Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP > Cardiff, > Firm Profile

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Wales > Corporate and commercial Tier 1

While it has limited visibility in the local market, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP's Cardiff office regularly acts on its own, or alongside other offices across the firm's UK-wide and international network, in relation to mandates outside of the Welsh borders, often involving a cross-border complexion. In this context, many of the transactions are within the financial services and fintech space, with team head Paul Pugh leading the way on such deals, including a continuing flow of work for fund client, Pollen Street Capital, on its M&A transactions in the sector. Principal associate Shelley Evans  is also noted for her financial services M&A expertise.

Wales > Employment > Employment Tier 1

Led from Cardiff by the ‘exceptional’ Anthony Rees , and also able to leverage the firm’s UK-wide and international resources, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is a popular choice for large domestic businesses, as well as multinational corporates, across the full scope of their employment requirements. An accomplished advocate who has a strong track record of success for clients in tribunal hearings, but also effective at advising on international restructurings, Rees is praised for his ‘pragmatic, proportionate and very wise advice’, which he dispenses to clients from a range of sectors, including education providers. ‘Not just a great employment lawyer, but a great partner to the client as well’, Tom Bray excels in providing employment support on international M&A, outsourcing and restructuring projects, and has over the years developed a particular level of specialism advising clients (including Heathrow Airport) within the aviation sector. Thomas Player also excels in handling international employment mandates, including in the context of collective employment law, work which regularly sees him acting in an advisory capacity for many companies operating European Works Councils.

Wales > Employment > Pensions Tier 1

‘Well-connected across the industry and from a policy perspective’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides ‘a plain English and common sense approach’ to trustees and employers across a wide range of standalone matters and in a corporate support capacity (including scheme mergers). ‘Very pragmatic and solutions-oriented’ team head Stuart Earle is key to the office’s success and provides ‘a joined up service’ to clients in heavily regulated sectors across a myriad matters, including on funding arrangements and risk management strategies. Earle also leads the firm’s relationship with NEST Corporation, as well as advising several financial services on the establishment of new SIPP products. Senior associate Collette Davies  is particularly adept at handling public sector-related pensions matters.

Wales > Finance > Banking and finance Tier 1

Drawing upon 'significant breadth of resource and capability' out of Cardiff and London, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP advises a lender focused client base (including clearing and challenger banks, as well as non-bank lenders) on new money and refinancing transactions, primarily centred outside of Wales. 'Commercially pragmatic' team head Joanne Canning is particularly adept at handling property finance matters.

Wales > Insurance > Professional negligence Tier 1

Making efficient use of legal technology and also often acting on a contingency basis, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides a ‘responsive and cost-effective’ service to banks in professional negligence claims brought against solicitors and surveyors stemming primarily from secured commercial and residential lending. Nick Rundle is often at the forefront of this secured recoveries work arising from commercial lending, as is Wayne Davies , who is ‘easy to deal with and good at gathering together the correct information', including in cases involving large portfolios both under commercial ownership or owned by individual buy-to-let landlords. Gareth Vowles has ‘a commercial approach which ensures the best result for clients’, including intermediaries, lenders and asset managers as defendants in claims arising from alleged negligent advice and/or the mis-selling of a myriad of financial products – instructions which account for some of his workload in his role as head of the office’s financial services disputes and investigations team. As well as handling claimant work for banks, including in the context of professional negligence allegations of mortgage fraud, James Coleman also regularly acts for financial institutions clients in internal and regulatory investigations.

Wales > Real estate > Commercial property Tier 1

Leveraging effective use of IT applications and benefitting from tremendous strength-in-depth, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides ‘cost-effective and commercial advice’, on both “bulk” style work as well as complex transactions, ‘always ensuring that the right people with the appropriate level of skills are allocated’. James Trafford provides ‘very knowledgeable and reliable’ advice to a plethora of large-scale employers on their corporate real estate needs, including as it relates to strategic structuring advice and large-scale acquisition, disposal and relocation programmes. Trafford is also one of many in the team with deep knowledge of renewables-related property matters, another being Geraint Pullin Thomas , who provides ‘clear, concise and commercial legal advice’, particularly in the context of solar matters. Gareth Ashfield  is a key contact for developer work, including for SEGRO on the development of several “brown field” sites for logistics parks. As part of his broad investor-side practice, David Emberson  oversees the firm’s advice to SEGRO, one of many core institutional clients which require advice in relation to  acquisitions and disposals and general property management work. Andrew Burns  has a core focus on transport infrastructure matters, and now heads up the team following Kathryn Roberts ‘ transitioning to a role as chair of the firm’s international offering. Legal director Jonathan Woodward provides ‘excellent, considered advice and support’ across a broad range of work, including for corporate pension funds on property matters.

