Firm Profile > Trowers & Hamlins LLP > London, England

Local government Tier 1

Trowers & Hamlins LLP provides governance and strategy advice to a wide range of local authorities. The firm has a track record of work on town centre and regeneration projects, with a focus on infrastructure, housing and schools and leisure centres, local authority housing development and PPP projects. With a history of interfacing between the public and private sectors, the team is known for its work establishing trade companies and providing advice on commercial portfolio investment strategies and pension funds. In 2019, practice leader Scott Dorling worked for the London Borough of Enfield on the Meridian Water Regeneration Scheme, one of the UK's largest urban regeneration schemes. Consultant Ian Doolittle focuses primarily on public sector housing law; Helen Randall specialises in state aid, PPPs, procurement, and corporate and policy issues relating to national pathfinder transactions; Paul McDermott is an 'outstanding advisor' on public investment into town centres, community regeneration, and housing delivery.

M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m Tier 1

Trowers & Hamlins LLP works with fast-growing, entrepreneurial businesses and management teams. The team's core focus remains private company M&A where the department has particular expertise in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, social care, real estate, hotels and leisure sectors. A growth area has been in relation to owner managed businesses and the firm has a cross-departmental group to assist in servicing these clients. Tim Nye advises an array of private equity and real estate funds, as well as mid-market corporates, owner managed businesses and entrepreneurs. Property and hotels expert Michael Pattinson leads the London corporate team.

Social housing: finance Tier 1

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's team is ‘excellent at getting to the nub of matters’, and advises both borrowers and lenders in the social housing sector throughout England and Wales. An area of particular expertise is advising groups of registered providers with loan facilities and other debt arrangements. Managing partner Adrian Carter, who is the head of the banking and finance practice, uses his 30 years of experience to advise on syndicated and bilateral lending and borrowing, capital market issues and hedging arrangements. Neil Waller advises housing association clients on all types of debt finance transactions. Katie Dyer and Melanie Comer lead the real estate finance security team across the London, Manchester Birmingham and Exeter offices. Anna Clark left legal practice in 2020. Eleanor James is also recommended.

Social housing: local authorities and registered providers Tier 1

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has a ‘unique focus’ on advising both local authorities and housing providers on all aspects of the sector, making it the go-to firm for issues including social housing finance, employment, construction, real estate litigation, public procurement and planning. The group, which is comprised of over 180 lawyers across the country, has adapted to changes in the market. It now advises on high profile, complex transactions bringing together the private and public sectors to secure the long term provision of more affordable housing. Tonia Secker leads the affordable housing team and has particular experience of advising government agencies, combined authorities and the GLA. Sharron Webster advises on governance and regulatory issues, corporate group structures and merger projects. Amy Shaw has ‘encyclopaedic knowledge’ of joint venture issues. Scott Dorling, Sara Bailey and Andy Barnard are also recommended.

Commercial property: development Tier 2

Under the leadership of Sara Bailey, a PPP, joint venture, regeneration and development expert, Trowers & Hamlins LLP ‘offers the exact support that clients are looking for’. The team assists on commercial developments and investments from planning through to disposal, with particular significance placed on inward investment from the Far and Middle East, bolstered by long-established expertise in Islamic finance. Other distinguished names include many public sector bodies in addition to private wealth residential clients. Asset expertise also encompasses shopping centres, logistics, hotels, retail, restaurants, cinemas and leisure-related real estate. Rebecca Wardle ‘has real commercial acumen and demonstrates fantastic composure’.

Healthcare Tier 2

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has cross-sector experience of working with NHS Trusts, GPs, non-NHS operators, and other service providers on key areas such as M&A and private equity, real estate, and regulatory and public law matters. Practice co-head Tim Nye focuses on investors and operators of social care and healthcare matters, domiciliary care, and mental healthcare. Fellow co-head Kyle Holling is a projects lawyer with expertise in real estate and the Care Quality Commission regulatory scheme. Fiona Thomson joined from DLA Piper in September 2019.

Islamic finance Tier 2

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's London office is a key hub for the firm's global Islamic finance practice, which also includes offices in the Middle East and Malaysia. Sarah Gooden, who heads up the Islamic finance practice in the UK, is particularly experienced in structuring and financing shari-ah compliant real estate investments and development projects. Her clients includes UK Islamic banks, Middle Eastern banks, UK-based corporate borrowers and Middle Eastern investors investing in real estate in the UK and Europe.

