gunnercooke LLP > Manchester, England > Firm Profile

gunnercooke LLP
53 KING STREET
MANCHESTER
M2 4LQ
England

Employment > Pensions Tier 3

Finance > Trade finance Tier 3

Clients of gunnercooke LLP praise the firm's 'excellent product and market knowledge' and its 'reliable and efficient' service. Specialist commodities and finance lawyers Marc Weisberger and Veronika Koroleva (who 'provides exceptional work in developing documentation') lead the practice, which acts for lenders, borrowers and many other market participants, with a particular focus on alternative finance providers, international banks with a UK presence, and commodity traders. Since the arrival of Matthew Harvey from Gowling WLG in 2023,  Stephan Smoktunowicz joined from the same firm to add notable experience in receivables financing. The firm's market-leading blockchain and crypto practice places it at the forefront of decentralised commodities trading platform initiatives.

Testimonials

‘Excellent product and market knowledge, reliable and efficient.’

‘We had an excellent experience with Veronika Koroleva, who provided exceptional work in developing documentation we use to support our business for the UK market. Work was done with exceptional quality, on time, and strictly within agreed quotes. Veronika was very supportive in our requests, and also provided good coordination with other practices of the firm where was needed.’

Key clients

Torq Commodities AG

Eterna PLC

Barens CT SA

Shard Credit Partners Ltd

Cabipa Nigeria Limited, Nigeria and Eterna plc, Nigeria

DRUM Risk

40Seas, Inc.

Work highlights

  • Advised on Torq Commodities AG’s majority acquisition and trade financing of Origin Commodities, a UK trader of speciality coffees and its Danish subsidiary NAF Trading.
  • Advising DRUM as borrowing base agent on a USD 120m borrowing base facility to Novum Energy group to finance group working capital needs for the purchase of crude oil and refined petroleum products.
  • Advising Shard Credit Partners on the roll out of its trade finance vehicle, SCRP Trade Finance Ltd, using sale and repurchase funding techniques.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Bristol Tier 3

The 'agile' team at gunnercooke LLP is valued for the breadth of its litigation expertise and tactical nous. James Pheasant handles a range of corporate and commercial disputes, including breach of contract claims, shareholder disputes, security enforcement mandates and supplier disputes. James Tithecott is another key contact in the group, who acts for clients on cases in the financial services and real estate sectors.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The perfect combination of personal service, intellectual rigour, vast tactical common sense, years of experience in many shapes and forms of dispute resolution, and total dedication to their client’s cause.’

‘James Pheasant and James Tithecott. The paradigm of results-driven problem solvers. Deep legal knowledge combined with bucket-loads of common sense and years of experienced tactical and strategic nous.’

‘They are an agile team, capable of handling a wide range of litigation, who are as happy fighting cases in court as they are doing deals at mediation.’

‘James Pheasant is an excellent lawyer, who enjoys handling complex legal issues. Superb client handling skills. Willing and able to get tough advice when he needs to, but will fight to the death when required.’

‘James Tithecott has a keen eye for detail. He has a background in financial services litigation and uses that experience to good effect.’

‘The team have all been highly astute, extremely well organised and that has provided huge peace of mind over an 18 month period leading up to trial.’

‘James Pheasant’s leadership has been excellent, highly dedicated and proactive thinker and so well detailed and organised.’

‘James Pheasant and James Tithecott were a pleasure to work with, very understanding of the situation, providing professionalism throughout, as well as building a good personal relationship.’

Key clients

Tide Platform Limited

Curtis Banks Group Limited

Luxoptics Limited

British Equestrian Federation

Richard Hannon Racing Limited

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: regulatory Tier 3

Praised for its ‘intimate understanding of the digital assets and Web3 sector’, gunnercooke LLP‘s fintech team is noted for its ability to draft regulatory frameworks and its deep expertise in the crypto space. ‘Sharp mind’ James Burnie is the key contact at the firm. He frequently assists regulators in the UK and globally with their understanding of  and approach to the cryptoassets industry. Kathryn Dodds‘ broad practice encompasses work with DAOs for Web3 projects and advice on fundraising documentation. Meghan Millward is equipped to advise on the regulatory treatment of tokens.

Testimonials

”The team has an intimate understanding of the digital assets and Web3 sector that few other professional advisors can match. The team are always happy to collaborate and explore various legal solutions to client problems with the core focus being bringing actionable and intelligent options to clients.’

