Bristol Legal Review 2011: Corporate and Commercial

They make up the top tier of the power players in this segment of the market, according to Legal 500.

 

According to the report, which is published today, Burges Salmon provides an ‘excellent service’ through lawyers who are ‘focused on driving deals to conclusion’. Chris Godfrey heads the firm’s team which advised Mapfre on its £18.6m acquisition of InsureandGo, and also acted for ECI Partners, FirstGroup and Hargreaves Lansdown. Clients appreciate the ‘very good partner support’.

 

Osborne Clarke is described as ‘still undisputedly at the top’. The team advised Tribal Group on its £12m disposal of Nightingale Architects, and RWE npower on the acquisition and disposal of combined heat and power plants. Other instructions came from Babcock Marine, Unite Group and new client Inflexion Private Equity. Alisdair Livingstone and Lara Burch jointly head the team.

 

 

TLT’s team, led by Bill Hull, ‘compares very favourably to City firms’, according to Legal 500, providing ‘commercial and cost-effective’ advice. Highlights included advising WHSmith on a programme of international franchising, and acting on the sale of Church House Trust to Virgin Money. John Wood ‘tailors the firm’s response to individual requirements’.

 

Ashfords provides ‘London service for a competitive price’. The group advised Navetas Energy Management on its merger with Intelligent Sustainable Energy, and acted for Ross & Roberts on a share capital sale. Simon Staples has the ‘tenacity to complete the deal irrespective of unexpected problems’. Andrew Betteridge has a particular focus on corporate finance.

 

Beachcroft advised Fidelity International on the £20m divestment of its transfer agency and consulting business, and acted for Moonray Healthcare on buying two hospitals. Advice to the healthcare sector is a particular focus, with other clients including Spire Healthcare. John Williams heads the practice.

 

Simon Hewes at Bond Pearce ‘exhibits good judgement even when not all the facts are known’, and clients also have ‘great confidence’ in Paul Stone. RWE npower renewables, Hydro International, Alterian, Spinnaker International and Tradewind Turbines are clients. The practice is deemed ‘equal to London firms but better value’.

 

Clarke Willmott features James Earl (a ‘tough but pragmatic negotiator’) and Jane Oakland (noted for her ‘strong commercial aptitude’). New instructions came from Neutrahealth and Devonshire Homes, and Nigel Lindsay advised Mount Wise on a property development refinancing. Simon Thomas heads the team.

 

Roxburgh Milkins provides ‘first-class, faultless advice’. It acted for the shareholders of Futur Waste on its sale to SAICA, and Granada Learning on several acquisitions and restructuring matters. Bruce Roxburgh is an ‘extremely skilled negotiator’, and Richard Hopkins is ‘thorough and unflappable under extreme time pressure’. Nick Cockcroft joined from Wansbroughs.

 

Veale Wasbrough Vizards is ‘going strong’ with a ‘good offering’, and recently recruited Jonathan Oddy from Manches. The team advised the shareholders of Sula Systems on the sale of its issued share capital to Jacobs Engineering UK, and Altran Technologies on the acquisition of Xype Group. David Emanuel heads the group.

 

According to Legal 500, Bevan Brittan provides ‘timely, commercial and insightful’ advice, and Anthony Young and Chris Harper in particular ‘apply common-sense rather than giving theoretical advice’.

 

Tom Brennan at Davies and Partners is recommended.

Tony Harris at Thrings advised Falmouth Oil Services on the sale of its oil terminal and bunkering business.