the legal 500


‘Excellent all-round service’ Corporate & commercial


Clients of Shoosmiths LLP cite its ‘personalised approach’ as well as its ‘willingness to take the time to understand the client’s industry,’ as key factors in its success. Department head Emma Gibson handles private equity, venture capital and M&A work, and recently advised Magma Global on a £40 million funding round involving the introduction of a new investor. Paul de Vince is the key contact for commercial matters. Adam Dowdney joined IBB in April 2016.


In Hampshire, the practice is led by the well-regarded Sean Wright and has access to a wide national network while still focusing on regional businesses. The team advised the management of 23.5 Degrees North, Starbucks’ first franchisee globally, on Connection Capital’s equity investment into the client. Stephen Porter ‘understands how to judge risks’. Lynn Knight is also recommended.


Corporate tax


The team is led by Tom Wilde, who also leads the firm’s enterprise investment scheme and venture capital trusts tax practice. Wilde advised Octopus Investments on its investment into the HST Group.


Commercial litigation


Clients of the ‘pragmatic’ team note its ‘acute awareness of the commercial pressures that the client operates under’ and for its ability to ‘always delivers clear, practical solutions’. Practice head Stuart Little handling a range of IP and commercial litigation matters for clients including Volkswagen, British Gas and Associated British Foods. Commercial insurance specialist Paul Eccles and retail-focused Fleur Turrington are also recommended.


Debt recovery


The ‘excellent’ group is led by Waine Mannix, who took on the role from Richard Gwynne, who joined Spratt Endicott. The practice’s expertise ranges from business- to-business trade recoveries as well as secured and unsecured commercial lending recoveries.


Banking & finance


Lender-side highlights for the ‘excellent’ team included assisting HSBC with a £40m facility provided to ITSU to refinance existing indebtedness and fund working capital. Practice head Rebecca Mauleverer led the advice. On the borrower side, Linda Williams advised 23.5 Degrees North on the financing of the first Starbucks


franchise in the UK. Sean Wright is a key name for private equity-backed acquisition financing.


Employment


The firm provides ‘thorough, high-quality advice in a timely manner’. Practice head Kevin McCavish is ‘commercially astute, pragmatic and technically top flight’, and has ‘no difficulty whittling down to the core issue at hand’. Highlights for Paula Rome included assisting CTS (GB) with the drafting of TUPE provisions. Jonathan Naylor is also recommended.


In Hampshire, practice head Stuart Lawrenson advises on Employment Tribunal matters for clients including Phase Eight and Brightside Group.


Health & safety


‘A top-tier firm’, it fields ‘a very strong team’ that handles a mix of defendant and prosecution matters. The firm is frequently called on to handle high-profile cases for major corporate clients. Key figures on the defence side include Philip Ryan and Ron Reid, who has ‘amassed a great deal of knowledge and experience’. On the prosecution side, associate Rubina Zaidi acted for the HSE in proceedings against a care home and company director following the death of an elderly resident.


Pensions


Shoosmiths’ six-partner team is ‘highly creative and able to see the bigger picture’. Suzanne Burrell is the key figure in Reading, and retains a strong client base in the not-for-profit sector. National head David Thompson has notable experience in contentious matters.


Clinical negligence: claimant


The ‘exceptional’ Denise Stephens attracts praise for her ‘determination to achieve the very best for her clients’, and for her track record in seven-figure birth injury claims.


Personal injury: claimant


Rose Donoghue heads the practice, which acts for victims of serious and catastrophic RTAs and accidents at work.


Personal tax, trusts & proibate


Charlotte Dunn ‘delivers a first-class, timely and efficient service’. She regularly advises executors on administering the estates of high-profile personalities.


Commercial property


Shoosmiths provides ‘an excellent all-round service’, and has ‘a first-class commitment to the work being carried out’. Alan Corcoran has notable expertise


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – OCTOBER 2016


in the corporate occupancy field; Andrew Farmery focuses on the retail, leisure and office sectors; and Nathan Rees acts for major investors and developers.


In Hampshire, Shoosmiths provides ‘an excellent service’. Practice head Joanne McGuinness advised the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on a multi- million-pound development in Aldershot. John Downs joined from Fieldfisher, while Chris Dolan moved to Blake Morgan and Graham Bennett retired.


Planning


The firm is highly regarded for its ‘technical knowledge’ and for its public-sector expertise. Highlights included advising the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on obtaining planning permission to dispose of a former ammunition site in Kent, which involved acting in appeal proceedings. Kirsten Hewson leads the team, which includes senior associates Paul Weeks and Matthew Stimson.


Property litigation


Shoosmiths provides ‘a seamless and highly-efficient service’. The group acted for Almacantar in a dispute pertaining to its intention to redevelop a landmark building. Practice head Zoe Wright is highly regarded for telecoms-related property matters.


IT & telecoms


Shoosmiths ‘demonstrates a real interest in the client’s business’, and ‘always makes a partner available for the overall management of the matter’. Practice head Sebastian Price advised Datix on its arrangements to enter the New Zealand market, and acted for IMS Evolve on several collaborations and supply contracts. IP specialist Anastasia Fowle is also recommended.


Intellectual property


Gary Assim heads the six-partner team, which includes publishing and media expert Laurence Kaye, and Anastasia Fowle, who focuses on the automotive sector. The firm advised Property Renaissance on a number of social media and breach of confidence issues, and acted for Canna BV in a trademark infringement matter.


Aviation


Chris McClure has been advising longstanding client Swiss International Airlines on the sublease of an Airbus A320 aircraft to Edelweiss Air. Joanne McGuinness continues to advise NATS Holdings.


businessmag.co.uk 21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36