‘ Cross-border expertise and regulatory knowledge in the crypto and digital assets space.’

‘gunnercooke stands out with its dedicated crypto legal team, advanced technological integration for streamlined processes, and proactive regulatory compliance strategies. Compared to other firms, their deep expertise in the crypto sector and tailored services uniquely position them to address the specific challenges and dynamics of the cryptocurrency industry, making them an ideal partner for your business.’

‘I had the opportunity to instruct James Burnie and his team on several complex legal and regulatory issues pertaining to blockchain technology. He provided prompt and insightful advice, demonstrating innovative and strategic thinking.’

‘The team understand our industry (digital assets) better than other firms we’ve delat with. The relationship is such at this stage that they feel like part of our team.’

‘gunnercooke offers clients a unique opportunity to work with both traditional industry experts and technological pioneers. A combination perfect for the diverse needs of my clients.

‘James Burnie is a seasoned regulatory lawyer with a particular interest in technology; specifically cryptocurrency.

‘James Burnie has built a team of capable experts with real working knowledge of the subject areas they operate it. James is a sharp mind that has identified, and evolved the niche the team should focus on. That has brought tremendous success. ’

Key clients

Astana Financial Services Authority of Kazakhstan

Financial Services Commission of the Government of Mauritius

Copper

Attestant

Ziglu Limited

Coinpass

Helford Capital

Fiat Republic

ONE Group

Wonde Limited

Business Data Group

Bitstamp

BoomFi

Old Street Digital

Avantgarde

Nexus Mutual

Superscript

Work highlights

  • Assisted the Astana Financial Services Authority to draft its legal and regulatory framework for digital assets for Kazakhstan, particularly in relation to drafting the trading requirements for security and unregulated tokens, as well as on stablecoins.
  • Drafted the rules and guidance for the Mauritius cryptoassets framework, working closely alongside the Mauritius FSC.
  • Advising Fiat Republic on new products enabling the provision of benefits to users, as well as risk mitigation techniques when operating fiat payment rails for Web3 companies.

Employment Tier 4

Benefiting from its strong capabilities as a full-service corporate law firm, gunnercooke LLP is ‘very responsive and able to give practical advice in complex areas'. It supports national and international companies, not-for-profit bodies, SMEs, and technology start-ups with a broad range of employment matters. The group includes Paul Ryman, who advises both companies and senior executives on contentious and non-contentious employment matters. The ‘extremely constructive, helpful, and solution focusedRachel Spink is seasoned in the Employment Tribunal and gives commercial advice on the full range of employment issues, and Sarah Armstrong is an expert in the recruitment sector.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘We have found the team to be very responsive and able to give practical advice in complex area. Paul Ryman, who has helped us out on a number of occasions, epitomises these qualities.’

‘The team at Gunnercooke are approachable and relaxed, but of course at the same time professional and knowledgeable in their respective fields. As customers we greatly appreciate a firm that has approachable and knowledgable people that can find solutions to often unique problems faced by company like ours in an emerging sector.’

‘Rachel Spink provided sound advice throughout our many specific employment and contract requirements for employees and contractors of the firm. Rachel is straight talking, always available, and of course she has always provided deliverables in a prompt manner which we have greatly appreciated.’

‘I have no hesitation is recommending Rachel Spink for any employment needs.’

‘Rachel Spink worked on a personal employment-related matter with me. I found her extremely constructive, helpful, and solution focused in managing the situation.’

Key clients

24-7 Group

Broadcast Med

Work highlights

  • Advised 24-7 Group on the employment aspects of its acquisition of Haywood & Jackson Ltd.
  • Advised US client Broadcast Med on the employment aspects of its acquisition of Texere.

Finance > Banking and finance Tier 4

gunnercooke LLP's ‘brilliant’ banking and finance team consists of specialists, with key names of note including the ‘extremely knowledgeable, very responsive and highly experienced’ Rob Fawke, who is based in Manchester, and Georgina Tripp who splits her time between Manchester and Leeds. The group advises a number of notable clients, including Santander, on the provision of loan facilities in connection with acquisitions and refurbishments, which is a key part of the team’s workload.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Rob Fawke is involved in the transaction at every step. This is so refreshing after the ‘traditional law firm model’. We work with a senior partner level lawyer, who is always engaged in the deal and up-to-speed.’

‘The service is brilliant.’

