Real Estate: North West

THE FIRM Addleshaw Goddard can pull together the resources of its Manchester, Leeds and London offices to provide clients with an exemplary level of service and expertise. Able to put numerous lawyers on a deal at short notice and with expertise in every conceivable aspect of real estate law, the team is regularly instructed on the most prominent projects. It is currently advising the funder of the £700 million Greater Manchester Waste PFI, one of the largest projects of its kind, and is also advising The Co-operative Group on its £1.5 billion acquisition of Somerfield, one of the biggest deals in the North West of late.

Sources Say: “It's nothing short of magnificent.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS “Extremely helpful and commercial,” Richard Wheeldon heads the Manchester real estate team and advises Assura and Standard Life. Mark Haywood is advising on the store disposal aspects of the Co-operative transaction and is “as good as you can get – commercial, sensible and efficient,” clients report. His practice focuses on complex investment and development transactions for clients such as Muse, MEPC and Miller Developments. The acquisition elements of the Co-operative transaction are being dealt with by Peter Kershaw, who is also highly skilled at investment, development and regeneration matters. He advises Admenta, United Utilities and high net worth individuals on investment matters and is applauded by clients for his “accommodating, approachable style.”

THE FIRM This group advises institutional clients on major investments. Development has kept the team occupied of late, and it is also acting for numerous offshore and international clients on projects in the region. Dutch real estate investment company Wereldhave now instructs the team, which also counts Universities Superannuation Scheme, Co-operative Group Pension Fund and ING Real Estate among its institutional clients. The group’s development practice continues to flourish.

Sources Say: “You get superb service – it’s hard to find anything to fault.” “It is a pleasure dealing with them because they do things properly.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mark Beardwood is currently advising Blackpool and The Fylde College on its landmark campus development, while Alison Mills recently acted for Downing Developments on the development and disposal of its state-of-the-art student accommodation project in Manchester. Beardwood heads the Liverpool real estate team and wins plaudits from sources for his representation of blue-chip investors and institutions. Mills focuses on high-profile development schemes and is described by clients as “an extremely friendly lawyer who will cut to the chase and take a commercial view.” Philip Rooney’s vast experience ensures clients “have every confidence in him as he always covers the important points.” Advising investors and occupiers is his forte, and he is currently acting for new client Caldeira. Also exceptionally experienced in real estate, Roy Beckett has now returned to full-time fee earning work and acts as lead adviser to Bruntwood Estates, Manchester City Council and the University of Manchester. Possessing “brilliant technical skills,” Anita Weightman heads the Manchester real estate team and advises British Waterways, Vue and ITV. Andrew Pattinson is closely involved in expanding the Manchester group’s hotel and licensing practice and is advising Bennelong Golf on property matters. Patrick Duffy’s strength lies in tax structuring in investment transactions and town centre regeneration schemes. He is handling the redevelopment of Boston town centre.

THE FIRM This firm is noted for its knowledgeable, reliable and personable team and has established a hefty regional presence, with offices in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston. Its diverse practice has enabled it to withstand the worst effects of the downturn, and the team has enjoyed a busy year handling retail asset management, large-scale development projects and major sales acquisitions. The Liverpool team is currently advising Peel Holdings on the negotiation of the development agreement for the redevelopment of Princes Dock in Liverpool, while the Manchester group recently acted for DHL on its acquisition of a freight terminal in Barking that will provide a logistics consolidation centre for the 2012 London Olympics. The Preston office is going from strength to strength, evidenced by its representation of Lancashire Police Authority in negotiations for property agreements with the Court Service. Unlike many of its rival firms, 2009 has been a year of expansion for this team. Its merger with Liverpool-based Bremners in May 2009 will substantially bolster the group’s work for housing associations and registered social landlords (RSL).

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sandy Chapple Gill is advising Peel and heads the department’s regeneration and investment and leisure teams. The recent recruitment of Tony Fitzmaurice from Cobbetts will expand the team's development and regeneration work. Jeff Gillbanks heads the Liverpool real estate team and concentrates on site acquisitions, disposals and development.

