What people say about us

This is what your hard work and commitment is all about, and why we stuck with this ... Just to let you know how worthwhile your job can be when we see this sort of result.

Mrs S

Penningtons Manches LLP’s recent merger unites two standalone teams with Anna Frankum and Chris Shelley at the helm. Clients include Tata Group, Kimal plc and Alpha LSG. Sector focuses comprise retail and fashion, technology, life sciences and publishing.

Chris Shelley, Jim Kinnier-Wilson and Kerry Sharp are all notable for their commercial IP expertise.

Joanne Vengadesan has been assisting Spitfire Network on a range of contractual and e-commerce issues.

The Legal 500 – 2014 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP has particular core strengths in retail and fashion, technology, life sciences and publishing. Clients include Tata Group, Kimal and Catexel. Anna Frankum and Chris Shelley are key contacts.

Joanne Vengadesan focuses on commercial work, with a particular focus on IP and technology matters.

The Legal 500 - 2016 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP's cross-border work is gaining momentum, with the firm having a presence on a number of international networks, including Multilaw (the firm was a founding member), the American Bar Association and the European Law Group. Hamish Corner, who divides time between the London and San Francisco offices, advises numerous US-based clients on their EU and UK operations and transactions. Anna Frankum recently advised the UK branch of Florida State University on its contract with an estate management company, and also advised on GDPR issues connected with agreements with suppliers. Ruby Khan and others recently assisted Banque Transatlantique with the drafting of its customer-facing communications, which included its website terms and conditions. Frankum co-heads the practice with Chris Shelley.

The Legal 500 - 2019 edition

‘Penningtons provides a superb commercial/IP group.’

‘Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is excellent mostly for its personal and client-oriented approach and high level of professionalism.’

‘Anna Frankum is incredibly knowledgeable but also kind, friendly and supportive.’

‘Chris Shelley. Dependable and unflappable. Excellent at dealing with the detail without losing sight of the overall commercial aims of the transaction.’

Product liability: ‘John Doherty always provides very thorough advice, giving a balanced legal view and assessment.’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP boasts a strong domestic and international client base of well-known brands in a variety of sectors, from retail, food and drink and professional services through to education and biotech.

Anna Frankum and Christopher Shelley jointly lead the team.

Gavin Stenton advises brand owners on the commercial exploitation of their brands, as well as on the acquisition of third-party brands.

'They have simply done it before many times and have the expertise', says a client of the practice.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition

The team is technically excellent, and backs this up with strong commercial judgement and advice. They have a real can-do attitude. The team is very user friendly.

This is a technical area needing even more specialist advice than other areas of law, and a potential minefield for the uninitiated. I get that advice from Penningtons Manches Cooper.

Anna Frankum is calm, authoritative and sound in her advice.

Joanne Vengadesan is an extremely capable, intelligent and warm person and makes you feel valued as a client.

The Legal 500 - 2021 edition

The team is jointly led by the 'approachable, pragmatic and very knowledgeable' Anna Frankum in London and Chris Shelley in Oxford, whose extensive client lists cover the full spectrum of sectors.

‘The team provides creative, strategic, and practical advice to address the issues posed. The communication is clear and concise and makes it very easy for me to relay to my ultimate clients.‘

John Doherty leads the product liability team; he is 'very bright, organised and very good indeed with clients'.

The Legal 500 - 2022 edition

Penningtons Manches LLP’s team ‘always does what it says it will do’; ‘its soft skills and approachability makes it stand out from the crowd’. Anna Frankum attracts particular praise; she is ‘a great lawyer who provides advice that is solid, thorough and pragmatic’. The group acts for clients ranging from SMEs and public sector bodies to AIM-listed companies and multinational corporates. As a founding member of the MultiLaw network, it is well positioned to handle an increasing international workload. Recent highlights include advising Mahindra International UK (part of the Mahindra Group) on the UK launch of its electric car, the e2o, and assisting Polsinelli LLP with terminating a distribution agreement across six territories. Tata Group, Hong Kong Tourism Board and LSS Photography are also clients. Gavin Stenton made partner.

Chris Shelley, who heads the commercial practice outside London, ‘provides excellent input’. Commercial partner Joanne Vengadesan splits her time between Basingstoke and Reading and is noted.

Rachel Bradley stands out for her commercial work in the life sciences and publishing sectors.

The Legal 500 - 2017 edition

Tata Limited and other Tata group companies frequently consult Penningtons Manches for advice on various commercial contracts. We value the clear and concise advice we receive. I feel confident in recommending them to colleagues in companies across the Tata group, in the UK and India and also to other friends. They provide a prompt and helpful service and their rates are competitive in relation to other firms.

