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At Mills & Reeve LLP, Caroline Dean is ‘very commercial, and willing to work all hours’; Robert Hutton is ‘proactive and keeps clients informed’; and Keith Hamilton is ‘kind and helpful, and has encyclopaedic knowledge’. Tim Ryan and Carina Cobbold are also singled out in a team that has ‘the right balance between thoroughness and speed’. Highlights included the sale of two car parks for Norwich City FC.

At Ashton KCJ, James Slinger, Genie Barham and investment property specialist Simon Cunningham are ‘proactive and willing to go the extra step’. Slinger advised a client on preparing a £2.5m, 40-hectare site for sale.

Highlights for Birketts LLP included the property aspects of J&H Bunn’s acquisition by Koch Fertiliser. Robert Gibbs provides ‘clear and pragmatic advice’.

At Fosters, ‘superb property lawyer’ Robert Pyke is ‘the best in the business for attention to detail and robust, consistent advice; he punches above his weight, to subtle but sincere effect’. Highlights included advising a developer of plots in Attleborough.

Howes Percival LLP fields some ‘top players’ locally, notably Tracey Hughes, Alice Liddle and Tessa Haskey, who is ‘meticulous and a delight to deal with’. The firm advised Ford Motor Retail on the nationwide sale and purchase of motor dealerships.

Well-considered advice’ is a constant of Hatch Brenner LLP’s practice. The ‘totally reliable, industrious’ Alan Dobbins displays ‘remarkable tenacity and skill’, and remains a consultant having stepped down as managing partner. Christopher Cubitt joined from Mills & Reeve LLP, bringing ‘great skill, persistence and charm’. Highlights included site acquisitions for a national developer.

Leathes Prior’s ‘always approachable and prompt’ team is ‘very good value’, with Robert Sibley and the ‘timely and professional’ Chris Hoxley singled out. It acted on the expansion of Bathstore.com’s national network of retail units.

Rogers and Norton provides ‘the personal attention and care of a small firm with the competence and professionalism of a national organisation’ to a large local client base of landowners, including developers in the healthcare sector. Bruce Faulkner has ‘effective communication skills’.

Steeles Law LLP’s Michael Fahy is valued for his ‘excellent work and advice’. The firm advised Lowestoft College on the £25m development of a sixth form college, and the London Borough of Lambeth on the £5m refurbishment of the Black Cultural Archive.

Costs are competitive and all expectations are met’ at Cozens-Hardy LLP, where the ‘practical, hardworking’ Chris Groves and Dan Evans stand out for ‘patience and determination’ in challenging deals. The firm advises on agricultural, wholesale, retail and commercial lettings.

Greenland Houchen Pomeroy acts mainly for housing association clients, including Flagship Housing Group.

Hansells’ senior partner Nick Harvey is highly recommended.

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