‘Rob Fawke is quite exceptional. He is extremely knowledgeable, very responsive and highly experienced. He has excellent commercial acumen, and his ability to fully engage in transactions and drive them forward is excellent.’

‘Rob is very talented, and he is really skilled at explaining difficult banking documentation and cutting through to the main discussion points. He really is stand-out performer.’

‘Clients receive a partner-led service at a reasonable cost.’

‘I have only dealt with Rob Fawke on a regular basis. He is well-connected, knowledgeable and solutions driven with a desire to get the deal done. A pleasure to deal with.’

Key clients

Santander UK plc

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Grupo Tradebe Medio Ambiente SL

Watkin Property Ventures Finance Limited

Work highlights

  • Acted for Santander UK plc in connection of term loan facilities of £18m to Daniel UK Properties Limited to refinance/ acquire a portfolio of retail properties in the North West, Yorkshire and the South West.
  • Acted for Greater Manchester Combined Authority in relation to the provision of £7.5m loan facilities to Castlefield House Properties Limited in connection with the refurbishment of Castlefield House.
  • Acted as English legal counsel for Grupo Tradebe Medio Ambiente SL in relation to the amendment and increase of its core €275m syndicated term loan facilities.

Private client > Family Tier 4

Benefiting from the status a full-service corporate and commercial firm, gunnercooke LLP has expertise in complex, high-value divorce and matrimonial finance work. The group also has broad experience in private child arrangement matters, particularly those cases involving abuse, and cases with an international element. The key contact is Roland Humphreys in Chester, who oversees all aspects of family law, has specialist experience representing agricultural clients in matters involving farming assets, and is knowledgeable in child maintenance litigation and alternative family structures.

Other key lawyers:

Real estate > Planning and environment Tier 4

Real estate > Property litigation Tier 4

The property litigation team at gunnercooke LLP houses a range of specialists across the North West, who are experienced in acting for a range of clients, including BBC Northern Ireland and Wentworth Estate. Tom Seabrook is well-equipped to advise on disputes regarding the development of significant city centre projects, and Jen Morris is noted for her extensive commercial expertise.

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Ebiquity plc

Boxmoor Capital Limited

Wentworth Estate

Danshe Limited

Cloud Imperium Games Limited

Green Pastures CBS Limited

Henry Boot PLC and associated companies

Claridges Finance Limited

Berens Group Limited

BBC Northern Ireland

Employment > Pensions (non-contentious) Tier 4

Employment > Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 4

Rebecca Ireland is the employment expert to note at gunnercooke LLP. Ireland is recommended for her ability to provide ‘clear and practical guidance’ and ‘timely and credible advice’, and regularly covers tribunal claims, advisory and project work, and restructuring and insolvency mandates.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Rebecca Ireland provides positive advice based around our business needs. Sometimes a quick phone call, sometimes more in-depth work. She is an asset to have as an advisor, responsive, measured and always clear in her advice.’

‘Rebecca Ireland has been an asset to me and my team for a number of years now, she does everything she can to ensure she understands the situation, advises in clear and understandable language and is always available.’

‘Rebecca Ireland was amazing! Very professional.’

‘We have found Rebecca Ireland to be a fantastic partner for our organisation. She is extremely knowledge, easy to talk with, straight talking, honest and non-judgmental.’

‘Rebecca Ireland is superb. Thoughtful, clear, shrewd, empathetic and objective. What I appreciate is the sound advice and pragmatism of what I can do for myself and what I should and should not expect.’

‘Good connections to KCs, which is essential.’

‘We have built a strong working relationship with Rebecca Ireland who never fails to provide timely and credible advice. Rebecca has taken the time to really understand the workings of our business and the industry.

‘Rebecca Ireland is the main partner we work with, and it’s truly a partnership approach. Rebecca is very approachable and always makes the time to respond to queries/situations within very quick timescales.’

Work highlights

Employment > Employment: Leeds and West Yorkshire; North Yorkshire Tier 4

Gunnercooke LLP is noted for its breadth of practice, and acts for both employers and employees on the full range of employment matters at a national and global level. Jo Tindall and Joan Pettingill have extensive experience regarding high-level, strategic and complex employment matters, while Mini Setty advises both large and small businesses, and Angela Brumpton has significant experience in unfair dismissal and discrimination claims at the Employment Tribunal. Ed Jenneson is especially knowledgeable on the Equality Act and collective disputes involving trade unions, while Paul Menham is particularly noted for his work on employment matters related to the education sector.

