Schofield Sweeney

schofieldsweeney.co.uk

Client satisfaction

Partner in the real estate team with over 30 years’ experience advising on the sale, acquisition and funding of major property portfolios, as well as the development and leasing of shopping centre units, office blocks and industrial estates. Has worked on leases across leading UK retail destinations including Meadowhall, Trafford Centre, Westfield and Bluewater, and more recently on large industrial schemes along the M62 corridor. Notable work includes advising on one of the area’s largest lease deals and the redevelopment of an iconic Huddersfield building into student accommodation.

Partner specialising in defending individuals and businesses facing investigation or prosecution, with extensive experience in fraud, tax, money laundering, health and safety, environmental law and trading standards. Appointed by the Attorney General to the List of Regulatory Advocates in Health and Safety and Environmental Law, Ian is authorised to represent regulators in both the Crown and Magistrates’ Courts. He is also highly experienced in firearms licensing and Proceeds of Crime Act matters. Known for his strategic approach and calm, detailed advice, Ian has led complex fraud trials and major regulatory cases, earning recognition for his sharp judgement and commitment to clients.

Amanda Beresford

Partner Amanda is head of planning. A qualified planner, as well as a solicitor, her specialisms include all aspects of planning appeals, judicial reviews, planning agreements, listed building consent, environmental assessment, planning enforcement and also highways and compulsory purchase and for all types of development including – housing, waste, transport, and commercial.

Darren Birkinshaw

Head of the commercial property team, dealing with a range of property matters, including acquisition of development sites, regeneration schemes, property joint ventures, commercial landlord and tenant, and business property relocations.

Corporate partner acting for businesses and individuals on a wide range of transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, management buyouts, joint ventures, investment agreements, refinancing and reorganisations. Experienced in deals across financial services, sport, media and entertainment, Daniel has advised on high-value and complex transactions, including the sale of Royal Armouries (International) plc’s shareholding to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and an £11m disposal in the financial advisory sector. He is also a regular contributor to industry webinars and seminars on corporate M&A.

Michael Cantwell

Partner advising on a wide range of corporate matters, including acquisitions, MBOs, and sales. Experienced in early-stage transaction structuring and problem-solving, with a focus on gambling and manufacturing sectors. Advises on company setup, investment rounds (EIS, SEIS, EMI, growth shares), and exit strategies.

Karen Crutchley

Partner in the private client team advising on tax and lifetime planning for high net worth clients and trusts. Specialist in Stamp duty land tax.

Andrew Gilchrist

Partner in the employment team, advising on all aspects of employment and HR matters, including dismissal, discrimination, redundancy, settlement agreements and exit management. Known for his practical, commercial approach and strong track record as both a litigator and negotiator. With over 20 years’ experience, Andy has been named ‘Employment Lawyer of the Year’ multiple times and is recognised by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500. He acts for employers and employees across the UK and US, including major names such as Arcelor Mittal, Tarmac, Northgate PLC, TI Fluid Systems PLC and Simpson Millar, as well as several Fortune 500 companies.

Simon Glazebrook

Adam is a Partner in the real estate department and has experience in all types of property transactions, including property management (such as landlord and tenant deals), investment and development work. He has helped deliver complex projects involving joint venture/profit share arrangements with detailed site assembly including planning/highways agreements, utility service, infrastructure and construction issues. Adam’s experience includes the retail, leisure, office, health and education sectors working for public and private bodies. Since 2009 Adam has developed the firm’s energy practice which includes renewable energy projects. He has acted for developers, landowners and contractors/consultants on schemes including wind, solar, biomass, waste to energy and battery storage. His work has included the development of a user-friendly option and lease structure to help build up multi-million pound multi-site projects and on their sale.

Rob undertakes all aspects of commercial property transactions, acting for both property owners and occupiers. He has particular experience in the health and transport fields. He regularly acts for GPs, specialist healthcare developers and banks lending into the primary healthcare sector. He has been involved in a number of NHS LIFT schemes and healthcare developments with pharmacy and dentistry elements. Key clients include Games Workshop and DFDS Seaways plc.

