gunnercooke recognised by Legal 500 in 26 practice areas, with 50 individual lawyer recommendations

September 28, 2022

gunnercooke is pleased to announce that its lawyers have secured 50 individual recognitions in this year’s Legal 500 rankings. The 2023 guide has ranked the firm for 17 practice areas across the UK, with further recognitions as a ‘Firm to Watch’ in areas such as FinTech and Insurance.

Individual highlights include: Leading Individual in Commercial Litigation, Sydney Fulda; Next Generation Partner in Planning and Environment Anna Willetts for another year; and Hall of Fame Partners Rob Fawke for Banking & Finance and Brendan Walsh for Commercial Property.

Ranked practice areas include: Trade Finance, Pensions, Banking and Finance, Employment, Planning and Environment, Property Litigation, Commercial Property, Intellectual Property, Corporate and Commercial, Financial services, International Arbitration, Transport Finance and Leasing, Rail, Insurance, Fintech, and Commercial Litigation.

This is the highest number of rankings for the firm since its launch in 2010 with Legal 500 recognising the benefits of the model of gunnercooke for both lawyers and clients.

The full rankings are available online here and below.

LONDON — FINANCE — TRADE FINANCE

gunnercooke LLP is known for ‘good practical and legal knowledge delivered simply and clearly’, and one client praises its ‘quality of knowledge, service and complete understanding of the underlying trade structuring processes’. The firm continues to steadily grow its presence in the trade finance market, focussing on work for both borrowers and lenders, among them alternative finance providers, international banks with the UK presence, and commodity traders. Commodities and finance partner Marc Weisberger and Veronika Koroleva are the key figures in a practice that has ‘experience within the sector and a willingness to support and guide, based upon a strong industry and product knowledge’.

Recommended lawyers: Marc Weisberger; Veronika Koroleva

NORTH WEST — EMPLOYMENT — PENSIONS | TIER 3

gunnercooke LLP is noted for advising clients in the public sector and education sector, as well as Master Trusts, on the full range of pensions matters, including outsourcing and corporate transactions. Suresh Bhatt deals with both contentious and non-contentious pensions matters, including advising on CPI/RPI considerations and pensions scam cases. Ginevra Gatrell frequently advises on private sector schemes on compliance, complex pension benefit complaints.

Recommended lawyers: Suresh Bhatt; Ginevra Gatrell

NORTH WEST — FINANCE — BANKING AND FINANCE | TIER 3

gunnercooke LLP’s banking team acts on a broad range of transactions, with a particular emphasis on real estate financing. Rob Fawke is particularly well regarded in this segment with experience in mid-market leveraged finance transactions. Georgina Tripp is known for her work on asset-backed lending and traditional banking facilities and Jill Parker offers expertise on real estate finance.

Hall of Fame: Rob Fawke

Recommended lawyers: Georgina Tripp; Jill Parker

LONDON — EMPLOYMENT — PENSIONS (NON-CONTENTIOUS) | TIER 4

Clients feel that gunnercooke LLP’s modern, flexible structure ‘makes it very agile — in the post-pandemic world they seem to be pulling in well-respected partners from all over the country’. The team benefits from the firm’s professional trustee company, gcTrustees, which acts as a trustee of numerous pension schemes. Parminder Latimer advises trustees, employers and individuals on all aspects of pensions issues, in addition to working with the corporate department in transactions involving defined benefit and public sector schemes. Helen Miles is chair of the NHS pensions board and is experienced in matters requiring clearance from the pensions regulator. Adam Bushby is well-versed in de-riskings, GMP equalisations and pension scheme winding-ups.

Recommended lawyers: Parminder Latimer; Helen Miles; Adam Bushby

NORTH WEST — EMPLOYMENT | TIER 4

gunnercooke LLP is noted for its work on whistleblowing and discrimination cases, data protection and GDPR advice, and its experience in Employment Tribunal claims. Paul Ryman often acts for executives and senior employees and frequently provides corporate support on commercial transactions. Rachel Spink is a key contact regarding Employment Tribunal cases, while Sarah Armstrong often works on restrictive covenant disputes. Jo Tindall and Angela Brumpton are both well regarded.

Key lawyers: Paul Ryman; Rachel Spink; Sarah Armstrong; Jo Tindall

NORTH WEST — PRIVATE CLIENT — FAMILY | TIER 4

gunnercooke LLP is a specialist family team covering agricultural-related cases and farming assets involving relationship breakdown. It often represents high-net-worth families on divorce, matrimonial finance matters, and child arrangements, especially regarding cases of alleged abuse and familial violence. Roland Humphreys frequently advises professional footballers, professionals and well-known businesspeople and lawyers on matters such as child maintenance litigation, and alternative family structures.

