The Legal 500

Providing an ‘excellent overall level of service’, Barlow Lyde & Gilbert LLP is the ‘best all round in the market’, with a ‘responsive, practical, user-friendly’ team noted for its strength in depth. The 20-partner department is led by Sarah Clover, who is praised for her ‘commercial approach’ and ‘first-class knowledge’. Its ‘vast client base’ includes the Big Four accounting firms as well as insurance heavyweights Zurich Professional Limited, Fortis and ACE, and it has also acted for 31 out of the top 50 law firms and numerous construction professionals, surveyors and brokers. Head of the lawyers’ liability group Richard Harrison is ‘a first-rate lawyer always willing to go the extra mile to meet clients’ expectations’, and the ‘very experienced’ Neil Jamieson, the ‘quick and decisive’ Julian Randall and the ‘excellent’ Richard Dedman are singled out for praise.

With ‘excellent understanding of the marketplace’, CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s 13-partner group is led by Liam O’Connell, who ‘always delivers’. It has a ‘robust commercial approach’ and covers all of the major disciplines including solicitors, brokers, accountants, actuaries, financial professionals, and surveyors, and is well known as ‘one of the top firms for construction litigation’. Previously in-house counsel at Jardine Lloyd Thompson, Ed Foss joined the partnership in 2008. Bristol-based Peter Mansfield and Peter Maguire are recommended, and Martin Fox is a ‘good strategic thinker’.

Providing clients with ‘pragmatic advice’ and an ‘excellent level of service’, Mayer Brown International LLP’s 29-partner practice is led by Karen Abbott who is noted for her ‘excellent market knowledge’. The practice spans the financial, insurance, legal, technology and construction sectors. The team has a ‘get-it-done attitude’ and includes the ‘excellent’ Clare Canning, the ‘superb’ William Glassey, Lindsay McQuillian, Matthew Lawson, Simon Willis and Jim Oulton. Michael Regan leads the construction group, closely supported by Sally Davies; it continues to act for insurers in relation to claims arising out of Wembley Stadium.

Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s 12-partner practice is highly regarded in the market. As well as advising traditional professions such as accountants, solicitors and surveyors, it acts for financial professionals such as trustees, actuaries, and hedge fund and technology professionals. It acts for three of the Big Four accounting firms, and also Grant Thornton, QBE, Markel and Canopius. Tim Bull leads the professional risks group, and Robert Hogarth leads the construction group, where highlights included acting for Xplor in the defence of a claim for £2.7m issued against geotechnical engineers for allegedly negligent ground investigations. Jane Howard heads a team handling claims against accountants and auditors, and Edward Smerdon and Simon Greenley are also recommended.

Herbert Smith LLP’s 18-partner team is ‘one of the top firms in the market’. A leading firm for complex, high-value work, the ‘excellent’ David Reston and Paul Lewis lead a team praised for its ‘highly professional, efficient and client-friendly’ approach. The practice encompasses the insurance, financial, technology and construction arenas. Highlights for 2008 included acting for CIBC World Markets in relation to the highly publicised failure of the Box Clever securitisation.

Kennedys’ 25-partner team, led by Matt Andrews, is highly rated in the market and expanded in 2008. It now has a presence in the South West having acquired Reynolds Porter Chamberlain LLP’s Taunton office, and former DLA Piper UK LLP partner Eamon Mooney has established a team in the Midlands. In 2008, the firm successfully concluded the TAG litigation for AIG, Hiscox, R&SA, St Paul (Travelers) and Zurich; this was led by Simon Gibson and Sue Plumb.

Richard Beaty leads Beachcroft LLP’s seven-partner team, whose client base includes a significant number of domestic and international insurers and reinsurers. Current active clients include Ace Global Markets, Royal & SunAlliance, Aspen, Aviva and Capita. Patrick Hill is also recommended.

Beale and Company Solicitors LLP is renowned for its ‘excellent construction practice’, led by Antony Smith. It also advises on legal, financial and insurance related claims, where Ed Anderson is recommended. Highlights for 2008 included advising the insurers of a large firm of solicitors on a mortgage fraud case to date involving over 500 fraudulent property transactions.

Highlights for the ‘well-established’ ten-partner team at Berrymans Lace Mawer LLP included its appointment to the Zurich professional panel, and a resulting increase in claims against solicitors. Michael Salau and Keith Lonsdale’s ‘renowned construction practice’ advised on a multimillion-pound dispute relating to a redevelopment of 42 acres of former industrial and railway land at the edge of Norwich city centre. Practice head Charlotte Capstick and Simon Hilditch are recommended.

Chris Harris leads the 19-partner team at Clyde & Co LLP, where notable instructions include advising the insurers of a construction company which was repairing a bridge when it collapsed causing eight fatalities and over 70 injuries in the Czech Republic. The team was also notably appointed to the ACE European Group’s non-claims legal panel.

With a team that provides ‘first-class support’ and has ‘a friendly, approachable and down-to-earth approach’, Davies Arnold Cooper LLP expanded its international team with the appointment of Hermes Marangos from Clyde & Co LLP in 2008. Panel memberships for the practice include QBE Solicitors Panel, Assigned Risks Pool Solicitors Panel, the Bar Mutual Panel and the Libra Panel. Philip Murrin is ‘alive to commercial realities’ and has an ‘astute, immediate and intuitive grasp of the relevant issue in any case’. Ross Risby is also recommended.

Eversheds LLP’s well-regarded professional negligence practice is led by Simon Brooks. Praised for its ‘can-do attitude’, highlights for the five-partner team included acting for leading broker Miller in a multimillion-pound dispute regarding claims against a major accountancy firm in relation to tax avoidance schemes.

