Manchester law firm, Pannone, was awarded the Regional Firm of the Year at last night’s Chambers UK Awards.

Flying the flag for the North West, these awards honour the finest legal teams in the UK. They are based on the rigorous research of client feedback that has been conducted for the 2025 Chambers UK Guide.

Chambers receives tens of thousands of submissions each year and has launched these awards to recognise outstanding legal work and excellence in client service delivery.

Commenting on the win, Pannone senior partner Paul Jonson, said: “This is a significant achievement for the firm and everyone in our team. It means so much because it has been determined by client feedback, and we pride ourselves on our commitment to client service and helping them and their organisations to succeed. It was also fantastic to be representing the North West amongst the best of the UK’s legal industry and we’re proud to bring an award back to the region.”

Pannone was shortlisted as one of six finalists with the winners announced at an event at Landing Forty Two at the Cheesegrater building in London on Thursday 13^th February.

2024 was another successful year for the firm, marked by further investment in our team, as we welcomed 14 new people across all practice areas, as well as a new head of finance in Sarah-Jane Roper.

Once again, we excelled in the annual Legal 500 legal review of the year. In total, 17 lawyers featured in Legal 500 UK commentary for their excellent contribution to their respective practices, with practice areas also continuing to rank highly amongst those within the profession. What’s more, we have been nominated by Chambers and Partners for Regional Law Firm of the Year. This is based on client feedback gained during the Chambers research and interviewing process, so real testament to the relationships we have with you, our clients.

2024 also marked the year that we created our first in-depth report on the regional business community – Ambition 2025. The research – combined with a survey of 200 North West businesses – focuses on five core areas: people, finance, impact, innovation and ambition. The results shine a spotlight on the motivations, priorities, and challenges for regional businesses, as they strive towards their goals in 2025.

It features interviews, opinions, data and insight – a piece of work that we’re extremely proud of. Watch this space for more news on the launch of the report.

It was also a standout year across all areas of the firm. Highlights include:

• Firm wide our team was re-appointed to the NG Bailey legal panel among other appointments.
• Our Corporate team won Corporate Team of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards. This award follows a number of standout deals for the team, including advising Mercia and Smedvig on the investment into CultureAI, as well as advising new client Alfred H Knight Limited on the acquisition of Grinding Solutions.
• Our Commercial team advised on a number of important and innovative AI projects, including a key long-term AI development agreement between a global recruitment client and a leading Nasdaq listed AI firm.
• Our Dispute Resolution team was bolstered by a number of new joiners including Emma Haymes from the inhouse litigation team at Vodafone, Jessica Boswell from JMW and Burak Demir who joined from Stone King. The team had a busy year and advised on a number of significant disputes across a variety of sectors including retail, telecoms and technology.
• Our employment team launched a toolkit to help employers comply with the new duty to prevent sexual harassment in their workplace. In addition, the team saw a significant increase in investigation work over the past 12 months, while also winning a place on the panel for employment law work for Wythenshawe Community Housing Group.
• Our IP and Media team secured a top tier ranking in Legal 500 for Intellectual Property – the only firm in the North West to achieve that ranking. This follows the launch of RESTORE, a crisis and reputation management offering to clients, in conjunction with crisis management expert Cheryl Chung.
• Our Real Estate team completed a large strategic acquisition for a funder, in relation to a development site in Warrington that will involve a 10-15 year masterplan to include housing and sporting facilities. The development will play a key role in the growth of the town’s economy for a significant period of time.
• Our Real Estate Litigation team acted for BP Leisure Limited in connection with its renewal of the iconic Britons’ Protection public house in Manchester, which was hotly contested by Punch Partnerships (PTL) Limited, a Heineken subsidiary. They concluded a settlement in August which has enabled both parties to secure the future of the pub.
• Our insolvency and restructuring team welcomed Associate Partner, Helen Fyles, to the team. They were also delighted to assist with the rescue of Mona Island Dairy out of administration.
• Our Regulatory team represented an individual in connection with the joint police/ HSE investigation arising from the O2 Brixton Academy fatalities in December 2022.
• Our Debt team was shortlisted for Legal Services Provider of the Year at British Credit Awards 2025, while maintaining their Legal 500 ranking.
• Our Contentious Trusts and Probate team was delighted to retain their top tier ranking in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

Thank you to all of our clients for your continued support over the last 12 months. Here’s to a successful and prosperous 2025.

This year’s Chambers 2025 rankings have been published, with Pannone once again featuring strongly – both for individual lawyers and teams.

The Chambers publication follows an equally as impressive recognition in the Legal 500, which was announced earlier this month [link to story].