Key lawyers: Roland Humphreys

NORTH WEST — REAL ESTATE — PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT | TIER 4

gunnercooke LLP is singled out by clients for its ability to provide a ‘very personal service, given with passion, pride and extensive knowledge’; the team brings this approach to a range of mandates, including environmental criminal and regulatory defence work, planning and environmental advice and appeals, and land reclamation projects. Key contact Anna Willetts ‘will not leave a stone unturned’.

Next Generation Partner: Anna Willetts

NORTH WEST — REAL ESTATE — PROPERTY LITIGATION | TIER 4

With experience handling high-profile complex disputes, the team at gunnercooke LLP regularly advise landowners, investors, and management companies. Dual qualified as a chartered surveyor, Tom Seabrook has a unique understanding of the market and considerable expertise in residential management company disputes and in commercial dilapidations. Jen Morris, who heads the real estate litigation practice from Manchester, provides strategic advice to clients with a focus on landlord and tenant matters.

Recommended lawyers: Jen Morris; Tom Seabrook

REAL ESTATE — COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW | TIER 4

gunnercooke LLP entered the Scottish market in May 2021, opening offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh. As part of the process, Simon Etchells, a lawyer with 35 years’ worth of experience in developments and investments, was recruited from Dentons to front the practice; he arrived with a track record in handling shopping centre, retail, leisure, office, restaurant and student accommodation assets and is supported by the firm’s wider construction, corporate, finance and litigation capabilities.

Recommended lawyer: Simon Etchells

EMPLOYMENT — EMPLOYMENT: THAMES VALLEY | TIER 4

Rebecca Ireland heads the gunnercooke LLP employment department in the Thames Valley, where she employs her broad practice in both non-contentious matters and litigation, advises senior executives, and assists with corporate transactions.

Recommended lawyers: Rebecca Ireland

LONDON — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | TIER 5

gunnercooke LLP’s IP practice handles litigation, portfolio management, and licensing mandates for several large clients in the fashion, hospitality, technology, and gaming industries. Within the team, Rosie Burbidge, Rachel Pearse and Harvey Stringfellow are names of note, covering the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious trade mark matters.

Recommended lawyers: Rosie Burbidge; Rachel Pearse; Harvey Stringfellow

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL — CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL: MANCHESTER | TIER 5

At gunnercooke LLP, the ‘exceptional people doing brilliant work in the swiftest possible time’ have particular expertise in M&A, corporate restructuring and private equity. ‘Classy operator’ Nick Ducker is a key senior contact within the team, as is Jo Glass, whose regular workload ranges from the local to the international.

Recommended lawyers: Nick Ducker; Jo Glass

LONDON — CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL — FINANCIAL SERVICES: NON-CONTENTIOUS/REGULATORY | TIER 6

gunnercooke LLP is forging a prominent reputation in the cryptoasset field with a roster of approximately 100 clients within the sector. The practice is also adept in supporting new funds and investment managers on set-up, AIFMD and certification matters, among others, and is also active within the payment services and electronic money industries. Key names include Edward Black and James Burnie.

Recommended lawyers: Edward Black; James Burnie

LONDON — DISPUTE RESOLUTION — COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: MID-MARKET | TIER 6

gunnercooke LLP’s ‘proactive’ bench of advisers handle complex disputes involving financial services, technology, media, real estate, IP, and SME and owner-managed businesses. Shilpen Savani is a commercial disputes and contentious corporate specialist; Philip Rubens assists with contentious financial services matters; and Fergus Buckley ‘has great litigation instincts’.

Recommended lawyers: Shilpen Savani; Fergus Buckley

LONDON — DISPUTE RESOLUTION — INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION | TIER 7

gunnercooke LLP’s dispute resolution practice has significant experience in conducting disputes work under the rules of major international arbitral bodies, such as LCIA, ICC and ICSID. David Breslin (former international arbitration head at Fladgate LLP) acts in international arbitration in the insurance, financial services, energy and international trade sectors.

