Chambers
Business Practice Area - Agriculture & Estates
Trethowans serves a client base of landowners and tenants in the UK who collectively farm in excess of 35,000 acres. It offers advice on the day-to-day issues arising from estate management and recently appointed Marcus Thorpe to assist in inheritance tax relief and capitals gains tax. Its conveyancing practice peaked when the firm finalised the exchange of contracts for the purchase of a £3 million Georgian manor house within 24 hours of the sale being agreed. Guy Hurst excels for his handling of agricultural property transactions and is also a qualified chartered surveyor.
Link to the Landed Estates Team
Business Practice Area - Debt Recovery
This firm continues to specialise in car parking enforcement notices, especially in the NHS sector, and uninsured loss recovery work. The past year has seen three major client gains and a corresponding expansion of the team. Clients praise the group for its “flexible approach,” and the provision of a “marvellous service.” Sources go on to comment: “The firm offers a lot of face-to-face time and really gets results.” Interviewees also praise the group’s newly established case management system which offers an improved service for volume debt recovery work. The firm acts for clients in the NHS, and the accountancy, boat-building, parking management and printing sectors.
Link to the Debt Recovery Team
Business Practice Area - Employment
The growth of this four-lawyer team under the “talented lawyer” Simon Rhodes has driven this firm into the tables. While interviewees nod favourably at Rhodes for “knowing what he is talking about” in TUPE, discrimination and restrictive covenants issues, the wider group has handled a restructuring and redundancy programme for a US-owned client and multiple equal pay claims for a NHS trust.
Link to the Employment & HR Team
Business Practice Area - Personal Injury
Entry under 'The South'
“The people at Trethowans are utterly committed to their clients,” say sources. With offices in both Salisbury and Southampton, the firm has the South well covered for personal injury work. It offers advice in brain and spinal injury cases as well as RTAs. For example, the team settled a £1 million claim for a passenger in a car accident. The firm has also developed a solid reputation for providing top-quality clinical negligence work.
Entry under 'South West'
The small team at Trethowans concentrates on head and spinal injury work. It has managed high-value claims and often achieves settlements in excess of £1 million for its clients. The group has a place on several high-profile panels such as Headway, and consequently attracts a steady stream of new instructions. It also has a growing reputation for top-quality clinical negligence work.
Link to the Personal Injury Team
Business Practice Area - Licensing
A well-known name in the sector with a highly successful track record, the practice has been extremely busy tending to an existing stable of liquor licensing clients as well as handling an increase in betting and gaming work. The group dealt with licence applications and objections on behalf of Ladbrokes, which also instructed the firm on e-gaming issues and a raft of personal and premises licensing requirements relating to the Gambling Act 2005.
One commentator was adamant that they “would not even consider looking anywhere else for advice,” and was impressed with both the group’s senior practitioners and its team of “strong, ambitious young lawyers.” The practice added a string to its bow with a host of new casino clients based across the country, which the lawyers advised on new gambling regulations and operating applications made under the Gaming Act 1968, among other matters.
The group picked up new instructions from a major national retailer as well as the Association of British Bookmakers, which it advised on Local Authority Statement of Principles documentation. Long-standing client Pizza Hut also continues to be advised by a practice that offers a “competitive and personal service” across all major licensing areas.
“Doyen of the market” Michael Messent “exudes gravitas and is extremely on the ball,” sources agree, while his “tremendous understanding makes him a formidable opponent in the courtroom.” He advises on the full range of liquor licensing, gaming and betting concerns, with recent highlights including counselling casino operators on the new Gambling Act 2005, and handling licence applications and objections made under the old Gaming Act 1968.
Liquor licensing expert Jane Walker is deemed to be a “bright, friendly and personable” lawyer who always responds to her clients’ concerns in a “timely and thorough fashion.” She is widely tipped for a strong career in the industry.
Business Practice Area - Real estate
Garry Treagust of Trethowans is known as a solid and accomplished practitioner who can always be relied on to get the deal done.