Ansons > Lichfield, England > Firm Profile

Ansons
5-7 BREADMARKET STREET
LICHFIELD
STAFFORDSHIRE
WS13 6LQ
England

Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in the West Midlands Tier 2

Working across multiple offices in the West Midlands, Ansons’ latest expansion efforts saw the ‘regional heavyweight’ open a site in Dudley in July 2022. Mere Green-based practice co-chair Neil Jones is a highly active adviser whose recent highlights include both corporate and commercial matters in the IT, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors. Based in Cannock, fellow co-chair Jamie Gill is particularly noted for his experience in healthcare and logistics sector work, while Dudley-based senior consultant Paul Bennett has latterly advised on a slew of engineering sector deals. Emma Rowley is also recommended.

Practice head(s):

Neil Jones; Jamie Gill

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘We are made to feel important at all times and their responses are swift.’

‘Easy to discuss all matters – trivial and important.’

‘We have worked with Ansons for many years and I recommend to all my clients. Ansons will always make a transaction as smooth as possible. Always available to speak, extremely professional, and help with any issues which crop up.’

‘Neil Jones is always there to help ourselves and our clients, and will go out of his way to ensure our deals continuously move forward. His experience and knowledge is extremely valuable to any pharmacy sale, and we really see the difference when Ansons are appointed on either side.’

‘The firm has specialist expertise in dealing with community pharmacies and this has proved very valuable for a firm like ours as we have many clients in this sector. We have found the partners and staff to be approachable and the firm offers a competitive fixed fee quote, again valued by many of our clients. The firm is also proactive, commercial and sensitive to client needs.’

‘We work with Neil Jones, Jamie Gill and Emma Rowley, and their knowledge and expertise as corporate lawyers is second to none. They are very commercial and offer good, sound advice. Nothing is too much trouble and they will go out of their way to help a client.’

‘A regional heavyweight firm providing partner-led, responsive, and thoroughly detailed service combined with intimate knowledge of their clients on a business and personal basis.’

‘Neil Jones takes personal responsibility for leading and delivering the firms services. Neil is honest and realistic in his advice on commercial issues and timescales. Proven to be more than a match for any of the biggest law firms.’

Key clients

Wellstopco Limited

Hyermotive Limited

Diesel Marine International

Omningage Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised Hypermotive Limited and management team in relation to an investment from AP Ventures.
  • Advised Diesel Marine International on its acquisition of WM Codd Limited.
  • Advised management team on the management buyout of Wells Plastics Group and Refinance with Virgin Money of £9m.

Private client > Agriculture and estates Tier 2

Headed by Simon James , the team at Ansons continues to attract a steady flow of instructions on numerous agricultural land acquisitions and disposals. It advises on a myriad of other issues relating to diversification projects such as the alternative use of rural buildings and land, renewable energy and conservation projects as well as issues relating to rural subsidies, tenancies and drainage issues. Neil Faunch is another prominent member of the department who has a wide range of experience in agricultural sales and purchases.

Practice head(s):

Simon James

Other key lawyers:

Key clients

The National Forest Company

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: elsewhere in the West Midlands Tier 3

The ‘very approachable’ Ansons has key expertise in areas such as breach of directors' duties, and property and shareholder disputes. Its client base ranges from healthcare providers to property developers. Martin De-Ridder and Jason Alcock helm the practice, with the former specialising in commercial litigation, shareholder and insolvency matters. Adam Pike departed the firm for Talbots Law in March 2022.

Practice head(s):

Martin de Ridder; Jason Alcock

Other key lawyers:

Louise Palmer

Testimonials

‘Very approachable, great quality of taking the time to explain the full situation and offering advice.’

Key clients

Moore Insolvency

Seconique Limited

St Philips Care Limited

Walter Tippers (building suppliers)

Walton Homes Limited

Wirquin Limited

Wright’s Pies

Work highlights

  • Assisting Seconique Ltd in copyright claims against various parties seeking to infringe their intellectual property rights.
  • Assisting Gainlive Ltd in matters arising following local sports facility entering receivership.