Administrative and public law Tier 3

The client portfolio of Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s administrative and public law practice comprises local authorities, social care and housing regulators, and private developers. Taking on contentious work, Lucy James defends contentious FOI requests, procurement challenges and planning permission challenges, while on the claimant side, recently challenged the procurement decisions of numerous clinical commissioning groups. Helen Randall heads up the non-contentious offering, with governance and policy advice provided to public sector clients. Recent engagements included governance and constitution reviews, vires issues of public procurements, service reconfigurations and novel training support for newly elected local politicians.

Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP 'has an excellent client base'. The practice's key strengths are Middle Eastern-related work, heavyweight commercial disputes, and commercial litigation involving public sector bodies. Lucy James' disputes focus includes banking, contracts, defamation, fraud, investigations and insolvency, along with dispute resolution involving IT, professional negligence and partnerships. Ned Beale is recommended for high-value corporate disputes, and Alex Burton co-heads the international dispute management practice. Charlotte Clayson and James Lancaster provide notable senior associate-level support. Navinder Grover, former insolvency head at Teacher Stern LLP, joined as partner in 2020.

Commercial property: investment Tier 3

Under the leadership of Sara Bailey, a PPP, joint venture, regeneration and development expert, Trowers & Hamlins LLP ‘offers the exact support that clients are looking for’. The team assists on commercial developments and investments from planning through to disposal, with particular significance placed on inward investment from the Far and Middle East, bolstered by long-established expertise in Islamic finance. Other distinguished names include many public sector bodies in addition to private wealth residential clients. Asset expertise also encompasses shopping centres, logistics, hotels, retail, restaurants, cinemas and leisure-related real estate. Rebecca Wardle ‘has real commercial acumen and demonstrates fantastic composure’.

Construction: contentious Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has a 'very diligent and thorough' team led by Anthony Yates, who has particular expertise on contentious issues concerning cladding and fire safety, acting for a range of clients in both the private and public sectors. The team  was strengthened by the hire of Louise Elmes in January 2019; she has brought her international construction expertise from Fieldfisher, where she led the contentious construction team. Theresa Mohammed is another key practitioner - she advises clients in the hotel and residential development sectors on high level technical disputes.

Construction: non-contentious Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP possess an 'exemplary' team which acts on a broad remit of transactional construction matters. This includes a specialised approach to modular construction projects in the UK. Stephanie Canham leads the team; her primary client base is private and commercial developers, which she advises on mixed use and regeneration work. Also recommended is Charles Morrish who is an expert in construction procurement matters and acts for a range of both private and public sector clients.

Hospitality and leisure Tier 3

At Trowers & Hamlins LLP, the hospitality team has wide experience acting in large-scale project work for both investors and owners. Led by real estate partner Julien Allen, the practice offers a holistic offering across construction, commercial property, and tax matters for hospitality and leisure clients, particularly for hotels and restaurants. The team has a strong reputation in the Middle Eastern market with instructions from high-profile hotel brands. Practice co-head and corporate expert Ayda Habboush has expertise in Islamic finance and assists shari'ah compliant clients on assets and acquisitions, and handles transactions for both UK and foreign investors. Other core members include David Cordery who advises private developers.

Infrastructure (PFI and PPP) Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has good expertise in social infrastructure work spanning across sectors including housing, education, health, and social care. The practice is also involved in waste and environmental projects. Key clients in the public sector include Homes England, the Secretary of State for Education, and West Midlands Combined Authority. Paul McDermott and Scott Dorling co-head the practice. The 'immensely knowledgeable' Helen Randall is also recommended.

Property litigation Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is strong in acting for title indemnity underwriters and insurers in rights of light and other title indemnity insurance claims. It also has a strong profile among developers and occupiers. These instructions demonstrate the team's strength - further boosted by Rachel Kerr's promotion to partner in July 2019 - in development-related work, which is regularly undertaken for housebuilders, registered providers, commercial property institutions and developers. Other notable work covers residential leasehold rights and insolvency-related property disputes, as well as various landlord and tenant issues such as service charge obligations, which are all part of team head Michael Donnellan's broad set of expertise.

Charities and not-for-profit Tier 4

Trowers & Hamlins LLP acts for many major charitable funds and the practice has a particular focus on charities that raise funds from contracts or from charging the beneficiaries of their services. It advises charity clients on a whole host of issues, such as commercial property, corporate, tax, construction, employment and pensions matters. The group is also well versed in advising on regulatory matters such as registration with the Charity Commission, CQC and the Regulator of Social Housing. Ian Davis heads the team.

