LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500 23


Firms focused on growth and cautiously optimistic


Many firms experienced a significant upturn in work in 2011, but there is still caution in the market and transactional activity is far from pre-crisis levels. The anticipated increase in insolvency instructions has not yet materialised, nor has the predicted rise in litigation; ADR however remains a hot topic in the market, with a growing number of solicitors qualifying as mediators or collaborative lawyers. Despite the challenging market conditions, firms are displaying a quietly optimistic outlook and a determination to focus on key growth industries in order to increase profitability


The market saw a number of mergers. Clyde & Co‘s national merger with Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP created an insurance powerhouse in the South East through its Oxford and Guildford locations. Milton Keynes firm Kimbells LLP joined forces with Freeth Cartwright LLP, to become Kimbells Freeth LLP. In Essex, Tees Solicitors acquired Wortley Redmayne Kershaw. Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP acquired Budd Martin Burrett and became part of the QualitySolicitors network; the firm now operates as QualitySolicitors FJG.


2011 also saw a number of new office openings, including Penningtons Solicitors LLP in Guildford and Birkett Long LLP in Basildon, growing its already significant Essex presence. In Hampshire, Coffin Mew LLP opened a larger Portsmouth office, and Moore Blatch LLP expanded its presence through a new Whiteley base. Despite this increased South East coverage for some, many firms are going through a period of consolidation. Charles Russell LLP closed its Oxford office; Blake Lapthorn shut its Winchester base; and Matthew Arnold & Baldwin LLP now operates from London and Watford following the closing of its Milton Keynes office.


Niche practices continue to grow across the region. In Oxford, former Manches LLP partners Steven Maier and Cathleen Blackburn formed IP and media firm Maier Blackburn; and in Faringdon, family law firm Selby Lowndes Solicitors LLP was launched by William Selby Lowndes and Jane Aizlewood, formerly of Darbys Solicitors LLP. In Woking, Karin Walker left TWM Solicitors LLP to start KGW Family Law; and in Brighton, former asb law LLP partner Philip Warford set up niche private client practice Renaissance Legal. Oxford-based Emmerson Law was established by commercial litigation specialist Simon Emmerson following his departure from Manches LLP in 2010.


Firms with widespread regional coverage include Shoosmiths, with offices in Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton, and Milton Keynes; and Thomas Eggar LLP, which has a presence in Crawley, Chichester, Worthing, Newbury and Southampton. Blake Lapthorn and Penningtons Solicitors LLP also have broad coverage, each with three offices across two South East counties.


In Hampshire, Bond Pearce LLP has a strong national reputation and stands out for its high-


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2012


profile corporate and retail clients, while Paris Smith LLP is well regarded for its connections with large local businesses, and receives high rankings for employment and private client matters.


CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL: HAMPSHIRE


Top tier • Blake Lapthorn Southampton, Portsmouth • Bond Pearce LLP Southampton • Shoosmiths Southampton


Second tier


• Paris Smith LLP Southampton • Trethowans LLP Southampton


Third tier • Clarke Willmott LLP Southampton • Coffin Mew LLP Southampton, Portsmouth • Lamport Bassitt Southampton • Moore Blatch LLP Southampton • Penningtons Solicitors LLP Basingstoke • Thomas Eggar LLP Southampton


Blake Lapthorn fields ‘one of the best corporate and commercial departments outside London‘, with ‘extremely professional‘ lawyers who are ‘quick to understand the important features of the client‘s business‘. Recommended individuals include ‘efficient and determined‘ practice head James Hawkeswood; Manoj Styche-Patel, who is a ‘tower of strength‘; the ‘extremely experienced‘ Simon Treherne; and Stephen Archibald, who recently advised Beale on purchasing 19 regional department store businesses. Michael Moore recently left for Paris Smith LLP.


Bond Pearce LLP impresses with its expertise in energy-related corporate finance and private equity transactions, and also handles general corporate work for public and private companies. In 2011 it represented Immediate Media Company in its acquisition of the BBC Magazines business from BBC Worldwide. Practice head Sebastian Briggs specialises in M&A, corporate reorganisations, venture capital funding and joint ventures. Ian Holden and Stephen Pierce are also recommended.


Shoosmiths‘ ‘highly responsive‘ lawyers bring ‘strong commercial input to any matter‘ and ‘City quality‘ to clients such as Hitachi Rail and


Sunseeker International. Sean Wright and the ‘tenacious‘ Stephen Porter recently represented Ageas (UK) in its £53 million acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Castle Cover. Mark Shepherd is a ‘real heavyweight and a great negotiator‘, and Chris McClure is also recommended.


Paris Smith LLP‘s ‘excellent‘ team was joined by Michael Moore and Crispin Dick from Blake Lapthorn and Clifford Chance respectively, offsetting the retirement of Douglas Cooper. The ‘diligent and personable‘ Jonathon Roy, Sean Davies and Andrew Heathcock are recommended.


2011 saw Trethowans LLP recruit the ‘responsive and hardworking‘ Paula Eckton from Lamport Bassitt, who joins a team that includes Mike Watson. Clients include Ladbrokes and Bacardi- Martini.


Clarke Willmott LLP rates ‘very highly‘, with practice head Kelvin Balmont singled out as ‘extremely proficient‘. Clients include Picador, easyGroup and Organix Brands.


Coffin Mew LLP‘s ‘very strong‘ team recently acted for the sellers in the £2.8m disposal of Frutina to Slush Puppie. Amanda Brockwell, Nick Gross and Owen Santry are key contacts, following Malcolm Padgett and Anne Morgan‘s departure to set up their own insurance regulation practice.


Lamport Bassitt‘s team of ‘pragmatic lawyers pay close attention to detail‘. The firm recently advised Red Funnel on the disposal of a major distribution business. Sean Kelly is ‘adept at handling the most difficult issues‘. Paula Eckton left for Trethowans LLP in 2012.


Moore Blatch LLP acts for Tie Rack, Aviva and Wightlink, and its service is ‘exceptional value for money‘. Peter Jeffery is ‘an outstanding commercial lawyer, with the ability to get his head inside his clients‘ business‘. Roger Bailey is also recommended.


Penningtons Solicitors LLP is recognised for its strength in the technology and education sectors, and saw an increase in cross-border transactions in 2011. Guildford-based Simon Bickerdike leads the team, and in Basingstoke Charles Brooks† and Joanne Vengadesan are also recommended.


Leon Arnold‘s team at Thomas Eggar LLP has transactional expertise across a range of sectors, including technology, financial services, insurance, manufacturing, leisure and healthcare. Kim Walker is recommended for commercial matters.


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