Testimonials

‘Gunnercooke has a culture of ‘going the extra mile’ to understand their client’s business and their client’s requirements before providing clear and precise advice.’

‘Knowledge to the highest standard, industry-leading, and you can rely on them to be up-to-date with the latest legal changes and to stay ahead of the trend.’

‘Mini Setty is exceptional. Her legal knowledge is of the highest standard. However, she is also very easy to work with, down-to-earth, and has a good sense of humour! She is very good at understanding business commercial decisions and guiding us through legal best practices. I would highly recommend Mini specifically to any business looking for specialist employment law support.’

‘The Gunnercooke model is the future of legal advice. The lawyers are responsive, helpful and skilled in the work they offer. We receive advice from an experienced partner every time.’

‘Ed Jenneson is a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer with unrivalled expertise in employment law. What makes Ed stand out from the norm is his clear, concise, and responsive advice. Ed quickly gets to the root of the issue and provides advice quickly that is incredibly easy to understand. In a very short space of time, Ed has got to know our organisation and has quickly understood the issues we face, often beyond the immediate question we are asking.’

‘Mini Setty’s knowledge of my industry and my company has been very productive. She is always ready to answer a simple query or take on a large case. The administration team at Gunnercooke should also be mentioned for their professional processes. I would have no hesitation in recommending Gunnercooke to other businesses looking for a professional and effective company.’

‘The Gunnercooke team come with great knowledge, professionalism and pragmatism, as well as great strategic and commercial insight. The team are always available and accessible, which is definitely a benefit when seeking advice.’

‘The fact that the team bring a real commercial insight is important to us. Advice is always of good quality, and Jo Tindall is particularly easy to work with.’

Key clients

Sir Robert McAlpine Limited

Tetra Tech plc

Trupanion Inc

Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust

Cliff College

Premier Technical Services Group Limited

Halton Housing

St Gemma’s Hospice

Rolls-Royce SMR Limited

Tristar Foods Limited

Lomond Group

Work highlights

  • Representing UK construction company Sir Robert McAlpine Limited as its exclusive employment adviser.
  • Advising Rolls-Royce SMR Limited on all employment-related issues.
  • Representing Cliff College in defending a claim of religious discrimination and unfair dismissal brought by an evangelical Christian lecturer who was dismissed after tweeting about homosexuals “invading” the church.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Fintech: corporate and commercial Tier 4

gunnercooke LLP is well versed in the intricacies of Web3 and crypto matters, such as reinvestment agreements that incorporate token vesting schedules, the establishment of decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) and feasibility assessments on unusual new cryptoasset structures and projects. Practice head Kathryn Dodds' broad practice extends to assisting Web3 clients with the crypto and commercial elements of contentious matters. James Burnie is well placed to assist with innovative matters at the intersection of corporate finance and blockchain. Meghan Millward's practice strengths include commercial contracts and simple agreements for future tokens (SAFTS).

Practice head(s):

Kathryn Dodds

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

Flare Networks Limited

Attestant Limited

Factory Labs Ltd

Cathedral Studios Limited

Simplicity Blockchain Consultancy Limited

A Labs Ltd

XPRV Limited

TSS Digital FZCO

Aston Holdings Limited

Shima Capital

Finity Technologies Ltd

O-Zone Technologies Limited

Infra Studio Ltd

Polarys Ltd

Atomizer 41 and Atomizer 90

Cavenwell

Mattereum

Eczodex Ltd

Myna

Fidesium Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Flare Networks Limited on a reinvestment agreement under which existing investors of Flare doubled down on their investment.
  • Worked closely with Cavenwell and Web3 infrastructure providers on structural considerations for DAOs, including how best to set up a DAO to achieve its core principles.
  • Advising Helford Capital on new and unusual crypto trading set-ups and strategies, and performing feasibility assessments on new structures and projects.

Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Manchester Tier 5

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 5

Insurance > Insurance and reinsurance litigation Tier 5

gunnercooke LLP‘s insurance and reinsurance team advises on coverage issues, financial lines and insurance recovery for a variety of sectors such as marine, energy, construction and property. The team has been active in arbitrations and continues to advise on claims in both London and Bermuda. David Breslin is particularly well versed in reinsurance and has experience in Bermuda Form arbitration.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Practical and business-minded approach to legal problems.’

‘David Breslin is my contact at the firm and he is an exceptional lawyer with a wide array of knowledge and experience in the London (re)insurance market over many years.’