Simon Hellewell

Chartered legal executive

Annie Hui-Gillen

Partner specialising in innovative projects who has recently completed a major schools redevelopment project and the transfer from a local authority to a charitable cultural trust of a recently completed city centre theatre. Andrew leads a team which has undertaken over 160 academy conversions, and are currently engaged in further conversions, the formation of free schools and schools redevelopment projects, as well as providing ongoing advice to 100 plus schools.

Ashley advises on capital tax planning in relation to Wills, Probate, Trusts and Powers of Attorney as well as the administration of deceased's estates and incapacitated persons' assets.

Head of the property litigation team, specialising in disputes concerning land and planning-related litigation. Acts for investors, landlords, retailers and owner-managed businesses on issues including breaches of covenant, forfeiture, dilapidations, lease termination, consent matters and rights of way. Experienced in possession recovery for redevelopment, covenant modification, and business rates challenges. Regularly advises on contentious planning matters, including judicial reviews, compulsory purchase compensation and highway works. Recognised among the Top 10 Real Estate Litigation Lawyers in the North East & Yorkshire (2023), Richard is a published author and active member of the Property Litigation Association and Compulsory Purchase Association.

Senior Associate

Leo is a partner in the Dispute Resolution team. He advises on a range of contentious matters, with particular expertise in tax disputes, trading relationships, boardroom/shareholder disputes, professional negligence, pensions and commercial fraud. He has extensively litigated cases before the High Court, Court of Appeal, County Courts and Tax Tribunal.

Steven Millward

Partner in the restructuring and banking team. Advising SMEs and individuals on the management of their banking relationships including restructuring of borrowings, exiting bank relationships, disposal of assets and taxation. Advice on issues surrounding the mis-selling of interest rate protection products.

Chris Schofield

Firm’s founder and Senior Partner. Practice area extends to Business sales and acquisitions, corporate finance, shareholder disputes and Partnership Law (principally for other law firms and solicitors) advising on corporate governance.

Partner Simon undertakes all types of employment law work, primarily acting for employer clients, including several PLC clients. He advises of disciplinary and grievance matters, TUPE consultation procedures and on complex restructuring and redundancy issues. Simon conducts his own advocacy in the Employment Tribunals and he has successfully represented clients in proceedings involving unfair dismissal, sex, race, age and disability discrimination. On several occasions, Simon has been successful in obtaining costs awards against the Claimant. Simon has a particular specialism in the education sector and he acts for more than 70 community schools, academies and independent schools, advising not only on employment issues (which has included advising on the dismissal of several Headteachers) but also on more specific education matters such as admissions, exclusions and parental complaints. Simon has also defended academy clients against claims of disability discrimination in the SEN Tribunal.

Partner and head of the dispute resolution team. Extensive experience of commercial, property and construction litigation, including partnership and shareholder disputes. Also handles licensing matters for the firm’s clients in the leisure industry as well as clients faced with prosecution by regulatory authorities. Regularly uses mediation in the resolution of disputes.

Richard Stockdale

Partner in the dispute resolution team. Extensive experience of commercial construction, professional negligence, shareholder and partnership disputes. Richard has been an accredited mediator since 2000.

David’s practice largely comprises acquisitions and disposals of businesses, fundraising activities, joint ventures, commercial contracts and advice on governance issues. David acts for listed and privately owned companies in the UK, and for foreign corporations. He is responsible for the firm’s relationships with some of its key clients.

Chief executive. Acts for a wide range of corporate clients, with work including acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, reorganisations and general corporate governance.

Partner and leads on secured property finance and banking matters in the firm. Act for key banks, subprime lenders and other corporate and individual lenders and borrowers. Specialises in acting for lenders on Asset Based Lending, Acquisition Finance, Development Funding and a variety of investment situations in connection with acquisition/re-finance/gearing of large portfolio of properties. Extensive experience in advising lenders on facilities/loan documentation, security negotiations and derivative transactions. Act for borrowers in a wide range of situations, including negotiations with banks in acquisitions and disposals.