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Agriculture and estates

The ‘commercially practical’ six-partner team at Birketts LLP includes James Harbottle (noted for his ‘good bedside manner’); Chris Coupland (who is ‘technically excellent, and super-efficient’); and Jack Royall (‘very precise’). Mineral leases are a key specialism.

Hewitsons LLP has a buoyant practice acting for clients across England, and ‘the level of service is excellent’. The ‘helpful and professional’ Denise Wilkinson, Charles Hewitson and Daniel Curtis saw transactions totalling over £100m.

Mills & Reeve LLP is ‘good at coming up with different ways to tackle a problem’. Michael Aubrey (‘excellent on acquisitions, land law and strategy’), Sally Graham and Amanda Tagg (‘very good on difficult issues’) are supported by others including Chris Belcher, who excels on tax issues for landed estates.

‘Pragmatic and expeditious’, Taylor Vinters’ seven-partner team includes well-known experts Adrian Horwood-Smart, Rupert Melville-Ross and the ‘strong, practical, commercial’ Adam Bradley. Jockey Club Estates and Darley Stud Management are clients.

Ashton Graham’s partners are ‘personable and have good knowledge of rural matters’. Jonathan Long and Jeanette Dennis are ‘detailed, exact and to budget’.

Barker Gotelee advised on two £8m estates in Suffolk, a 40-acre solar power installation on farmland, and wind turbines with complex planning issues. Dermott Thomas handled a High Court challenge regarding bovine tuberculosis. Richard Barker lobbies for the agricultural community at EU level.

At Howes Percival LLP, Jeremy Heal is ‘a leader in his field regionally, if not nationally’, and combines with property experts Tessa Haskey and Philip Hunter, and Robert Colman, who is notable for his experience in farm reorganisations. Deals included an £8m farm purchase.

‘A firm to be taken seriously’, Roythornes LLP has Graham Smith (who is appreciated for his ‘sound advice’, and is ‘easy to communicate with’). The firm’s large agricultural client base generates work, such as a complex £2m sale of farmland.

Gerry Field at Blocks assists many farming clients diversifying into aerobic digestors and renewable energy development. He acted on the demerger of one of the country’s largest farming companies.

Buckles Solicitors LLP brings together wealth management, family law and property advice for agricultural clients, through Duncan Jackson, Lyn Brisley and Michael Rabbett.

At Greene & Greene, ‘business acumen is excellent, and advice is unbiased and explained in detail’. Michael Batt and Jonathan Mathers deliver ‘efficient service with great depth of experience’. Highlights included two large farm purchases.

Consultant Robert Plumbly at Greenland Houchen Pomeroy remains busy on farm sales across Norfolk, and has a longstanding reputation in the agricultural community.

HC Solicitors has ‘a strong team with an excellent level of service’. Anna Spriggs and Peter Izod advise large local estates such as Barnwell.

Hansells’ financial planning practice thrives on Hugh Lansdell’s strong relationships with farmers.

Hayes + Storr’s Iain MacBrayne is a favourite among local estates including Walsingham and Barsham. James Morgan, Jim Pallister and planning expert Richard Hewitt have close ties with local farmers.

At Hood, Vores & Allwood, Jeremy Whigham handles land sales and tax planning for Norfolk landowners. He is assisting on the sale of the Ilsington Estate in Dorset.

Kester Cunningham John’s Simon Cunningham is ‘honest, straightforward, and robust’, and associate Damian Humphrey is ‘strong on commercial issues’. The practice includes agricultural finance and land transactions.

‘Patient and helpful with incredible attention to detail’, Paul Oldershaw stands out in Rob Sibley’s team at Leathes Prior, and William Riley is recommended for land sales. The firm advised Banham Poultry on a multimillion-pound farmland sale.

Steeles Law LLP’s Nigel Lubbock and Karen Bacon handled farming partnership dissolutions and land purchases among deals totalling over £15m.

Catherine Mowat, now in Tees Solicitors’ Cambridge office, handles tax planning matters and advises on wind farm assets. The firm has over 250 farming clients and is on the NFU panel.

Bloodstock

The team at Taylor Vinters has ‘a strong work ethic’, is ‘commercial and pragmatic’, and its ‘industry knowledge is exceptionally strong, and backed up by clear legal acumen’. Clients include Jockey Club Estates and Racing UK. Rachel Flynn is ‘extremely determined’.

