matthew Talbot | ||
| Intellectual property | James Howarth | ||
| IT and telecoms | Matthew Talbot | ||
| Litigation and dispute resolution | Geraint Davies | ||
| Litigation and dispute resolution | Satnam Chayra | ||
| Litigation and dispute resolution | Michael Green | ||
| Planning and environment | Paul Wootton | ||
| Planning and environment | Chris May | ||
| Planning and environment | Alan Millband | ||
| Commercial Property | Mark Davies | ||
| Corporate | Jahid Ali | ||
| Commercial Property | Steven Beach | ||
| Corporate | Oliver Brookshaw | ||
| Commercial Property | Stuart Burns | ||
| Commercial Property | Christopher Cubitt | ||
| Commercial Property | Nicola Curle | ||
| Estates | Katherine Danks | ||
| Commercial Property | Michaela Henson | ||
| Commercial Property | Tracey Hughes | ||
| Planning | Paul Hunt | ||
| Property Litigation | Jamie Kidd | ||
| Tax | Stuart Maggs | ||
| Private Client | Stuart Maggs | ||
| Commercial Property | Lisa Mantle | ||
| Property Litigation | Simon Murphy | ||
| Commercial Property | Jo Nicholls | ||
| Insolvency | Deborah Nigh | ||
| Insolvency | William Shirley | ||
| Intellectual Property | Hannah Steggles | ||
| Insolvency | Katie Summers | ||
| Healthcare | Oliver Pritchard | ||
| Corporate | Oliver Pritchard |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
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John Herd | View Profile | |
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Lucy Lord | View Profile | |
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Deborah Nigh | View Profile | |
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Katie Summers | View Profile |