Firm Profile > Addleshaw Goddard > Manchester , North West
Addleshaw Goddard Offices
1 ST PETER'S SQUARE
MANCHESTER
M2 3DE
North West
Addleshaw Goddard > The Legal 500 Rankings
Banking and finance Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard offers in-depth experience across a range of banking and finance mandates. Corporate banking, leveraged finance, project finance, and real estate finance are key areas of expertise, and the team particularly stands out for its proficiency in asset-based lending and asset finance (equipment leasing and finance) instructions. With borrower and major lender clients, the team is active across transactions in the energy, finance, health, transport and retail and consumer sectors. Department head Martin O’Shea is a 'leading light for North West banking and finance'; Andrew Maskill heads the firm's asset finance practice; Simon Prendergast specialises in asset based lending and receivables financing; Richard Oman has a particular focus on corporate lending and leveraged acquisition finance matters; and Katie Ridehalgh specialises in real estate finance. Legal directors Caroline Gray and Ben Edwards are also key figures.
Banking litigation Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard acts for a prestigious roster of clients including major UK and international banks, private equity firms, independent funders and financial service institutions, advising on negligence and fraud claims. Other areas of expertise include the recovery of assets in overseas jurisdictions, as well as regulatory investigations. The 'incredibly personable' and 'highly regarded' Harold Brako heads the team, while Helen Collinge is also recommended. The firm also offers a wide range of innovative litigation funding options to financial services clients looking to keep a handle on costs.
Commercial litigation: Manchester Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard is 'a go-to firm for pre-action advice and disputes', handling complex litigation for local, national and international clients. Areas of specialism include large IT disputes, competition law claims and 'business protection' work, which involves helping employers to manage risks stemming from employees and third parties who pose a threat to their interests. Mark Molyneux - described as 'one of the best litigators in the country' - heads the team with strong support from Susan Garrett. Managing associates Nicholas Ashcroft and Paul Rowley are also recommended alongside legal director Clare Dwyer.
Commercial property: Manchester Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard is the 'market leading firm for real estate work in Manchester' and is lauded as the 'go-to firm for real estate work'. The team is best known for its ability to handle big-ticket transactions in the city and across the North West region and acts for a broad client base which includes: trust and insurance companies, pension fund managers, developers, retailers, banks, transport agencies, public and private sector organisations and corporate clients. Among the team, department head Peter Kershaw, who is 'exceptional', Stephen Kinsey, who has a 'great standing in the market', and Anita Weightman are particularly recommended, as are legal directors Lucy Butterworth, Michael Corbett, and Emma Tonge.
Construction Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard's 'expert' team is active across a range of international, national and local construction projects; it is noted for its expertise in contracts for engineering schemes and process engineering and infrastructure, as well as regeneration and development schemes. The team also stands out for its contentious expertise where it is particularly commended for its experience in PFI disputes. Nancy McGuire heads the construction and engineering group and Jonathan Tattersall, who operates across London and Manchester, heads the contentious construction team. Paul O’Kane is active on contentious and non-contentious mandates, as is Paul Barge . Legal directors Susan Bennett, Chris Henshaw and Steve Ormand are noted, as are managing associates Charlotte Higham and the 'brilliant' Philip Withey.
Corporate and commercial: Manchester Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard 's team handles M&A, cross-border transactions, equity capital markets, private equity, corporate real estate deals and IPOs. Paul Medlicott heads the team and represents private equity investors, sellers and management teams, acting for many private equity houses in the North West. The 'unflappable' Andrew Green acts on corporate transactions and also focuses on private equity, meanwhile the 'exceptional and hands-on' Roger Hart and managing associate George Danczak are also recommended. Michael Birchall and legal director Jamie Partridge both left the firm for Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP.