Education: institutions Tier 4

At Trowers & Hamlins LLP, the education group is experienced in advising clients on a wide variety of matters, such as governance, commercial and contractual issues and real estate transactions (including acquisitions, disposals and leases). Also notable is that the team works with its real estate and international development practice groups to deliver on multimillion pound projects. The practice is jointly led by Assad Maqbool, Helen Randall and Birmingham-based partner Amardeep Gill.

Planning Tier 4

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's practice deals with planning matters for a range of individuals, registered providers, developers, local authorities and institutional investors. Practice head Jacqueline Backhaus advises on strategic policy and planning applications and is experienced in the negotiation of section 106 agreements for major development and regeneration schemes.

Aviation Tier 5

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's multidisciplinary team advises airlines, airports, insurers, lessors and security providers on a variety of matters. Encompassing the firm’s commercial litigation, corporate, commercial property, and banking and finance departments, the aviation offering acts across contentious and non-contentious mandates. From a disputes perspective, the workload comprises passenger delay injury and baggage claims, and cargo, insurance coverage, procurement and maintenance disputes. Real estate-specific matters include airport property-related transactions, as well as planning, construction and development work. Kathryn Insall leads the group.

Fraud: civil Tier 5

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's 'personable and dedicated' team acts for clients in fraud prevention matters, investigations and recovery actions, including anti-bribery claims. The practice has seen a notable recent increase in mandates relating to cyber-fraud incidents. 'Excellent litigator' Mark Kenkre's expertise includes cases involving allegations of fraudulent misrepresentation and multijurisdictional fiduciary duty disputes. Ned Beale focuses on civil fraud and financial crime.

Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 5

Caroline Hayward leads Trowers & Hamlins LLP’s IP practice, which has strength on both the contentious and non-contentious sides. The team handles revocation appeals in the life sciences sector, as well as anti-counterfeiting measures in the financial services sector. The team also has extensive branding expertise in relation to commercial property transactions, particularly for IP-rich hotel and shopping centre businesses, as well as dealing with trade mark infringement actions.

Pensions (non-contentious) Tier 5

Martin McFall leads the pensions team at Trowers & Hamlins LLP, supported by senior associates Deborah Shumate and Michael Rhode. Counting Toyota, Bic and Brighton & Hove City Council within their client portfolio, the team has of late advised on benefit designs, employer covenants and large-scale voluntary transfers, as well as restructurings, amalgamations and the pensions aspects of corporate transactions. The team are praised for 'putting themselves in the client's shoes and seeing the problem from their point of view.' Recent work of note has included advising Bic UK on the recovery of historic overpayments to scheme members.

Property finance Tier 5

Social and affordable housing is a key area of focus for Trowers & Hamlins LLP, which has additional expertise in the hotel, healthcare and student accommodation sectors. Key members of the team include Eddie O’Hanrahan, who focuses on commercial and residential development finance; Katharine Lewis, who is notably strong in Islamic finance; and Imogen Fisher, whose specialty is in public sector development finance.

International arbitration Tier 6

Trowers & Hamlins LLP 'provides the highest quality of advice, combined with robust and pragmatic strategies to achieve clients' aims'. The practice's key strengths cover international arbitrations for and against parties from the Middle East, and technical disputes in the energy, manufacturing and aviation sectors. Ned Beale is international arbitration head; and London-based international dispute management co-head Alex Burton spends substantial time in the firm's Dubai and Bahrain offices. Mike Rhode is an experienced senior associate.

Employers Tier 7

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is best known for its expertise in TUPE work, and more widely for its strategic work across the public, private and third sectors. Strengths include the employment aspects of mergers, as well as restructurings, complex investigations and Employment Tribunal claims. Team head Emma Burrows is a go-to lawyer for clients in the social and affordable housing sector.

Travel

At Trowers & Hamlins LLP, the travel, tourism and insurance team is 'just as comfortable acting for claimants as they are acting for defendants' in cross-border personal injury cases, all of which arise from accidents abroad. Instructed primarily by insurers in accident claims, the Exeter-based department specialises in ski and winter sports accident claims, as well as international claims involving road traffic accidents. Bronwen Courtenay-Stamp, who displays 'excellent knowledge of the industry and all its main players', heads up the team, which also advises clients on jurisdictional, recoveries and subrogation issues.