Edmondson Hall is now a four-partner firm, with Mark Edmondson, Anna Hall and Deborah Hargreaves joined by the newly promoted Sarah Watson. Built around equine specialists, the firm is first choice for many jockeys, trainers, owners, agents, breeders, stud farmers and vets.

Mills & Reeve LLP’s Charles Staveley advises owners and breeders, and recently completed the purchase of Hesmonds Stud in West Sussex for an overseas investor.

Prettys’ team of Roland Sharp, Ian Waine and Matthew Cole acts for a range of well-known concerns from the Middle East and also Newmarket; Darley and Godolphin are the best known.

Charities

Hewitsons LLP is ‘really involved in clients’ decision-making’ and is ‘excellent value for money’. Denise Wilkinson advises the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust, and is ‘exceptionally talented, with greater ability to think through problems and come up with solutions than other firms’.

At Mills & Reeve LLP, tax and governance specialist Ted Powell and trust law expert Peter Furnivall combine with Andrew Wood, who focuses on governance issues for universities and Oxbridge colleges.

Taylor Vinters is, for some, ‘in a league of its own’, with a team including the ‘responsive, proactive and approachable’ Janet Turner QC and Christine Berry. Clients include international charities such as World Horse Welfare and Cancer Research UK.

Birketts LLP provides ‘an excellent level of service, the highest professionalism’. The team, which features James Hall and Stuart Jones, ‘works well together and provides value for money’. Ecclesiastical work features prominently, while clients elsewhere include Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

‘Sector knowledge is obviously very deep’ at Greenwoods Solicitors LLP. Emma Murphy heads a multi-disciplinary team active across reorganisations, joint ventures, mergers and property matters for local and national charities.

Charity trustee and administration expert Jeremy Heal at Howes Percival LLP excels in restructuring and governance matters. Richard Lovett assists Paul Bassham Charitable Trust with accountancy and legal issues.

Kester Cunningham John’s ‘proactive, courteous, and patient’ team includes Mary Ambrose, who is ‘extremely bright, and will make a big impact in the region’, and Mark Watson, who is ‘thorough, and good value’. The firm counts many Cambridge colleges as clients.

Stone King LLP’s team is ‘outstanding, has a complete grasp of all factors, responds speedily, and never misses deadlines’. Robert Meakin, now full time in Cambridge, ‘combines thorough understanding of the law with an appreciation of practical problems’. The Society of Chemical Industry is a new client.

Trusts expert Alistair Sursham at Cozens-Hardy LLP has longstanding relationships with many of Norwich’s largest charities.

Anna Spriggs and lead charity lawyer Robina Pighills at HC Solicitors count Oundle School among their longstanding clients.

Philip Norton of Hansells is a trustee of and lawyer to many well-known local charities.

Leathes Prior’s ‘experienced, enthusiastic and caring’ William Riley, Hazel Gill and Paul Warman leave clients ‘delighted with the timely, well-considered service’. Experienced in governance, formation, acquisition and property matters, the firm counts Mencap and YMCA Norfolk as clients.

Family

An ‘insightful strategic thinker’, Caitlin Jenkins leads at Mills & Reeve LLP, which has ‘easily the leading family practice in the area’. Nick Stone is ‘patient, tenacious, and has a sense of humour and fair play’; and Roger Bamber, an ‘acknowledged patriarch of family law in East Anglia’, stands out for his ‘technical skill and personal service’. Rising star Hannah Wilson is ‘calm and pragmatic, and can think outside the box’, with notable experience in high-value ancillary relief.

Ashton Graham’s Stephen Williams is ‘clear and concise’ and ‘head and shoulders above many in the area’, delivering ‘exceptional service, and excellent value’. The five-strong team is a local favourite for Children Act and collaborative law matters.

Birketts LLP’s team includes the ‘extremely experienced, bright, and warm’ Oliver Gravell, and mediator Stephen Anderson; and Ginny Colman, who is praised for her common sense. Teresa Brown (‘professional and caring’) and Ian Pattinson provide ‘a high level of empathy, making the process as simple as possible’.

At Cambridge Family Law Practice, William Hogg is noted for his ‘strong client focus and genuine desire to add value’, with Gail Marchant-Daisley, Duane Plant, Sue Varty and Adam Moghadas also recommended. The firm has seven mediators who provide ADR services to London law firms and high-net-worth local clients.

Iain White, Sandra Nunn and collaborative lawyer Jane Anderson at Cozens-Hardy LLP are vastly experienced in children law matters and financial provision in high-net-worth divorces.