Corporate tax Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard represents clients on the tax elements of M&A, joint ventures, fund establishments and real estate projects. On the contentious side, the firm deals with disputes with HMRC and the firm also advises on stamp duty land tax, pensions tax, VAT and customs duty matters. Justine Delroy heads the team and specialises in the tax aspects of structuring private equity transactions and property-based projects. Michael Hunter, who is based in Manchester and Leeds is also recommended, alongside managing associate Catherine Concannon.
Employment Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard's employment team enjoys an excellent reputation in the Manchester market, acting for an array of FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies and other significant regional and national employers in the transport, retail, financial services and manufacturing sectors. The department, which is run by Jamie Hamnett and the 'calm and thorough' Malcolm Pike, has significant experience of high-stakes litigation and boardroom and senior level work, including restrictive covenant disputes. Legal director Kate McGough is also recommended.
Health Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard is active across a range of mandates covering public sector and health infrastructure, social and long term care, life sciences and private healthcare. The team stands out for its experience in handling PFI secondary market transactions and has experience in advising on the management of healthcare portfolios of substantial infrastructure funds. It also houses a growing care home practice covering commercial, transactional, restructuring, insolvency and funding mandates. Head of health Michael O’Connor , Andrew Pettinger and Shelley McGivern are key contacts, as is legal director Stephanie Townley, who is the public sector and health infrastructure lead.
Health and safety Tier 1
At Addleshaw Goddard, practice head Erin Shoesmith - 'a fantastic lawyer who is that great mix of technical and commercial' - was promoted to partner in May 2018. The team was also strengthened by the arrival of Alan Fox , who joined as a legal director from the Health and Safety Executive in March 2019. The team acts for large national and multinational corporate defendants on matters pertaining to fire safety, food safety and product safety, as well as a wide range of criminal regulatory matters. In addition to legal representation, the firm provides advice and training on issues such as compliance and employee duties.
Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard is applauded for its ability to handle a range of complex restructuring and insolvency mandates; it is experienced in handling distressed real estate work, distressed corporate acquisition work and stands out for its specialist expertise in advising on distressed legal practices. The team is regularly instructed on retail sector matters. In addition to its non-contentious practice, insolvency litigation is also a key strength of the dedicated department. Team head Ged Barnes is a 'leading lawyer' and Tim Taylor is 'excellent'.
Intellectual property Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard advises on the full range of contentious and non-contentious IP issues, including brand disputes and advertising. Recently the firm has been developing expertise in big data, agile software development and indirect software licensing. Key client sectors include retail and consumer, financial services, transport, industrials, energy, health and the public sector. Paul Bentham - described as 'simply the best non contentious IP adviser in the North West' heads the team and advises on IP matters arising from company acquisitions and joint ventures. 'Real big hitter' James Whittaker has particular experience in the retail and consumer goods sector.
IT and telecoms Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard advises a wide range of public and private sector clients - including FTSE 100 companies and government bodies - on high profile, high value IT projects. Areas of expertise include purchasing, cloud computing projects, enterprise resource planning (ERP) projects and ICT enabled outsourcing. The 'fantastically experienced' Paul Bentham co-heads the team and handles major systems implementations and outsourcing projects. 'Stand-out adviser' James Whittaker, who also co-heads the team, advises on procurement and international outsourcing arrangements.
Local government Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard regularly acts for and against local government clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious matters; its experience includes outsourcing, housing , real estate, projects and funds work. The team also advises combined authority and local government pension fund administrators on investments. Michael O’Connor handles public, private and project finance transactions, while Andrew Pettinger, who is based across the Leeds and Manchester offices and leads the local government team, advises on a wide range of commercial transactions for local government clients.
Media and entertainment Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard's media and entertainment practice has a specialism in high-profile advertising and sponsorship campaigns for FTSE corporate clients, while other areas of expertise include global media buying and creative services agreements. The firm is seeing increasing instructions relating to the digital side of advertising and media buying. James Whittaker heads the team, advising key clients including PZ Cussons on promotional and brand licensing activities in relation to household name brands.
Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard handles a wide range of high-value work for ultra- and high-net-worth clients, entrepreneurs, trust companies and international individuals, advising on the administration of estates, wills and trusts on matters including domicile, residence, IHT, dual taxation, foreign assets, asset protection and family trust restructuring. The firm is also regularly involved in complex cross-border matters, advising both executors and trustees. 'Stand-out' partner Yorke Eaton heads the team, and is highly regarded for his capital tax planning advice to entrepreneurs and business owners.
Property litigation Tier 1
Addleshaw Goddard's 'first-rate' department is instructed by large institutional investors, high-profile tenants, developers and financial institutions on contentious and pre-contentious issues. The team is involved in retail, consumer, financial services and transport sector mandates. It has in-depth expertise in development work matters, and is involved in a number of cases involving rights of light and site clearance issues. Contentious landlord and tenant issues, professional negligence disputes and property-related insolvency cases are also a key component of the practice. Charles Jagger, Chris Perrin, legal director Andy Feehan and managing associate Patricia Love are key figures in the Manchester-based team.
Contentious trusts and probate Tier 2
Addleshaw Goddard draws on the firm's full services capabilities to complement its practice, with professional negligence, partnership and civil fraud specialists regularly called on to collaborate with the contentious trusts team. The firm's national and international scope also enables it handle complex cross-border trust litigation. The team is led by the 'enthusiastic and dedicated' Yorke Eaton, whose practice includes advising trustees on their duties and liabilities in relation to their business assets.
Energy Tier 2
Addleshaw Goddard's energy and utilities sector team is able to utilise its network of offices to advise on a range of domestic and international projects covering the oil and gas, renewables, power, water and waste sectors. The team in Manchester is experienced in is public-private and project finance transactions for public sector procuring bodies, private sector sponsors and funders. The team also handles real estate, outsourcings, procurement, state aid, contractual matters, re-financing and project finance matters in the sector. Manchester office head Michael O’Connor, who leads the infrastructure, projects and energy group, and legal director Rob Thompson head the team.
Professional negligence Tier 2
Led by Mark Molyneux, Addleshaw Goddard's professional negligence department has particular strength in the banking and construction sectors, handling high value claims against solicitors, valuers and other professionals. In the wake of the Grenfell disaster, cladding and fire safety issues have become an area of increased activity for the team, which has been advising a broad range of clients on issues relating to cladding and fire safety compliance. Susan Garrett handles professional negligence claims in the pensions area, while managing associate Matthew O’Neill focuses on claims against valuers, surveyors, brokers and solicitors on behalf of financial services clients.
Project finance and PFI Tier 2
Addleshaw Goddard's infrastructure and projects practice is strong on PFI and PPP work where it acts for NHS Trusts and private sector investors and developers in the healthcare sector. Transport is also a key area where the team is adept at handling rail, aviation and ports projects. In the renewables space, the team handles solar, waste-to-energy, wind, and biomass projects. Michael O’Connor heads the national infrastructure, projects and energy group; Andrew Pettinger, who is based across Leeds and Manchester, handles major regeneration projects as well as PPP and PFI work; and legal director Rob Thompson handles complex contract and procurement work.
Transport Tier 2
Addleshaw Goddard's recent transport work has focused on the rail sector; the firm advises on franchising, rolling stock, infrastructure matters and services. The practice also provides advice in relation to trams and buses. Other areas of expertise include transport disputes and matters relating to freight and logistics. Legal director Ursula Gould heads up the Manchester team and specialises in advising on high value contracts for transport projects.
Charities and not-for-profit Tier 3
At Addleshaw Goddard, private capital partner Yorke Eaton is known for his expertise in advising charities on a wide range of matters such as the establishment and registration of new entities, governance and trustee issues, commercial contracts, charity land transactions and restructuring issues. The department also advises banking clients on the taking of security over charity land and assets.
