Clare Arthurs > Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP > Cambridge, England > Lawyer Profile

Predominantly based in Oxford, the ‘exceptional‘ team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP advises a diverse range of clients, including those in the property, technology and private client sectors. Practice head Clare Arthurs works out of both the Cambridge and London offices, while the ‘brilliant‘ Rebecca Andrews-Walker assists clients within the education, retail, and sports sectors with contentious bankruptcies and corporate insolvency disputes. In Reading, John Chater frequently acts for receivers and insolvency practitioners on corporate restructuring issues. Associate Matthew Letts is a ‘walking encyclopaedia‘ when it comes to turnarounds and solvent liquidations.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is known for its work in general commercial litigation, with specialist advice also including international litigation and arbitration, group action litigation, and banking and finance disputes, among others. The team is led by Clare Arthurs who splits her time between Cambridge and London. Charlie Shillito specialises in financial services and professional negligence claims. Former practice head Emma Davies Day left the firm in February 2023.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP runs a broad caseload, spread across banking and finance, digital asset, cybercrime, shareholder, contractual, restructuring, insolvency and product liability disputes. Clare Arthurs fronts the team, which has recently litigated in jurisdictions as diverse as India and South America.

The commercial dispute resolution team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP guides multinational product manufacturers, distributors and retailers on their obligations and litigation risks. John Doherty  is a leading practitioner in EU product safety matters and co-heads the team with litigation expert Clare Arthurs. Lisa Page provides regulatory advice on medical devices.

‘A go-to legal firm that cannot be faulted‘, Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP‘s has notable strength in cross-border and international disputes. The practice’s current claims roster includes several large-value matters involving countries such as India, Guinea and South America, as well as North America. Dividing her time between Cambridge and London, Clare Arthurs leads the team that comprises consultant Rustam Dubash, a former practice head; David Niven, who co-heads the professional negligence and group actions practice alongside David O’Brien; international litigation head Richard Marshall; and IP and IT disputes leader Phillip D’Costa. Also integral to the practice, Michael Brown, Kamran Rehman and Alex Fox all maintain active commercial disputes practices; and Charlotte Hill, Harriet Vidot and Laura Coleclough, along with Chris Hoyer Miller, Oliver Cooke, Colin Hayes, and Valya Georgieva are key senior associates. Insolvency and civil fraud partner John Adams joined from Browne Jacobson LLP in August 2022.

The practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is ‘very experienced, trustworthy, and very capable in managing complex group actions’, acting for clients in claims linked to insurance, financial mis-selling,  and professional negligence. For one client, the team led by Clare Arthurs is ‘probably one of the best for group litigation‘. Noted practitioners include ‘extremely effective and knowledgeable’ David Niven and David O’Brien, who is commended for ‘leaving no stone unturned‘.

The banking practice at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a ‘force to be reckoned with’, with vast experience acting both for and against banks. The team has expertise in high-profile swaps litigation, and is recognised for its digital asset litigation capabilities. ‘Dynamic partner‘ Alex Fox acts as head of business and finance disputes, and leads the ‘dedicated and hard-working team‘ alongside Clare Arthurs and David Niven. The team continues to expand, with the arrival of John Adams from Browne Jacobson LLP in August 2022. Charlotte Hill is another key contact at the firm.