What 'Legal 500' say about us
Corporate and M&A
Clients praise Tughans’ corporate team for its ‘enthusiasm and hands-on approach’, with clients highlighting Ian Coulter’s ‘heavy involvement in all aspects of the commercial negotiation’. The five-partner team specialises in M&A, corporate finance, MBOs and MBIs and advised Resources Services Limited on the acquisition of Pall Mall, the UK cleaning and security services division of Carillion, the conclusion of which created the largest support services company in Ireland.
Dispute resolution
Tughans splits its litigation department into three teams: defence, commercial and professional regulation, with Grahame Loughlin, the ‘knowledgeable and co-operative’ Michael McCord and Andrew Anthony heading up the respective teams. Insurance defence is a speciallty and in 2007 the firm acted for First Title Insurance in a land title dispute.
Banking and finance
Tughans’ banking department has experience in secured bank lending, property finance, asset finance, debt securities and financial restructuring. Property partner John Mills is recommended for being ‘easy to work with and having a commercial approach’. In 2007 the firm advised Resource Services Group on a refinancing and restructuring of the group’s debt.
Insolvency
The insolvency team at Tughans sits under the umbrella of its commercial litigation practice to provide a full range of services for corporate and personal insolvency. Under the stewardship of Michael McCord and Tobias McMurray the team recently advised a company on the legal aspects of trading on whilst in a Company Voluntary agreement, as well as advising on repossession proceedings and directors disqualification litigation.
Employment
‘True employment expert’ Anna Beggan oversees the employment practice at Tughans, providing advice on TUPE aspects of acquisitions. In 2007 the group advised SIG Group Plc on the employment elements of its acquisition of a Northern Ireland building products company. On the contentious side, the firm represents clients before the Industrial and Fair Employment Tribunals.
Project finance and PFI
Tughans’ PFI practice has an established reputation, having advised on the successful tender of the first PFI project in Northern Ireland and advises developers, contractors, authorities, operators and banks on PFI matters.
Real estate
Tughans has developed a sterling reputation among Northern Ireland’s architecture firms, with heads of department, the ‘quality’ Phyllis Agnew and John Mills singled out for particular praise. The team’s established retail clients include Tesco and Marks and Spencer, which have continued to instruct the firm on high-value site acquisitions and transfers. 2007 saw growth in public sector work; the firm has been acting on landmark regeneration developments in Derry and the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.
Environment and planning
Clients praise the planning team at Tughans for providing ‘professional advice of the highest quality’. Deirdre Magill’s planning team has been advising Fortfield Partnership in connection with a number of planning matters including an objection to the Carrickfergus Rural Landscape Wedge. Advising on contaminated land issues and pollution control continues to be a particular area of focus for ‘real specialist’ Keith Davidson’s environmental practice, having been appointed as a consultant to head up the team.
IP and IT
The ‘exemplary’ Adrian O’Connell leads Tughans ICT team, which acts in conjunction with the firm’s corporate practice to advise on the IP and technology aspects of corporate and commercial matters. In 2007 the firm advised Westland Horticulture Ltd on its procurement of an information system to replace its existing IT infrastructure. The team receives praise for its ‘clarity of advice and drafting’.