Recommended lawyers: David Breslin; Philip Rubens; Julie Forsyth; Andre Yeghiazarian

LONDON — REAL ESTATE — PROPERTY FINANCE | TIER 7

The real estate finance practice at gunnercooke LLP has continued to grow over recent years with several partner hires, including Daniel Fireman from Howard Kennedy LLP in April 2021. The team acts for lenders and borrowers, including clearing banks, alternative lenders, and developers, on property investment and development finance mandates in the residential, office and hotel sectors. Matthew East and Russell Dellar are other notable members of the team.

Recommended lawyers: Matthew East; Russell Dellar; Daniel Fireman

LONDON — FINANCE — TRANSPORT FINANCE AND LEASING

Leading individual: Clive Smith 

TRANSPORT — RAIL

Leading individual: Clive Smith

LONDON — INSURANCE — INSURANCE AND REINSURANCE LITIGATION

At gunnercooke LLP, David Breslin is well known for his work in London and Bermudian reinsurance markets, as well as in the marine and energy, and in property and casualty business.

LONDON — TMT (TECHNOLOGY, MEDIA AND TELECOMS) — FINTECH

Firms to watch

James Burnie arrived at gunnercooke LLP from Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP in May 2020, expanding the firm’s fintech offering. The practice handles blockchain, payment services and AI matters, and Burnie has significant experience in cryptocurrencies.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION — COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: MANCHESTER

In August 2021, the team at gunnercooke LLP was significantly strengthened by the arrival of Sydney Fulda from DAC Beachcroft LLP; he brings to the group particular expertise in fraud and urgent injunction work, as well as the usual roster of contractual, company and shareholder disputes.

Leading individual: Sydney Fulda

PRIVATE CLIENT — FAMILY: THAMES VALLEY

Roz Lidder handles gunnercooke LLP’s family law practice in Buckinghamshire and focusses on divorce, matrimonial finance, and private-law child arrangements.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION — COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: BRISTOL

gunnercooke LLP’s practice recently expanded into Bristol through the recruitment of James Pheasant who specialises in a range of commercial and corporate disputes.

EMPLOYMENT — EMPLOYMENT: LEEDS AND WEST YORKSHIRE; NORTH YORKSHIRE

gunnercooke LLP’s Yorkshire employment team has experienced significant growth. Jo Tindall re-located to Yorkshire from the firm’s Manchester office while Simon Brian joined the group from Flint Bishop LLP in March 2022. Other key arrivals include Mini Setty from Langleys Solicitors LLP and Joan Pettingill from Wake Smith Solicitors Limited. The group acts for both employers and employees on a variety of matters, including whistleblowing, redundancies and issues of discrimination.

PRIVATE CLIENT — FAMILY: LEEDS, WEST YORKSHIRE, NORTH YORKSHIRE

gunnercooke LLP’s Siddique Patel, who joined from Shoosmiths LLP in late 2020, has a notable specialism in Islamic marriage.

REAL ESTATE — COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: NOTTINGHAM AND DERBY | TIER 2

EAST MIDLANDS — REAL ESTATE — COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: NOTTINGHAM AND DERBY | TIER 2

gunnercooke LLP’s commercial property client base is made up of developers, contractors, landowners, promoters and investors. Alongside general residential and commercial development as well as property investment work, the team has niche specialisations in property related finance and equestrian sport matters. The ‘very experienced team of senior lawyers’ includes Brendan Walsh, Matthew Grocock and Bev Simms. Walsh specialises in developments, including student accommodation, care homes, logistics and light industrial, and approaches deals ‘from a pragmatic commercial basis’. Grocock is experienced in acting for registered providers of social housing and Simms has particular experience in town centre regenerations.

Hall of Fame: Brendan Walsh

Recommended lawyers: Brendan Walsh; Matthew Grocock; Bev Simms

SOUTH EAST — EMPLOYMENT — EMPLOYMENT: THAMES VALLEY | TIER 4

Rebecca Ireland heads the gunnercooke LLP employment department in the Thames Valley, where she employs her broad practice in both non-contentious matters and litigation, advises senior executives, and assists with corporate transactions.

Recommended lawyer: Rebecca Ireland

SOUTH EAST — PRIVATE CLIENT — FAMILY: THAMES VALLEY

Roz Lidder handles gunnercooke LLP’s family law practice in Buckinghamshire and focusses on divorce, matrimonial finance, and private-law child arrangements.

SOUTH WEST — DISPUTE RESOLUTION — COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: BRISTOL

gunnercooke LLP’s practice recently expanded into Bristol through the recruitment of James Pheasant from Stephenson Law, who specialises in a range of commercial and corporate disputes.