Morris Peacock > Howes Percival LLP > Norwich, England > Lawyer Profile

Howes Percival LLP‘s education, health, social housing and government group brings together experts in corporate, employment, insolvency, property, construction, commercial contracts and data protection. It is ‘knowledgeable, well run and proactive‘, according to clients. Land development partner Michaela Henson in Cambridge and insolvency expert Morris Peacock in Norwich oversee the practice, which includes Norwich-based corporate partner Oliver Pritchard. Peacock acted for the The Insolvency Service/Secretary of State for Business, Energy And Industrial Strategy in potential director disqualification proceedings arising out of the failure of Bell Pottinger LLP. Emerging partner talent Nicola Curle in Norwich is a key adviser on surplus land disposals, enabling developments and student accommodation projects. Planning specialist Jamie Childs provides ‘timely and usually very swift responses‘.

The ‘professional, polite and efficient‘ debt recovery team at Howes Percival LLP handles high-value and complex matters, partly through its role on the Crown Commercial Services Panel, which sees it act for The Insolvency Service. Morris Peacock, the ‘very helpful, informative’ Norwich-based Gordon Simpson, and Cambridge-based litigation specialist Michael Green are the practice heads. Peacock acted for The Insolvency Service in the investigation into the failure of BHS Limited and connected companies whilst Simpson notably assisted Bures Farm Partners in contentious debt recovery matters to secure £250,000. William Shirley in Norwich also plays a key role in the practice.

Howes Percival LLP‘s insolvency practice is noted as having ‘superb expertise in this field’. The group is led by head of insolvency and corporate recovery Michael Green from Cambridge and Morris Peacock from Norwich, who oversees the firm’s work for the Insolvency Service. He notably acted for the Insolvency Service in the investigation into the alleged failure of BHS Limited and connected companies and the subsequent conduct of directors’ disqualification proceedings. The team is noted as having ‘a wealth of experience in running all aspects of heavy litigation’. In Norwich, ‘excellent solicitor’ William Shirley, ‘who is very experienced in litigation and advisory work’, and senior associates Leon Head and Patrick Manning are all central to the practice.