Jimmy Contractor, Company secretary, Tata Ltd

Our requirement is that our advisers become, in effect, part of our management team, understanding our business, plans and strategy, which we achieve through regular meetings and communication. In choosing our legal advisers, we needed to be sure they understood our requirements, and had the capability to deal with them. Penningtons Manches has acted for us over many years, and we have made full use of many of the services they provide, covering commercial agreements, property transactions, IP requirements and employment law. They have never let us down, providing sound, sensible advice in a timely fashion, and at a reasonable cost.

Simon Wyatt, Director, Contamac Ltd

Our company has worked with Penningtons Manches’ commercial team for many years. They advise us on the contracts we sign with our European partners, such as distribution agreements. They provide practical, commercial advice. We really value their input on our business dealings in the UK and Europe.

Senior vice president, multinational automotive company

Joanne Vengadesan and her team at Penningtons Manches have advised Canara Bank on privacy, data handling and e-commerce issues – these being key areas of compliance for us as an Indian bank with a growing presence in the UK. We have been impressed with the level of service, and value the clear and timely guidance they provide.

Paul Hymas, Manager and MLRO, Canara Bank

XL Marketing has consulted Penningtons Manches on privacy issues that affect our company. As a US based digital marketing business expanding into the UK and EU, compliance is important to us. Privacy laws vary from country to country and we value Penningtons Manches’ grasp of the EU regime. We have found the team to be knowledgeable, responsive and understanding of our business needs. They have provided us with discerning, actionable advice on a wide variety of topics.

Dan Berger, Executive vice-president and general counsel, XL Marketing

They have a broad experience base, they are very easy and responsive to deal with and they provide sound, commercial and pragmatic advice.

Extremely competent and professional.

Chambers UK – 2015 edition

Strengths: A client says: ‘Our overall impression is that they are a very professional and efficient firm of solicitors, and they got a good result for us.’

Chambers UK - 2022 edition

Strengths: ‘The team's knowledge and the depth of advice they give is extremely thorough. They take time to understand the brief and work responsively to conclusions.’

‘The firm has deeply impressive bench strength - associates and partners alike have been able to advise robustly and directly negotiate to advance interests to good effect.’

‘Their legal advice has always been given with an eye to commercial considerations.’

Chambers UK - 2023 edition

Rustam Dubash and the ‘commercial’ Donald Lambert are recommended.

Julie Bond is described as ‘tenacious, forthright and commercially aware'.

The Legal 500 – 2014 edition

Clare Arthurs heads the litigation team, which features international litigation leader Richard Marshall, who is ‘fiercely bright‘; IP & IT disputes head Phillip D’Costa; and cross-border disputes expert Alex Fox. Michael Brown acts in financial services-related commercial disputes; David O’Brien ‘sees points that others would not‘; and Kamran Rehman is a 2021 recruit from Shakespeare Martineau LLP. Charlotte Hill and Oliver Cooke are experienced senior associates, while former practice head Rustam Dubash retired from the partnership during 2022, but remains a consultant.

‘Operates a highly sophisticated litigation outfit, and is exceptional in dealing with top-end shareholder and director disputes.’

‘Penningtons provides a bespoke service to meet its clients’ needs – one of the strongest teams around for mid-market commercial litigation.’

‘Tremendously direct, concrete, actionable advice in the restructuring and litigation space.’ 

‘Oliver Cooke is an excellent senior associate with in-depth legal knowledge, and who takes a sensible and commercial approach to resolving disputes.’

‘Alex Fox’s enthusiasm ensures that claims are driven forward with a clear strategic vision, and senior associate Charlotte Hill is a rising star.’

‘Richard Marshall is as tactically astute as he is knowledgeable. It is the breadth of his experience that is of the greatest benefit to the clients.’

‘David O’Brien is a cut above the rest.’

‘Associate Charlie Shillito and Partner Rebecca Andrews-Walker were both able to provide time-critical advice that was very direct and suited to the contentious nature of the proceedings in question. Right resources, team, skill-set, and proper case management: really outstanding!’

The Legal 500 - 2023 edition

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is experienced in specialist areas such as group action litigation, banking and finance disputes, defamation and reputation management, cybercrime, product liability, and IP and IT matters. Rustam Dubash heads the department, Richard Marshall leads the international litigation and arbitration team, and David Niven heads the professional negligence and group actions practice. Also highly regarded are Phillip D’Costa, Alex Fox, Dan Hyde, John Doherty, Donald Lambert and Noel McMichael. David O’Brien was made partner.

The practice 'has one of the strongest teams in banking litigation among the mid-size firms'. It has particular expertise in high-profile swaps litigation and has been increasingly instructed on financial institutions-related litigation involving The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.

John Doherty handles international product liability cases, regulatory matters and dispute prevention and strategy.

The Oxford-based team headed by Julie Bond continues to be active in major disputes in the energy, education and retail sectors. Senior associate Emma Davies is a name to note for financial litigation and regulatory matters.

The Legal 500 - 2020 edition