Firm Profile > gunnercooke LLP > Manchester, England
gunnercooke LLP Offices
53 KING STREET
MANCHESTER
M2 4LQ
England
- Go to...
- Rankings
- Firm Profile
- Main Contacts
- Lawyer Profiles
gunnercooke LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Banking and finance Tier 3
gunnercooke LLP's working model makes it 'especially appealing' to clients, with a 'high calibre' of practitioners undertaking work in a variety of areas. Rob Fawke leads the team and is strong on leveraged and real estate finance work as well as corporate lending transactions. Georgina Tripp assists financial institutions, corporate borrowers and institutional investors with a range of matters including asset-based lending and acquisition finance issues. Jill Parker offers 'quality legal advice and commerciality' and is particularly noted for her real estate finance work.
Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The nature of the Gunnercooke model makes it especially appealing. Work stays with the partner instructed and so a client can be sure that the work isn’t just being passed further and further down the ‘food chain’. The high calibre of the individuals and the service provided by GC is excellent value for money.’
‘Jill Parker is exceptional. She is a client’s dream of a legal adviser: offers good quality legal advice, commerciality and responsive. She works well with the other side so that negotiations don’t become tetchy or protracted with petty point scoring.’
Key clients
Oaknorth Bank plc
Urban Splash
AIB Group
Santander UK plc
Richer Sounds Ltd
Delek Group
Secure Trust Bank plc
Royal Bank of Scotland
Handelsbanken plc
Tradebe Medio Ambiente
Pensions Tier 3
The non-hierarchical structure at gunnercooke LLP means clients 'always have easy access to experienced lawyers' to advise on a wide range of matters. Described as 'technically strong' by clients, Suresh Bhatt handles both contentious and non-contentious matters, advising employers, trustees and law firms without pensions capabilities on corporate transactions, liability management, trust documentation drafting and liaising with the Pensions Regulator. Another key lawyer is Adam Bushby, who specialises in trustee and company advisory, litigation and professional trustee work.Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Good access to senior partners, easy to deal with and pragmatic, great value for money. Their business model is such that they have ‘skin in the game’, which helps ensure first-class service every time.’
‘Suresh Bhatt is an absolute pleasure to work with. He is technically strong, he has a very good manner with clients, easy to get on with – explaining deeply technical legal detail in a clear and easy to understand way. I have also found him to be very accommodating – manages tight deadlines very well, always delivers and provides excellent value for money.’
‘In the short space of time I’ve been working with them, I’ve been very impressed with the firm and its ethos – which matches that of my own firm closely. A lot of firms say they are innovative, but gunnercooke truly are – the way in which the firm is structured means that you always have easy access to experienced lawyers who are focused on acting in a practical and commercial way.’
‘Suresh Bhatt has been encouraging and supportive of me and my firm (we are a relatively new start-up). He is very personable and has a firm grasp of the issues.’
‘Gunnercooke is innovative in pensions legal terms, with its fixed-fee pricing model and focus on senior experienced lawyers delivering commercial and pragmatic advice in a timely manner.’
‘Suresh Bhatt’s down-to-earth approach coupled with his pragmatism works well.’
Employment Tier 4
The non-traditional partner-led structure at gunnercooke LLP, enables the firm's lawyers to work more directly with a range of domestic and international clients. The firm advises public sector bodies, including education bodies and registered housing providers; Simon Horsfield specialises in employee-relations issues and senior-level hires and departures, while the 'client-focused and knowledgeable' Joanne Tindall has particular expertise in the manufacturing and retail sectors.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Jo Tindall is excellent. Always quick to respond and help simplify complex situations and provide robust advice.’
‘Instructions are always well prepared and the team has a good breadth of knowledge and skills. They are very client-focused and a pleasure to work with.’
‘Jo Tindall is an excellent employment lawyer. Very client-focused, knowledgeable and calm under pressure. Her cases are always very well prepared, instructions are very clear, and she is also very tactically astute. A pleasure to work with.’
‘Their exclusively senior-level team is what more and more clients are looking for.’
Family Tier 4
gunnercooke LLP's family practice is spearheaded by Roland Humphreys, who has 'particular expertise in dealing with high-value financial settlement cases as well as complex children's cases, often with an international element'. He also has notable specialist experience in agricultural cases with a family component.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘Feels like a very personal service but with access to a wide range of expertise if needed. There is no being passed around different fee earners. Because of the set up there is great flexibility in how a case can be dealt with to suit each individual client.’
