- Number of partners: 31
- Number of fee-earners: 102
- Total staff: 182
THE FIRM Pitmans LLP has grown to be the largest law firm in the Thames Valley, with offices in Reading and London, offering clients strength and depth of service provision and commercially astute legal solutions. Pitmans boasts regional leadership with a national reputation for delivering quality advice. The firm’s expertise covers the full spectrum of commercial and private client legal services, and lawyers are recognised by Legal 500 and Chambers guides to the legal profession as experts in their fields.
PRINCIPAL AREAS OF WORK
Banking & Finance: Handles corporate and business/SME bank lending, corporate restructuring, acquisition & corporate finance, property acquisition, development & investment finance, receivables, asset & trade finance, invoice discount & factoring finance, business & personal security and derivatives.
Business Immigration: Specialist advice and support on all aspects of business immigration to the UK including sponsor licence, High value migrants (Tier 1), Sponsored skilled workers (Tier 2), Temporary workers (Tier 5), Other applicants, Indefinite leave to remain, British citizenship and Switching.
Corporate: Handles company formations, M&A, takeovers, MBO’s, private equity and other institutional investments, AIM and Official List listings, joint ventures (including LLPs), restructurings, share option schemes, financial services and general commercial work.
Data Privacy: Expert cross-practice team experienced in assisting clients protect and exploit their data assets, manage risk and gain competitive advantage through effective data management. Specialist expertise in Cyber Security.
Debt Recovery: Staffed by an experienced team which operate its services for many major companies in the UK and Overseas.
Defendant Insurance: Is instructed by insurers and self-insured organisations; provides a complete service from initial accident investigations to multi party claims in the UK and overseas.
Dispute Resolution: Handles domestic and international commercial disputes, specialises in company and shareholder disputes, banking & finance, construction, employment, insurance, property and trades.
Employment: Advises employees and employers on all matters from recruitment to restrictive covenants, termination to dismissals, disputes and claims in the employment tribunal.
Environment: Specialises in environmental aspects of corporate and property transactions, waste, asbestos and contaminated land issues, advises on remediation and waste issues arising from brownfield sites.
Franchising: Expert team advising on a wide range of franchise services including: drafting franchise agreements, assistance with obtaining finance for both start-up and expansion, acquisitions and disposals of franchise networks and strategic advice on start ups of franchising in the UK and abroad.
Fraud: Expert team advising on fraud in the UK and internationally including preservation and recovery of assets, civil claims, freezing and disclosure orders, search and seizure orders, cross-border litigation, internal and regulatory, investigations, breaches of trust and fiduciary duty, tax, data security, breach and reputation management, criminal investigations and proceedings, employee issues and insurance issues.
Information Technology: Negotiates trademarks and maintains client trademark portfolios; advises on contentious IT matters including the supply of goods and services, termination of agency and distribution agreements, and contractor disputes.
Insolvency & Restructuring: Draws on the experience and expertise from the firm’s Corporate, Dispute Resolution and Real Estate Departments, receives nationwide instructions and is listed on several bank panels.
Intellectual Property: Specialises in design right, copyright and trade mark disputes, advice relating to protection and exploitation of intellectual property, the management of trade mark and design right portfolios.
Pensions: One of the largest teams in the South; advises trustees and employers on all aspects of occupational pension schemes, specialises in corporate pensions, dispute resolution and insolvency.
Planning: Provides contentious and non-contentious advice, working constructively with local authorities; successfully negotiating s106 planning obligations, brownfield redevelopment work, and planning enforcement.
Private Tax & Family Business: Offers expertise in domicile and residence planning, establishment of UK and Overseas trusts, tax planning, wills and probate, trust and estate disputes, enduring powers of attorney.
Professional Liability: Expert team advising on disputes with professional advisors including other solicitors, designers, insurance brokers, accountants, financial advisors, pensions advisors, IT Professionals, architects, planners and other property professionals.
Real Estate: Has extensive experience advising regional and national developers, investors, banks, financing institutions, utilities, retailers, occupiers, landowners, and local authorities.
Sport Media & Entertainment: Advises on all event and commercial matters and sponsorship, licensing, management and image rights; rights creation and clearance to audio-visual exploitation in music.
Areas of PracticeBanking & Finance: 5%
Corporate: 14%
Defendant Insurance: 4%
Dispute Resolution: 18%
Employment: 4%
Insolvency & Restructuring: 7%
Intellectual Property: 4%
Pensions: 17%
Planning: 4%
Private Tax & Family Business: 2%
Real Residential Property: 5%