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Moving up to the top tier this year in recognition of the scale of its commercial debt collection operation, Nelsons has the ability to collect national and international business-to-business debt for over 450 clients such as Intercontinental Hotel Group, The Open University and Credit Suisse. It also has a construction specialism and maintains a consumer debt capability. Clients report a ‘very high level of service’, ‘way above average’.

The proactive lender services team at Shoosmiths adds value with its services to retail and corporate banking lenders, and asset and motor finance and consumer credit clients. The expanded group now has dedicated teams tasked with unsecured and secured recoveries, residential mortgages, asset finance and finance regulatory, and pure finance industry recoveries, bringing finance litigation, recoveries and collection and regulation and compliance expertise to its clients. The firm has provided in-house training on the changes to the Consumer Credit Act, and has developed a mortgage rehabilitation service.

With 30 years’ experience in debt recovery, Hewitsons LLP’s team advises on recovery processes and collections, and counts Corus among its clients. John Shephard deals with defended debt cases for a range of clients such as technology and manufacturing concerns, schools and landlords.

Formerly head of the debt recovery unit at Nelsons, Andrew Shipley has moved to Roythornes, adding expertise on cross-border claims and litigation. Marie Evans heads an ‘extremely helpful and friendly’ team whose clients include E.ON. ‘The entire team delivers excellent service’.

Actons’ personalised service has attracted new client The Nottingham Park Estate Limited to its collection of high street retailers and equipment coding concerns for whom it provides bulk debt collection services. Insolvency debt cases are a distinguishing feature of the practice.

Flint Bishop Solicitors has won the Treasury Solicitor and Marston’s Pub Company as new clients, and has expanded its dedicated team, headed by Andrew Cochrane.

Winning five new clients in the last year, including VW Finance, the team at HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP specialises in asset finance and banking litigation, fraud cases and consumer credit disputes, with a particular focus on vehicle finance matters.

High-volume debt recovery for clients such as Nestor Healthcare plc is facilitated by the client communications technology employed at Smith Partnership. Builders merchant JT Dove Limited is a new client gain.

Wilkin Chapman’s significant debt recovery practice is distinguished by its focus on collections for 70 local authorities nationwide. Its charging order and insolvency groups’ services are called on by all types of creditors.

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