‘Roland Humphreys is an outstanding family lawyer. Technically very knowledgeable but with great personal skills. He is very empathetic but commercially aware. He always puts clients’ best interests at the forefront, but also “tells it like it is”. A real fighter. He has particular expertise in dealing with high-value financial settlement cases as well as complex children’s cases, often with an international element.’
Property litigation Tier 4
gunnercooke LLP's property litigation practice provides 'excellent knowledge, service and communication at all times.' Jointly led by Tom Seabrook and Jen Morris, the team represents developers, occupiers and management companies. Seabrook is 'an excellent solicitor' who is also qualified as a chartered surveyor and handles commercial and residential property disputes. Morris gives, 'concise answers to complex problems', with noted expertise providing advice on unlocking development sites. Environmental criminal defence specialist Anna Willetts joined from Clyde & Co LLP in summer 2020.Practice head(s):
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Excellent knowledge, service and communication at all times.’
‘There are very strong individuals in the firm, Jen Morris gives accessible, practical advice of the best professional quality.’
‘Tom Seabrook is an excellent solicitor – his knowledge, advice and speed of communication is amongst the very best that I have experienced.’
‘Jen Morris listens and gets it. She responds promptly with advice that means you can get on with your day. No waiting, no having to interpret technical jargon into practical advice. What Jen provides is what the busy in-house lawyer needs – concise answers to complex problems.’
‘Anna Willetts is dual qualified as environmental consultant and solicitor. Absolutely no-nonsense, and with a rigorous approach to analysing notices, warrants etc – identifying good points which others have not spotted. Her experience of the waste industry, and litigation arising in it, is second to none. Very hard-working. Truly unique.’
Key clients
Haynes International Limited
Cheshire Homes Group
Polyseam Limited
Canarycrown Limited
Aurient Management Limited
Tesni Properties Limited
RAM Properties Limited
Henry Boot PLC and associated companies
Watkin Jones PLC and associated companies
Trade finance Tier 3
gunnercooke LLP joins the ranking having recruited specialist trade and commodity finance partner Veronika Koroleva from Dentons. One client notes that 'this team provides a bespoke and extremely user-friendly service, which in many respects has the feel of having one's own in-house counsel'. Koroleva co-leads the practice with Marc Weisberger, who has more than 20 years' experience in commodities trading, finance and investment. Together, they act for both lenders and borrowers, with a particular focus on alternative finance providers, international banks with a UK presence, and commodity traders. Working across the full range of traded commodities, they handle pre-payment and off-take arrangements, spot and term commodity sales, structured trade and commodity finance, ownership-based structures, trade finance products, receivables financing and supply chain financing.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘This team provides a bespoke and extremely user-friendly service, which in many respects has the feel of having one’s own in-house counsel. Furthermore, they have proved to be efficient, conscientious, informative and most importantly flexible in their approach.’
‘The individuals we have worked with, including Marc Weisberger, have always been highly approachable and receptive to our requirements and resourceful in assisting us to complete complex cross-border transactions, which have required completion in narrow timescales.’
‘Marc Weisberger is very knowledgeable in derivatives matters.’
Key clients
ExWorks Capital (alternative finance provider)
SOCAR Trading SA
Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Limited, London Branch
Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 5
gunnercooke LLP’s IP lawyers handles instructions on contentious issues including trade mark and copyright infringement, passing off, entitlement and breach-of-distribution allegations. The rapidly growing team welcomed three new partners – Rosie Burbidge, Robert Taylor and Nick Berry – who offer expertise in the sectors of media and entertainment, professional services, FMCG, entertainment and leisure. Oppositions and invalidity actions are also routinely handled.
Other key lawyers:
Key clients
Pinup Graphic Design Ltd
The Department of Brands
Roger Pike Associates Ltd
Plu&m Ltd
Space Ape Ltd
Swoon Editions Ltd
Safe-t-systems Ltd
Crafty Counsel Ltd
Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 6
gunnercooke LLP has established a disputes presence in relation to financial services, SME and owner-managed businesses, technology, media, real estate and IP. Shilpen Savani acts in commercial disputes and contentious corporate matters; Fergus Buckley is noted for civil fraud matters. Laurence Katz has specialised in commercial dispute resolution for approximately 25 years. Former partner David Herbert joined Locke Lord LLP.Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Efficient and professional.’
