What people say about us

Strengths: ‘Penningtons Manches Cooper have a very good, commercial approach.’

Notable practitioners

John Chater: ‘John is commercially minded and deeply knowledgeable with an approachable style that makes challenging topics accessible to clients.’

‘Helen Drayton gives a really good level of support.’

Chambers UK - 2023 edition

National firm with a growing reputation for its international capabilities, acting for a wide-ranging domestic and international client base.

Strengths: Clients say: 'They are technically skilled, but what sets them apart is their commercial aptitude and personable style.'

Other sources note that the lawyers 'go the extra mile to advise, by understanding what the client and the bank are trying to achieve.'

Notable practitioners
Sources highlight John Chater for being 'diligent, technically skilled, personable and able to see things from the client’s commercial, as well as the legal, perspective.' He advises borrowers and lenders on a range of transactions including real estate finance and acquisition finance.

Helen Drayton provides advice on acquisition finance, particularly in relation to MBOs. She also handles development finance and is experienced in financing work across a number of sectors including healthcare and leisure.

Chambers UK - 2021 edition

Reading-based banking and finance specialist John Chater is the main contact at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. His varied portfolio of work covers acquisition finance (including transactions with a private equity element), real estate investment finance, development finance and general corporate banking...The firm is heavily involved in work for lenders and counts a sizeable number of UK and international banks as clients.

‘Approachable, friendly and willing to engage with both ourselves and the client to ‘hold hands’ and guide, as much as manage the legal aspects.’

‘John Chater has been our main point of contact within the banking and finance team. He has always made himself available, even at very short notice, and no query is ever too much trouble for him. He is extremely knowledgeable and has a superb team around him to offer support in other areas of the firm, regularly introducing other experts from across the firm who are equally adept and responding to any queries we have.’

‘Alex Fox is a dynamic leader, inspiring others by his determination and good humour, and sets the tone for the [business and finance disputes] team. He is also fiercely bright and quick to see a point. Charlotte Hill and Bronagh Adams are highly intelligent and strategic thinkers. Charlotte is particularly creative and able to see matters obliquely. Emma Davies is utterly determined and indefatigable. She will work as hard as the situation requires and will not give up until done.’

The Legal 500 - 2022 edition

The banking and finance team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP undertakes a range of transactions including real estate finance, acquisition finance, project finance and general corporate banking work. The firm acts for a number of prominent clearing banks and an increasing number of overseas banks. John Chater leads the team and has experience in bilateral and syndicated transactions.

‘The team is very experienced and knowledgeable and have the wider depth in terms of product skills and expertise.’

Trade finance: Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP joins the ranking on the strength of lead partners Grant Eldred, who leads the financial services sector group, and trade finance litigation specialist Mark Sachs. The trade finance practice is ‘very experienced and solution-driven, and is also to-the-point and pragmatic’. Eldred is ‘very knowledgeable and experienced, a person you can rely on to guide a file to closing’. 

‘The individual we work with most extensively is Grant Eldred who is undoubtedly one of the best in the business for trade finance.’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

The firm-wide banking and finance practice not only advises some of the world's most active lending banks, but also has a large roster of large corporate borrowers in the healthcare, real estate, retail, education, construction and social housing sectors.

Helen Drayton, who handles acquisition finance, bi-lateral lending and development finance, works with the London office to assist banks and investors outside of the EEA to enter the UK.

The team are always available and respond quickly to any queries. They have regularly gone the extra mile for mutual clients.

John Chater is approachable, incredibly knowledgeable and has a rare ability to take complex legal matters and describe them in a way that can be easily comprehended.

The 'brilliant' business and financial disputes team benefits from experience acting for and against banks in litigation, with particular expertise in swaps litigation. Practice head Rustam Dubash has significant experience representing Indian companies; Alexander Fox handles both traditional banking and fintech disputes, including cryptocurrency claims, while Phillip D’Costa is noted for contentious regulatory matters. Other names to note include Michael Brown, who brings misselling of investment products claims, LIBOR and card payment services disputes expertise. Recently promoted partner Emma Davies (who splits her time between Oxford and London) and 'tenacious litigator' Charlotte Hill are other names to note.

The Penningtons team is a really top-drawer outfit. I would not hesitate to recommend them. For claimant-side work, Penningtons are up there with the very best financial services lawyers.

Phillip D’Costa is reassuring, unflappable, commercially savvy and immensely hard-working.

Emma Davies is unusually hard-working and determined and will leave no stone unturned to achieve the result intended.

Alex Fox is a whirlwind of energetic intellect; constantly driving on the team by example and direction.

James Harrison never misses a beat, is commercially astute and a great tactician.

Charlotte Hill is a tenacious litigator, and a real force of nature. She is brilliant at case management and marshalling evidence.

The Legal 500 - 2021 edition

The advice they give is articulate and very thorough.

