The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, tier 4

Henmans LLP’s team, led by Malcolm Sadler and assisted by the very able Rachel McCullough, is known for advising entrepreneurs, SMEs and technology sector clients. Sadler recently advised on the MBO of Oxford Cryosystems, and also assisted the shareholders of Radcliffe Publishing in its sale to Electric Word.

Within Commercial litigation: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Henmans LLP’s ‘professional team’ is ‘swift to act’, and has ‘City-level experience’ and specialist strength in areas such as professional negligence and indemnity, property, product liability, construction and defamation cases. The group recently acted in a breach of fiduciary duty case worth £1m. Joint practice heads Sarah Foster and Duncan Crine are recommended, as is Andrew Crocombe.

Within Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Henmans LLP is a third tier firm,

Henmans LLP provides ‘extremely good value for money for the level and quality of advice’, and advises clients in the automobile and motor racing industries. James Simpson provides ‘commercially feasible solutions’. Clients include Reading Transport and Stagecoach in East Kent, Warwickshire and Oxfordshire.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘hugely experienced and highly regarded’ Cecily Cameron leads an ‘excellent’ team at Henmans LLP. Highlights for 2010 included several Erb’s palsy and cholecystectomy cases.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Henmans LLP’s ‘professional and dedicated’ team advises clients on road traffic accidents, employers’ liability and complex brain injury claims. Mary Duncan has ‘first-rate experience’.

Within Personal injury: defendant Personal injury: defendant

Within Professional negligence, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Henmans LLP is a ‘centre of excellence in the niche area of lawyers’ claims’, and is particularly experienced in property, injury and trust-related matters. Practice head Duncan Crine is ‘exceptional’ and ‘highly experienced’; and Sarah Foster and Philip Evans are also recommended.

Within Agriculture and estates, Henmans LLP is a first tier firm,

The rural services group at Henmans LLP advised on the acquisition of the £23m 1,500-acre Kiddington Estate in 2010. It also acts for individuals and educational establishments. Iain Davis leads the team.

Within Charities, Henmans LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘knowledgeable’ team at Henmans LLP specialises in contentious probate and legacy administration, and also advises a number of national charities on property, employment and corporate matters. Angela Bowman’s team recently advised the RSPCA on the validity of a will involving German jurisdiction.

Within Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

‘Efficient and highly competent’, Henmans LLP handles high-value ancillary relief cases. The ‘professional, supportive and knowledgeable’ Rachael Oakes offers ‘robust and realistic advice’ and has experience in collaborative law.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

Henmans LLP’s ‘pragmatic’ team handles offshore work and Court of Protection cases. Nigel Roots is ‘excellent at keeping it simple’, and Jane Maitland ‘seeks solutions to problems’. Paul Thompson and litigator Sarah Foster are recommended.

Within Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40, Henmans LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘very thorough’ Adrian White leads the practice at Henmans LLP, which is recommended for its ‘partner-led service’ and ‘proactive approach’. New clients in 2010 included ResMed (UK) and SCA Music Holdings (Sony). Lesley Pollock is ‘very knowledgeable, tenacious, commercial and personable’, and Patrick Whetter ‘thinks outside the box’.

Within Construction Construction

Within Intellectual property Intellectual property