Work highlights

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 5

Covering a broad variety of litigation, licensing, and strategic work, gunnercooke LLP maintains a strong IP offering that encompasses the industries of fashion, technology, manufacturing, and retail. ‘Exceptionally bright, knowledgeable and dedicated’ key contact Rosie Burbidge is routinely entrusted to safeguard her clients’ registered and unregistered designs. Rachel Pearse’s extensive range of capabilities are comprised of trade mark infringement claims, comparative advertising claims, and domain name disputes, among others.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘I work with Rosie Burbidge at gunnergooke LLP for trademark and other IP matters relating to UK. Rosie is an exceptionally bright, knowledgeable and dedicated IP lawyer, always on top of new developments and a thought leader on trends in the IP field, particularly relating to the fashion industry. She is very responsive and solution oriented. Her advice is always solid and concise.’

‘The team is led and inspired by the wonderful Rosie Burbidge. They all share a mindset of outstanding service and dedication to their clients, coupled with excellent legal skills and pragmatic understanding of client’s needs.’

‘Rosie Burbidge is a fantastic lawyer; knowledgeable, pragmatic and super nice. I have been working with her for over a decade and am always impressed by her skills.’

‘I would like to thank gunnercooke LLP for doing a great job with my case. Great Service. gunner cooke LLP has been very communicative in processing the trade mark and providing timely updates. They answer any questions and help guide through the requirements for the trademark in UK. They were great communicators and very organised. I will highly recommend this firm.’

‘Rosie Burbidge truly knows the ins and outs of trade marks and I fully trust her on any trade mark in any industry, for any client. She got everything I needed and wanted done!’

‘What makes this firm unique is clarity of communication and advice, a personalised and customer focused approach, business acumen, and use of tech tools.’

‘The quality of advice is always of the highest level, well thought out and very strategic and commercially sound.’

‘Always above and beyond expectations, always prompt with deadlines and providing support at speed when required.’

Key clients

Andcrafted Limited

Liking Limited

Kepler Interactive Limited

The Property Franchise Group plc

J Bibi Properties Ltd: Mags Creative Ltd

The Writers Guild of Great Britain

The Quintessa Art Collection Ltd

Barking Bags Ltd

Bradshaw Taylor

Swoon Editions Limited

Crafty Counsel

The Plum Guide

Work highlights

  • Defended Hungarian company TrustIndex in an IPEC claim relating to various claims for trade mark and copyright infringement brought by TrustPilot in relation to the use of a widget that aggregates online reviews for the benefit of small businesses.
  • Acting for Safe-T-System in a breach of IP settlement agreement dispute.
  • Advising Bradshaw Taylor Ltd and its various subsidiary brands on the management of the global trade mark portfolio, including managing and coordinating trade mark filings and prosecution worldwide.

Real estate > Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow Tier 5

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Manchester Tier 6

Dispute resolution > International arbitration Tier 6

gunnercooke LLP routinely acts in ad hoc international arbitrations, as well as those under the rules of the major international arbitral bodies. Chloe Carswell is experienced in international commercial and investment treaty arbitrations. David Breslin is a specialist in international arbitrations in the energy, insurance, financial services, and international trade sectors. Philip Rubens is an ‘invaluable steersman when there is any difficult call’. Khaled Moyeed is an international disputes practitioner and Uliana Cooke is ‘a hardworking and industrious lawyer’.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Excellent judgement and strategic thinking.’

Cohesive, proactive, committed, and approachable.

‘David Breslin is an excellent litigator – innovative, commercial and proactive.’

‘David Breslin is results focused and really gets what his clients need rather than what (they think) they want.’

Philip Rubens is experienced and has great judgement. An invaluable steersman when there is any difficult call, as when there is a tactical position to set up.

Chloe Carswell is very thorough, diligent, detail oriented, and at the same time very practical, efficient and knowledgeable. Very well known in the international arbitration sector and very experienced in both commercial and investor-state arbitrations.

Uliana Cooke is a hardworking and industrious lawyer with an entrepreneurial spirit. Very intelligent and a great collaborator.

Clare Jones is a good litigator with the ability to capitalise on any opportunity.

