LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500 45
Penningtons Manches: ’Great on all counts’
Corporate and commercial
Penningtons Manches LLP combines its well-known Oxford-based life sciences expertise with significant corporate capability in its smaller Reading office, which opened in January 2013 and includes partners Justin Starling and Rob Hayes, both of whom have strong technology venture capital experience. In Oxford, David Tighe advised Oxford University Press on its cross-border acquisition of Nelson Thornes from Infinitas Learning, and Patrick Baddeley is also a key contact. Chris Shelley, Jim Kinnier-Wilson and Kerry Sharp are all notable for their commercial IP expertise.
In Surrey, the firm’s merger in 2013 saw its ’very knowledgeable’ corporate and commercial team expand to over 20 partners, with technology, life sciences and private wealth among its areas of specialism. The firm advised Axon Communications on the purchase of Prime 586 Holdings, and acted for the investor shareholders of Planet Cruise on the company’s sale to Iglu. com. Simon Bickerdike heads the team.
In Hampshire, Charles Brooks and IP/IT specialist Joanne Vengadesan head the Basingstoke-based corporate and commercial teams respectively. Vengadesan has been assisting Spitfire Network on a range of contractual and e-commerce issues.
Corporate tax
Penningtons Manches assisted Kidson Bray & Lawson on the tax aspects of Equinox Securities Management’s sale to TC Facilities Management, and acted for Axon on its acquisition of Prime 586 Holdings. The department is led by Sarah Cardew.
Commercial litigation
The well-regarded David Pritchard leads the team, which includes the ’tenacious, forthright and commercially aware’ Julie Bond. Pritchard led a team which acted for over 60 SMEs in a claim relating to the high-profile alleged mis-selling of interest rate swaps by major high street banks. John Morrison and Rachel Barber (née Parman) are
the other main contacts. The Oxford office has well-known contentious IP capability.
Banking & finance
Penningtons Manches’ practice, post merger, includes 14 partners. It has sector expertise in areas such as technology, education and healthcare, and recently advised Santander on two term loans to JCA Coatings. Lloyds and Handelsbanken are also clients. Reading-based Rich Eldridge leads the team.
Employment
The four-partner team covers the full spectrum of employment issues, with recent matters ranging from advice on the legality of strike action to M&A/restructuring-related work. Oxford-based Daff Richardson and Eugene Wojciechowski are key contacts along with Reading-based Sally Nesbitt, and hospitality and tourism industry specialist Julian Yew is a recent addition to the Reading office having transferred from London in January 2014.
In Surrey, the firm is praised for its ’candour’ and ’high level of service’. The employment team is led by Michael Cole, and is noted for its advice to employers. Key clients include J&J Franks and Wurth UK.
In Hampshire, Penningtons Manches’ recent mandates include advising Brighton & Hove Albion FC on the high-profile dismissal of former manager Gus Poyet; Chris Syder, who joined Paul Mander’s team from DAC Beachcroft in November 2013, led the advice on this matter.
Immigration
Senior associate Duncan Bain assisted Collective Bias in relation to arrangements to allow a US executive to lead the new venture in the UK. New clients include Lee Housing Association and HELLO! magazine.
Pensions
Maria Riccio joined from Bond Pearce in May 2013 as head of the pensions team, and is ’a leader in her field’. The firm advises names such as House of Fraser, Imerys Minerals, and the RAF Association Pension Scheme. Senior associate Rupert Graham-
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2014
Evans gives ’strategic, commercial advice’.
Clinical negligence
Alison Appelboam-Meadows and Philippa Luscombe co-lead the team, which handles high-value cases involving catastrophic or fatal injuries and is experienced in group actions.
Personal injury
Philippa Luscombe heads the personal injury team, which has a focus on high-value catastrophic injury claims. Mark Lee heads a dedicated team handling claims arising from accidents abroad.
Family
Penningtons Manches’ ’excellent’ team is ’right up there with the best’. The team is led in Oxford by Jane Mitchell, who ’inspires confidence, and has a good sense of litigation strategy’; and in Reading by Kerry Fretwell, who is consistently recommended by clients. Oxford- based Ruth James is ’highly intelligent and likeable, handling clients with a lightness of touch’.
Personal tax, trusts & probate
Anna Burnside heads the team, and is supported by senior associate Penny Wright and six other fee- earners. Recent matters include advising an individual on tax- efficient arrangements in multiple jurisdictions.
In Hampshire, the firm ’provides City-standard service’, and team head Michael Cash is recommended for his ’practicality and common sense’. Consultant Richard Underwood regularly advises on cross-border and charity issues, and associate Sarah Lee is also recommended.
Education Penningtons Manches’ multi-
disciplinary team acts for a number of high-profile clients including the University of Oxford. It recently assisted Corpus Christi College in relation to its multi-million-pound purchase of a 45-bedroom student block. Employment specialist Daff Richardson is recommended.
Commercial property
In an indication of its ability to handle high-value matters, Penningtons Manches acted for the European Space Agency on its acquisition of land and subsequent redevelopment for its new UK headquarters at Harwell Science Park; team head Richard Smith led on this matter and has extensive environmental expertise. The highly- regarded Simon Knott is also a key contact.
Environment
The practice is led by Richard Smith, who advises clients in a wide range of sectors, including energy, waste and chemicals. The practice covers contaminated land liabilities, environmental impact assessments and legal compliance, among other matters. Clients include the European Space Agency and EDF Energy.
Social housing
The social housing team is ’very strong across the board’, and delivers ’invaluable advice’. It acted for Hightown Praetorian and Churches Housing Association on a number of site acquisitions at the 3,000-home Berryfields Major Development Area; and advised Sovereign Housing Association on its procurement of a company-wide communications and telephony solution. Practice head Linda Storey is recommended.
IT & telecoms
Sam De Silva at Penningtons Manches acted for Fujifilm UK in negotiating and drafting a managed print solution agreement with Dixon Retail plc. The practice also advises Eckoh plc, Moss Bros plc, and Triad Retail Media.
Intellectual property Maria Riccio
Penningtons Manches is ’great on all counts’. The team includes the well-regarded Joanne Vengadesan; Kerry Sharp, who recently advised Immunocore on research collaboration and licensing agreements; and Rachael Barber, who heads the contentious IP practice.
www.businessmag.co.uk
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