Morgan LaRoche > Swansea, United Kingdom > Firm Profile

Morgan LaRoche > The Legal 500 Rankings

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 1

Lauded for having an 'eye for detail and a rigorous approach to the issues in a case', Morgan LaRoche provides 'value, efficiency and experience' to local and UK-wide businesses across a range of commercial litigation and has achieved notable successes throughout all levels of UK courts. Jason Williams, who is 'a great strategist', has throughout his career been involved in numerous reported cases in the property space, including one which provided clarity in relation to the construction of service charge clauses. 'Pragmatic and sensible' Welsh speaking partner Llyr Davies is a popular choice among clients in West Wales and continues to grow the firm's litigation presence in Carmarthen, although his reputation extends beyond these regional confines with specialisms in contentious insolvency and general business disputes. Recently promoted to partner, the 'exceptional' Gemma Thomas has excellent credentials for handling warranty and breach of contract claims; she recently notably resisted an attempt to overturn a judgment on appeal, having been successful at first instance for a client in relation to a breach of warranty and fraudulent misrepresentation claim following the purchase of shares in a waste management/disposal company. At an associate level, both Robert Davies and Ashley Davies are recommended, with the latter taking a 'robust and strategic approach to cases', including those relating to professional negligence, disputes between business owners and debt recovery.

Wales > Corporate and commercial Tier 2

A stalwart of the South West Wales legal market, Swansea headquartered firm Morgan LaRoche has deep and longstanding connections with owner-managed businesses and SMEs in the locality, and is regularly engaged in both transactional work, as well as a myriad day-to-day corporate and commercial work associated with their business dealings. Team head William Barletta remains pivotal to the firm's success and has, over his many years in practice, developed deep subject matter expertise across a myriad industry sectors, including as it relates to waste recycling, healthcare, professional services, and renewables. Praised for his 'practical approach', Christopher Evans is also a key member of the team and continues to successfully expand the firm's West Wales footprint from the firm's flourishing Carmarthen office.

Crime, fraud and licensing > General crime and fraud Tier 2

Different from most of the traditional and often more regional offerings in the ranking, Morgan LaRoche has a UK-wide offering on behalf of independent (early years) education and adult social care providers across a range of regulatory compliance and enforcement matters. Team head Andrew Manners is responsible for developing this practice, work which he combines with a niche offering in financial crime-related private prosecution defence.

Employment > Health and safety Tier 2

Under the expert leadership of Andrew Manners, Morgan LaRoche has developed a market leading UK-wide reputation on behalf of independent early years education and adult social care providers in the defence of health and safety investigations and prosecutions. Many of the matters are highly complex and necessitate a very considered and thorough rebuttal to multi-agency investigations and a core consideration of crisis management issues relating to potential negative media exposure.

Real estate > Property litigation Tier 2

The ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ team at Morgan LaRoche provides ‘considered, thorough and comprehensive advice’ across a wide spectrum of contentious property matters. Team head Jason Williams combines ‘first-rate knowledge of property law with a really good tactical mind’, ensuring that he is a popular choice among clients engaged in complex commercial and residential property litigation, including with regards to service charge disputes. Praised for his ‘very detailed knowledge across a range of property matters’, associate director Ashley Davies continues to enhance his reputation as a result of his ‘tactically astute’ representation of a wide variety of commercial and agricultural premises, residential premises and business and residential property estates.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Sport Tier 2

Primarily resourced by practitioners within the firm's business services team -   which is headed by William Barletta - and also able to tap into the expertise of lawyers within the litigation and property groups, should the need arise, Morgan LaRoche handles a range of matters for a growing roster of amateur and professional sports clubs, as well as governing bodies. Carmarthen-based corporate and commercial partner Christopher Evans is pivotal to much of the work handled by the group including on constitutional matters and governance.

Employment Tier 3

The 'exceptionally knowledgeable' team at Morgan LaRoche provide a 'totally personal and bespoke service' to South West Wales-based businesses across the gamut of their non-contentious and contentious employment/HR law requirements. 'Professional and personable' team head Hannah Belton provides 'pragmatic and legally sound advice' both on day-to-day employment and HR matters, as well as in tribunal cases, including in relation to discrimination and whistle-blower cases. Associate Sophie Ray regularly provides corporate support work, including on TUPE issues, as well as providing 'fabulous business support' to local companies, where she adds value by virtue of her previous in-house HR experience.    

Finance > Banking and finance Tier 3

Overseen by William Barletta, Morgan LaRoche's finance offering straddles both the firm's corporate and property/projects groups, with many of these team members providing finance advice as part of their overarching transactional prowess. Social housing-related financing (including securitisation transactions) is a strength, an area that Ann Thomas is particularly adept.

Real estate > Commercial property Tier 3

Swansea-based firm Morgan LaRoche provides a ‘professional, prompt and cost-effective service’ to an eclectic mix of stakeholders on local and UK-wide transactions. Team head Kevin Thomas has a varied practice that seems him regularly acting on high-profile local mandates, including his ongoing work for a developer in its acquisition of a mixed use development site in Swansea’s city centre (as part of the city centre’s regeneration programme), as well as work outside of Wales, including in the context of student accommodation development. Thomas also has expertise in handling renewable energy-related property work, as does the ‘proactive and responsive’ Alun Price, who leads the firm’s Carmarthen-based property efforts. Deploying a ‘can-do and commercial attitude’, David Palmer is a popular choice among investors and developers in the retail, office, industrial, logistics, care and energy sectors, and is noted for his ‘very strong work ethic and a very broad property experience’. Consultant Rosemary Morgan also remains active and is able to call upon a deep reservoir of knowledge gleaned through her many years’ expertise handling commercial property mandates within the retail, leisure and transport sectors, in particular.

Real estate > Construction Tier 3

Led by Stephen Mundy, Morgan LaRoche has a strong reputation for handling contentious and non-contentious matters among contractors and developers across West Wales and beyond. As part of his wide-ranging expertise, Mundy is adept at advising on standard and bespoke building and engineering contracts, as well as representing clients in litigation before the TCC and in adjudications.

Real estate > Social housing Tier 3

At Morgan LaRoche, Ann Thomas is the primary contact for core social housing work, and has particularly deep knowledge of the funding requirements for RSLs, including in relation to securitisation transactions. The firm's full-service offering is also regularly utilised by clients in the space, most commonly as it pertains to employment and property litigation matters.