Commercial property: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Tier 1

The strong development and property investment practice at Trowers & Hamlins LLP advises local authorities, institutional investors, national housebuilders and REITs on regional and national projects. The firm has particular expertise in residential and mixed-use urban regeneration schemes, as well as inward investment and strategic planning. The team is co-led by Georgina Savill-James, who acts on joint ventures, portfolio acquisitions of tenanted properties and development acquisitions; Chris Rundle, who specialises in business lease negotiations and renewals; and Sara Bailey, who focuses on advising local authority and developer clients on property and regeneration projects. Also notable is managing associate Gail White, who has public and private sector experience.

Local government Tier 1

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's team, which is co-led by Amardeep Gill and Christopher Plumley, is praised for its 'professionalism, expertise and competence'. The team is at the forefront of high-profile town regeneration schemes and national infrastructure developments; it recently advised Solihull Council and the Urban Growth Company on a portion of the HS2 train station development at Birmingham Airport. Real estate specialist Fiona Thomson joined the practice from DLA Piper in late 2019.

Social housing Tier 1

Digby Morgan heads up the Birmingham practice at Trowers & Hamlins LLP,  which was recently bolstered by the recruitment of solicitors Rachel Beck and Abhishek Khanna from Bevan Brittan LLP and DLA Piper in 2019. Morgan advises registered providers on complex transactions including acquisitions, development schemes, portfolio sales and acquisitions of leasehold supported housing. The 'always approachable and unflappable' Yetunde Dania focuses on housing management mandates including complex anti-social behaviour issues, tenancy fraud and disrepair cases, acting for providers of social housing and private landlords. Senior associate Natalie Owen joined from Wright Hassall LLP has notable experience in advising registered providers on various methods of securing finance.

Social housing Tier 1

Specialising in affordable housing, Trowers & Hamlins LLP provides public and private sector experience to housing associations and local authority clients across the country. The firm also has significant regulatory and council housing finance expertise. Property and development specialist Joseph Acton co-leads the practice with Georgina Savill-James, who focuses on real estate matters. Also notable are Hannah Jackson, who was promoted to partner in 2019 and is head of the real estate finance and security team, and managing associate Jessica Church, who advises on funding and security issues.

Social housing Tier 1

Trowers & Hamlins LLP advises housing companies and housing associations on property transactions and major regeneration schemes. Suzanne Benson heads up the team and has a wide range of experience acting for  registered providers, local authorities and house builders; her expertise encompasses regeneration projects, new-build sales and leasehold management issues. Richard St John Williams leads the governance team within the wider practice, specialising in housing law and regulations. Janet Winrow acts on regeneration projects, while Melanie Comer advises housing provider clients on security issues, and associate Tom Wainwright advises on housing stock transfers and public/private projects.

Commercial litigation: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Tier 2

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's contentious expertise spans from commercial litigation, insurance claims and property litigation to Court of Protection issues and inquests. The group has notable expertise in the aerospace sector, for which Kathryn Insall is a key contact. Install, who also counts manufacturing and technology among her other sector specialisms, heads up the group alongside Paul Keeling, who is experienced in professional negligence claims and mediation. Senior associates Emily Agget and Maria Dunn are highlighted for data protection issues and health and social care sector disputes respectively.

Commercial property: Birmingham Tier 2

Trowers & Hamlins LLP continues to make strides in the real estate sector with the arrival of Fiona Thomson, former head of real estate at DLA Piper, who now leads the Birmingham team. The group handles the full gamut of real estate matters, ranging from residential and affordable housing developments to large-scale mixed-use regenerations; practice head Amanda Hanmore has developed a strong specialisation in the latter. Christopher Plumley specialises in public sector town centre regenerations and mixed-use developments; and Digby Morgan and Simon Robinson comprise the other key partners.

Local government Tier 2

Trowers & Hamlins LLP is particularly adept at advising local government clients on managing budget pressures and finding new, sustainable sources of income. The practice provides guidance on capital assets, commercial opportunities and developing partnerships with the private sector. The team has extensive experience in social care housing, including local authority housing development and transfer of council housing stock, schools and services such as waste collection and disposal. Suzanne Benson heads the team and specialises in major projects, including strategic land, joint ventures and regeneration.

Agriculture and estates Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP undertakes a wide range of work related to agriculture and rural estates, including the sale and purchase of farms and negotiation of rights of way, as well as advising on estate planning and sporting rights. Senior associate Nicola Janus-Harris heads up the team from Exeter, lending wide experience in agricultural property matters.

