law and the legal 500 39 B P Collins: ‘Best in the region’
A major player in the Buckinghamshire region, B P Collins LLP attracts exceptional feedback for its real-estate practice, as well as employment, environment and commercial work.
Corporate and commercial
Tier 1 Buckinghamshire firm B P Collins ‘massively punches above its weight’; with notable expertise in the environment and technology sectors. Highlights included advising Biffa Waste Services on its £2.5 million acquisition of PHS Wastetech. Simon Deans is ‘a commercially savvy lawyer who provides no-nonsense advice’, and leads a team comprising Diane Yarrow, David Smellie, Alex Zachary and Victoria Holland at partner level.
Commercial litigation
B P Collins ‘consistently shows its metal against bigger, better- known firms’, and ‘has fee-earners with expertise to run the most complex
commercial cases’. Craig Williams ‘has fantastic tactical acumen’ and is ‘a magnificent fighter for his clients’; Matthew Brandis is ‘an excellent litigator’; Nick Hallchurch is ‘well known for his mediation skills’; and senior associate Suzanne Smith is ‘dedicated to doing the best job possible for each client’. Clients include Biffa Waste Services, the National House Building Council (NHBC), and Toshiba Medical Systems.
Employment
B P Collins is ‘best in the region for employment’, according to one client. Jo Davis’ team includes James Townsend, praised for his ‘structured approach to hearings’, and highly-experienced senior associate Kathryn Fielder. Clients include Bestway Cash and Carry and Bic.
Immigration
The firm advised clients such as Bic and Hytera Communications
on a range of matters, including business sponsorship and the visa status of managing directors. James Townsend is the key contact.
Contentious trusts and probate
At B P Collins, Craig Williams combines ‘commercial realism with tactical nous’, and Matthew Brandis is ‘a credit to the profession’, attracting particular praise for his ‘sympathetic, helpful manner’ with vulnerable clients.
Family
The team is led by Sue Andrews who is ‘a formidable opponent in court’. She is supported by senior associates Emma Baillie (‘well-liked by clients and very strong in cross- border matters’; Fran Hipperson (‘has a long list of high-profile cases under her belt’); and Claire Filer (‘a pleasure to deal with’).
Personal tax, trusts and probate
The team is ‘the best in the region’, according to one client. Paul
Charles Russell Speechlys: ‘Providing City-level service’
Corporate and commercial
Charles Russell Speechlys LLP acted on such notable transactions as Powerday’s £2.1 million acquisition of London Irish Rugby Football Club (advising the buyer), and the transfer of client Bioventix from ISDX to AIM. Practice head Geoffrey Sparks, joint healthcare sector group head Tim Jenkins, and Catherine Drew, who led on the Bioventix matter, are the key contacts.
Commercial litigation
Charles Russell Speechlys ‘provides a City-level service’ in keeping with the firm’s international footprint, which in 2014 saw it act for clients such as Fiat, Mechel and ITN. Duncan Elson, who leads the firm- wide disputes group, ‘always has a steady hand on the tiller’; he is supported by Stephen Burns and Jamie Cartwright, both of whom are also recommended.
Debt recovery The firm handles debt for ITV
Global arising from programme and IP licensing. Duncan Elson is recommended.
Insolvency and corporate recovery
The firm continued to assist with the administration of Awal Bank BSC, with assets of around $6 billion. James Hyne is ‘very commercial and results driven’, and Prav Reddy ‘goes all-out to provide a top-quality service’.
Employment
Nick Hobden’s team counts SportsDirect and Photo Me in its impressive client roster. ‘Utterly client-focused’ senior associate Ben Smith and restructuring and pensions expert Andy Williams complete the team.
Charities and not-for-profit
Duncan Elson leads the team, which advises clients such as the Diocese of Guildford and Lord Wandsworth College.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – OCTOBER 2015 Contentious trusts and probate
Charles Russell Speechlys is ‘clearly a top-tier contentious probate firm’, with team head Duncan Elson attracting considerable praise, supported by senior associate James Lister and associate Scott Taylor, both of whom are recommended.
Family
The market-leading City private client practice is complemented by a substantial offering in Guildford, where Margaret Tyson is ‘a grande dame of family law’; Karen Wilsher has ‘excellent client skills and very good judgement’; and associate William Rollin is ‘dedicated, intelligent and sympathetic’.
Personal tax, trusts and probate
Team head Sally Ashford is ‘hard to beat, both in terms of approach and sheer clarity’. Highlights include acting on several estates over £10m in value.
Lowery’s ‘experience inspires confidence’, and he leads a practice including senior associate Christine Moore and associate Lorna Sansom, both of whom are recommended.
Commercial property
B P Collins advised The Original Bowling Company on the property aspects of its £91m sale to private equity firm Electra Partners. Team head Michael Larcombe and residential development specialist Chris Hardy are supported by three senior associates.
Environment
B P Collins’ ‘dedicated team fights hard for its clients’. Less focused on the planning aspects of environmental law, it advises an outstanding environment-sector client roster, which includes Biffa Group, Grundon Group and i2O Water, on a wide range of matters such as high-end procurement, real estate and strategic issues. Diane Yarrow heads the team.
Commercial property
Charles Russell Speechlys’ highlights include assisting wagamama with the purchase of a substantial number of business units. Debra Kent leads an experienced bench of senior associates, which is recommended for inbound property investment by overseas clients.
Construction
The firm advised a major PPP entity on a multi-million-pound dispute related to the construction of a wind turbine, and assisted Aberdeen Asset Management with forward funding and lease issues related to various industrial and retail developments. Team head David Savage, who has strong experience in Middle Eastern projects, is supported by senior associates Kate Knox and Fiona Thompson.
Property litigation
The team is led by solicitor advocate Peter Levaggi, with David Haines (‘whose knowledge of landlord and tenant disputes is first rate’) and associate Navneet Jhawar singled out by clients. Levaggi has carved a strong reputation handling mortgage-based compensation claims against banks arising from interest rate hedging product swaps.
www.businessmag.co.uk
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