GSC Solicitors expands recognition in 2017 Legal 500 UK Directory Rankings

We are very proud to have been ranked in six practice areas and to have a record 11 recommended lawyers.

For the first time GSC’s Media & Entertainment group has been ranked with the Legal 500 editors commenting “The group’s main focus is in the music industry, although it also handles publishing, advertising and digital media matters. Clients include music licensing body PPL, on a raft of enforcement actions and the PRS for public performance enforcement work with Justin Goldspink particularly noted for contentious matters.”

Elsewhere the firm’s renowned Real Estate – Hotel & Leisure team retained its Tier 3 ranking with other listings for the Commercial Property and Property Finance (both Tier 6), Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate and TMT (both Tier 5) and Litigation (Tier 8) practices.

Our highly regarded personal tax, trusts and probate team, led by senior partner Saleem Sheikh  received the editors’ accolade remarking: “The team’s lawyers – from partners to associates – are always courteous and diligent, and have good industry knowledge. David Nathan is excellent, steadfast and always available and Clive Halperin and James Cohen are superb. The team acts for international ultra-high-net-worth clients and has developed a particular expertise in working with individuals from a diverse range of cultures.”

The firm’s highly rated commercial property practice was described by the Legal 500 as “providing a very personal and business-like service to clients in the media and hotel and leisure sectors including Double Negative, EMI and Channel 4. The team handled a number of large corporate occupier mandates, including the innovative Harvey Posener advising Universal Music on its headquarters relocation to Pancras Square, King’s Cross. Other names to note include great strategist Peter Belcher, who has a strong practice acting for franchisees, and Amee Popat, who specialises in the purchase of leases and freeholds for corporate occupiers.”

The ranked Property Finance team is “especially strong on the borrower side, and the speedy, high-quality and reliable team is noted for its development finance capabilities, practical common-sense approach and a very broad knowledge of property-related issues, whilst increasingly active in refinancing. Harvey Posener  heads the group, with strong support from Peter Belcher, who has particular experience in the healthcare, banking and hotels and leisure sectors. Partners Matthew Phillips provides expert property advice and Amee Popat is also recommended.”

The Commercial Litigation team “handles a high volume of commercial, corporate and contractual disputes, as well as private client litigation for UHNW individuals. The group undertakes commercial litigation of the highest quality for very high-quality clients, and gets results. Michael Shapiro is recommended as an experienced litigator who has a very calm and collected approach, whilst senior consultant Barry Samuels is exceptionally dedicated and hard-working, and pays great attention to detail.”

 Commenting on the 2017 rankings, senior partner Saleem Sheikh said: “The Legal 500 is the leading independent guide into the best law firms in the UK. We are delighted that our excellent Media & Entertainment group has now been ranked and that we have once again been recognised for our core practice areas and with a record number of recommended lawyers across the firm. The Legal 500 editors have reflected the specific focus we have on providing innovative legal services to all our clients.”

Legal 500 United Kingdom 2017 Directory is the leading third-party reference guide to UK law firms. It provides an up-to-date view of the UK legal market of solicitors and barristers and is highly trusted by corporate buyers of legal services in leading companies, private individuals, researchers and the wider business community.