Fosters has the area’s largest team, and is one of only three firms in the region taking over £1m in Legal Services Commission work. Iain McClay and Catherine Iliff are appreciated for their clarity and efficiency; Andrew Saul is recommended for financial matters; and Lucy Simpson and Carol McGuinness for children law matters also stand out. ‘Their knowledgeable mediators are always helpful’.

The team at Gotelee Solicitors is ‘timely and well informed’ in children matters, and is ‘always on time and gives outstanding advice’. Helen Stuart is ‘patient, with a client-friendly attitude’; newly promoted partner Jane Fowles is ‘sensitive and trusted’; and Ivana Radovic is praised for her reassuring style.

Edward Owen at HC Solicitors ‘fights the client’s corner to the end’, and Denis White is ‘careful, conscientious and sensitive’. Collaborative lawyer Farhana Butt comes highly recommended. Owen and White have taken over the public law childcare files of John Henson, who has sadly passed away.

Led by Matthew Sidebottom, Hegarty LLP has eight full-time family lawyers and regularly acts for high-net-worth clients. The team is noted for its ability to put clients at ease.

Under Clare Thomas, Kerseys Solicitors’ team is ‘outstanding in every respect: efficient and conscientious’. Miranda Reckitt is ‘helpful, approachable and sensitive’, and Rosemary Carter ‘instils strength and shows clarity when discussing the options’. Elaine Webb regularly represents the interests of children.

The popular Jackie Wells and her ‘superlative and pragmatic’ five-strong team at Taylor Vinters increasingly advise London-based clients, including City professionals. Rising star Clare Brackley has experience in sensitive matters involving landed estates.

Nicola Furmston’s specialist divorce practice at Barker Gotelee caters to local high-net-worth clients. It has expertise in trusts, business accounts and agriculture, along with tax and estate planning capability.

‘One of the top firms in Peterborough’, Buckles Solicitors LLP delivers ‘excellent service, and good value for money; it gives clients the attention they deserve’. Mediator Lyn Brisley is ‘knowledgeable and very approachable’.

Hatch Brenner LLP’s Jonathan Brock and David Bloomfield, joined by Ben Pearson from Hawkins Solicitors, regularly act as advocates for children and parents in complex family matters.

Alisdair Douglas is the new head of family at the ‘friendly, professional’ Leathes Prior, having joined from Steed & Steed. Polly Morgan is ‘compassionate and understanding’. The team handles high-value divorce and ancillary relief matters.

At Prettys, mediator and collaborative lawyer Georgie Hall is noted for ‘excellent client care and prompt delivery’.

Blocks has five fee-earners accredited by Resolution, with Ben French a favourite. The firm no longer handles publicly funded work, and Michael Sheehan is now practising as a barrister.

At Greene & Greene, the ‘sensitive, calming, friendly’ Kate Chandler is appreciated for her ‘professionalism, empathy and tenacity’, and fellow collaborative lawyer and local Resolution chair Juliet Harvey is ‘outstanding in her advice and kindness’.

Nick Reeves at Greenland Houchen Pomeroy, also a district judge, is noted for his non-confrontational style, and attracts high-value divorce and childcare work.

Lisa Cornish at Hansells remains popular in Norwich and has specialist child law expertise.

‘A calm port in a storm’, Resolution-accredited Rachel Hepworth at Hawkins Solicitors has one of King’s Lynn’s busiest practices for matrimonial, children and social services work.

Hayes + Storr has taken on Neale Grearson from Kester Cunningham John, who is respected for his ‘clear and straightforward advice’.

At Kenneth Bush, Peter Denison’s complex care and Children Act work is renowned throughout Norfolk. Roman Kowalski has retired.

Kester Cunningham John’s Mary Pearce is ‘rightly recognised as a leader in her field, and provides high-quality service, particularly for ancillary relief’. Fiona McLeman (née Bethel) left to set up her own firm, and Neale Grearson moved to Hayes + Storr.

Leeds Day’s three family lawyers are trained in collaborative law or mediation. Tamara Glanvill chairs the Huntingdonshire collaborative law pod.

Will Cowell at Miller Sands is ‘very popular in the area for collaborative law’.

At Overburys & Raymond Thompson, collaborative lawyers Amanda Maruca and Richard Bevan are noted for their constructive approach.

Rogers and Norton’s Amy Walpole leads a team that provides ‘excellent, professional and compassionate advice’. It handles a stream of high-value divorce work, and has collaborative law capability.

