What we say about the firm's legal practice in Wales
Corporate and commercial
Within Corporate and commercial: Cardiff and South Wales, Darwin Gray is a third tier firm,
Darwin Gray draws comparisons with London-based practices for its knowledge and expertise in SME transactions. Clients include UES Ltd, Navitas and Cyrus Group. Chris Crane leads the team, which includes Jason Smith, who has ‘excellent knowledge and negotiation skills around company law’.
Dispute resolution
Within Commercial litigation , Darwin Gray is a third tier firm,
Darwin Gray has ‘an ability to relate to clients’ needs’. The four-partner team includes Stephen Thompson, who is experienced in professional partnership disputes, and recently led on a successful arbitration and appeal relating to a construction contract claim. Clients include Navitas, Barratt Homes and GD Environment Services.
Finance
Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Darwin Gray is a second tier firm,
Darwin Gray’s joint practice heads Ian Herbert and Kempton Rees lead on contentious work, where the team recently represented liquidators and private individuals. The practice also handles non-contentious matters.
Human resources
Within Employment: Cardiff, Darwin Gray is a second tier firm,
At Darwin Gray, Bethan Darwin and Damian Phillips advise large employers and senior-level individuals, with Phillips noted for his ‘experience in acting for both sides in disputes’. Fflur Jones is ‘incredibly bright and a true model’, and specialises in discrimination issues, recently winning a tribunal claim for security company Guarding Limited.
Insurance
Within Professional negligence, Darwin Gray is a second tier firm,
Darwin Gray is an up-and-coming player in the field, handling claimant work for architects, engineers and lawyers among other professionals. Ian Herbert has experience acting for banking and corporate clients.
Overview
Within Regional review,
Mid-tier firms demonstrate specialist expertise to actively compete with regional heavyweights. Darwin Gray opened a Newport office and continues to develop strengths in commercial and property litigation. Capital Law LLP is increasingly competitive in the media and IP fields. In Swansea and West Wales, Morgan LaRoche Limited, Douglas-Jones Mercer and JCP Solicitors, Harding Evans LLP and Hutchinson Thomas act for key corporate and commercial clients in the locality and beyond.
Real estate
Within Commercial property: Cardiff, Darwin Gray is a third tier firm,
At Darwin Gray, practice head Alison Ivin focuses on development and regeneration projects; and Donald Gray specialises in mining/minerals and common land issues, providing ‘support and sound, honest advice at all times’. Clients include Taylor Wimpey and Persimmon Homes.
Within Construction , Darwin Gray is a third tier firm,
Darwin Gray’s strength lies in contentious matters, with Stephen Thompson providing ‘great in-depth knowledge of the industry’ to construction professionals. Donald Gray mainly handles non-contentious work.
Within Planning and environment, Darwin Gray is a second tier firm,
Darwin Gray’s Alison Ivin combines public sector experience with a focus on regeneration, and recently advised the Prince’s Foundation For The Built Environment on its project on former BP-owned sites in South Wales. Donald Gray specialises in mining/minerals and environmental issues.
Within Property litigation , Darwin Gray is a first tier firm,
Darwin Gray’s ‘personable, highly professional, practical and tenacious’ practice head Rhodri Lewis was instructed by Barratts in litigation against Welsh Water. The practice handles commercial and residential property disputes, and gained new clients including the Barry Waterfront Consortium. Donald Gray is also recommended.
TMT (technology, media and telecoms)
Within Intellectual property , Darwin Gray is a third tier firm,
Darwin Gray mainly acts for hi-tech and telecoms industry clients. Chris Crane advised Mitel Networks on trademark issues. Stephen Thompson handles contentious matters, recently representing online company HotelREZ in a domain name dispute.
Within IT and telecoms, Darwin Gray is a first tier firm,
Darwin Gray’s Chris Crane has ‘second-to-none’ knowledge and expertise in telecoms, and ‘explains things in plain English and understands the practicalities of doing business and selling’. Jason Smith also handles non-contentious matters. Stephen Thompson led on various IT contract disputes.
Within Sport , Darwin Gray is a second tier firm,
Darwin Gray’s Jason Smith advises individuals and organisations on commercial issues, and Rhys Parsons acts for rugby professionals, in which area his ‘knowledge and advice is second to none’. Rhodri Lewis handled contractual disputes for Llanelli RFC.