Buyers guide to legal services

Finance

Access to finance, debt and banking facilities is the single-biggest issue facing many UK businesses. Arguably, as the country seeks to recover from recession and re-ignite the stalling economy, it's the largest issue facing the UK overall with the stuttering private sector not providing the necessary engine of growth.
The Legal 500 separates finance specialists into two categories – banking and finance, and insolvency and corporate recovery.

Legal Topics

West Midlands
DLA Piper and Pinsent Masons LLP were the only two firms from the West Midlands to be listed in the Legal 500's top bracket for banking and finance.

DLA Piper was praised for providing "a good service with commercial insight", with a client list featuring many household names. It advised Barclays, RBS and Santander on the acquisition funding for the Extra MSA motorway service station group.

Pinsent Masons won plaudits for its team, including the "very experienced" Alice Broadfield, Matthew Heaton provided "grounded advice", while legal director Graeme Walton was noted for working "towards a solution with clients".

DLA Piper was joined by Eversheds and Gateley in the top tier of the insolvency and corporate recovery category. Eversheds was described as having a "strong team" featuring the "gifted and innovative" Gemma Curtis and Andrew Jordan, who is "someone you would want next to you in the trenches".

Gateley acted for the liquidator of a "leading automotive manufacturer" in the successful conclusion of a claim against its former administrators. Its client list includes Lloyds TSB, Deloitte and Zolfo Cooper.

East Midlands
The top category for the East Midlands banking and finance comprised Browne Jacobson LLP, Freeth Cartwright LLP and Gateley. Gateley was described as providing a "first-class service", while Browne Jacobson's Shaun McCabe and Julie Newton were called "very helpful, efficient and always keen to provide guidance".

Freeth Cartwright was praised for its "excellent knowledge of the SME sector and how it operates, and banking practice/requirements".

Gateley and Browne Jacobsen also featured in the insolvency and corporate recovery section - a strong performance from the firms, where they were joined by Actons and Eversheds LLP.

Actons was noted for its "strong commercial acumen overlaying robust technical analysis of complex issues", while Eversheds was referred to as "very professional, proactive; slightly expensive, but good dynamic advice and options/strategies are proposed".

Legal 500 top firms

Banking & Finance: East Midlands

Level 1

Browne Jacobson LLP Nottingham
Freeth Cartwright LLP Nottingham
Gateley Leicester, Nottingham

Level 2

Eversheds LLP Nottingham
Geldards LLP Derby, Nottingham

Level 3

Nelsons Solicitors Nottingham
Shakespeares Nottingham
Shoosmiths Nottingham

Flint Bishop LLP Derby
Harvey Ingram LLP Leicester
Howes Percival LLP Leicester

Banking & Finance: West Midlands

Level 1

DLA Piper UK LLP Birmingham
Pinsent Masons LLP Birmingham

Level 2

Eversheds LLP Birmingham
Gateley Birmingham
Martineau Birmingham
Squire Sanders Hammonds Birmingham
Wragge & Co LLP Birmingham

Level 3

Browne Jacobson LLP Birmingham
Cobbetts LLP Birmingham
Else Solicitors LLP Birmingham
Freeth Cartwright LLP Birmingham
Shakespeares Birmingham
Shoosmiths Birmingham

Leading Individuals: West Midlands

Jon Bew Squire Sanders Hammonds Banking and finance
Gemma Curtis Eversheds LLP Insolvency and corporate recovery
Huw Dolphin DLA Piper UK LLP Insolvency and corporate recovery

Leading Individuals: East Midlands

Nicky Calthrop-Owen Actons Debt recovery; insolvency
John Heaphy Freeth Cartwright LLP Corporate and commercial; banking and finance
Gareth John Gateley Corporate and commercial; banking and finance
Stephen Kitts Eversheds LLP Corporate and commercial; banking and finance
Michael Lodge Nelsons Solicitors Limited Banking and finance
Chris Radford Gateley Insolvency