Chambers UK - 2019 edition

We keep using this firm as their advice, support and success rate on cases is flawless. They're able to balance their advice alongside their understanding of our business ethos and customer focus. They always remember the case like it is their only one.

Chambers UK - 2020 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP is ‘the firm of choice for many clients’ due to its ‘comprehensive and swift service combined with clear unequivocal advice and expansive legal expertise.’

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

… thoughtful and knowledgeable team.

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

The ‘strong, commercial savvy’ lawyers at Penningtons Manches LLP ‘combine a deep knowledge of the law with commercial advice and pragmatism.’

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

Approachable, available and able to describe complex legal points to non-specialists.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP ‘never fails to rise to the challenge’ of advising on complex, multi-party claims against solicitors and construction professionals. The practice specialises in large group action claims; ‘seasoned litigator’ David Niven has a strong reputation for claims against solicitors for mis-sold properties, while David O’Brien advises claimants on disputes arising from failed investment schemes. Construction lawyer Peter Stockill advises on both sides of disputes involving engineers, construction professionals and contractors.

The practice has built up a stellar practice in consumer mis-selling cases, acting for tens, scores and sometimes many more individual clients with complaints against professionals and FCA-regulated entities or individuals.

David Niven is one of the leading professional negligence lawyers in the country and is one of my favourite lawyers to deal with. He is straight-talking, knows the law inside out and is very commercial.

David O’Brien is phenomenally bright, with an encyclopaedic and insightful grasp of relevant law and procedure; provides a “magic circle” service. A delight and inspiration to work with.

The Legal 500 - 2021 edition

Please convey my thanks and congratulations to the whole team at Penningtons Manches Cooper, including of course David O’Brien, Anna Brooks-Gallerani and David Niven. Your firm’s conduct throughout has in my opinion been exemplary. I’m sure the outcome, whatever it is, will be the best obtainable. 

Group action claimant

Thank you very much for all your efforts, which are very much appreciated. I was reassured that you were handling this matter and you have not disappointed.

Group action claimant

Many thanks. It is a huge relief to hear of this and I would like to take this opportunity to thank David and the team for your hard work and perseverance and to express my gratitude for achieving a result in this difficult and challenging matter.

Group action claimant

Notable practitioners

‘David Niven has always demonstrated a good knowledge of the issues and the ability to adopt a commercial approach in order to achieve a good result for clients.’

Chambers UK - 2023 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP's professional negligence team is 'approachable, available and is able to describe complex legal points to non-specialists'. The team is regularly instructed on group action claims against solicitors and is increasingly involved in claims involving construction professionals. Claims against accountants are also a key area of expertise. The firm has 'expertise in multi-party claims particularly arising from professional negligence and failed property investments abroad'.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is focused on group action claims against solicitors and on claims for and against construction professionals. The professional negligence team is led by David Niven, working alongside David O’Brien. Niven acts for claimants in high value, multi-party actions against solicitors and other professionals, while O'Brien - 'a standout performer' - specialises in complex commercial and financial disputes. Senior associate Nicole Blakey is described as 'a star, fantastic to work with - very clever but also approachable and kind.'

‘The team has strength in depth across the board with some standout individuals. One of the top firms when it comes to a professional negligence practice.’ 

‘David Niven has a really good grasp of tactics and strategy and is very experienced. He is commercially minded and a really good negotiator.’

‘David O’Brien is a standout performer – excellent on the detail, a very good communicator and at the top of his game.’

‘Kamran Rehman has good commercial judgment. He has a strong team under him.’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP’s ‘very professional’ team regularly acts for claimants in multi-party professional negligence claims. David Niven represented multiple claimants in a £6m action against an international solicitors' firm in relation to purchases of off-plan properties in two developments in Calabria, Italy. Richard Marshall heads the international trade and commerce group and specialises in negligence and regulatory claims involving solicitors, accountants, architects and surveyors. Senior associate David O’Brien is also a key member of the team.

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

The team at Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP specialises in group claims against law firms and construction professionals and places an emphasis on out of court settlements. Co-heads of the team, Rustam Dubash and David Niven, have both developed the joint group action professional negligence practice. Peter Stockill leads the construction side of the practice. Kamran Rehman joined the team in 2021 from Shakespeare Martineau LLP, strengthening the team's expertise in the banking and lending professional negligence arena.

‘Penningtons are the ‘go to’ team for claimant class action professional negligence cases. They have massive, unrivalled experience in this field, and have a track record of securing huge settlements for their clients.’

‘David Niven is the doyen in this area: he is a hugely experienced practitioner who can calmly navigate claims through to trial with absolute focus and a minimum of fuss.’

‘David O’Brien combines an unparalleled attention to detail with the ability to communicate clearly to clients about their claims.’

The Legal 500 - 2022 edition