Corporate and commercial - Newcastle
Oct 1 2010 The Journal
Dickinson Dees LLP
Ward Hadaway
Watson Burton LLP
Crutes Law Firm
Eversheds LLP
Muckle LLP
Hay & Kilner
Mincoff Solicitors LLP
Sintons LLP
NEWCASTLE: Operating from an “exceedingly good transactional base”, Dickinson Dees LLP is considered the dominant regional presence for corporate mandates. 2009 saw the team act for Daily Mail and General Trust on a £25m refinancing of print assets. The “direct and approachable” Simon Watts and Tom Fitzpatrick jointly head the team. Sean Nicolson draws praise for his “excellent commercial and legal acumen”; Nigel Bellis has over 30 years’ corporate transactional experience and is a firm client favourite; and John Flynn plays a key role in maintaining strong relationships with Arriva plc, Bellway and Go-Ahead Group.
Ward Hadaway’s commercial team, headed by Colin Hewitt, advised North East Finance on the establishment and operation of a £125m venture fund under the Joint European Resources for Micro to Medium Enterprises Initiative (Jeremie). The corporate team is led by Martin Hulls and is praised for its “straight-talking, easy-to-understand, commercially-focused” advice, with Robert Thompson highlighted.
Watson Burton LLP advised NYSE-listed Federal Signal Corporation on its acquisition of Diamond Consultancy Services. The team is headed by “consummate professional” Gillian Hall and was bolstered by the recruitment of Duncan Reid from Ward Hadaway. Mark Lazenby is considered a “safe pair of hands”.
Fielding a team whose “service levels are strong and legal knowledge is excellent”, Crutes Law Firm acted for the new owner of Darlington FC on the transfer of ownership in the club. Paul Bell heads the practice, with clients praising Anne McCulloch’s “responsive, solid and practical advice”.
Eversheds LLP brought in Charles Reynard to head up the firm’s North East practice, further strengthening a “highly recommended” team that had already benefited from the recent arrival of Ian Gilthorpe, formerly of Muckle LLP. Recent highlights include acting as lead advisers to One North East on the Jeremie fund.
Muckle LLP’s corporate practice “has proven to be the match of London firms in every way except fees, which have been noticeably less”. The team acted on the management buyout of Quantum Specials. Robert Phillips heads the practice and inspires confidence in clients, who “completely trust his legal and commercial judgment”. Andrew Davison led the advice to Vertu Motors on an AIM placing to raise £30m for use as an acquisition war chest.
What Hay & Kilner lacks in size it more than makes up for with “a highly responsive, tenacious team”. It has a strong foothold in the biotech and healthcare sectors. Nick James heads the team, and Mark Adams is “highly communicative and keeps matters simple for the client”.
Highlight matters for Mincoff Solicitors LLP included advising Metnor Group on its AIM delisting. Paul Hughes heads the practice.
Sintons LLP’s “consistently strong” corporate offering acted on a tax-driven restructuring of a UK trading group. The team, which is jointly headed by Karen Simms and ‘team player’ Christopher Welch, was boosted by the arrival of Matt Collen from Muckle LLP.