Highlights from this year’s annual Chambers 2025 rankings include:

• The Corporate team maintaining their Band One ranking for the third successive year
• The IP and Media team maintaining their Band Two ranking
• The Litigation team making it eight years in a row as a Band Three ranked team
• Other Band Three teams, include: IT, Real Estate Litigation and Real Estate, with eight teams ranked in total
• Individually, Tom Hall (Corporate) and Paul Jonson (Dispute Resolution) have been ranked in Band One, with Jonson featuring as an Eminent Practitioner. In Band Two, Mark Winthorpe (Corporate) and Amy Chandler (IT) feature, with Tim Hamilton (Corporate), Amy Chandler (IP), Gemma Staples (Real Estate Litigation), Daniel Clarke (Restructuring and Insolvency), David Walton (Health & Safety), David Brown ( Dispute Resolution), Martin Pennington (Dispute Resolution), Fiona Hamor (Employment), Jack Harrington (Employment), Melanie McGuirk ( IP), Bill Dunkerley (Regulatory) and Gareth Birch (Real Estate) also ranked
• In total, Pannone has 17 individually ranked lawyers, up from 12 in last year’s rankings, with Arshnoor Amershi (Corporate) ranked as ‘Up and Coming’ and Sarah Bazaraa (IP and Media) featured as an ‘Associate to Watch’.

So, what do our clients say about us?

Corporate: “The team at Pannone were experienced, with the intellectual horsepower to be able to deconstruct the complexity and guide us through their solutions. They go head to head with the big firms and can hold their own.”

Employment: “They exhibit a remarkable aptitude for dissecting issues, giving diverse perspectives and devising innovative solutions. Each member brings a unique set of skills and experiences to the table.”

Litigation: “Pannone takes the time to understand the key points of the matter, which means that in complex areas they rapidly develop a deep understanding of the issues to provide appropriate advice.”

IT: “They have their finger on the pulse and have a lot of relevant experience to draw upon.”

IP: “Pannone has a hard-working and dedicated team at all levels, from partner through to associates, who are intellectually rigorous and sensitive to clients’ priorities.”

Commenting on this year’s results, senior partner Paul Jonson said: “On the back of our success in the Legal 500 rankings, it’s fantastic to see such a strong showing in Chambers – both across teams and for individuals.

“The feedback we get from clients reflects the hard work and dedication of the team, as they continue to deliver innovative, responsive and commercially-minded solutions that demonstrate a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and the challenges that they face.”

Chambers and Partners identifies the best law firms globally, from multi-nationals to boutiques, based on independent research and analysis of feedback from clients, peers and the wider market.

Chambers produces annual global rankings of teams and individuals according to their area of specialism. They take into account: client service; technical legal ability; depth of team; commercial vision and business understanding; diligence and value for money.

Once again, both individual lawyers and teams at Pannone Corporate have featured strongly in this year’s Chambers 2024, consolidating the impressive showing in the Legal 500 rankings, which were announced last month.

Chambers and Partners identifies the best law firms globally, from multi-nationals to boutiques, based on independent research and analysis of feedback from clients, peers and the wider market.

Highlights from this year’s Chambers 2024 include:

• The Corporate team maintaining their Tier One band for the second successive year
• The IP and Media team continuing their strong run in Tier Two, having moved up in the 2022 rankings
• The litigation team making it seven years in a row as a Tier Three ranked team
• In Employment, partner, Fiona Hamor has been ranked individually, along with David Walton and Bill Dunkerley in the Health & Safety team
• Both Gareth Birch (Real Estate) and Daniel Clarke (Restructuring and Insolvency) feature individually for the second successive year
• In total, Pannone has 12 individually ranked lawyers, with four on the ‘ones to watch’ list.

So, what do our clients say about us?

Corporate: “They understand the market and the needs of clients and formulate them into pragmatic solutions.”

Employment: “A great all-round team of high-level thinkers with the ability to transfer that knowledge into actionable solutions.”

Litigation: “No stone is left unturned and every correspondence is well considered.” 

IT: “Pannone’s commercial awareness is a key distinguishing factor of them as a firm.”

Commenting on this year’s results, senior partner Paul Jonson said: “It’s excellent to see such positive feedback from clients, highlighting our strong and client-orientated approach, robust and highly professional advice, ability to translate complex legal matters, and a clear commercial awareness – all important and consistent qualities across the firm.”

Chambers produces annual rankings of teams and individuals according to their area of specialism. They take into account: client service; technical legal ability; depth of team; commercial vision and business understanding; diligence and value for money.

The results of Chambers 2022 have been announced with impressive results for individual lawyers and teams at Pannone Corporate.

Chambers and Partners identifies the best law firms globally, from multi-nationals to boutiques, based on independent research and analysis of feedback from clients, peers and the wider market.

Chambers produces annual rankings of teams and individuals according to their area of specialism. They take into account: client service; technical legal ability; depth of team; commercial vision and business understanding; diligence and value for money.

Commenting on this year’s results, senior partner Paul Jonson said: “We’re delighted that so many individuals and teams have been acknowledged in this year’s Chambers rankings, with particular note to our Intellectual Property team, which has moved up to tier two.

“It’s excellent to see such positive feedback from clients, highlighting our strong and client-orientated approach, robust and highly professional advice, ability to translate complex legal matters, and a clear commercial awareness – all important and consistent qualities across the firm.

“I’d like to congratulate everyone who’s been included in this year’s rankings for their continued hard work and commitment to delivering a first-class service to clients across all specialisms.”

The rankings