Fishburns’ 15-partner practice ‘punches above its weight’ and was boosted in 2008 by the arrival of John Groome from Davies Lavery. Known for its expertise in construction and engineering cases, the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ team is also rated for its work in the legal, insurance and financial sectors. Praised for its ‘streamlined approach’, the team includes the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Andrew Davis, Philip Heartfield and Antony Marsh, who are all are singled out by clients.

The ‘excellent’ Kathryn Ludlow heads the 16-partner team at Linklaters LLP, which focuses on complex, high-value disputes that threaten the business and reputation of the client. Highlights for 2008 include acting for KPMG UK on a £450m claim by the liquidators of Independent Insurance plc.

The ‘tough’ 11-partner team at Lovells LLP is led by John Trotter. Focusing on high-profile, high-value work, the practice has a strong reputation in the area of legal professionals, and is increasingly active in accounting and actuary claims. Highlights included advising two directors of HAE Trustees Ltd, defending a claim seeking to make them personally liable for alleged breaches of trust by the trustee company. Angela Dimsdale Gill ‘always does an excellent job’.

Neil Davis leads a five-partner team at Mills & Reeve LLP that is ‘very consistent and provides a high level of service’. It continues to attract high-value, high-profile claims against solicitors, and also construction professionals and insurance brokers. Virginia Hickley demonstrates ‘remarkable drive, determination and vision’. The firm was boosted in 2008 with the arrival of Nicolas Oldham and Michael Mitchell from Vizards Wyeth. Former team head Geoff Barrett retired in May 2008.

With work ranging across the legal, pensions, IT, construction, surveyors and brokers markets, Pinsent Masons LLP’s ten-partner team has a ‘pragmatic approach’ and is led by Fiona Heyes. Highlights for 2008 included advising Travelers Insurance Company in connection with two separate matters involving a leading law firm, valued at £3m. Isabel Nurse-Marsh ‘is a pleasure to deal with’.

Led by Nick Speed, who ‘has great experience in the insurance field’, Reed Smith’s 16-partner team is commended as ‘approachable, efficient and supportive’, with Catherine May singled out for praise. Notable clients include Amec, Foster and Partners, and QBE.

Mark Aizlewood leads the five-partner team at Robin Simon LLP, which was boosted by the arrival of Mark Aizlewood from Mills & Reeve LLP and Jacquetta Castle from Charles Russell. The firm has seen a growth in complex professional indemnity including D&O and FI claims, and is increasingly receiving instructions from lawyers defending claims from a range of insurers and underwriters. Former office head Claire Bolton left the team in 2008.

Noted for its ‘no-nonsense approach’, Simmons & Simmons’ four-partner team is led by Colin Passmore, who is praised for his ‘excellent response times and accessibility to clients’. The recommended Caroline Hunter-Yeats was promoted to partner in 2008, and Ian Hammond is singled out by clients.

The ‘adaptable’ and ‘brilliant’ Christopher Coffin leads the ‘first-class’ four-partner team at Withers LLP, which acts for defendants, insurers and claimants. Highlights for 2008 included defending several high-profile barristers in relation to negligent advice claims.

Headline cases for the ‘excellent team’ at Bond Pearce LLP - led by Karen Morrish - include advising CNA in respect of a claim against a firm of architects arising from a substantial residential development in London.

Clifford Chance is experienced in acting for accountants, lawyers, and insurance brokers as well as acting in relation to claims concerning financial and investment advice. Active clients include ESR, Mayer Brown International LLP and Philipp Holzmann AG. Leading individuals in the ‘excellent’ four-partner team include Denis Brock, Philip Hill and Kari McCormick.

Focusing on complex, high-value work, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is particularly experienced in defending financial institutions and accountancy firms against negligence claims. Part of a ‘team that does an excellent job’, Raj Parker and Sarah Parkes are singled out for praise by clients.

David Robinson, Andrew Bandurka and Paul Wordley lead the team at Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, which acts for both buyers and sellers of insurance policies as well as for businesses making claims against insured professionals.

Ince & Co’s team is led by the ‘experienced’ David Rutherford. Praised for its ‘ability to handle large, complex matters’, it advises professionals in the legal, insurance, accountancy, financial, engineering and shipbroking sectors.

Significant cases for the team at Norton Rose LLP include advising Stone & Rolls, in a US$100m claim against auditors Moore Stephens. Team head Susan Dingwall is recommended.

Led by the ‘expert’ Richard Clark, Slaughter and May is ‘very good value for money’, and specialises in high-end professional negligence work, advising major insurance brokers, actuaries, banks, and other financial institutions. Clients of the specialist pensions dispute resolution team include Mercer.

Noted for its ‘immediate, partner-level responses’, Stephenson Harwood provides ‘clear, commercial advice’. The ‘exceptional’ and ‘enthusiastic’ Roland Foord leads the team, whose clients include KPMG LLP, Financial Services Compensation Scheme and Christie’s International. Stephen Roberts is also recommended.

Taylor Wessing LLP was boosted by the appointment of three new partners in 2008: Laurence Lieberman from DLA Piper UK LLP, Len Murray from Baker & McKenzie LLP, and Anthony Menzies from Clyde & Co LLP. Active clients include Alliance & Leicester, Bath & North East Somerset Council, and GE Commercial Finance. Richard Marsh is singled out for praise.

Led by Jonathan Leslie, Travers Smith LLP’s three-partner practice continues to represent the wholesale banking arm of Abbey National in relation to a £21m claim brought against it and another company by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.