42 LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500


Blake Morgan: ’Clear and concise advice’


Corporate and commercial


Blake Morgan’s merger has brought together a Blake Lapthorn team with significant international experience and niche expertise in areas such as technology-related spin- outs and climate change with a practice, on the Morgan Cole side, with significant public sector commercial capabilities.


Key figures include Edward Lee, whose recent cross-border work includes advising a domestic client on the purchase of contract- based revenue streams across the EU on a country-by- country basis; Michael Stace, who recently advised Rank Group on various commercial projects; healthcare sector specialist Alison Paten-Hall; and firm chairman Bruce Potter, who has substantial technology and healthcare expertise. Also recommended are Stephen Tainsh and Penny Rinta-Suksi, previously of Taylor Wessing and Bevan Brittan respectively.


In Hampshire, the firm’s six- partner team has recently acted for clients such as Manutan International, Albion Ventures and David Lloyd Leisure on a range of corporate and commercial matters, including advising the latter on the UK licensing of a US-originated commercial patent. Mark Hepworth and James Hawkeswood are ’particularly good, commercially aware and very responsive’, and Mary Chant provides ’clear, concise advice which is to the point and commercial’. Group head Manoj Styche Patel divides his time between Southampton, London and Oxford, and attracts considerable praise from clients. Stephen Archibald and Sheila Mackie complete the team at partnership level, and are noted for their commercial approach.


Corporate tax


Blake Morgan’s wide-ranging corporate tax practice covers M&A, flotations, corporate finance and reorganisations. Department head Simon Court assisted Manutan on its purchase


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of IronmongeryDirect, and also advised the majority shareholder on the sale of Coolmation and Climate4Hire to Swegon AB.


clients including NHS trusts and the emergency services, with Stephanie Walls the key figure.


In Hampshire, the ’wise and perceptive’ Susie Dryden heads the team and attracts consistent praise from clients; she is ’a fabulous partner’ and ’always fights for her clients’. Other key partners, in a large team, include Julian Dobson and Richard Portlock. Associate Will Norris ’can stay on top of a mass of technical detail’.


Debt recovery Edward Lee EU & competition


The firm’s EU and competition team is noted for its contentious work, and has developed a niche practice in EU structural funds. Department head Nick Page is currently advising the British Hospitality Association in connection with the OFT’s investigation into online hotel bookings. Other clients include 288 Group and npower.


Licensing


The firm’s licensing practice is ’one of the best’: it has ’in-depth knowledge of the subject’, and provides a ’quick, first-class service’. In 2013, the team secured over a dozen licences for Waitrose, and gained new clients such as Tobacco Dock Venue. Practice head Jon Wallsgrove has ’a wealth of experience’.


Dispute resolution


The team at Blake Morgan has ’unmatched’ specialist expertise acting for international clients in appeals before the Privy Council, through consultant David Miles. Chris Potts is ’commercial and experienced’, and is recommended alongside Richard Humphreys and Richard Wade who lead on finance litigation and construction disputes respectively. The core strength of the legacy Morgan Cole practice is public sector work, for


Sadak Miah leads the team, which ’stands out for its quality of service’. Clients include Mercedes- Benz Financial Services and British Credit Trust.


Banking & finance


The enlarged team at the newly merged Blake Morgan is ’extremely competent, conscientious and knowledgeable’, and ’easy to deal with, knowledgeable and practical’, covering areas including capital markets, construction and project finance, and cashflow and property finance matters. Practice head Kath Shimmin is ’extremely approachable’ and gives ’quality, straightforward advice’, and Guy Constant is also recommended. HSBC and Lloyds are key clients.


Insolvency & corporate recovery


The ’well-established’ restructuring and insolvency group is comprised of ’very able, commercial lawyers’, and is led by ’very diligent and smart’ senior associate Dan Geddes in Southampton. It has recently acted for established clients such as BDO, Grant Thornton and Wilkins Kennedy, and is increasingly active for SME clients.


Employment


The team includes James Simpson, who joined in 2013 from Henmans Freeth, where he headed the employment team, and Mike Wilson, previously


Michael Stace Clinical negligence


John White leads the ’first- class’ team. Among its recent highlights, it achieved a £2 million settlement for a client who sustained bilateral below- knee amputations. Kym Provan ’fights fearlessly for clients’.


Personal injury


Claire Howard’s team is ’hard to beat’. It represented DAS Legal Expenses and Sian Green following her high-profile accident in New York City.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2014


practice head at Clarke Willmott. Thames Valley practice head William Downing recently acted for MacIntyre Care on issues including TUPE transfers and recruitment policy. Also recommended are consultant Jim Whiter, whose recent successes include the dismissal of three tribunal claims against a major domestic client; and Rebecca Ireland.


In Hampshire, the team is led by Max Craft, whose areas of expertise include outsourcing and age discrimination. Sarah Peacock is ’incredibly pragmatic and very knowledgeable’, and Anthony Cooper is ’one of the very best employment lawyers in the region’. Recent successes include defeating a tribunal claim by 39 employees against client HCO Insurance BPO Services. The team includes barrister Tim Forer.


Health & safety


Blake Morgan gives ’very efficient, responsive, succinct advice’. Practice head John Mitchell and associate Nicola Hutchins both have ’outstanding knowledge of health and safety issues’, and ’the ability to get to the core of an issue and offer practical solutions’.


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