Historic year for group of specialists

Sep 28 2007 By Howard Gold, The Journal

THIS is the most successful year in Mincoffs’ history. The value of completed transactions this year was £750m.

Mincoffs has traditionally had a reputation as the leading licensing and gaming firm in the North-East and we continue to represent most of the major local operators.

We have recently been involved in several high-profile applications and represent clients throughout the country. We are particularly pleased to have recently received instructions from Luminar Leisure plc, the largest national nightclub operator.

Our licensing team works very closely with our corporate and commercial property departments. Together they have dealt with a number of acquisitions on behalf of Camerons Brewery Ltd and advised the Ladhar Group in the acquisition of Wessex Taverns.

Our corporate services department in particular continues to outperform, by some considerable margin, those that might be considered our peers. (WHAT’S THE EVIDENCE FOR THAT ASSERTION? - CH)

Highlights of the year include the flotation of Northern Bear plc and related acquisitions worth more than £12m. John Nicholson, who headed the team that worked on this project, was particularly praised by his clients for his thorough and pragmatic advice.

Mincoffs’ longstanding relationship with Metnor continues and Paul Hughes, head of corporate services, advised Metnor Galvanizing in its sale for £15m. Paul also recently advised Metnor on a £19m disposal in Poole, Dorset.

Other matters worthy of note include the sale of RB Pipetech, a local business operating in the oil and gas sector, to a US buyer for an undisclosed sum, and the merger of Sheffield company Cooper & Turner (one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of specialist nuts and bolts) with McLean Buchanan & Wilson (an international supplier of industrial fasteners).

In the past month, Mincoffs has successfully disposed of part of the business and assets of the Lugano Group for £46m to a buyer controlled by the Tchenguiz family. The disposal, believed to be the most valuable transaction of its kind in the North-East this year, involved input from lawyers in five jurisdictions, co-ordinated by a Mincoffs team headed by myself.

Internally, the additional office space acquired by the firm last year has quickly been filled and staffing has continued to increase, with more appointments this year.

The firm began the year with the arrival of Matthew Foster, from Dickinson Dees, who joined the team as a solicitor in the expanding licensing and gaming department.

Sara Keating also joined the
firm during the year as head of commercial litigation, bringing 20 years’ experience in the field.

In her new role, Sara has responsibility for a team of four litigation specialists and is currently working with several high-profile clients on ongoing commercial disputes.

Also this year, head of clinical negligence Alison Ainsley gained special recognition for her expertise by earning a place on
the Law Society’s accreditation panel.

Alison is now one of a handful of solicitors to be approved
by the Law Society’s clinical negligence panel, a specialist accreditation scheme that promotes high standards in the legal profession and ensures clients can deal with solicitors
who specialise in specific areas of law.

However, it is important to note that amid its continued success, Mincoffs values its understanding that clients want sensible, commercial advice at a reasonable cost.

We pride ourselves on seeing our growth as an increase of our skills, not our fee levels, and look forward to entering 2008 with a team that is more experienced and enthusiastic than ever.