The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Cambridge: , Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP has James Lawrence, who ‘dissipates any mystery about transactions’; Jason Williams, who is ‘sage, pragmatic, and never afraid to give an opinion’; John Dix, noted for his ‘quick responses, and great advice with a no-nonsense approach’; and Helen Drayton, who has ‘deep knowledge and a personal touch; her rising star has now ascended’. The team has been active across MBOs, disposals and VC funding matters, including an £8m equity investment in Ranier Ltd.

Within EU and competition, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Luisa Leone at Hewitsons LLP is ‘well informed, quick, very realistic and direct’. She assisted Velux, Van Haren Publishing, and Japanese company Nichino Europe on competition compliance matters.

Within Crime, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

At Hewitsons LLP, the outstanding Deborah Sharples handles complex regulatory crime matters in the areas of environmental and health and safety.

Within Commercial litigation: Cambridge, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Robert McLellan, Simon Biggin and the newly promoted Lucinda Brown are among five highly recommended partners at Hewitsons LLP. Recent work includes representing a quarry owner in a claim for damages against a local authority.

Within Banking and finance, Hewitsons LLP is a third tier firm,

Neil Harpham’s team at Hewitsons LLP, which advises Co-operative Bank and NatWest locally, is ‘proactive, with extraordinary depth of experience’. Tim Richards is noted for his attention to detail.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Pragmatic and thorough, Hewitsons LLP’s Simon Biggin, Jason Williams and Helen Drayton are representing a US-led international group on recoveries from a European technology insolvency.

Within Employment, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP’s team is ‘shrewd and pragmatic: strengths not often combined’. Clare Waller is ‘clear and practical’; Valerie Lambert is ‘extremely attentive, and will always go the extra mile’; and Elizabeth Swinburn is ‘empathetic but commercially aware’. Clients include an international IT company.

Within Health and safety, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP advised a farmer following a death on his farm, and a school after an employee’s suicide through stress. Deborah Sharples is ‘always well prepared and professional’.

Within Regional review Regional heavyweights

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

Hewitsons LLP has a buoyant practice acting for clients across England, and ‘the level of service is excellent’. The ‘helpful and professional’ Denise Wilkinson, Charles Hewitson and Daniel Curtis saw transactions totalling over £100m.

Within Charities, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP is ‘really involved in clients’ decision-making’ and is ‘excellent value for money’. Denise Wilkinson advises the RSPB and the Wildlife Trust, and is ‘exceptionally talented, with greater ability to think through problems and come up with solutions than other firms’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate: Cambridge, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP’s team is ‘excellent, very professional’, and features Daniel Curtis, Elizabeth Davies and consultant David Bradley, founder chairman of Cambridge’s branch of STEP. The newly promoted Lucinda Brown is ‘clear and decisive’ on probate litigation; and rising star Emma Satterly is ‘very considerate’.

Within Education, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP joins the top tier this year. Clare Colacicchi’s team has a vast client roster that includes Oxford’s Merton College, independent and maintained schools, further education institutions, and many Cambridge colleges. ‘All partners listen carefully, and they give holistic support on all fronts’.

Within Local government, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP has a multi-disciplinary team acting for clients such as Cambridge City Council and Huntingdonshire District Council. It includes Deborah Sharples, who is outstanding on the environmental side, and Colin Jones, who heads the firm’s M11 Development Group.

Within Commercial property: Cambridge, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

At Hewitsons LLP, Elizabeth Jones, Graeme Sampson and James Simpson are ‘very proactive, alert, thorough and diligent’, and are appreciated for their ‘strength and tenacity to get things done’. Jones is advising the Medical Research Council as a member of the UKCMRI joint venture behind a £600m research centre in London. Other clients are as far afield as Devon and Northumberland.

Within Construction, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP’s team is ‘very good indeed; they understand how their advice impinges on a business’. Colin Jones is ‘practical and always ready to help’, and recently advised Huntingdonshire District Council on a £3m car park project.

Within Environment, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Proactive, quick, and responsive’, Deborah Sharples is a vastly experienced environmental lawyer, whose wide-ranging work places Hewitsons LLP firmly in the top tier. She recently defended a farmer accused of breaching an abatement notice; represented two farmers outside East Anglia who operated livestock units without PPC permits; and advised a chemical manufacturer on the remediation of contaminated land.

Within Planning, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Deborah Sharples at Hewitsons LLP is ‘knowledgeable, enthusiastic and responsive’. Her recent work includes assisting an objector to a new truck stop, and successfully representing a poultry farmer in relation to expansion plans.

Within Property litigation, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

At Hewitsons LLP, the outstanding Robert McLellan and newly promoted partner Lucinda Brown handled a noise nuisance claim against a motocross stadium, and a restrictive covenant dispute involving a premier stud farm in Sussex.

Within Intellectual property, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

At Hewitsons LLP, Bill Thatcher ‘knows clients’ businesses inside out; his work is second to none’; and Mark Elmslie has the rare skill of boiling down issues to their core. The team advises many clothing brands on anti-counterfeiting. The highly respected Niel Ackermann has sadly passed away.

Within IT and telecoms, Hewitsons LLP is a second tier firm,

Bill Thatcher’s technology group at Hewitsons LLP ‘compares extremely well to others because of its leadership, pragmatism and friendly, caring attitude’. Its recent workload includes software licensing, risk management and disputes, including a settlement for a national car company for breach of a software development agreement.

Within Sport, Hewitsons LLP is a first tier firm,

Hewitsons LLP’s Luisa Leone is ‘always prepared and sensitive to the needs of a business’, and handles work for agents, clubs, sporting goods companies such as Nike, and sports federations, including some connected with the Olympics.