44 LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500
Pitmans: ’Excellent, speedy and efficient’
Corporate and commercial
Sector strengths for Pitmans LLP include cleantech, healthcare, and food and drink. The team is led by the ’very experienced, commercial, and practical’ Andrew Peddie, and recently advised Ridgeway Group on its purchase of Hartwell Land Rover dealership in Oxford, and Carbon Trust Investments on its £3 million investment in ACAL Energy. Stephanie Perry and John Hutchinson are ’commendable, and exceed expectations’, with fellow Reading corporate partner David Weaver also recommended. Private equity specialist Roger Gregory divides his time between Reading and London.
In Hampshire, the highly-regarded Sean Kelly has longstanding experience in the market, and leads a team of four fee-earners. 2013 transactional highlights included advising The Appointment Group on its £7m acquisition of ET Travel, and the team’s corporate credentials were also on show when it advised The Snell Group on the restructuring of debt instruments held by institutional investors including Lloyds Development Capital.
Crime
The team of seven fee-earners at Pitmans, headed by Chris Netiatis, stands out for its strength in the area of pensions fraud.
Licensing
The team in Southampton advises a wide range of local clients, including Southampton Taxi Licensees and King Edward VI School, and covers areas including temporary event notices, variation applications, and applications for personal licences.
Commercial litigation
The contentious practice spans a wide range of commercial contract and shareholder disputes. Tim Clark is recommended for IT-related litigation, and Suzanne Brooker for insolvency disputes. Sue O’Brien’s team has recently been acting for the plaintiff in a multi-million-pound breach of covenant claim at the High Court. Philip Smith has a growing reputation for technology-related litigation.
In Hampshire, the firm is ’particularly
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good at handling large, complex cases’. Well-regarded team head Rick Munro has niche expertise in interest rate swap mis-selling claims against banks, and Neil Stewart is a solicitor advocate with higher rights of audience. Associate Sylvia Yelland has ’excellent knowledge of insolvency issues’.
and associate Sylvia Yendall both recommended.
Employment
The team is ’excellent – timely and efficient’. Team head Mark Symons and Richard Devall are ’both high- quality partners who excel in their respective areas’.
In Hampshire, Pitmans’ claimant- focused practice is led by Jonathan Gray, who often conducts his own advocacy, recently in an unfair dismissal and disability discrimination claim against a school.
Pensions
With a dedicated team of five fee- earners, Pitmans counts The People’s Pension, Wilsons Feeds and Reading Transport among its clients. David Hosford led advice to the directors of Rhodia UK on a £240m funding arrangement, and Symon Rowley is the other key contact.
Personal injury Andrew Peddie Debt recovery
Suzanne Brooker’s team at Pitmans is particularly active in public sector work. Donna Goddard is ’a very good manager’, and William Richmond- Coggan is also recommended.
Banking & finance
Pitmans’ banking team ’consistently shows professionalism and a high level of technical expertise’. Its specialisms include commercial, media and Islamic finance, and it is appointed to 10 banking panels. Clients include Investec Bank and Santander. Department head Patrick Long is ’reliable’ and ’very strong on banking law’, and Nicola Kirk is also recommended.
Insolvency & corporate recovery
Pitmans is ’very efficient and speedy with advice’. It has seen a steady flow of major insolvencies and restructurings, with the healthcare and property sectors being particularly active areas. New panel and client wins include Mazars, Atherton Bailey and Close Invoice Finance. Suzanne Brooker heads the department. The practice now has a presence in Southampton following the firm’s combination with Lamport Bassitt, with Rick Munro
The ’incredibly efficient’ team has notable experience in the motor sector and advises a number of high-profile clients on motor-related matters. Ferhat Choudri heads the team.
Family
Pitmans team is ’excellent at all levels’. Team head Marian Lynch is ’an experienced litigator and a formidable opponent’, and is ’ably supported’ by director Owen Reynolds and associate Matt Heyworth.
In Hampshire the team ’exudes an air of calm and stability’, with Grant Cameron attracting praise for his ’client focus and professionalism’.
Commercial property
Andrew Davies leads the well- regarded team, which has particular strength on the development side and acts for clients such as Ashill Developments, Bewley Homes and Oakley Homes. Key contacts include Paul Murray, Sally Sharp and Delphine Méhouas.
In Hampshire the team, led by John Newton, has strong marine, agricultural property and retail expertise. Portsmouth-based Nick Todd is the other main contact.
Environment
Pitmans advised Burger King franchisee Karali on various environmental issues relating to its acquisition of new premises across the UK. Consultant Sue Crowther leads a team of five fee-earners.
Suzanne Brooker Media & entertainment
Pitmans’ ’terrific all-round team’ is headed by Jeremy Summers and advises clients including Livity and Live Nation Entertainment. Nigel Dewar Gibb and Philip James are also key contacts.
Sport
With a ’wide range of experts’, Pitmans has ’relevant expertise in all key areas that major sports rightsholders require’. Practice head Jeremy Summers advises a number of sports brands, and delivers ’a top-class service’.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2014 Planning
The firm is providing Banner Homes with planning advice in relation to residential sites in the South of England, London and the Midlands; and is assisting Linden Homes in relation to its s106 obligations concerning its Water Colour residential development.
IT & telecoms
The service provided by the team, co-headed by Tim Clark and Philip James, ’strikes the right balance between commitment to client service and commercial pragmatism’. The firm, which won over 20 new panel appointments in 2013, acts for names such as Toshiba TEC, Humax and CACI, and also advises regional technology companies and start- ups.
Intellectual property
The firm covers portfolio management, licensing and litigation. Jeremy Summers leads the team, and has recently led advice to Usain Bolt and Clear Channel Media and Entertainment regarding trademark issues. Nigel Dewar Gibb is ’well informed’, ’a doer’, and ’a man to have in your corner’.
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