‘Sara Cato is outstanding – makes things clear and easy and is a huge asset to the company.’
‘Shilpen Savani was very good at client-handling and taking a commercial approach to the potential litigation.’
‘Robust, practical advice. Highly knowledgeable senior team members. Very hard-working and well trained junior team members.’
‘Shilpen Savani is knowledgeable, unflappable, efficient.’
‘Fergus Buckley was hands on, very accessible and delivered excellent advice.’
‘From a mediator’s perspective one can see immediately the quality of a firm from the preparation not just of the lawyers but the preparation of their clients by the lawyers. The teams from gunnercooke have been quite exceptional. Without conceding anything to the detriment of their clients, they have approached the mediation with the correct ethos: how can we achieve the best solution for our clients. I cannot recall any mediation in which they have not achieved a settlement, and that is in great part due to their realistic advice and support for their clients.’
‘Shilpen Savani’s support for his clients’ case has never clouded his judgment in assisting them to a sensible resolution. He is one of the ablest lawyers I have seen in mediation. I have also worked with Fergus Buckley and Laurence Katz, each of whom demonstrated their wholehearted commitment to their clients’ interests. It is clear that the ethos of the firm is client care which accounts for their popularity.’
‘The sheer wealth of experience is something which stands out as one of gunnercooke’s superb qualities. They are true experts in their respective fields but don’t stop that getting in the way of pragmatic and well-pitched advice.’
‘I have often worked with Shilpen Savani and he has always been professional, personable and highly competent. His advice is practical and accessible and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to others.’
‘Strong commercial awareness and highly responsive.’
‘Shilpen Savani – excellent client relationships based upon commercially sensible advice and strong strategic thinking.’
gunnercooke LLP > Firm Profile
gunnercooke is one of the UK’s fastest growing law firms, providing a wide range of corporate and commercial legal services to businesses, banks and financial institutions. The firm’s model allows its lawyers to spend time building strong relationships with clients, so they can find opportunities to add extra value to their work.
The firm: gunnercooke was founded in 2010 on the basis that all of its lawyers would provide seniority by requiring them to have a client-focused approach and at least 10,000 hours’ practising experience. Of the firm’s lawyers, 90% have worked in-house, meaning they have strong commercial awareness and are equipped to advise high-net-worth clients and large businesses. gunnercooke lawyers operate on a fixed-fee basis, meaning work is scoped out from the outset and cost certainty is guaranteed.
As a result, all clients have access to trusted advisors who have a breadth of experience and knowledge, enabling them to work on all matters from straightforward transactions to complicated cases that require complex solutions. And because all of gunnercooke‘s partners are senior lawyers, they can draw on each other’s strengths when a clients’ requirements fall outside of their practice area.
gunnercooke is now an established corporate and commercial law firm. In 2019, gunnercooke was given the overall Business Culture Achievement Gold Award at the Business Culture Awards. In 2020 the firm was listed in The Times Best Law Firms and won Law Company of the Year at The Lawyer Awards.
The firm is continuing its expansion with new offices opening in Birmingham and Nottingham, as well as its first overseas office in Berlin. The first of a series of specialised boutiques have also been launched, including a football consultancy in Scotland and a Private Equity office in London’s West End. Aiming to grow its range of professional services, the firm also has group companies including gunnercookeAssociates and gunnercooke Operating Partners, who work alongside the lawyers.
Types of work undertaken: gunnercooke‘s practice areas are constantly expanding. The firm is particularly well known for its work in corporate and M&A, employment, commercial, dispute resolution, family law, business crime, restructuring and business growth, pensions, private client, FinTech and financial services, banking and finance and real estate.
Dispute Resolution: The firm has established a disputes presence in relation to financial services, SME and owner-managed businesses, technology, media, real estate and IP.
Trade Finance: The team works across the full range of traded commodities, they handle pre-payment and off-take arrangements, spot and term commodity sales, structured trade and commodity finance, ownership-based structures, trade finance products, receivables financing and supply chain financing.
