Acuity Law > Cardiff, Wales > Firm Profile

Acuity Law > The Legal 500 Rankings

Wales > Corporate and commercial Tier 1

The ‘technically strong and commercial‘ team at Acuity Law provides a ‘solutions-focused approach‘ to corporates and private equity sponsors across their M&A transactions, joint venture structuring and corporate reorganisations, both in a purely domestic and UK-wide context. ‘Exceptional in his ability to boil an issue down to the essentials’, Christian Farrow  co-heads the corporate offering alongside Beverley Jones , and provides ‘very commercially astute’ advice to listed and private companies, including many within the financial services and renewables sector, across a range of domestic and cross-border transactional work. Stephen Berry  maintains an active role on the fee-earning side, alongside his duties as firm chairman, particularly in the context of aiding technology focused growth companies through the investment life cycle, through to potential exit, if applicable. Paul Lowe is another senior member of the team and provides gravitas and experience to corporates from a range of sectors, most notably on complex cross-border mandates, as underscored by his recent representation (alongside Farrow) of US-headquartered company Alamo Group of Timberwolf Limited. Jon Lawley continues to maintain a thriving corporate offering within the dental space as a result of his work for Portman Dental Care, the largest acquirer of dental practices in the UK. Phillip Pugh is also active in the healthcare sector, and combines this with a very strong offering o behalf of tech, IT and life sciences companies, including work for university spin-outs. Rachelle Sellek leads the team’s efforts on the commercial front, which is enhanced by the firm’s in-house legal support subscription-based service – Acuity Counsel. ‘Unflappable and candid‘ senior associate Tom Saunderson is also recommended.

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

The ‘trusted and experienced’ team at Acuity Law provides ‘intelligent and practical advice’ to supply and end user-side IT and telecoms companies across the spectrum of regulatory, contractual and commercial matters impacting their businesses. Rachelle Sellek  displays ‘a rare combination of commercial pragmatism and keen attention to detail’ traits which are deployed to good effect across a range of complex data-related transactions and commercial contractual work. Sellek co-heads the commercial and technology team alongside Declan Goodwin , who adds strength to the firm following his arrival in January 2022 from Vistra Corporate Law. In addition to traditional fee-earning work, clients can choose to access several membership services, with the firm’s recently launched Acuity Data Assist a particularly compelling product, offering as it does a  tailored audit to highlight any gaps in clients’ data compliance processes and to identify the key risks faced.

Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation Tier 2

Under the expert guidance of the 'superb' Hugh Hitchcock, Acuity Law's has rapidly grown in stature from its relatively humble beginnings in 2016 as a predominanty support service to existing corporate clients of the firm, to a fully fledged standalone practice which is gaining plaudits for its 'personal touch and attention to detail'. Although the firm is active for clients across a range of industry sectors, it has picked up a significant amount of financial services-related work, often facing off against high-profile London-based firms and has also recently gained increased exposure to high-profile arbitrations. The 'charming' Hitchcock is also noted for his shareholder disputes expertise (including in the context of unfair prejudice claims), as is co-head Aisha Wardell, whose expertise also includes IT and procurement-related litigation.

Employment > Employment: Recommended Firms Tier 2

Under the guidance of ‘exceptional leader‘ Claire Knowles, Acuity Law continues to gain market share for private sector clients from a range of industry sectors, including retail, many of which continue to utilise the firm’s popular retainer service – Acuity Counsel. The ‘brilliant‘ Knowles provides ‘practical and sound advice‘ that is rooted in the commercial realities of the underlying business of the client, whether it be in a contentious setting or in a corporate support role. The team has also continued to grow, with well-known employment lawyer Juliette Franklin  being the latest addition, following her arrival from Slater and Gordon in February 2022.

Finance > Banking and finance Tier 2

The ‘strong and well-balanced‘ team at Acuity Law provides ‘technically and commercially astute’ advice to a fairly balanced mix of borrowers and lenders across a range of transactions, including in corporate, project and asset finance settings. On the lender side, the firm has particularly strong ties with a number of specialist lenders/building societies and is regularly engaged across a range of real estate finance mandates. ‘Approachable’ team head Beverley Jones  takes the lead on many of the most significant mandates and as well as her real estate finance expertise, is also well-versed in advising on healthcare-related finance transactions. The arrival of Christopher Agius enhances the team’s real estate finance credentials, in particular, following his arrival from Capital Law Limited in September 2021.

