Karen Crutchley > Schofield Sweeney > Leeds, England > Lawyer Profile

Schofield Sweeney‘s key areas of specialism are secured real estate finance, development funding, asset based lending, and invoice finance. Manjit Virdee leads the team from Bradford, and has particular expertise in acquisition finance. Also key are Karen Crutchley, who is active for both lenders and borrowers, and Pardeep Khela, who is experienced in real estate finance.

Schofield Sweeney‘s ‘approachable and knowledgeable’ team handles a range of corporate work spanning acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and debt financings. On the commercial side, the practice is well-placed to handle contractual risk and an array of issues connected to business growth. Bradford-based Martin Sweeney oversees the corporate offering alongside Leeds partners David Strachan and Steven Millward. In the same office, Karen Crutchley heads up the commercial team. Strachan is praised for his ‘vast experience, calm persona and light-hearted approach’. Michael Cantwell joined in June 2023 from 3volution and frequently assists clients in the gambling industry with corporate matters.

Schofield Sweeney‘s energy and natural resources group is known for its ability to handle small site projects, such as single wind turbine developments, and site assembly matters for large projects. The multi-disciplinary team’s expertise spans corporate, planning, property and tax issues. Practice chair Adam Hastie is sought out by regional and national clients for assistance with development and regeneration work. Karen Crutchley is geared to advise on commercial agreements in the energy and renewables sector.

Excelling in commercial, e-commerce, data protection and IT mandates, Schofield Sweeney supports clients with drafting standard documentation, including software licenses, hosting arrangements and maintenance contracts. The team is led by Karen Crutchley, who also advises on IT projects and outsourcing arrangements for IT suppliers and purchasers, and SMEs.

Praised for its ‘exceptional combination of expertise, innovation, and client-focused approach’, Schofield Sweeney‘s far-reaching practice advises across academy conversions, land acquisitions and disposals, and education health care plans. Karen Crutchley, who chairs the practice from the firm’s Leeds office, counts the drafting and reviewing of commercial documents among her practice strengths. Bradford-based Andrew Hurst‘s longstanding experience in the education sector includes assisting with development schemes for schools. ‘Outstanding practitioner’ Simon Shepherd conducts his own advocacy in Employment Tribunals in cases such as discrimination, whistleblowing and unfair dismissal. Tina Morris is well-versed in issues related to academy conversions.