EU and competition Tier 3
Addleshaw Goddard advises on general competition law, competition litigation cases, state aid, damages actions and cartels. The team is also experienced in merger control, market investigations and antitrust counselling/investigations. The firm is seeing an increasing amount of state aid instructions and represents clients locally and nationally. The practice is headed by Mark Molyneux and London-based Bruce Kilpatrick.
Planning and environment Tier 3
Addleshaw Goddard handles a raft of planning and environment work. On the environmental side, which is led by recently promoted partner Michelle Headridge, the team handles contentious and non-contentious matters for clients across the real estate, retail, consumer, manufacturing, waste, energy and utility sectors. The team advises on the environmental aspects of real estate, corporate and finance transactions and handles criminal environmental investigation and defence work. Headridge is experienced in the chemicals and waste sectors and is ably supported by managing associate Joanne Holbrook. The planning team in Manchester has been bolstered by the arrival of Emily Williams from Irwin Mitchell.
Addleshaw Goddard > Firm Profile
Addleshaw Goddard is known for strong client relationships, built on successful delivery across national and international markets. A real meeting of minds.
The firm: Addleshaw Goddard is a premium international business law firm offering an exceptional breadth of services. The firm’s approach combines a deep understanding of clients’ businesses, markets and sectors, with high-calibre expertise, straight-talking advice and a collaborative team culture. By delivering what clients want, wherever they need it, from high-value strategic advice, to the everyday, Addleshaw Goddard prides itself on a service that is high-quality, focused, relevant and consistently excellent.
Addleshaw Goddard is more than just a firm of exceptional lawyers. It is also a leader in client investment and understanding. It is proud to act for its clients, whatever the scale of their requirements. The firm is highly regarded for various product and service innovations delivered by experts in the fields of consulting, strategy, process improvement, technology, project management and resourcing.
Addleshaw Goddard attracts talented, like-minded individuals who love what they do, are committed to clients’ success, and strive to build valued partnerships through their collective energy and expertise.
The firm is proud of its culture too. A culture that means Addleshaw Goddard is good to work with and for, and where everyone expects the best of each other. In the UK it has offices in London, Leeds and Manchester, and from 1 June 2017, in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen following its merger with HBJ Gateley. The firm also has a presence in Dubai, Oman, Qatar, Singapore and Hong Kong, together with a strategic alliance in Tokyo with Hashidate Law Office. Additionally, where the firm doesn’t have offices, it works with firms well known to it, to deliver an international capability whenever and wherever required.
The firm’s client portfolio is testament to its strength and range of expertise, including financial institutions, public sector bodies, successful businesses and private individuals. It is a leading advisor to FTSE 100 companies, and a market leader across its chosen sectors: digital, financial services, energy and utilities, health, industrials, retail and consumer, real estate and transport.
Types of work undertaken: Addleshaw Goddard is a leader across a broad range of specialisms including business support and restructuring, commercial services, competition and regulation, corporate, crime, dispute resolution, employment and incentives, finance, financial regulation, infrastructure, projects and energy, IP, pensions, private capital, professional practices, public sector and local government, real estate and tax.
Commercial services: the firm deals with IP/patents/trade marks, sport, IT, procurement, new media and e-commerce, outsourcing, media, competition and trade regulation, data protection and procurement.
Employment and incentives: the firm has a national and international reputation for dealing with aspects of employment relationships, with specific expertise in handling complex, business-critical matters.
Corporate: it focuses on the upper to mid-market sector in: M&A, Stock Exchange flotations, corporate finance, public to privates, joint ventures, management buy-outs, private equity, corporate restructuring, tax, partnerships, insurance, corporate, regulatory and venture capital.
Dispute resolution: the firm deals with finance, real estate/construction, product liability, commercial litigation, arbitration/mediation/ADR, media, pensions, insurance/reinsurance, IT/outsourcing, defamation and corporate crime.
