The Legal 500

Gregory Rowcliffe Milners (GRM) is a progressive law firm servicing both commercial and private clients throughout London, the UK and abroad. Impeccable credentials and a longstanding blue-chip reputation combine with an outstanding network of contacts – in the London legal market, the UK and internationally – to enable the firm to attract and retain its diverse client base. In addition to corporate and commercial services, litigation and quality private client advice, the firm also offers specialist expertise in areas including employment law, judicial review, property litigation and trust and estate administration. GRM is renowned for providing commercial and private client services to clients from a range of international markets, including Germany, Italy, Spain, France, the US, Australia, Malta and Korea. The firm offers the services of dual qualified bilingual German and Italian lawyers, employs a bilingual Korean-qualified attorney, and also has a lawyer who is a fellow of the International Bar Association.

The firm: GRM has been resident at its Bedford Row offices for over 200 years, although its history stretches back even further. Its clients – UK and international – are spread across a range of sectors and include commercial companies and partnerships – large and small, public sector organisations, statutory and trade bodies, educational, charitable and other institutions. Not only does the firm have particularly strong connections with UK and overseas trade associations, embassies and inward investment agencies, it is also part of IGAL, an international grouping of lawyers and accountants.

GRM’s ethos is based on a high and consistent degree of partner involvement and a commitment to building and maintaining personal relationships. Because of its size, the firm is able to offer creative solutions and an ability to focus on achieving the results each client needs in a way that best suits their individual requirements. The firm has a well-regarded London agency practice for litigation and can also provide private client and other services to smaller or specialist firms who are unable or unwilling to undertake certain types of work themselves.

Types of work undertaken: GRM’s active corporate/commercial team provides practical legal and taxation solutions to national, international and multinational businesses. This may take the form of advising overseas organisations with UK interests (potential or current), internationally owned UK-based businesses, or UK companies entering international markets.

The firm’s pragmatic and highly experienced employment team specialises in providing a full range of employment and HR-related services. Where possible, its approach is preventative; in line with this, prospective clients are offered an initial review of existing documentation and procedures. Services provided include drafting and review of employment contracts, termination of employment, unfair dismissal and discrimination, together with drafting policies and devising appropriate structures and procedures.

A full range of litigation services is provided to institutional, business and private clients in respect of administrative law (especially judicial review applications against public bodies); commercial, employment and property disputes; family law disputes (including matrimonial), personal injury and claims relating to trusts and wills. The firm is known for the international (especially German and Italian) aspect of its commercial and family litigation.

GRM’s property team services all aspects of commercial, industrial, agricultural, investment and residential conveyancing including estate management, planning and tax planning. The team can also deal directly with property litigation matters when required.

As well as a full range of standard private client services, GRM also offers expertise in inheritance and tax planning, including the preservation of listed buildings and works of art, the creation of charitable trusts and the administration of estates – often with an international dimension. The firm offers a specialist sports group to meet the needs of all sports-related clients, whether individuals, clubs, managers, coaches, sporting bodies, and sports-related companies. It also has a strong presence in the charitable sector.

Breakdown of work %
Company and commercial 30
Litigation 24
Property 24
Private client 22

Number of UK partners 12
Number of other UK fee-earners 19