THE FIRM This national titan’s sector-based approach to real estate has paid dividends during the economic downturn, enabling the team to remain resilient despite an overall slowdown in work. Its occupier group has advised Inventive Leisure, Mitchells & Butler and Genting Stanley over the past twelve months, and also acted for numerous educational and financial institutions and retailers. The highly skilled team acts on major inward investments into the region, such as advising the College of Law on its new teaching facility in Manchester. The development and regeneration arm of the practice has continued to thrive in a difficult market, and was recently appointed to the advisory panel of Manchester City Council. It advises a host of local authorities and regional development agencies on development and regeneration schemes, and is currently acting for the London Borough of Lambeth on its £75 million regeneration of three sites in Clapham. The recently established investor team has already received a plethora of instructions from Caudwell Properties, and also represents MCR.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nancy Brown advised on the College of Law matter; she heads the Manchester real estate team and counts AXA and HBOS among her clients. Paul Hothi is acting for Lambeth on the regeneration scheme and is praised by sources for his comprehensive development knowledge. Tessa Leonard also handles development and regeneration work and has particular expertise in town centre redevelopment and public sector funding.

THE FIRM During the past twelve months, this team has handled a wide range of freehold acquisitions and leasing matters for Aldi, and assisted new client Manchester City Airports with the extension of the Radisson SAS Hotel at Manchester airport. It has also maintained a healthy development practice, despite the turbulence in the market.

Sources Say: “An approachable and tenacious team that demonstrates real commercial understanding of a deal.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mike Edge recently advised Ask Developments on the development and sale agreements with Standard Life Investment’s Long Lease Fund for its £30 million townside development in Bury. Mark Gaffney is widely regarded as the leading light of the Liverpool real estate team, and is currently advising Liverpool City Council on its development of Lime Street Gateway.

THE FIRM This Liverpool giant has built up its Manchester and Chester operations to become a truly regional heavyweight. The expanding Manchester team is currently advising UPS on a major warehouse acquisition, while the Chester group has firmly established itself as one of the largest and most dynamic property teams in the city. The latter acts as sole legal adviser to Chester Zoo, which it is currently advising on its £400 million Natural Vision Project. In Liverpool, the team is continually instructed on the most prominent projects in the local market.

Sources Say: "We appreciate the group’s practical and realistic approach, which leads to speedy resolutions.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Pamela Jones advised Somerfield on the property aspects of the acquisition by The Co-operative Group, while David Swaffield acted for Liverpool Council for Voluntary Services on its acquisition of a new headquarters for itself and numerous other Merseyside charities.

THE FIRM Based in Altrincham, this niche property firm offers highly specialised expertise to a wide range of clients. During the past twelve months, the team has concentrated on complex acquisitions and disposals, and advised owner-occupiers on a broad range of property issues. Notable highlights include acting for GE Capital on its sale of the Parcel Force depot in Central Manchester, and advising Thermo Fisher Scientific on its acquisition of a site in Runcorn that will house its anatomical pathology and chromatography operations. The team also represents Peel Holdings.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Angus Whyte heads the department and handles the acquisition, disposal, development and management of real estate. His clients are principally landlords and developers.

THE FIRM Asset management is undoubtedly the forte of this team, and its flair for such matters is aptly demonstrated by its representation of Westfield Group in the lettings for the Westfield London shopping centre. The team’s stellar work on this project has led to it representing Westfield in the lettings for its £1.5 billion Stratford City site, which will form part of the Olympics development.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alison Key specialises in retail and leisure investments and asset management, and is advising Westfield. Success in public sector asset management work is evidenced by Mark Pattison’s representation of the Home Office in the leasing of its Wilson Bowden Riverside Development in Sheffield.

THE FIRM It has been a busy year for this team, notwithstanding recent departures, demonstrated by its advising long-standing client Whitbread on several major projects. However, the undoubted highlight of the year for the group is its ongoing role advising Peel Holdings on its procurement, funding and delivery of the £500 million MediaCityUK development, which will house the BBC. The departure of Tony Fitzmaurice to Brabners Chaffe Street is undoubtedly a disappointment for the team, but sources are convinced it will recover quickly.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Mark Barker recently advised Sports Direct on its acquisition of more than 50 stores from JJB, while Stephen Kinsey assisted Bruntwood with its £28.5 million acquisition of Bridgwater House. Simon Worrall recently acted for Whitbread on the property aspects of its £78 million disposal of 41 Brewer’s Fayre and Beefeater restaurants to Mitchells & Butler in exchange for 21 hotels. Chairman of the firm Stephen Benson also advises Whitbread on property issues. 

THE FIRM DWF’s quick, efficient and commercial service earns high praise from clients. This businesslike approach has earned the group an impressive client roster: Peel, St Modwen and Neptune retain the team, and it recently gained Flyde & Blackpool Borough Council and Instore as new clients. It is currently acting for Peel on the development of Salford City Reds' new stadium.

