Legal news: Pannone Corporate; JMW; TLT & more

PANNONE Corporate has picked up three new clients and advised on an key deal for a long-standing client.

The Manchester firm has begun working for: EM&I Group, which provides insection and maintenance services to the oil and gas industry; family-owned Stockport company UK Point of Sale Group and Salford-based international engineering firm The Buffalo Group.
 
Pannone Corporate managing partner Paul Jonson said: “All three new clients are fast-growing and ambitious owner- managed companies that are leaders in their respective fields. These clients are a perfect fit with our growing client base.”

Meanwhile the firm advised the Bath-based European arm of Texan workwear giant Williamson-Dickie on the acquisition of Aberdeen company North East Rig Out (NERO) Ltd, which supplies protective clothing to offshore workers.

Corporate partner Tom Hall, who led the transaction, said: “Williamson-Dickie is a longstanding client and we have advised on a number of transactions over the years which have helped consolidate its position as the UK’s biggest and leading workwear supplier.”

Mr Hall’s team included solicitor Arshnoor Amershi and IP/IT/commercial senior associate Victoria Dolan.

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THE commercial property team at law firm JMW Solicitors has advised care homes developer Castlemead Group on its latest venture – an £8m, 74-bed facility due to open in Chester in 2015 as part of a mixed-use development.

The Manchester firm helped the business to purchase the scheme from Morris Homes and, then sell it to Sanctuary Housing Association, for which it will now complete the works.

The team is also acting for North West care home operator Berrycroft Care on two projects. The first, Beechwood Lodge, is a 64-bed new-build home in Rochdale opening in November, and the second is a new £5m, 56-bed dementia home due for completion in 2015 for associated company Capstone Care to complement an existing care home, Walshaw Hall in Bury.

The three projects are the latest in a string of deals that has seen JMW’s commercial property team advise a number of operators and developers on bespoke, new-build care-home projects worth in excess of £100m.

Once developed out, they will deliver 781 new residential care beds across 14 separate sites around the UK – half of which will be in the North West.

Thomas Pearson, partner in the commercial property team at JMW, said: “It’s hugely important for high-quality care facilities to be available to those who need them, especially those delivering dementia care and we are proud of the number of great facilities we are helping our clients delver, both developers and operators alike.

“The specialist expertise we have built in the team means we are well placed to work with businesses in the sector to help them achieve their vision of delivering innovative care facilities that will provide the vital care that our growing and ageing population needs.”

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A MANCHESTER-based team from TLT advised the existing management team of Wholebake, a healthy snack bar manufacturer best known for the Free From brand 9bar, on the sale of Wholebake to a company backed by Bridges Ventures LLP.
 
The TLT team, which included corporate partner Jon Close and corporate associate Richard Life, also advised Wales-based Wholebake’s management on their investment in the new company.
 
TLT’s Jon Close said: “This secondary buy-out enables Wholebake to implement the next stage of their ambitious growth strategy, particularly regarding the 9bar brand. We are delighted to have advised our long-standing client and we look forward to continuing to suppor the management team and Wholebake.”
 
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LANCASHIRE firm Marsden Rawsthorn is providing free legal advice to women in Blackpool by running a number of clinics with Lancashire Women’s Centres.

Debbie Topping from the Women’s Centre in Blackpool said: “The clinics have proved invaluable to women in the area.  We see women from all walks of life, some are very vulnerable and find it daunting to go and visit a solicitor. We offer them the choice of making an appointment, an informal confidential phone call or simply dropping in.”
 
Janet Walker, business development manager at Marsden Rawsthorn added: “The clinics are providing an extremely worthwhile service, by experienced professionals, to those, who otherwise wouldn’t know where to turn or aren’t able to support themselves financially. We’ve had great feedback from women who have attended and received advice, which has made a positive difference to their lives.”

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BLACKBURN-based family law specialist Rachel Horman is in the running for a national award.

Miss Horman, director at Watson Ramsbottom Solicitors with offices in Blackburn, Darwen, Great Harwood and Accrington has been shortlisted for the national Family Law Awards in the Family Partner of the Year Category.
 
Having won the national Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year Award in 2012, she is nationally renowned for her family law expertise, particularly the areas of domestic violence, stalking and forced marriage in which she specialises.

Watson Ramsbottom managing director Philip Thompson said: “Everyone who knows Rachel will be aware of her enthusiasm and total commitment to her work – it will come as no surprise to her many clients, colleagues and peers that her work is receiving such deserved recognition.”

The winners will be announced at the Family Law Awards ceremony in London on October 8.

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THE MANCHESTER office of Gateley raised £3,650 for The Christie charity after a year of fundraising activities for the Manchester cancer hospital.

Danielle Haston, led fundraising efforts by organising a series of events.  In addition to dress-down days, bake sales and raffles, cash was raised through a number of one off events, including a Man-V-Pizza eating challenge. Other initiatives included the Great Manchester Run and the Lake District Six Peaks Challenge.
 
Amy Hinks, corporate fundraising officer at The Christie, said:”We are delighted with Gateley’s fundraising efforts over the past 12 months. As a leading cancer centre, treating more than 40,000 patients a year, support from charitable partners such as Gateley allows the trust to be at the forefront of cancer research and support services.”