Finance > Transport finance and leasing Tier 6

Work highlights

Real estate > Property finance Tier 6

gunnercooke LLP regularly acts for both lenders and borrowers on mandates regarding student accommodations, hotels, and offices. With over twenty years of experience in commercial property, Sarah Hung frequently advises on acquisition and development finance. Matthew East specialises in advising clients active in the hotel sector, both in London and across the UK.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Hung; Matthew East

Key clients

ELS St Marks Residence Limited

The Prosperity Group Limited

OakNorth Bank plc

Work highlights

  • Acting for The Prosperity Group Limited in the acquisition of commercial land with a ransom strip with a view to creating a multi-storey development located in a prime London location.
  • Instructed by ELS St Marks Residence Limited on the acquisition of a high value real estate development site, by way of a share purchase of a company out of group with development finance of £4.75m. The site included 54 self-contained student accommodation units.
  • Acted for OakNorth Bank plc in connection with a development loan for the fit out/construction of the new Holiday Inn Sunderland by Cairn Capital.

Real estate > Commercial property: Nottingham and Derby Tier 2

gunnercooke LLP is ‘very well respected in the property sector’ and Brendan Walsh is recognised for his significant expertise in the delivery of projects and major redevelopments. Matthew Grocock has helped facilitate developments for landed estates, rural landowners, promoters, house builders, and contractors, and Bev Simms focuses on developments and strategic land acquisitions, with notable expertise in landfill and energy transactions. Sarah Gunton has acted on various flagship developments across the UK.

Testimonials

‘Matthew Grocock is both commercial and legal, and gets the deal done.’

‘Gunnercooke is an excellent law firm that is very well respected in the property sector. They provide a great service and have vast knowledge in their field.’

‘Brendan Walsh and Sarah Gunton provide a very good service. The quality of their work is excellent and everything is dealt with professionally.’ 

‘Brendan Walsh and Sarah Gunton have provided unquestionable expertise. It is refreshing to be able to work with a team who do not necessarily need to be instructed to the nth-degree and who can fully understand a client’s requirements, pressure points, and timescales.’ 

‘Brendan Walsh leads on our relationship with gunnercooke. Brendan is a thoroughly competent solicitor who adds value to transactions through his experience, commercial acumen and personality.’

Key clients

Brookland Group

Bedford Estate

Wilson Bowden Developments

William Davis

Peter James Homes

Garner Holdings

Rolta Infotech

Harpur Crewe

Omni Recycling

BSP Capital

Stagfield Group

Southhill Estate

Work highlights

  • Advised Wilson Bowden on the proposed letting of a 500,000 sq ft warehouse/distribution unit.
  • Advising a client on the terms of an option agreement with a major regional housebuilder.
  • Advising a client in respect of an option to sell a 19-acre site of its large Derbyshire estate.

Transport > Rail

Employment

gunnercooke LLP expanded its employment law capabilities with the addition of Katy Wedderburn, formerly head of employment at MacRoberts, in February 2023. Wedderburn brings extensive experience in advising on discrimination claims, TUPE risks, whistleblowing, and senior executive exits.

East Midlands > Real estate > Commercial property: Nottingham and Derby

gunnercooke LLP is ‘very well respected in the property sector’ and Brendan Walsh is recognised for his significant expertise in the delivery of projects and major redevelopments. Matthew Grocock has helped facilitate developments for landed estates, rural landowners, promoters, house builders, and contractors, and Bev Simms focuses on developments and strategic land acquisitions, with notable expertise in landfill and energy transactions. Sarah Gunton has acted on various flagship developments across the UK.

Testimonials

‘Matthew Grocock is both commercial and legal, and gets the deal done.’

‘Gunnercooke is an excellent law firm that is very well respected in the property sector. They provide a great service and have vast knowledge in their field.’

‘Brendan Walsh and Sarah Gunton provide a very good service. The quality of their work is excellent and everything is dealt with professionally.’ 

‘Brendan Walsh and Sarah Gunton have provided unquestionable expertise. It is refreshing to be able to work with a team who do not necessarily need to be instructed to the nth-degree and who can fully understand a client’s requirements, pressure points, and timescales.’ 

‘Brendan Walsh leads on our relationship with gunnercooke. Brendan is a thoroughly competent solicitor who adds value to transactions through his experience, commercial acumen and personality.’