Deborah Allen’s popular team at Fraser Dawbarns handles a high volume of publicly funded work.

Metcalfe, Copeman & Pettefar gives clients ‘a clear view, without the drama’. Wendy O’Reilly excels in complex ancillary relief cases. Stephen Welcomme ‘gets to the heart of the matter, and is calm but structured’.

Rudlings Wakelam has a wide-ranging practice, with three full-time family lawyers, including one mediator. Tim O’Regan stands out, and is noted for his sensitive approach to domestic violence and children law matters.

Steeles Law LLP’s Amanda Owens is ‘very sensitive, and an outstanding example of professional practice’. Pre-nuptial agreements, divorce and financial matters are key strengths.

The ‘helpful and supportive’ Simon Gummer at Tees Solicitors is praised for his ‘clarity, politeness, and a human approach that is professional yet sympathetic’. The team is well versed in collaborative law, and recently handled a £2.4m ancillary relief case.

Ward Gethin’s family team draws on the heavyweight litigation experience of Richard Pennington.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Cambridge

Hewitsons LLP’s team is ‘excellent, very professional’, and features Daniel Curtis, Elizabeth Davies and consultant David Bradley, founder chairman of Cambridge’s branch of STEP. The newly promoted Lucinda Brown is ‘clear and decisive’ on probate litigation; and rising star Emma Satterly is ‘very considerate’.

Mills & Reeve LLP ‘keeps clients well informed’. Paul Solon is ‘solution orientated, with deep experience in international trust planning’, and recently advised on a £100m trust fund in Bermuda. Chris Belcher’s clients include the Burleigh Estate.

A cut above most provincial firms, the ‘approachable and friendly’ team at Taylor Vinters advises many City professional partnerships. James Packer and Christopher Falvey stand out in a 13-strong team, which also includes Jocelyn Fox, who is nationally recognised for her Court of Protection work.

Birketts LLP, led by Caroline Stenner, has ‘the experience of a London firm but at a greatly reduced hourly rate’. Senior associate Imogen Brown is ‘excellent technically, and has conviction in her advice’.

Kester Cunningham John ‘provides high-quality advice and practical solutions’, through Lynn Wicks and the ‘helpful, sensitive’ Jennie Pratt.

Personal injury trusts specialist Ryan Hawthorn at Miller Sands is popular among high-net-worth clients.

The ‘bright, approachable’ Catherine Mowat at Tees Solicitors is ‘very knowledgeable, and always responds quickly’. ‘Client service is at the forefront’ for the practice, which advises over 450 trusts with assets of up to £30m.

Woodfines LLP provides ‘a highly personalised service: practical and effective’. Alun Butler is ‘a star in the region who goes the extra yard’, with particular experience in international estates work.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Ipswich

Ashton Graham’s tight-knit team is ‘pleasant, efficient, experienced and positive’, and includes Ian Reed, who advises three multimillion-pound trusts. David Hughes has retired.

Barker Gotelee’s Richard Barker and James Skellorn handle family trusts up to £30m in value. Many referrers have confidence in their abilities in tax planning, asset protection and contentious issues arising from the break-up of trusts, especially those including agricultural land.

Birketts LLP’s Charles Boscawen (‘technically very competent’) and James Harbottle lead a team that has ‘the same level of knowledge and expertise as a City firm; you get a top London lawyer but the rate is significantly less’.

At Gotelee Solicitors, inheritance tax expert Peter Crix and mental health law specialist Tanya Thomas recently handled a trust dispute for a family farming company, and drafted the will of a celebrity chef. Emma Woollard was made up to partner in 2010.

Jonathan Schoop’s team at Prettys acts for numerous high-net-worth individuals, and is ‘very approachable, knowledgeable and prompt, always delivering what it says it is going to deliver’. Zoe Hodge’s ‘knowledge is unquestionable, and she has the ability to put clients at ease’.

Louise Long at Blocks is a notary public and STEP member, and attracts high-value trusts and probate work from the local area and London.

Kerseys Solicitors ‘gives considered, pragmatic advice through staff who are prompt, knowledgeable, proactive and helpful’. Peter Awad is ‘very approachable, and takes a genuine interest in his clients and serving their best interests’, and Geoffrey Sutton is also recommended.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Norwich

Mills & Reeve LLP is appreciated for its ‘superb, attentive, professional’ service. Justin Ripman has ‘an excellent grasp of detail and an ability to explain it in layman’s language’; Gregory Laming is ‘proactive and client focused’; and David Catchpole is notable as the region’s only lawyer dedicated purely to contentious probate.