Real estate > Commercial property: elsewhere in the West Midlands Tier 3

An ‘excellent firm’ offering ‘pragmatic advice’, Ansons‘s varied offering encompasses development work and asset management and the firm is active in a number of sectors, including manufacturing, logistics and healthcare. The practice is helmed by managing director Richard Saum, who specialises in commercial property transactions, and also handles land acquisitions and disposals. ‘Go-to legal advisor’ Neil Faunch‘s wide range of expertise includes agricultural tenancies, HS2 and compulsory purchase order (CPO) matters, as well as overage and conditional contracts. Cannock-based director Jon Rowley routinely handles site purchases, option agreements and overages, among other areas, and Alex Jayne-Lowe joined the team as director in May 2023 from George Green LLP. All named lawyers are based in Lichfield unless stated otherwise.

Practice head(s):

Richard Saum

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘Jon Rowley – explains technical speak in a way that is easy to understand, presents options robustly and with clear explanations. Easy to get ahold of and prompt to respond.’

‘The team is able to quickly respond to any of our commercial support needs. They keep within budget to deliver effective legal advice.’

‘Neil Faunch provides very client focused advice, that is always on budget and timely. He has good interpersonal skills and is very easy to contact when advice is needed.’

‘We have used the services of the team at Ansons for many years and find them an excellent firm offering a full range of disciplines for both individuals and businesses. They offer pragmatic advice without the legal spiel!’

‘Our go-to legal adviser is Neil Faunch – he has never let us down. He ensures his team is up to speed with our cases at all times, so even if we are unable to speak to him personally, our queries are dealt with. Neil is a pleasure to work with, listens, sympathises, understands and advises without hesitation.’

‘The team at Ansons are not only experienced but personable and get to know their clients really well.’

‘Ansons have always been happy to assist whatever the query. They do so in a very down-to-earth manner, which is exactly what we need.’

‘A team ethos where collaboration is key and gets things achieved. The individuals are all friendly and approachable.’

Key clients

Sandyford Properties Limited

IP Developments Limited

Portal Construction NW Limited / Andrews Property

Boningale Homes Limited

Brendan Lees Developments

Work highlights

  • Advising on four phased developments comprising 250+ residential plots with a gross development value of circa £60m for Boningale Homes Limited.
  • Acting for Brendan Lees Developments Limited on the refinancing of established multi-let industrial estate in Cannock, dealing with all lender enquiries and security requirements and maintaining data-room.
  • Acting for Sandyford Properties Limited on the refinancing of two established multi-let industrial estate in North Stafford, dealing with all lender enquiries and security requirements and maintaining data-room.

Employment Tier 5

Jason Alcock and Martin De Ridder co-lead the department at Ansons which continues to be busy advising its commercial clients on a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters. It frequently advises on disciplinary and grievance issues as well as cases where there are allegations of discrimination. The group is also skilled at advising on TUPE matters and redundancies.

Practice head(s):

Jason Alcock; Martin de Ridder

Other key lawyers:

Louise Palmer

Testimonials

‘The team is comprised of a body of highly dedicated and extremely experienced legal professionals who combine their vast knowledge of employment law with a holistic approach to client care’.

‘Jason Alcock is extremely helpful and knows his stuff, offers very professional advice with an uncanny ability to sense what might be around the corner. A Great Litigator’.

Jason Alcock is truly straight forward and extremely knowledgeable in all HR and employment law matters. He is a strong people person. Jason is also very easy to get hold of with a phone call returned within an hour and emails answered within a day, which is incredible considering his workload’.

‘Jason Alcock’s knowledge of employment law is amazing. From flexible working matters, to maternity and discrimination, to grievances, to severance pay and the rest he knows his market area more than anyone and you truly feel listened to and you know you’re in good hands’.

‘Jason Alcock is very reliable and attentive, answering queries swiftly and professionally’.

‘Jason is always very helpful in whatever capacity he is needed. Whether it is a question to help us how to deal with a certain situation, employment, policies and procedures. Louise Palmer has also been excellent in dealing with a personal issue for our director’.

‘We always get a timely response to our queries, professional and helpful advice for our employment questions’.

‘Personal approach. Allocation of files is done by senior staff who understand their team’s capabilities’.

Key clients

Seconique Limited

Walton Homes Limited