Key clients

Brookland Group

Bedford Estate

Wilson Bowden Developments

William Davis

Peter James Homes

Garner Holdings

Rolta Infotech

Harpur Crewe

Omni Recycling

BSP Capital

Stagfield Group

Southhill Estate

Work highlights

  • Advised Wilson Bowden on the proposed letting of a 500,000 sq ft warehouse/distribution unit.
  • Advising a client on the terms of an option agreement with a major regional housebuilder.
  • Advising a client in respect of an option to sell a 19-acre site of its large Derbyshire estate.

gunnercooke is a high-growth, high-performance professional services firm, with a rapidly growing number of experts spanning legal and other disciplines. Our purpose is simple; to deliver positive impact for our clients, improve the lives of our people and to leave a better world than we found…

The firm: gunnercooke is the fastest growing corporate law firm in the UK and making its mark globally. We are a team of more than 500 professionals, with the depth of experience which makes us genuine experts in our fields. Together, gunnercooke‘s people have strength across just about every corporate discipline and sector. We provide legal, commercial and strategic advice that delivers real value to the clients we work with, which span from multinational enterprises through to unicorns and not-for-profit organisations. The client roster of 40,000 includes BAE Systems, Jet2, Santander, ASOS, Nike, Mercedes, DHL and Johnson Matthey.

gunnercooke operates as a fee share model meaning our professionals join as self-employed advisors, free to design and develop their own practice. Our firm brings together the most ambitious and commercially-minded people, who are not bound by traditional ways of thinking. Our people build and work in dynamic teams of their choosing, drawing on specific disciplines from across the firm, to best suit their clients’ needs. With cross-border specialists and strength in multiple jurisdictions and practice areas, we specialise in the rapid assembly of bespoke teams of multidisciplinary experts.

Clients benefit from flexible options on fees to suit their needs, access to a wider network of senior experts throughout the relationship, and legal advice which is complemented by an understanding of the commercial aspects of running a business. Additional group services are designed to strengthen and enhance the core legal offering. These include an Operating Partner practice, which offers experts in senior management consultancy, and a legal technology arm driving process innovation and efficiencies.

gunnercooke partners are at the top of their game. We have a market leading Net Promoter Score (NPS) score of +91, 57% of our lawyers have worked in a Top 50 law firm, and 21% are ranked in legal directories. Awards include The Lexis Nexis Law Firm of the Year 2023 and The Times Best Law Firms 2024.

A global firm: Over the past decade, gunnercooke has grown into one of the leading fee share firms in the UK. We are now an international firm, with 15 offices globally including the US, Germany, Austria, CEE and Scotland, and with further plans for growth in the coming years. These offices have enhanced the existing in-house capability of our dedicated international teams and dual qualified experts that cover China and Hong Kong, Spain, France, Italy, Brazil and Portugal. Our team has experience working across 101 different countries, speaking 30 languages and are dual-qualified in 15 jurisdictions. Our expertise and reach see our multi-discipline teams regularly carrying out complex cross-border matters for major international clients.

Purpose: As a leading firm, we have a responsibility to not only look after our people and our clients, but to look beyond the square mile of our business at our wider communities. A key part of our vision and purpose is to ‘create a better world than we found’. We believe that businesses possess all of the tools, networks and resources to help solve the world’s problems. Our charitable arm, the gunnercooke foundation enables us to directly engage with communities on social issues. Through numerous projects, we work with the CEOs of more than 100 small charities, helping them grow their impact through free access to expert mentoring, connections and resources. In December 2022 we also launched our first bookshop, House of Books & Friends, in Manchester, to spearhead a campaign against social isolation and loneliness. The bookshop was set up as a community interest company and as well as offering a place to connect over books, every penny of profit goes towards projects aimed at combatting loneliness and social isolation in the community.

Practice areas: Our breadth of expertise covers some of the most interesting and important emerging disciplines, from ESG and charity law, to blockchain and competition. The firm is particularly well known for its work in corporate, M&A and private equity; employment and pensions; dispute resolution; competition and antitrust; family law; business crime; restructuring, insolvency and business growth; private client; tax; FinTech and financial services; banking and finance; commodities; real estate finance; property litigation; and commercial property. We cover sector groups including football, construction, aviation, hospitality, fashion, equestrian and charity.