Commercial litigation: Birmingham Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has notable expertise in civil fraud and cybercrime litigation, arbitration and investigations. Practice head Mark Kenkre focuses on fraud disputes including those involving breach of fiduciary duties, fraudulent misrepresentation claims and inter-company collusion elements. In addition to fraud, Helen Briant counts contentious charity sector and contested probate matters among her areas of expertise, while Jamie De Souza has particular manufacturing and engineering sector experience.

Construction Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has a 'committed, knowledgeable and helpful' team. Work for central and local government clients is a major part of the firm's practice. Katie Saunders, who leads the team, advises local authorities and housing providers on the procurement of long-term contracts. Tom Holroyd is highly active in contentious construction matters, including adjudication and litigation. He has a notable specialism in the waste sector and he continues to build the practice's private sector workload.

Construction Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has a broad practice, which advises clients on all stages of the development process on commercial, mixed-use and residential developments, private sector schemes, regeneration schemes for the private and the public sector, and education projects for the EFA. In the non-contentious space, Mark Robinson is the go-to partner for procurement structures, strategies and construction project documentation. Louise Elmes focuses on disputes and construction-related professional negligence claims across the real estate, energy, hospitality and leisure sectors.

Employment: Dorset, Devon and Cornwall Tier 3

Working closely with members of the firm's London office, Trowers & Hamlins LLP's Exeter-based employment team demonstrates a particular strength advising clients in the social and affordable housing sectors. Charity sector work is another key source of mandates. John Turnbull leads the group in Exeter, which is prominent in TUPE and post-transfer restructurings, as well as GDPR and DPA compliance in relation to employee data.

Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 3

Trowers & Hamlins LLP regularly advises family businesses and high-net-worth individuals on personal wealth planning; the creation, management and taxation of trusts; and wills and probate administration. The team also has a strength in advising clients in the real estate sector. Helen Honeyball heads up the firm's private wealth offering in the South West, from the Exeter office.

Banking and finance Tier 4

Trowers & Hamlins LLP stands out for its 'range of expertise', particularly in real estate finance issues, with work undertaken on development, property investment and bridging finance matters. Team head Neil Waller and fellow partner Eleanor James are specialists in housing finance mandates with the team working 'efficiently and effectively.' The firm has a regional and national client base.

Employment Tier 4

Trowers & Hamlins LLP has a well-established team. It advises a substantial number of social and affordable housing clients on diverse matters from mergers and corporate restructurings through to the termination of employment of senior employees. It is best known for its TUPE work and post-transfer restructuring advice to public, private and third sector clients. The team has also been busy advising on employment tribunal matters such as complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims. Rebecca McGuirk leads the employment team in the Birmingham office and advises clients from a range of sectors including local authorities, registered providers and social providers. It also has a large private sector client base.

Property litigation Tier 4

Trowers & Hamlins LLP's team, which is well-regarded for its 'specialist knowledge' of the social housing sector, acts on disputes relating lease renewals, rights of light, dilapidations and forfeiture. Lynn James and Guy Willetts co-lead the team. James's 'breadth of experience is invaluable in providing both technical and practical advice.' She advises in relation to leasehold management, with landlords and leaseholders among her clients. Willetts acts on development agreements disputes as well as landlord and tenant matters.

Commercial litigation: Manchester Tier 5

The commercial litigation practice at Trowers & Hamlins LLP's key areas of expertise include procurement, insolvency, media, defamation and reputation management litigation. The 'commercially astute' Dan Butler specialises in contentious procurement and insolvency matters and heads up the team alongside Steve Dunseath, who recently joined from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP's Nottingham office, adding substantial experience.

Commercial property: Manchester Tier 5

Trowers & Hamlins LLP acts for property companies on various commercial property matters including sales, purchases and asset management. The firm has also advised housing associations on residential development schemes. Suzanne Benson, who leads the team, has a range of expertise including work on regeneration projects.

Property litigation Tier 5

Trowers & Hamlins LLP handles the full range of contentious property issues, acting for developers, the NHS and other public sector clients and individuals in contentious issues arising from site acquisitions, commercial property portfolio management issues, boundary disputes and claims arising from sale and purchase agreements. Lead partner Michael Green is assisted by associate and 'rising star' Laura Vernon.

Clinical negligence and personal injury: claimant

The Exeter personal injury team at Trowers & Hamlins LLP specialises in claims involving road traffic collisions, accidents at work and Animal Act cases. The group has particular experience in brain and spinal injury cases. The team is jointly led by insurance expert Bronwen Courtenay-Stamp and Ian Brown, who is often instructed in cross-border road traffic accident claims and claims against tour operators.