We regularly attract press coverage. A selection of quotes from business publications appears below.

Nexus Complete Belfast Odyssey Deal

Tony Brook and Jamie Lloyd of Manchester solicitors’ firm nexus acted for SMG Europe in their recent acquisition of SMG Sheridan, a joint venture company responsible for managing and operating the 10,000 - seat Odyssey Arena, Belfast. Part of the deal includes a new partnership with the incumbent catering supplier, Mount Charles, with SMG taking a 50% stake in the business. SMG already operates the MEN Arena and Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, amongst others.
Nexus partner Tony Brook commented, “ SMG was actively involved in the running of the Odyssey but this deal vests sole operating and management rights in SMG. The partnership with the food and beverage company also gives them a springboard for further business development in that area across Ireland. Its exciting times for SMG, both there and elsewhere.”
SMG, one of the largest venue management groups in the world, first appointed nexus in 2001 to represent its interests in respect of various contracts relating to the Commonwealth Games, including the Sport City operator contract. Since then nexus has advised the company on numerous projects in the UK and abroad.

Nexus Wins Landmark Age Discrimination Case

Manchester based nexus solicitors has won a ground breaking case for a 19 year old woman who claimed she was sacked for being too young. It is the first time since the age discrimination regulations came into force that they have been properly tested in relation to young workers.

Leanne Wilkinson, who was 18 at the time, claimed that she had been discriminated against when she was dismissed from her job as an administrative assistant at Springwell Engineering in Newcastle, having been told that she was too young for the job and they needed an older person with more experience. The employment tribunal ruled in her favour and judged that she had been discriminated against on the grounds of age. Ms Wilkinson was awarded £16,000 in compensation.

The Tribunal also stated that the company had relied upon a "stereotypical assumption that capability equals experience and experience equals older age....age was the predominant reason for the decision to dismiss."

Craig McCracken, an employment lawyer at nexus solicitors who acted for Leanne, said that it was an important decision with far reaching ramifications, “There is often an assumption that age discrimination laws are only there to protect older workers but this case is a reminder that everyone is entitled to be treated fairly, whether they’re close to retirement or just starting out in work.”

The Wilkinson judgment was fully considered by a Tribunal, and therefore sets an important precedent for any similar claim in the future.

Nexus Add Insolvency Team

Nexus solicitors has scored a coup with the addition of a new Corporate and Insolvency restructuring team, who have left Hill Dickinson to join the Albert square based practice. New partner Andrew Tonge, former head of Insolvency and a partner at Hill Dickinson, associate Paul Warburton and administrator Alicia Hackney are joining nexus to set up the new department, taking the total number of staff at the growing firm to 42.

Having originally trained as a barrister, Andrew, who will head the department, joins nexus as a partner. He is a renowned specialist in formal insolvency and corporate restructuring with a loyal client following. Commenting on the move to nexus Andrew said, “I’ve always admired their refreshing, modern outlook and the partners have a very similar mindset to my own with their belief that a good law firm doesn’t have to adhere to bureaucratic protocols and reporting lines. This is a great opportunity to develop a new part of the practice that will sit perfectly within their current areas of expertise.”

Prior to training as a barrister Andrew was in the navy and served for six years on a Polaris nuclear submarine, regularly spending six months of the year at sea. Outside of work he is a professional diver, with his own dive school business.

Paul Warburton, who joins nexus as an associate, also specialises in corporate restructuring and insolvency. Paul and Andrew have worked together for four years and prior to Hill Dickinson, the two of them worked at Wacks Caller. Alicia Hackney joins as the team administrator. She will also work on corporate debt collection.

Commenting on the new team, partner Jamie Lloyd said, “We have been planning to develop the practice in this way for some time but, as ever, we are very specific about the kind of people we take on. We see a huge demand for experts in this area and have no doubt that Andrew, Paul and Alicia will develop the insolvency department to be a core part of the practice.”

The addition of the new team follows nexus’ office expansion in June, which saw the firm double its space to over 10,000 sq ft to accommodate the growing staff numbers.

Manchester Evening News
09.10.07

Manchester based Nexus Solicitors acted for Guernsey based Rocket Properties on the acquisition of The Pavillions in Blackpool for £27.2m.  Tenants include Harry Ramsden’s, Woolworths and Carphone Warehouse.  The Nexus team was led by partner Des O’Driscoll, who said: “The Pavilions is a well known landmark in Blackpool and a key part of the town’s make up.”

Manchester Evening News
25.09.07

Manchester based corporate finance specialists Melanie Yeomans, of law firm Nexus, and Steven Lindsay of accountants CLB Coopers, acted for equipment rental business ET Hire on the £1.1m sale of its Scottish operations to Hire Station, a subsidiary of AIM-listed VP.

