36 law – the legal 500
Blake Morgan: ‘Go-to firm for corporates‘
In the Thames Valley, Blake Morgan LLP‘s post-merger group is benefiting from the addition of Morgan Cole‘s market-leading health sector team and, along with Shoosmiths and Osborne Clarke, continues to be the go-to firm for the region‘s major corporates.
Corporate and commercial
Blake Morgan‘s post-merger team continues to act on high-profile transactions for cross-sector clients both domestically and overseas. The group is headed by Edward Lee and Michael Stace in the Oxford office, which also includes technology-focused Nicola McConville. The latter handled Oxbotica‘s spinout from Oxford University, acted for Low Carbon Hub on its £1.7 million public share offer, and advised Brainomix on multiple fundraising rounds. Guy Constant is the key figure in Reading, acting for clients including InHealth Group, Lloyds Bank and RBS.
In Hampshire, the ‘excellent team‘ has specialist expertise in commercial healthcare and capital markets through Mary Chant and Mark Hepworth respectively, with further impressive transaction experience in James Hawkeswood, Stephen Archibald and team head Manoj Styche-Patel. Sheilah Mackie is the other key contact on the commercial side, with expertise covering technology outsourcing, IP and franchising. Representative clients include David Lloyd Leisure and Manutan International.
Corporate tax
Simon Court advises the firm‘s diverse client base on complex structuring and transaction- related matters. Highlights include assisting individual selling shareholders of Avanta Enterprise with tax planning issues related to its acquisition by Staffline Group.
Licensing
Blake Morgan obtained multiple licences, including extension
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of trading hours, variations of existing arrangements, and premises licences, for clients such as Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and John Lewis. Team head Jon Wallsgrove is ‘one of the few specialists in this niche area‘.
Richard Portlock are the other main contacts.
Debt recovery
The ‘excellent‘ team is particularly well versed in the vehicle finance sector, where clients include Mercedes Benz Financial Services and Toyota Financial Services. Practice head Sadak Miah is a ‘trusted adviser‘, whose ‘client-care skills are second to none‘.
Banking and finance Edward Lee Commercial litigation
The ‘exceptional‘ team is headed by the ‘commercial and decisive‘ Chris Potts, whose highlights include acting for a private individual in High Court proceedings against the former director of Clear, and successfully obtaining an extended civil restraint order against the ex-director of Highfield. Stephanie Walls frequently advises on commercial contract and company disputes; Richard Wade handles construction- related disputes; and Richard Humphreys specialises in financial services litigation.
In Hampshire, Blake Morgan ‘can confidently match more heavyweight opponents on equal terms‘, and demonstrated this by representing clients in a major multi-party product liability dispute, and a multimillion-pound copyright infringement claim. Susie Dryden ‘always has an eye to the big picture, and handles clients brilliantly‘; she leads the team, in which Jill Bainbridge and
The ‘excellent‘ team ‘understands the transactions, and is able to liaise across jurisdictions‘. Department head Kath Shimmin ‘cuts to the chase when there is a problem‘; Guy Constant is ‘very easy to approach, calm and knowledgeable‘, and senior associate Rebecca North is ‘very strong under pressure‘. Regulatory expert Richard Humphreys and asset finance specialists Ben Graham-Evans and Mark Turnbull complete the very large group.
Employment
Blake Morgan‘s ‘professional, prompt and knowledgeable‘ team successfully defended Rapier Employment in a claim related to the Agency Workers Regulations, and acted for various clients in the technology, charity, social housing and public sectors. William Downing heads the team, which also includes the Reading-based Rebecca Ireland, and regional senior partner Mike Wilson. James Simpson ‘always provides tailored, flexible advice‘, and senior associate Rajiv Joshi is ‘swift, reassuring and effective‘.
In Hampshire, team head Max Craft is ‘a wise and experienced doyen‘, Sarah Peacock is ‘excellent‘, and Tim Forer is recommended for tribunal work. The practice advised a national charity on multiple issues including tribunal claims, whistleblowing training and the restructuring of senior management.
Health and safety
Highlights included successfully defending an inspector of travelling fairground equipment against a prosecution by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). John Mitchell and associate Nikki Hutchins are the main contacts.
Pensions
The firm provides ‘outstanding service at all times, is quick to respond, and has excellent industry knowledge‘. Team head John Hamilton is ‘flexible, approachable and understanding‘, with Richard Portlock the other key figure. Notable clients include the University of Sussex, VisitBritain and Wightlink.
Clinical negligence: claimant
The recently launched BL Claims solicitors (part of Blake Morgan) is rated as ‘first class‘. Practice head John White uses his medical knowledge ‘wisely and well‘, and Alison McClure is a ‘go-to solicitor‘.
Personal injury: claimant
BL Claims Solicitors was formed in 2014, but remains part of Blake Morgan. Rated as ‘among the best for personal injury‘, the team is now led by ‘widely experienced‘ David Healy, following the departure of Claire Howard to Irwin Mitchell.
Michael Stace Professional negligence
Blake Morgan ‘has a wealth of experience in court‘. Susie Dryden is ‘always calm, with an eye on the big picture‘, and ‘outstanding‘ associate Karl
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2015
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