Brian Farrell > Ashfords LLP > Exeter, England > Lawyer Profile

Following a concerted expansion strategy, the practice at Ashfords LLP has recently seen significant diversification and an increasing focus on a wide spread of projects work in both the renewable and traditional energy spaces; the hire of Carl Thompson, whose expertise lies in construction and infrastructure matters, from Osborne Clarke LLP in February 2022 is a key example of this. Brian Farrell oversees the offering, leveraging his commercial background to advise clients from both the public and private sectors. Jonathan Croley is another key contact on the commercial front. Stephen Humphreys is the name to note on the planning side, while Emma Warren leads on real estate-related mandates. Key recent areas of work have included advice on carbon credit, phosphate offsetting and biodiversity schemes, as well as decarbonisation and sustainability projects.

The corporate and commercial practice at Ashfords LLP is known for its strength in the technology and retail sectors, in which it acts in a broad range of transactions. Financial services and healthcare are also sectors in which the firm has particular expertise, further bolstered by its specialist IP practice. Andrew Betteridge heads the corporate side of the group, while Brian Farrell, whose experience extends to join venture agreements and corporate governance alongside M&A deals, leads on commercial matters. Tom Phipps excels in commercial matters at the intersection of IP and data protection. Mark Lomas retired in May 2022.

Ashfords LLP‘s broad practice focus sees the team advising on the purchase of energy from waste plants, helping commercial developers to unlock carbon credits, and supporting clients who have been accused of waste permitting breaches, including advising on interviews under caution and negotiating enforcements. The leadership team is divided between two cities; Ian Manners and Kate Topp are based in Bristol, while Brian Farrell and Tim Heal work from Exeter. Bristol-based Zoe Hunt is another name to note. Ben Derrington left the firm in November 2022.

Ashfords LLP‘s energy and resource management team assists water companies with corporate transactions and contracts, asset maintenance and repair and regulatory advice, while also acting for developers on S104 sewer adoption agreements. Leading the practice are Mark Manning, an engineering contracts and disputes specialist, and M&A, and regulatory lawyer Brian Farrell, who also advises on water technology developments.