Manchester Evening News
09.10.07

Jamie Lloyd, a corporate finance partner at Manchester solicitors Nexus, advised David Sullivan, David Gold and Ralph Gold on the £50m sale of Sport Newspapers to Interactive World.

Manchester Evening News
16.10.07

Manchester based professionals advised on management buyouts totalling £5m of two Skelmersdale businesses.  Steelwork business The AA Group and flooring firm Metaldeck changed hands following the retirement of Alan Price, who founded both enterprises.  Advisers included Melanie Yeomans, of Nexus Solicitors, while funding was provided by Carl Collett and Neil Marshall, at the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Nexus doubles space as firm expands
Insider August 2007

Manchester’s nexus Solicitors has doubled its office space to nearly 10,000 square feet to accommodate its rapidly expanding business.

The company has taken an additional floor at its existing premises, Carlton House on Albert Square.  Commenting on the firm’s growth Partner Des O’Driscoll said: “We have doubled our space in one move, which gives us room to accommodate our growing business for the foreseeable future. We looked all over the city for suitable additional space but what we wanted was in fact right under our nose.”

Since it was established seven years ago nexus has gone from strength to strength, and now has 9 partners and over forty staff. The firm acts for a number of household names, particularly in the retail, entertainment and media sectors, but also focuses directly on the legion of fast-growing ambitious, owner-managed businesses and SME enterprises, concentrating on supporting local companies.

Nexus has also announced the promotion of Debbie Illsley, who joined the firm at its inception, and has now become a Partner in the company’s dispute resolution team, dealing with a wide range of disputes, in particular property-related matters.

Manchester Evening News
3rd July 2007

Manchester’s nexus Solicitors continues to go from strength-to-strength and has announced two internal promotions. Debbie Illsley, who joined the firm when it was established seven years ago, becomes a Partner in the company’s dispute resolution team. Debbie deals with a wide range of disputes, with a particular emphasis on property-related matters.  

Leilah Woods, who has been with the company since August 2004, has qualified as a solicitor and further strengthens the firm’s Corporate and Commercial Department. 

Based in Albert Square, nexus has just completed its most successful year to date and has further expansion plans in the pipeline to accommodate its growing team.

Manchester Evening News Annual Law Review
Tuesday May 15th

nexus, who succeeded in poaching partner Melanie Yeomans from Keoghs last year, saw turnover rise by 14.8 per cent to £3.1m.  nexus Partner Des O'Driscoll said: "We have seen further evidence of businesses demanding ever higher levels of quality and service from law firms but at more competitive rates. Whilst there is plenty of work out there for the main commercial disciplines we are seeing an increasing number of businesses approach us complaining about their treatment by larger law practices.
 
"They are frequently being fobbed off by larger firms with relatively inexperienced staff and yet being hit with inordinately high charge out rates. Clients are, quite rightly, more alive to value for money these days."

North West Insider
April 2007

Q. I have received a written application from an employee who, due to her mother’s ill health, wants to adopt a flexible working pattern. As her employer what are my obligations ?

A. Carl Moran, Partner at law firm nexus, says:  “From 6th April 2007, the right to request flexible working will extend beyond parents with a child under 6 or a disabled child under 18, to also cover carers of adults. If the employee has 26 weeks’ service, you are under a legal obligation to seriously consider their request for flexible working, and must follow the proper procedure.
 
The employee should put their request in writing and you should acknowledge receipt of this and arrange a meeting with them within 28 days of their application. It will be at the employer’s discretion to agree to the request based solely on the written application, however if this cannot be agreed the statutory procedure will need to be followed.
 
The meeting, at which the employee has the right to be accompanied by a colleague or trade union rep, is an opportunity for all parties to discuss the proposed pattern, and if it is apparent that flexible working cannot be accommodated then alternatives should be discussed at this stage. If you decide to reject the request you must have a valid business reason for the refusal eg. the burden of additional costs, or an inability to restructure the existing workforce, which should be explained to the employee in the decision letter, whilst also setting out the employee’s right to appeal.
 
You must communicate your decision, in writing, to the employee within 14 days of the meeting and, if you are able to accommodate their request, then you should ideally provide the employee with a new contract stating their new working arrangements.
 
Following this statutory procedure will demonstrate that the employee’s application has been seriously considered and should help to avoid potential problems. However, you will need to be wary of potential discriminatory issues that can arise when applications for flexible working are made, most commonly when a woman returns to work following maternity leave and makes such an application. There is a danger that refusal of an application in these circumstances could result in a claim for indirect sex discrimination (for which there is no qualifying period of employment), and employers faced with such requests should take legal advice as soon as possible.

