18 LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500 Shoosmiths: ‘knows what it takes‘
Shoosmiths has widespread regional coverage, with offices in Reading, Basingstoke, Southampton, and Milton Keynes.
Corporate & commercial
Shoosmiths ‘knows what it takes to get a deal done‘, and is ‘simply the best value for money‘. Recent work includes acting for Krispy Kreme UK on its £25 million MBO. The ‘personable, very commercial and responsive‘ corporate department is led by ‘good team player‘ Emma Gibson, a corporate finance expert whose clients include private equity houses and management teams, and the team also now includes the highly-regarded Adam Dowdney, who joined from Pitmans LLP. Paul De Vince is the key contact for commercial matters. Jon Bartley has recently moved to Manches LLP‘s London office.
In Milton Keynes, Shoosmiths acted for August Equity in the disposal of the entire share capital of Planit Holdings to Vero Software, and also represented JER Capital in a £120m property development with United House. On the commercial side, it assisted on all the online licensing agreements for Cranfield University. Sanjeev Sharma heads the corporate team.
In Hampshire, 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 £53m 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.
Corporate tax
At Shoosmiths, practice head Niall Murphy provides ‘excellent, tailored advice, backed up well by his team‘. Highlights included advising Ageas on the tax liability aspects of its acquisition of Castle Cover, and EMI on a share option scheme.
Commercial litigation
Shoosmiths‘ client base includes IKEA, Calor Gas and Hewlett-Packard. The department is led by Stuart Little, who has expertise in the technology sector and corporate disputes, and includes Paul Eccles, a commercial insurance litigation specialist who acts almost exclusively for corporate claimants. In 2011, the firm represented Superior Seals in a dispute over the ownership of business-critical software.
In Milton Keynes, Shoosmiths acted in a dispute between Land Rover and a European importer and distributor of vehicles and parts. Paul Kirkpatrick joined from Bevan Brittan LLP in early 2011 to lead the Milton Keynes commercial litigation team, which supplements the firm‘s national offering. The team is valued for its ‘detailed technical knowledge‘ and ‘practical, hands-on guidance‘.
In Hampshire, Shoosmiths‘ Jonathan Grigg specialises in general corporate and commercial
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disputes with a focus on pensions litigation. The team also has expertise in marine litigation.
Debt recovery
Shoosmiths‘ ‘excellent‘ recoveries team offers a pre-legal collection service and an outbound call credit control product. Richard Gwynne heads the team, which provides advice to a number of utilities provider clients.
Banking & finance
Shoosmiths‘ team provides ‘prompt and accurate responses and gets to the core of an issue quickly‘. Sean Wright leads the department, which recently advised RBS, HSBC and Lloyds TSB on financing for the acquisition of A-Gas by LDC. Wright has ‘a wealth of knowledge‘, and recently promoted partner Rebecca Mauleverer ‘instils confidence in clients‘. Colin Mattis left for Gateley.
Employment
Kevin McCavish heads the ‘excellent‘ employment team at Shoosmiths, which acts for Hewlett- Packard, The National Trust and ING Direct. In 2011, senior associate Paula Rome successfully defended Calor Gas in a number of employment tribunal cases, including a claim for unfair dismissal and age discrimination. The ‘particularly good‘ Jonathan Naylor leads the Thames Valley team.
In Hampshire, delivering ‘relevant, commercial advice and prompt responses‘, Shoosmiths‘ employment offering is led by Helena Derbyshire, who is particularly experienced in business reorganisation and TUPE matters, and provides ‘a balanced legal position and practical advice‘.
In Milton Keynes, Shoosmiths is noted for its efficiency and ‘very fast‘ response times. The ‘realistic, easy-to-talk-to and tough‘ Gwynneth Tan heads the department, following Helen Jess‘ departure in 2011.
Health & safety
Shoosmiths‘ cross-office team was very active in defence work for clients subject to HSE investigation. Philip Ryan leads the team in the South East.
Pensions
Shoosmiths‘ ‘strong, well-trained team‘ acted for the trustees of a group pension on a high-value acquisition, and advised on a bulk transfer into a defined benefits scheme. Joint heads David Thompson and Suzanne Burrell have ‘detailed technical knowledge‘, and advise clients such as Hewlett-Packard and Thomas Cook.
Personal injury: claimant
Shoosmiths‘ national practice is headed by Basingstoke-based Rose Donoghue, who specialises in brain and spinal injury cases. Recent work includes the settlement of three severe road traffic accident claims, and acting in a case before Bristol High Court involving a long-term construction-related injury.
Commercial property
At Shoosmiths, practice head Alan Corcoran recently advised Santander on the financing of 30 property interests owned by a consortium of developers, while Andrew Farmery (‘a good and efficient communicator‘) assisted Wagamama on a substantial expansion programme to acquire new UK restaurant sites over three years.
In Hampshire, Shoosmiths acts for household names such as IKEA, Fitness First, RBS and HSBC. Joanne McGuinness leads the team, and Simon Knott advises with ‘as few caveats as possible‘. Peter Swinburn recently left for Clarke Willmott LLP.
In Milton Keynes, Shoosmiths acted in the lease of Ducati UK‘s new headquarters at Silverstone Technology Park, and on the refinancing of a portfolio of four properties for Santander. Steve Wiltshire has ‘strong depth of knowledge‘.
Planning
Providing ‘consistently high-quality advice‘, Shoosmiths‘ ‘strong and cohesive‘ team acted in four separate instructions for property company ZOG Group, which included the development of a site in Royal Mint Street, London. It also advised on the strategic elements of O & H Properties‘ countryside development near Milton Keynes.
Property litigation
In 2011, Shoosmiths represented the British Waterways Board in a complex claim relating to the Grand Union Canal at Brentford, which involved statutory interpretation of the Enabling Act of 1793. Other clients include Hewlett- Packard, Santander, Citibank, O2, and Nationwide Building Society. Zoe Wright is the main contact in Milton Keynes.
IT and telecoms
Shoosmiths recently handled a multi- jurisdictional project for Thomas Cook involving the consolidation of a number of outsourcing arrangements; and developed website and licensing structures for Cranfield University. Sebastian Price heads up the department, which includes Paul De Vince. Technology-sector specialist Nick Fenner is set to join TLT LLP.
Intellectual property
‘Very knowledgeable and responsive to its clients‘ needs‘, Shoosmiths‘ national IP department is led by Gary Assim, who has expertise in retail matters for fast-moving consumer goods brands. Also recommended is Anastasia Fowle, who is experienced in the automotive industry. Clients include McDonald‘s, IKEA, Amazon and Samsung.
Shipping
In 2011, Shoosmiths‘ shipping team dealt with financing, marine mortgages, and yacht-related work. Senior associate Louise Fuller also handles insurance litigation and EU regulatory matters.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2012
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