Wales > Real estate > Construction Tier 1

Drawing upon an ‘in-depth knowledge of the construction sector’, gleaned from many years’ experience in the field, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has the ability ‘to solve complex issues utilising legally sound and commercially practical advice’. Team head Alison Short provides ‘exceptional legal and commercial advice’ to stakeholders involved in a range of projects relating, in particular, to nuclear, water, renewable energy and transport projects, both domestically and internationally. As well as working alongside colleagues from other key offices in the network, including Birmingham and London, Short is also assisted out of Cardiff by senior associate James Molland , who regularly runs his own caseload focusing more on construction issues associated with traditional commercial property projects.  

Wales > Real estate > Planning and environment Tier 1

Acting on its own, as well as frequently as part of a cohesive national offering alongside lawyers from other offices at the firm, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is well-positioned to provide 'practical and clear advice' to clients on both Welsh specific planning matters as well as on UK-wide mandates. 'Friendly and practical' senior associate Stephen Jefferson  now heads the team following Kee Evans' move in July 2022 to Foot Anstey and continues to focus on securing the relevant planning consents related to utilities, energy and transport projects, as well as having significant knowledge of the planning concerns which are unique to Wales as a result of its devolved status. Senior associate Gareth Davies , who co-heads the team alongside Jefferson, transferred from the firm's Birmingham office in August 2022 and adds further bandwidth in light of his strategic planning advice relating to data centre sectors and residential developments.

Wales > Real estate > Property litigation Tier 1

Under the leadership of Rob Phillips, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP handles a diverse array of property litigation for clients within core sectors of strength for the firm as a whole, including energy and transport. As well as handling fairly conventional disputes, including landlord and tenant and development litigation, the practice also advises on more niche areas, including as it pertains to minerals rights and agricultural law. The team, which is also able to effectively leverage broader resources across the UK network of offices, also has core strength acting on property-related matters for its impressive roster of financial services clients including REITs, SIPPs and Propcos.

Wales > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms Tier 1

Leveraging deep and longstanding contractual expertise among the team’s fee-earners, including in relation to outsourcing and advice on digitisation strategies, as well as drawing upon the efficiencies inherent in the firm’s consultancy arm Konexo, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provides a very comprehensive service to UK and international clients across a range of tech/IT-related work. Under the guidance of the vastly experienced Matthew Gough, the firm is particularly adept at advising on work at the interface of financial services and technology, both in relation to standalone contractual work, as well as on due diligence pursuant to M&A in the sector (including for core fund client Pollen Street Capital). Eve England  is also a key member of the team, whose expertise within the fintech and retail space manifests itself in relation to transactional work, as well as standalone contractual advice – where clients also benefit from her consumer law knowledge, particularly in the context of online sales channels.

Wales > Employment > Immigration Tier 2

Acting on its own, as well as engaging support from its Birmingham office - which was recently bolstered by the return of Nerys Ireland  after a brief stint at Mishcon de Reya LLP - Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is particularly effective at handling immigration work for education clients. Senior associate Francesca Smith is the principal contact from Cardiff and handles all aspects of immigration including sponsor licence and compliance issues, right to work and visa queries.

Wales > TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property Tier 2

Led by Matthew Gough , Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is particularly adept at advising on non-contentious IP matters, including on the effective commercialisation of IPR and on digitisation strategies for clients. Niche areas of strength include consumer law compliance and work for software providers and users of software on licensing matters. The financial services sector is also a key area of focus, with Eve England , the other partner in the group, regularly providing IP due diligence for fund client Pollen Street Capital on its M&A work in the sector.

Wales > Public sector Tier 3

Wales > Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation

Acting on its own, as well as being able to call upon the vast resources across the firm's UK-wide network of offices, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is well-placed to represent clients in the firm’s core areas of industry strength, including transport, energy and education, across a wide range of high-stakes disputes. As well as his commercial litigation expertise, team head Richard Pitt is noted for his public procurement prowess, both on behalf of public entities defending the outcome of public procurement competitions and, challenging decisions of other public authorities. Luisa Gibbons assists Pitt with the day-to-day running of the team, focusing her work largely on matters with a public sector complexion, including public procurement and judicial review matters, as well as it relates to professional discipline and fitness to practise. Public law also forms a key component of senior associate Helen Rowland's practice, with her regularly working alongside Gibbons and Pitt on high-profile mandates, as well as handling her own caseload, defending and bringing challenges relating to public procurement awards. Public inquiry work also remains a cornerstone to the firm's overarching litigation expertise, with the Cardiff office often engaged as part of multi-office teams covering many matters of public importance. In this regard, Angharad Haf Hurle is 'super knowledgeable and vastly experienced' and has been a lynchpin of the firm's involvement in the long-running infected blood inquiry. Finally, the team is rounded out by a strong financial services litigation offering, an area that Gareth Vowles  and Tom Black , who was promoted to partner in May 2022 are particularly accomplished.

United Arab Emirates > Real estate

Commended for its ‘great legal expertise and commercial mindset’, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has a presence in the hospitality and logistics sectors. The practice is led by master-planned communities specialist Steven Henderson who is lauded for a ‘hands-on mentality and a key commercial mindset’. Emma George acts for corporates and developers on landlord and tenant issues as well as property portfolio management.