Intellectual Property: The lawyers handle instructions on contentious issues including trademark and copyright infringement, passing off, entitlement and breach-of-distribution allegations. The rapidly growing team offer expertise in the sectors of media and entertainment, professional services, FMCG, entertainment and leisure.
Employment and Pensions: The firm advises public sector bodies, including education bodies and registered housing providers, as well as manufacturing and retail. Lawyers also advise employers, trustees and law firms without pensions capabilities on corporate transactions, liability management, trust documentation drafting and liaising with the Pensions Regulator.
Banking & Finance: The varied expertise in the team includes leveraged and real estate finance work as well as corporate lending transactions. Lawyers assist financial institutions, corporate borrowers and institutional investors with a range of matters including asset-based lending and acquisition finance issues.
Family Law: The firm offers family law advice to a range of private clients, with notable specialist experience in agricultural cases with a family component.
Property Litigation: The team experience in high-profile, pivotal and complex real estate disputes, providing effective strategic advice for landlords, developers, investors, occupiers and management companies.
International Desks:
Asia Desk
French Desk
Israel Desk
Italian Desk
Spanish Desk
German Desk
Main Contacts
Department | Name | Telephone | |
---|---|---|---|
Co-Founders | Darryl Cooke | darryl.cooke@gunnercooke.com | |
Co-Founders | Sarah Goulbourne | sarah.goulbourne@gunnercooke.com |
Lawyer Profiles
Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
---|---|---|---|
![]() |
Saad Ahmed | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Asad Ali | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Carl Atkinson | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Gaynor Bannon | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Hannah Beko | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Suresh Bhatt | Suresh is a Pensions Partner and Director of the professional trustee company, gcTrustees… | View Profile |
![]() |
Sundeep Billan | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Peter Bohm | View Profile | |
![]() |
Antonia Brandes | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Angela Brumpton | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Mark Burns | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Adam Bushby | Pensions Specialist | View Profile |
![]() |
Paul Calladine | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Lynn Cantwell | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Claire Chapman | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Chris Charlesworth | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Kevin Connell | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Penny Cranston | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Peter Crewe | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
David Curd | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Sian Darlington | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Russell Davidson | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Michael Deery | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Hannah Deverell | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Fiona Dillon | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Nick Ducker | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Steve Esmond | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Helen Evans | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Nicola Fletcher | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Claudia Font | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Antonia Gardner | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Ginevra Gatrell | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Tom Ghannad | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Jo Glass | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Victoria Greenwood | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Chris Groves | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Antonio Guillen | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Melloney Guiver | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Lucille Haire | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Martin Hallam | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Emma Hammond | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Nick Hawkins | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Susannah Henderson | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Marlene Hession | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Simon Horsfield | Employment Specialist | View Profile |
![]() |
Roland Humphreys | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Sarah Innes | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Louisa Jennings | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Chris Jones | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
David Joseph | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Mel Kang | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Jasvir Kaur | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Rebecca Kelly | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Mike Kenyon | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Catriona Lekfos | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Antonello Leogrande | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Debbie Mactaggart | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Coroline Mcdonagh | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Paul Menham | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Jen Morris | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Deborah Niven | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Charlotte O Mara | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Sam Ogden | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Helena Orwin | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Christine Oxenburgh | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Jill Parker | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Stephen Pearson | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Gillian Pelham | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Geraint Pinches | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Andrew Price | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Sarah Purcell | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Jonathan Rogers | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Helen Rooney | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Paul Ryman | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Sara Sawicki | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Chris Scott | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Tom Seabrook | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Elizabeth Selby | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Gerg Sher | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Derek Simmonds | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Margaret Spencer | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Rachel Spink | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Harvey Stringfellow | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Rowena Summers | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Harriet Swainson | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Jocelyn Taylor | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Emma Tegerdine | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Neil Tindall | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Jo Tindall | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Simon Tomlinson | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Georgina Tripp | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Livy Twiss | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Mark Whittell | Partner | View Profile |
![]() |
Jordan Whyte | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Andrew Zatman | Legal Counsel | View Profile |
![]() |
Benjamin Zatman | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 218 Support Team (gcTrust) : 33Languages
Italian French Spanish Chinese (Mandarin) GermanTop Tier Firm Rankings
- Corporate and commercial: Manchester
- Planning and environment
- Commercial property: Nottingham and Derby