Appleton wins damages
Manchester Evening News 23rd March 2007, BBC News, The Independent, Legal and Medical Magazine, Soccer 365, Tribalfootball.com

Nexus’ Chris Pugh represented former Manchester United starlet Michael Appleton who was awarded £1.5m damages after his career was cut short by a medical blunder.
Michael Appleton, who was forced to retire in 2003, was awarded the money after a legal battle in which Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson and top players Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville gave evidence in his support. Mr Appleton, 31, had claimed up to £7m for the loss of his career but following a High Court case in Manchester, Mr Justice Christopher Clarke assessed the damages at £1.5m. It is believed to be one of the highest legal payouts to a British footballer.

Appleton's lawyer Chris Pugh, of Nexus solicitors in Manchester, said it was a measure of his client's standing that so many leading football figures had given evidence for him.

"Having got to know Michael during the case I have no doubt that he has the will and desire to go on to be a great success as a football coach and manager," said Mr Pugh. "Everybody in the case wishes him every success with his future career."

Mr Appleton, now the assistant academy manager at West Bromwich Albion, said: "I am relieved finally to have received judgement and to be able to put this chapter of my life behind me and move on.”

Manchester Evening News.
12th March 2007

Paul McGladdery and Lucy Preston, of Manchester Law firm nexus, advised Sale-based bakery firm Lyndale Group on the sale and leaseback of 42 retail properties in the north west and Yorkshire to Peninsula and Century Properties.

North West Business Insider.
January 2007

“There is a perception that bigger is always better, and that is no different in the legal market. I for one, hope that continues,” says Jamie Lloyd, head of corporate at nexus solicitors. “I hope that the bigger regional and national firms continue to leave quality clients and deals in the mid-market to firms like nexus which recognise the importance of the mid-market to the prosperity of the north west.” 

Nexus is proudly local in its focus. It has one office in the centre of Manchester and pitches itself directly at the legion of fast growing ambitious, owner-managed businesses and small to medium enterprises. Lloyd says that one of the reasons that larger firms have moved away from the local market is the different approach needed when dealing with smaller local businesses, an approach which doesn’t sit as easily with the profit-hungry, overhead-heavy structures of large law firms running national or international networks.

“That’s where the bigger firms fall down,” says Lloyd. “They are out and about looking for mega-deals and don’t necessarily have the time to devote to an owner-managed business who, let’s face it, can be very demanding. They tend to be more unsophisticated in legal terms and need a bit more looking after. I’m not sure that the bigger firms have either the will or the interest to do that at partner level.”

Melanie Yeomans, North West Business Insider, Power of Ten.
January 2007

Q. 2006 turned out better than many expected. But does this just mean bad news and a harder landing for the economy in 2007 ?

A. “The increasing tax burden on businesses won’t help – quite rightly, businesses view this, along with increasing competition and the general UK regulatory regime, as a real obstacle to growth. But we should see a lessening of some regulation, with the introduction of the new Companies Act legislation, and there seems to be a real sense of optimism at this end of the market.”

nexus advise CCL Industries Inc. on the UK arm of a C$105million global acquisition.

Manchester Evening News.
January 2007

CCL Industries Inc., a world leader in specialty packaging solutions for the consumer products and healthcare industries, has signed a binding agreement to acquire the sleeve label business of Illinois Tool Works Inc (ITW). ITW produces shrink-film sleeve labels for the European and North American markets at two UK factories within its Decorative Sleeves division. The sites are located in Kings Lynn, Norfolk and Castleford, Yorkshire.  In addition, the ITW Auto-Sleeve division has facilities in Austria and Brazil that produce primarily stretch-film sleeve labels for markets in Europe and the Americas, respectively.

nexus partner Melanie Yeomans acted for CCL in respect of the UK element of the acquisition.  Commenting on the deal Melanie Yeomans said: “This was an interesting deal to work on.  The documentation consisted of a US law governed “master” agreement with lawyers in the local jurisdictions advising on the specific issues relevant to the local acquisitions.  The UK acquisition represented a significant element of the overall acquisition and called upon our expertise in a number of our core practice areas - corporate, property,  employment and intellectual property.  We were delighted to be given the opportunity to work on such a significant acquisition”

Geoffrey Martin, President and COO of CCL Industries added, “The combination of CCL Label’s sleeve product lines with those of ITW will make us one of the global leaders in a fast growing segment of the label industry.”

The deal is due to complete at the end of the month following receipt of regulatory approvals.

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