32 law Rising through the ranks
Paris Smith, which occupies two landmark offices in Southampton, staffed by 155 people, including 80 lawyers, has once again scored highly in Chambers guide to the UK legal profession.
Chambers has listed 17 partners across the firm as leading individuals in their areas of expertise. In addition, it has recognised and mentioned the following teams for their work and legal acumen:
• Banking & finance is recognised for its handling of sophisticated transactions in the areas of property, acquisition and project finance.
• Corporate & M&A: the team acts for a broad range of clients including international corporates, owner-managed businesses and innovative start-ups. Its sector expertise includes pharmaceuticals, defence, technology and sport. It represented Microsulis Medical in a $35 million equity investment and subsequent strategic partnership with AngloDynamics.
• Employment is best known for providing a client-centric approach and ’meeting the needs of clients in the sports and education sectors’.
• Litigation: the team is known for its work in director and shareholder disputes, product liability and IP actions.
• Real estate: the team is a significant player in the Southampton market and has a strong reputation across the full range of real estate including corporate and residential, public sector construction and portfolio management.
• Restructuring & insolvency: the team has developed significant links with the region’s insolvency practitioners.
• Family & matrimonial: the only firm in the region to appear in band 1 (the top tier), with three partners within the team listed in band 1.
• Private client: the team has broad expertise in international tax and trust matters. High- net-worth entrepreneurs and landowners form its core client base.
• Charities & education: the teams have gone from strength to strength, acting for national and regional charities, higher and further education establishments, schools and colleges.
Coffin Mew wins customer care award
Excellent client service has won Solent law firm Coffin Mew a silver award in the LFS Conveyancing Awards.
The awards, which are held by conveyancers for conveyancers, marked Coffin Mew’s outstanding performance in the Regional Conveyancing Firm of the Year – South and South West category.
Judges praised the firm for delivering “a positive customer experience“ and demonstrating its “commendable“ commitment to client service. They also rated Coffin Mew’s strong relationships with agents based on mutual respect.
The accolade is part of a winning streak for Coffin Mew which has recently been shortlisted in the Insolvency and Rescue Awards and Law Society’s Excellence Awards.
Coffin Mew’s managing partner Miles Brown said: “We put our clients first and are proud of our record for excellent customer service.“
From left: Christina Norgan, Hedley Winter, Sadie Hoile, Jonathan Laidler and Karen Webb
Liberata advised on technology deal
Corporate lawyers from Moore Blatch have advised business process outsourcing and support services specialist Liberata on a key acquisition.
Liberata, which provides services for the public and private sectors, has acquired Coventry- based Trinity Expert Systems which employs 340 people and provides managed IT systems.
Moore Blatch partner Peter Jeffery led the commercial team and commented: “We have
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acted for Liberata for several years. This was a difficult deal but we managed to turn it around very quickly – we started acting on Monday and completed on Thursday of the same week.“
As part of the deal, Trinity is being recapitalised with £5 million investment and working capital facilities from Liberata, which is majority owned by the Leeds-based investment house Endless.
Chambers, which essentially is a ’good lawyer’ guide, provides its own team of researchers who make detailed enquiries in the market place to build up a picture of the firm. In this sense it is independent of each of the firms mentioned.
The directory has singled out the following partners for particular mention:
• Corporate & M&A: Sean Davies, Jonathon Roy • Banking & Finance: James McNeil • Litigation: Clive Thomson, Peter Taylor • Private Client: David Bird, Crispin Jameson
• Real Estate: Mark Howarth, Tom Georgiou, Mark Withers (as an up and coming individual)
• Employment: Clive Dobbin, David Roath
• Family & Matrimonial: Huw Miles, Frank Prior, Neil Davies
• Restructuring & Insolvency: Mike Pavitt • Crime: Sarah Wheadon
Nick Vaughan, senior partner, said: “We are delighted with such an outstanding recognition of all that we offer by one of the most respected and independent guides. It reflects our depth and breadth in all sectors and I congratulate all our staff, not just those who have been singled out for a special mention.“
Travel team triumph in Vienna
Travel law specialists from Blake Lapthorn have won the prestigious Legal Services Provider of the Year award at this year’s International Travel Insurance Journal (ITIJ) Awards.
The team, based in Blake Lapthorn’s Southampton offices, was nominated for the quality of its defence work on behalf of travel insurance companies.
The awards dinner took place on November 7 during the International Travel Insurance Conference in the Austrian capital, Vienna.
The ITIJ Awards is an annual event that allows those involved in the industry to vote for the companies they think deserve recognition for their achievements over the past 12 months.
The shortlist comprises the firms with the highest number of nominations from subscribers of the ITIJ.
Blake Lapthorn partner Daniel Scognamiglio, team leader of the firm’s travel team, said: “It is a real honour to have the team’s efforts recognised with this award.
“The judges recognise that we provide exceptional service for our clients, every one of whom receives a bespoke service. I am incredibly proud of the team in achieving the recognition provided by this award.“
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – DECEMBER 13/JANUARY 14
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