36 LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500
Manches: A ‘substantial presence’ for IT and life sciences
Manches LLP remains a substantial presence for IP, TMT and, in particular, life sciences for companies operating in Oxford and the UK’s Silicon Valley.
Corporate & commercial
With a strong reputation in the hi-tech and life sciences sectors, Manches acted for the shareholders on the management buyout of Tessella; and advised iJento on an £8 million investment into its operations by three venture capital funds. The highly regarded David Tighe leads the team from Oxford, which also features Patrick Baddeley, who is particularly active in follow-on funding matters for life sciences clients. Rob Hayes and Justin Starling are the key contacts in the firm’s Reading office.
Dispute resolution
The team, headed by David Pritchard, is well known for representing life sciences and hi-tech companies, and recently acted for E-Nik. Julie Bond has handled a number of high-profile cases, and recently acted for The Pirbright Institute in successfully appealing against an improvement notice under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order.
Employment
The Oxford team head Daff Richardson is ‘particularly knowledgeable and very pragmatic in approach’, and Reading team head Eugene Wojciechowski is also popular with clients. Clients include One Housing Group, Huawei Technologies, and Blackwell’s. Senior associate Sally Nesbitt and associate Charlotte Mortlock are also recommended.
Immigration
Manches advises companies, not-for-profit institutions and individual clients on personal immigration issues. In 2012
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it handled matters spanning sponsorship applications, Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications, family immigration and residence issues for domestic workers and students.
Contentious trusts & probate
The team operates across its Reading and Oxford offices, and services a number of the firm’s longstanding private clients. Recent work includes Inheritance Act and constructive trust matters, and challenges to wills on grounds of lack of capacity or lack of validity.
Family
Manches has been active in high-value cross-jurisdictional matters, including the implementation of financial orders and Children Act proceedings. Oxford-based department head Jane Mitchell is ‘an exceptional lawyer – very strong on the financial aspects of matrimonial disputes’; and Kerry Fretwell and Ruth James, in Reading and Oxford, respectively, are also recommended.
Personal tax, trusts & probate
Key capabilities include contentious and undefended Court of Protection work, tax planning, and advice on forming charitable foundations. Team head Anna Burnside is ‘excellent’, and handles matters ‘with clarity and speed’.
Education
Manches has expertise in technology transfer and advising spinout companies from a range of universities. Group head and employment specialist Daff Richardson is recommended.
Commercial property
Known for its corporate real estate and large-scale
development work, Manches acts for clients including EDF Energy, Carlyle Group and the University of Oxford. Team head Richard Smith has ‘good environmental law expertise’; John Morrison is an ‘excellent adviser on contentious or potentially contentious property matters’; and Dan Cowley attracts praise for his technical knowledge. Simon Knott has recently joined from Shoosmiths LLP’s Southampton office.
Environment
The firm advised Chiltern Waste on environmental law requirements relating to the company’s landfill and recycling activities in Oxfordshire. The practice also has experience in nuclear power related matters. Richard Smith has ‘good environmental law expertise’.
Social housing
Manches advised Aster Group on the purchase and subsequent plot sale of 105 units for use as affordable houses. It also won appointment to the panels of Sovereign Housing and One Housing Group. Charlotte D’Avola leads the housing and regeneration group.
IT & telecomms
Operating across Oxford and Reading, the team acts for purchasers and suppliers of IT systems and telecommunications. The ‘dynamic’ Sam de Silva demonstrates ‘very impressive’ speed, efficiency and knowledge, and is ‘technically brilliant’. New client wins include Williams F1 and DX Group, and the team continues to advise Fujifilm UK.
Intellectual property
Key areas for the ‘excellent’ team include science and technology, fashion, retail and brand protection, publishing, media and entertainment, and IT and outsourcing. The
team recently advised EUSA Pharma on its sale to Jazz Pharmaceuticals, including IP and commercial due diligence matters; and gained Cydar, Worldnet and Oxford Vacmedix as new clients. Chris Shelley heads the team, and Jim Kinnier Wilson is also recommended.
TWM Solicitors: advising on double trust schemes
Personal tax, trusts & probate
In 2012, Guildford-based TWM Solicitors LLP advised on a number of double trust schemes as well as acting in a cross-border power of attorney case. It also handles contentious trusts work. Its large team is led by Allison Crossman, supported by four other partners.
Gardner Leader: Noted for international work
Corporate & commercial Gardner Leader LLP’s Greg Humphreys and Derek Rodgers are recommended. Recent transactions include the merger of two regional printing companies.
Commercial litigation
Gardner Leader’s team head Chris Felton is ‘immensely knowledgeable and unflappable, with an enviable client base’. The firm is notable for its international work, and in 2012 acted in four reported cases, including a dispute for a Turkish company at the High Court in relation to arbitration clauses. Experienced associate Michelle Di Gioia joined from Thomas Eggar LLP.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2013
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