LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500 13


Law firms recover as work returns


After the difficulties of 2009, 2010 brought a significant upturn in work for many south east firms across a range of areas. There were strong signs of recovery as several firms made new hires, or undertook significant expansions and mergers


Shoosmiths has the widest regional capabilities of the heavyweight firms, with offices in Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton, and Milton Keynes. Thomas Eggar LLP and Blake Lapthorn also provide broad coverage across the south east, and are very well known in Hampshire and Sussex respectively.


Corporate and commercial: Hampshire


Bond Pearce LLP Southampton Shoosmiths Southampton


Blake Lapthorn Southampton, Winchester


Lamport Bassitt Southampton Paris Smith LLP Southampton Trethowans LLP Southampton


Clarke Willmott LLP Southampton Coffin Mew LLP Southampton, Portsmouth Moore Blatch LLP Southampton Penningtons Solicitors LLP Basingstoke Thomas Eggar LLP Southampton


Bond Pearce remains a ’first-choice firm’, thanks to its ’excellent service’ and ’clear, pragmatic advice’.


’As good, if not better


than, many London firms’, the practice has experience in the renewable energy, oil and gas sectors. Stephen Pierce provides ’very focused advice’, and advised Chemring Group on its £55 million acquisition of Roke Manor Research. Sebastian Briggs continues to advise Renewable Energy Systems on all corporate matters, and Ian Holden is praised for his ’ability to communicate complex matters in an understandable manner’.


The ’very helpful, friendly and personal team’ at Shoosmiths recently advised Ageas on its £215m acquisition of Kwikfit Financial Services, and advised on the management buyout of Fenn Wright Manson by Darwin Private Equity. Sean Wright leads the regional corporate team, and Mark Shepherd is ’qualified and experienced’. Based between Southampton and Oxford, Paul de Vince leads on the commercial side, and acts for Bang & Olufsen, McDonald’s and Mattel, and Chris McClure leads in asset finance instructions. Stephen Porter is also recommended,


Providing an ’excellent level of service’, Blake Lapthorn’s ’cracking’ team acts for Blade Dynamics, South East Seed Fund and David Lloyd Leisure. The ’very wise’ Manoj Styche-


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2011


Patel is a ’good problem solver’ with ’vast breadth of experience’, and led the team in CVS Group’s £12.2m acquisition of Veterinary Enterprises & Trading. The ’pragmatic’ James Hawkeswood made partner in 2010, and Stephen Archibald is also recommended.


Lamport Bassitt has an excellent reputation, largely due to commercial practice head Sean Kelly, who demonstrates a ’great deal of competence in his work’. It advised HobbyCraft in its £120m sale to Bridgepoint. Paula Eckton provides an ’excellent service’.


Paris Smith delivers ’high-quality and consistent advice’, and has experience in the technology, leisure and retail industries. The team added BOX-IT to its client roster in 2010. ’Intuitive to clients’ needs’, Sean Davies is recommended for his contract drafting skills. Andrew Heathcock has a depth of commercial experience.


The ’reliable and excellent’ Nick Gent joined Trethowans in 2010 from Blake Lapthorn, supplementing the team’s reputation for ’extremely sound and pragmatic advice’. Highlights included advising Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming on its acquisition of betting shops from the administrators of Roar Betting. Mike Watson offers ’first-class advice’, and Catherine MacRae is ’technically strong’.


Following Sally Norcross Webb’s departure in December 2010, newly-promoted partner Kelvin Balmont was called on to head the ’excellent’ team at Clarke Willmott, which also features Michael Storar. Together with the firm’s other offices, the Southampton team advised on the purchase of Evergreen Extra MSA Holdings.


Led by Amanda Brockwell, Coffin Mew advised Legal Inc on its sale to Grant Thornton. The firm was also appointed to the legal panel of Santander Bank. Malcolm Padgett and the ’super-efficient’ Nick Gross, who is experienced in the insurance and technology sectors, are recommended.


Moore Blatch combines ’expert advice’ with ’all the benefits of an experienced City firm’. It added Ardvarna Investment Capital to its client roster in 2010, and also acted for Motive Television and Murphx Innovative Solutions. Peter Jeffery provides a ’first-rate blend of technical and practical commercial advice’, and Roger Bailey is ’highly experienced’.


Simon Bickerdike’s commercial team at Penningtons Solicitors works closely with


the firm’s Godalming office and has experience in the TMT sector. Franco Bosi and Joanne Vengadesan are recommended.


Recommended for his ’attention to detail and customer service’, Leon Arnold now leads the ’pragmatic’ team at Thomas Eggar, with Caroline Armitage† continuing to provide support from the Gatwick office. The team advised Micheldever Tyre Services on its acquisition of Copperdell in 2010.


Dorset


’Absolutely first class’, Lester Aldridge’s team advised on Herb UK’s acquisition of new hair care brands from Vivalis, and continues to advise ESET UK and sister company ASPECT Systems. The ’superb’ Grant Esterhuizen heads the ’thorough’ team, which is ’able to listen to and interpret client’s requirements’.


Steele Raymond’s Tim Stone displays ’admirable patience’ and ’in-depth knowledge’. The group acted for Verrus’ shareholders on selling for a total consideration of £33m, and advised the sole shareholder of Keith Spicer on its takeover by Harris Jayanti Group. David Steele now works as a consultant for Laceys.


Wilsons delivers ’London service levels at reasonable prices’, and frequently advises in connection with the charities, rural landowning and private wealth activities of the firm, such as on private loans, partnership and shareholder disputes and the reorganisation of family companies. Stephen Whitmore is ’first rate’, and Andrew Roberts is ’brilliant on complex corporate transactions’.


Ellis Jones’ team head Nigel Taylor has a particular focus on the property sector.


Matthew Fretten’s team at Frettens is ’a credit to the profession’, and ’expresses complex legal issues in layman’s language’.


Laceys was strengthened by the arrival of consultant David Steele from Steele Raymond LLP.


Parker Bullen, through Mark Lello, has recently acted on several overseas transactions.


John Kennar at Rawlins Davy is recommended.


www.businessmag.co.uk


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