26 LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500
Manches: high-profile clients and pre-eminent expertise
Manches LLP remains strong for family law and life sciences related TMT matters.
Corporate & commercial
At Manches, David Tighe leads a 10-strong corporate team that advised Williams F1 on its €250 million listing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and acted for Oxford University Press in its acquisition of MyMaths. On the commercial side, practice head Chris Shelley advised Imperial College spin-out Nexeon on various commercial agreements relating to the development of its silicon technology. Patrick Baddeley and Justin Starling are also recommended. Catherine Rohll no longer practises as a lawyer.
Commercial litigation
Manches’ client base includes Jimmy Choo and the Natural Environment Research Council. Recent team changes saw David Pritchard take over as department head from Julie Bond, and the promotion of Rachael Parman, who is ‘simply the best IP litigator in the marketplace’.
Employment
Manches has a ‘good understanding of its clients’ needs, pressures and industry dynamics’. Daff Richardson is ‘very pragmatic and commercial in her outlook’; Eugene Wojciechowski delivers ‘a prompt service’; and senior associate Sally Nesbitt is ‘a practical adviser’. Clients include Blackwell UK, Travelodge Hotels and RUSH Hair.
Family
‘One of the leading family departments in the country’, Manches handles a steady diet of Children Act claims, child abduction cases and divorce proceedings, many of which involve multi-jurisdictional aspects. The three-partner team is led by Jane Mitchell, who is ‘the pre-eminent family lawyer in the region’.
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Kerry Fretwell is also ‘first rate’, and Ruth James ‘fully warrants her recent elevation to partnership’. Alexandra Lewis left to establish Alexandra Lewis Divorce & Family Mediation.
Personal tax, trusts & probate
Manches’ team includes Oxford- based department head Anna Burnside, and assistant Penny Wright, who joined from Thomas Eggar LLP and leads the Reading-based private client offering. Tom Gilman left for Withy King LLP.
Project finance & PFI
Manches has a growing profile in the energy sector, particularly in the area of UK onshore renewables. Practice head Giles Clifford has broad experience in a large number of PPP and PFI projects, and has acted for London Underground for over 10 years. Recent work includes assisting Adgen Energy in relation to a portfolio of anaerobic digestion plants in England, and advising on the Liverpool Street Crossrail development.
Education
Manches’ cross-practice team counts several University of Oxford colleges among its clients. Recent work includes representing students on external academic appeals and disciplinary matters. Group head Daff Richardson has a ‘calm and reassuring approach’.
Commercial property
Manches continues to attract high-profile mandates despite the departure of Elizabeth Hussain (to Boyes Turner) and John Castell. The firm was selected to advise on the development of the new Liverpool Street Crossrail station, and is handling the real estate aspects of Oxford University’s acquisition of the Institute of Rheumatology from Imperial College. Richard Smith leads the ‘excellent’ department.
Environment
Manches handles complex regulatory, liability and litigation work for a host of large energy clients, including EDF and Adgen Energy. It also advises Susenco on its real estate acquisitions.
Social housing
Manches’ pragmatic and industry-aware’ team advises on acquisitions, disposals and stock transfers for Sovereign Housing Association, One Housing and new client Catalyst Housing. Charlotte D’Avola became head of the department following the move of Elizabeth Hussain to Boyes Turner in January 2012.
IT and telecoms
Manches benefited from the arrival of Sam De Silva from Taylor Walton LLP, who is ‘extremely good at explaining complex points to non-legal employees and strong at fighting his corner in negotiations’. Clients of the ‘highly knowledgeable’ team include Fujifilm UK and International Financial Data Services. David Tighe and Chris Shelley are also recommended.
Intellectual property
Manches is highlighted for its ‘very good knowledge’, with Chris Shelley leading a team that specialises in the life sciences sector and acts for Oxford Gene Technology and Oxford University spin-out Sibelius. Rachael Parman was promoted to partner, while Steven Maier and Cathleen Blackburn left to form Maier Blackburn in 2012, and Catherine Rohll also left the firm.
Media & entertainment
Manches recently represented Oxford University Press in its acquisition of online teaching business MyMaths. Chris Shelley has a particular focus on publishing activities and leads the Thames Valley team, which saw the departure in 2012 of Steven Maier and Cathleen Blackburn to set up their own practice.
Henmans: ‘at the cutting edge ...’
Corporate & commercial
Oxford-based Henmans LLP is noted for its ‘top-quality, professional work’ and ‘good commercial acumen’. The ‘hardworking and thorough’ Rachel McCullough is experienced in M&A matters, and has expertise across the telecoms, food and retail sectors. The ‘very diligent’ Malcolm Sadler is recognised for his work in the IT, publishing and pharmaceutical sectors, advising entrepreneurs, growth-stage companies, SMEs and subsidiaries of global corporations.
Commercial litigation
Henmans is ‘at the cutting edge of its chosen specialisms’; it is adept at handling disputes relating to corporate and commercial issues, and has niche expertise in product liability claims for motor manufacturers and contentious trusts and probate. Sarah Foster and Duncan Crine co-head the department.
Employment
Henmans delivers ‘sound advice’ to companies, directors and entrepreneurs. James Simpson has ‘an excellent breadth of knowledge and gives straightforward commercial advice which can be easily implemented in the workplace’.
Clinical negligence: claimant
Cecily Cameron’s team at Henmans is currently advising on several multi-million-pound claims, including brain injury and quadriplegia claims. Cameron is ‘committed, and cares’.
Personal injury: claimant
Henmans has expertise in serious road traffic accident claims, and achieved several six-figure settlements in 2011. Paul Chadder leads the team.
Professional negligence
Henmans’ team mainly acts for defendant solicitors, and successfully struck out a High Court claim relating to breach of trust. Joint heads Duncan Crine and Sarah Foster are both recommended.
Agriculture & estates
Jointly headed by Iain Davis and Jane Maitland, Henmans’ established team
Continued on next page ... THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2012
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