Offices

  • London
  • Manchester
  • New York
  • Glasgow
  • Edinburgh
  • Birmingham
  • Leeds
  • Berlin
  • Frankfurt
  • Düsseldorf
  • Hamburg
  • München
  • Budapest
  • Vienna
  • Tirol
Department Name Email Telephone
Founder Darryl Cooke [email protected]
Co-Founder Sarah Goulbourne [email protected]
General [email protected]
Photo Name Position Profile
Saad Ahmed photo Saad Ahmed Partner
Sarah Armstrong photo Sarah Armstrong Partner
David Arundel photo David Arundel Partner
Carl Atkinson photo Carl Atkinson Partner
Gaynor Bannon photo Gaynor Bannon Legal Counsel
Suresh Bhatt photo Suresh Bhatt Partner
Peter Bohm photo Peter Bohm Partner
Antonia Brandes photo Antonia Brandes Partner
Mark Burns photo Mark Burns Partner
Adam Bushby photo Adam Bushby Partner
Paul Calladine photo Paul Calladine Partner
Lynn Cantwell photo Lynn Cantwell Partner
Claire Chapman photo Claire Chapman Partner
Chris Charlesworth photo Chris Charlesworth Partner
Kevin Connell photo Kevin Connell Partner
Darryl Cooke photo Darryl Cooke Founder
Penny Cranston photo Penny Cranston Partner
David Curd photo David Curd Partner
Siân Darlington photo Siân Darlington Partner
Fiona Dillon photo Fiona Dillon Partner
Nick Ducker photo Nick Ducker Partner
Steve Esmond photo Steve Esmond Partner
Rob Fawke photo Rob Fawke Partner
Nicola Fletcher photo Nicola Fletcher Partner
Claudia Font photo Claudia Font Partner
Bill Fowler photo Bill Fowler Partner
Sydney Fulda photo Sydney Fulda Partner
Antonia Gardner photo Antonia Gardner Partner
Ginevra Gatrell photo Ginevra Gatrell Partner
Tom Ghannad photo Tom Ghannad Partner
Victoria Greenwood photo Victoria Greenwood Partner
Chris Groves photo Chris Groves Partner
Antonio Guillen photo Antonio Guillen Partner
Melloney Guiver photo Melloney Guiver Partner
Lucille Haire photo Lucille Haire Partner
Martin Hallam photo Martin Hallam Partner
Caroline Harrington photo Caroline Harrington Partner
Nick Hawkins photo Nick Hawkins Partner
Marlene Hession photo Marlene Hession Partner
Roland Humphreys photo Roland Humphreys Partner
Louisa Jennings photo Louisa Jennings Legal Counsel
Chris Jones photo Chris Jones Partner
David Joseph photo David Joseph Partner
Jasvir Kaur photo Jasvir Kaur Partner
Rebecca Kelly photo Rebecca Kelly Partner
Daniel Knowles photo Daniel Knowles Associate
Catriona Lefkos photo Catriona Lefkos Legal Counsel
Antonello Leogrande photo Antonello Leogrande Partner
John McMuldroch photo John McMuldroch Partner
Caroline Mcdonagh photo Caroline Mcdonagh Partner
Michael Menzies-Baird photo Michael Menzies-Baird Partner
David Miller photo David Miller Partner
Jen Morris photo Jen Morris Partner
Deborah Niven photo Deborah Niven Partner
Sam Ogden photo Sam Ogden Partner
Christine Oxenburgh photo Christine Oxenburgh Partner
Jill Parker photo Jill Parker Partner
Gillian Pelham photo Gillian Pelham Partner
Andrew Price photo Andrew Price Partner
Sarah Purcell photo Sarah Purcell Partner
Jonathan Rogers photo Jonathan Rogers Partner
Helen Rooney photo Helen Rooney Partner
Paul Ryman photo Paul Ryman Partner
Chris Scott photo Chris Scott Partner
Tom Seabrook photo Tom Seabrook Partner
Greg Sher photo Greg Sher Partner
Margaret Spencer photo Margaret Spencer Partner
Rachel Spink photo Rachel Spink Partner
Harvey Stringfellow photo Harvey Stringfellow Partner
Harriet Swainson photo Harriet Swainson Partner
Jocelyn Taylor photo Jocelyn Taylor Partner
Emma Tegerdine photo Emma Tegerdine Partner
Simon Tomlinson photo Simon Tomlinson Partner
Andrew Tonge photo Andrew Tonge Partner
Philippa Torkington photo Philippa Torkington Partner
Georgina Tripp photo Georgina Tripp Partner
Katy Wedderburn photo Katy Wedderburn Partner
Mark Whittell photo Mark Whittell Partner
Anna Willetts photo Anna Willetts Partner
Simon Williams photo Simon Williams Partner
Benjamin Zatman photo Benjamin Zatman Partner
Partners : 337
gcTrust (Support Team) : 80
Operating Partners : 39
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