Sources Say: “The lawyers don’t just deal with things using textbooks – they look at all the issues and provide a practical solution.” 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Andy Green heads the department and is particularly skilled at negotiating development agreements, site assembly and structuring letting schemes.

THE FIRM This team’s diverse client base of institutional investors, developers and entrepreneurs has enabled it to weather the worst of the economic downturn. Like many of its rivals, its development practice has been hardest hit, but it continues to enjoy a raft of instructions from the North West Development Agency, the Homes & Communities Agency and numerous other public sector bodies. On the private sector side, it is representing ProLogis in developments at Davenport, Bristol and Bradford.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Liam Buckley balances his busy practice with his responsibilities as head of the firm’s international built environment group.

THE FIRM Clients identify attention to detail, thoroughness and sound advice as the hallmarks of this group. Although the team has witnessed a drop in development and property finance work due to market conditions, it has turned its attention to landlord and tenant and estate management issues with great success. It also enjoys a buoyant public sector practice and is currently advising the North West Development Agency on the funding of the acquisition of seven parcels of land to complete a development site for a mixed-use scheme.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Karl Jackson heads the department and is highly regarded for his copious knowledge of development and urban regeneration schemes.

THE FIRM Although current market conditions have resulted in a slowdown in development instructions for this team, it maintains a healthy public sector practice and a steady flow of landlord and tenant matters. It recently acted for the GMPTE and Manchester City Council on their £100 million disposal of two office buildings in Manchester to The Carlyle Group.

Sources Say: “A team of strong communicators who are punctilious in their administration of instructions.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stephen Chalcraft is commended by market observers for “doing a great job of expanding the property practice." He heads the department and concentrates on development and joint venture work. Stephen Lintott has established a wide-ranging commercial property practice and is celebrated by clients for “responding quickly and clearly to instructions.”

THE FIRM Clients are impressed by Pinsent Masons’ understated approach, and the team’s robust public sector practice has enabled it to withstand the worst effects of the downturn. The University of Salford recently retained the group to handle the relocation of a substantial part of its media faculty to accommodation within the second phase of MediaCityUK. The team’s superb expertise in this field also attracts instructions from outside the North West. It is currently advising Newcastle City Council on the £500 million regeneration of the Scotswood area of the city. Due to economic conditions, the team has also handled numerous distressed sales of late.

Sources Say: “The lawyers simply get on with things in an undramatic way and deliver excellent results.”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Pamela Young heads the department.

THE FIRM This Carlisle gem advises a wide range of local investors, developers and occupiers on the full range of property issues. Its expertise ranges from acquisitions, disposals and development to property finance and portfolio management. It is also highly skilled at property litigation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sean Logue heads the practice.

THE FIRM End users, developers and retailers frequently instruct this relatively compact Manchester-based team in a range of property matters. Food retail projects are a particular specialism of the group, which also has a burgeoning practice in budget hotel developments. Major regeneration and redevelopment schemes are another strength of the team, illustrated by its representation of Bury MBC in its £300 million redevelopment of Bury town centre.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jim Banfi heads the department.

THE FIRM Kuit Steinart Levy punches well above its weight and clients commend the group for its dedicated approach. Major clients include Land Securities, Habitat and Development Securities, the latter of which the team is currently advising on a £35 million office development in Manchester. The group is also representing numerous developers on the sale of developments to housing associations and RSLs.

Sources Say: "A small and friendly team that provides big-firm service.” “The team has continued to build the relationship with us despite the difficult economic times and it adopts a partner-led approach – we don’t get fobbed off with junior lawyers!”

KEY INDIVIDUALS Nicholas Nyunt is singled out for his committed service: “He is always available, day or night." 

THE FIRM Liverpool-based Weightmans wins praise from clients for its attentive, thorough and fair-minded approach. The group is renowned for its representation of public sector clients, particularly local authorities and healthcare bodies, and is currently advising Liverpool City Council on the regeneration of the Great Homer Street Market district. It is also acting for the same client on the development agreement with Urban Splash for the regeneration of Great George Street.

Sources Say: “An efficient team that provides concise and speedy advice.” 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Head of department Clive Bleasdale is commended by clients for his excellent negotiation skills. Anne Dobie makes her debut in the ranking following warm recommendations from market sources for her representation of healthcare clients.