Finance and projects: the firm deals with building societies, general bank lending, project finance, property finance, corporate restructurings, acquisition finance, asset finance (including aviation), securitisation and structured finance, PFI, insolvency and corporate recovery, financial regulation, public sector and local government, infrastructure, projects and energy.
Real estate: in addition to mainstream property advice, the real estate team deals with property litigation, tax, property joint ventures, construction, planning and environment.
Private capital: lawyers are trusted advisers to clients including corporates, high-net-worth individuals and charities, on personal financial planning, trusts, contentious trusts and tax.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
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| Senior partner | Charles Penney | ||
| Managing partner | John Joyce | ||
| Corporate and commercial | Yunus Seedat | ||
| Finance | Amanda Gray | ||
| Litigation | Michael Barnett | ||
| Real estate | Leona Ahmed |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
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Ged Barnes | View Profile | |
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Paul Bentham | View Profile | |
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Michael Birchall | View Profile | |
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Mr Harold Brako | View Profile | |
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Paul Conroy | View Profile | |
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Maxine Davies | View Profile | |
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Justine Delroy | View Profile | |
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Yorke Eaton | View Profile | |
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Catherine Fearnhead | View Profile | |
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Susan Garrett | View Profile | |
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Andrew Green | View Profile | |
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Jamie Hamnett | View Profile | |
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Roger Hart | View Profile | |
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Michael Hunter | View Profile | |
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Charles Jagger | View Profile | |
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Peter Kershaw | View Profile | |
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Stephen Kinsey | View Profile | |
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Richard Lee | View Profile | |
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Andrew Maskill | View Profile | |
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Phil McGough | View Profile | |
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Nancy McGuire | View Profile | |
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Paul Medlicott | View Profile | |
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Mark Molyneux | View Profile | |
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Vicky Niescier | View Profile | |
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Michael O’Connor | View Profile | |
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Richard Oman | View Profile | |
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Martin O’Shea | View Profile | |
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Andrew Pettinger | View Profile | |
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Simon Prendergast | View Profile | |
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Graeme Warburton | View Profile | |
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James Whittaker | View Profile | |
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Rebecca Williams | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 240 Number of other UK fee-earners : 860Student (The Lex 100)
Addleshaw GoddardTrainees flocked to Addleshaw Goddard to pursue 'news-worthy work' in a firm with a 'very strong regional presence' in Leeds, Manchester, Scotland, as well as London. The training is described as 'involved and ambitious' and recruits receive 'substantial training from the firm at the beginning of every seat' which allows them to 'stay on top of what is happening or on the horizon in the legal and commercial world'. What's more, 'there is a lot of focus on legal technology' at the firm. A Lex 100 Winner medal for quality of work is explained by the 'unusual amount of drafting and deal management responsibility', which pleased trainees greatly. Thanks to a 'more approachable partner set', there is 'no hierarchical snobbery' at Addleshaw Goddard, and the 'unrivalled friendly and collaborative culture' is credited with 'making a tough day much easier'. Some respondents complained about the remuneration, in particular in offices outside of London. It was also noted that the Scottish office buildings are 'definitely lacking' when compared with their English counterparts. 'Long hours' were begrudged, although it was acknowledged that 'you'll never find yourself working alone late at night – it is a team effort'. A second Lex 100 Winner medal is awarded for international secondments, during which trainees are 'warmly embraced by overseas colleagues' and 'the firm does its best to ensure you have a good time'. 'Going to Stornoway for a complex Land Court Hearing' was a clear work highlight, whilst 'sorting through boxes which had been in archive for 15 years' was not as enjoyable. If a firm with a 'real feel of team spirit', which works for 'clients people have heard of', sounds like a good fit for you, research Addleshaw Goddard.
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Banking and finance
- Banking litigation
- Commercial litigation: Manchester
- Commercial property: Manchester
- Construction
- Corporate and commercial: Manchester
- Corporate tax
- Employment
- Health
- Health and safety
- Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Intellectual property
- IT and telecoms
- Local government
- Media and entertainment
- Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Property litigation