Real estate > Commercial property Tier 2

Commercial property-related work informs much of Acuity Law’s transactional work and remains a cornerstone practice area for the firm, both in relation to purely domestic work, as well as increasingly outside of Wales. Although the firm’s client base is wide-ranging and includes financial institutions, end users and public sector entities, Rightacres remains a core client across a range of high-profile developments in the Welsh capital. Gareth Baker has been at the heart of much of this work, including in relation to the successful Central Square regeneration scheme, as well as the Central Quay project at the former Brains brewery site in the centre of Cardiff. Damien Cann is a pivotal member of the team, and as well as being responsible for devising and implementing the funding arrangements for RightAcres (enabling it to attract a great deal of investment into the Central Square project), also regularly advises healthcare clients on their property requirements. Steve Morris co-heads the team alongside Baker, and is noted for his expertise advising developers and lenders on commercial and residential schemes in Wales and England.

Real estate > Planning and environment Tier 2

Real estate > Property litigation Tier 2

Led by newly appointed partner Jennifer Butcher, Acuity Law‘s two-partner team provides a ‘cost-effective service’ to a range of local and national private, public and third sector clients across the gamut of their property litigation requirements. Butcher provides ‘responsive, informed and commercial’ advice to a range of primarily private sector clients, including landlords and tenants, developers and financial services clients, including on matters relating to boundary disputes, adverse possession and lease renewals. Although he does handle some private sector work, Neil Morgan‘s main strength lies in the public/third sector, particularly in the context of social housing.

Real estate > Social housing Tier 2

Acuity Law continues to gain impressive market share in the social housing sector after a number of recent strategic hires over the past few years, including the 'well-respected' Neil Morgan, who has considerable contentious expertise in the space and strong ties with numerous housing associations. Liz Gibbons  was the most recent hire, having joined in November 2021 from Capital Law Limited and she adds particular strength in relation to transactional real estate work in the sector.

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

Led by Cordelia Payne, who splits her time between the firm’s Cardiff and London offices, Acuity Law handles a range of non-contentious and contentious IP matters, including on the licensing/commercialisation of IPR, trade mark/passing off claims, and data protection/privacy matters for entrepreneurs, SMEs and larger corporates. As well as providing advice on a standalone basis, many smaller clients, in particular, utilise the firm’s Acuity Counsel Service and its newly launched Reputation Management service, affording them cost-effective ongoing advice on a monthly retainer basis.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment Tier 2

At Acuity Law, consultant Angharad Evans is the main contact for media and entertainment matters. Benefiting from significant experience in private practice, as well as from her time as head of legal at S4C, Evans is particularly adept at advising clients in the film and tv sector on contractual matters, including on development and rights agreements.

Real estate > Construction Tier 3

The 'well-balanced and proactive' team at Acuity Law has a wide range of experience and is able to provide expertise to clients throughout the project lifecycle on matters ranging from complex infrastructure projects to city centre regeneration schemes. Regional developer Rightacres continues to generate a significant volume of work for the team, including iin relation to the delivery of the vast £100m Interchange transport-hub project in the Welsh capital. Team head James Williams 'always has a practical solution and advice' which he deploys to stakeholders across a range of non-contentious matters, including on the drafting and negotiation of building contracts, sub contracts and consultancy agreements. Mark Summers  joined Burges Salmon LLP in December 2021.

TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property: trade marks, copyright and design Tier 6

Acuity Law's intellectual property team handles a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters - the key name in London is consultant Cordelia Payne, who specialises in the protection, exploitation, and enforcement of all IP rights. Recent work of note has included matters involving opportunistic IP rights infringements, unregistered design right infringements, and advising on global brand protection strategies.

Real estate > Property finance Tier 7

Thanks to a period of notable growth for the firm, Acuity Law recently expanded its national offering with the recruitment of Christopher Agius into the firm's Cardiff base alongside the addition of several associate-level names into the London office. The firm is a key name for lender clients and handles a range of investment and development financing mandates; it is also growing its borrower client base, particularly in the healthcare sector. Sam Clarke leads the practice from London, which also fields Edward Finley, Beverley Jones and James Kilgour.