‘Timely, succinct, accurate and sympathetic’, Birketts LLP’s Neil Sparrow has a notable agricultural client base, and ‘vast experience; his technical knowledge is second to none’.

Tax, trusts and probate expert Alistair Sursham at Cozens-Hardy LLP heads one of Norwich’s most popular teams, which also acts for clients from London and Europe.

Howes Percival LLP’s well-regarded Jeremy Heal and Richard Lovett are highly sought after for IHT and estate planning matters. They recently handled the administration of a £3m estate.

Steeles Law LLP’s ‘carries out work efficiently and in a professional, friendly manner’. Karen Bacon is ‘competent, polite and considerate’; and Emma Trick is ‘particularly suited to working with elderly clients, taking great care to be sympathetic’.

Fosters stands out for its responsiveness, business acumen and value for money. Trina Worden is ‘attentive, with a good balance between being friendly and businesslike’.

Philip Norton at Hansells remains busy with complex probate matters and trusts for local and London-based clients.

The team at Hatch Brenner LLP ‘handles estates exceptionally, in a prompt and efficient way’; ‘the level of service is excellent’. Alan Dobbins generates ‘enormous respect for his professional expertise, and runs an excellent practice’; and Dawn Parkes is ‘exceptionally efficient, caring, compassionate and immensely helpful’. Current work includes a probate matter valued at £8m.

Kester Cunningham John’s wealth management team is ‘approachable and friendly, and has an excellent rapport with clients’. Robert Chalmers is ‘very efficient, and particularly helpful on complex trust and taxation matters’.

The team at Leathes Prior ‘listens carefully, is very professional and makes clients feel comfortable’. Hazel Gill (noted for her ‘great skill, experience, professionalism and personality’) and William Riley are well respected among local high-net-worth clients.

At Rogers and Norton, Catherine Hawdon and Tom Lawrence (now a partner) are ‘technically up to speed, and prompt, and have good business acumen and a pleasant demeanour’. Four lawyers in the team are members of Solicitors for the Elderly.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Peterborough

Duncan Jackson and Paul Branch at Buckles Solicitors LLP are ‘well liked and have good technical knowledge’. Stephen Duffy adds strength on the financial planning side. Notary public Nick Monsell joined from Greenwoods Solicitors LLP.

The ‘high-quality and very helpful’ team at Greenwoods Solicitors LLP includes the ‘reassuring, approachable and incisive’ Tim Addinell.

Henry Anstey at HC Solicitors has ‘a thorough overview of his clients’ needs’, and experience in long-term care issues, wills and trusts. The ‘tenacious, patient’ Paddy Appleton has valuable agricultural sector experience. ‘They are very flexible and make clients feel comfortable.’

Hegarty LLP’s estate planning team includes Greg Baker, who is noted for his attention to detail and personable approach. Recent work includes three multimillion-pound matters involving private company shareholdings and development land.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Elsewhere in East Anglia

Ashton Graham is ‘comprehensive, clear, prompt, very professional and good value for money’. Managing partner Alan Brown combines ‘professional integrity, empathy and administrative efficiency’. Matthew Cameron’s French legal services team advises on cross-border tax and wills.

The ‘very proactive’ team at Greene & Greene includes ‘practical and effective’ specialist Suzanne Alston, whose work includes winding up offshore trusts and company discretionary trust reorganisations. Kate Chandler stands out for contentious probate work.

Hayes + Storr recently handled a £4m contentious probate case concerning Hutton Hall in Essex, and a £1m probate dispute over ownership of a Grand Tier Box in the Royal Albert Hall. James Morgan is a key figure.

Simon Crooks is expanding Kester Cunningham John’s high-net-worth client base and oversees the firm’s online wills service. Adrian Mundell in the Court of Protection team is ‘very knowledgeable, reliable, dedicated and thorough, and provides exceptional service’.

Fosters incorporating Dunne & Crome welcomed Stuart Williams from the Norwich office, boosting Martin Dunne’s team. Wenke Lie-Critchley remains popular in Wymondham.

Leeds Day’s Jane Ollett is a popular choice for the agricultural community around St Neots.

Lowestoft’s most prominent practice, Nicholsons Solicitors LLP has Ann-Marie Matthews, who is popular with local SMEs.

Ward Gethin’s team, under Cheryl Page, is a popular choice for wills and probate.

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