The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Higgs & Sons is a second tier firm,

The level of service at Higgs & Sons , a ‘progressive and forward-thinking firm’, is ‘nothing short of excellent’. Team head Nick Taylor receives many plaudits from clients, and Damian Beard is noted as ‘approachable’. The practice assisted UPG in the completion of two acquisitions of payment card processing and transaction-solutions businesses. Associate Kate Legg is ‘reliable’.

Within Corporate tax, tier 4

Higgs & Sons’ Susheel Gupta is ‘available 24/7’. He continues to provide structuring advice to Bond Wolfe and its key shareholders on a number of their business interests.

Within Crime, Higgs & Sons is a second tier firm,

Higgs & Sons’ Catherine Junor has ‘an excellent eye for detail and very deep knowledge’, and ‘never lets her clients down’. The team focuses on private criminal law and motoring offences, and is noted by clients as delivering value for money.

Within Commercial litigation: Birmingham,

Clarke Willmott LLP advised Ben Collins (The Stig) in his dispute with the BBC concerning the publication of his memoirs. Other clients include CSJ Planning Consultants and DTZ Debenhams Tie Leung. Owen Williams leads the team. Tom Read is now at Higgs & Sons.

Within Commercial litigation: Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Higgs & Sons is a first tier firm,

Higgs & Sons now has four partners following the addition of the ‘very knowledgeable’ Tom Read from Clarke Willmott LLP. Head of department Julia Lowe is highly rated by clients, and ‘always keeps a cool head’. The ‘efficient’ Nyree Applegarth is acting for Martin Vickers in a claim for a declaration that a legal charge was a sham and should be set aside. The team is ‘on the up’.

Within Debt recovery Debt recovery

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery , tier 4

The ‘very knowledgeable’ David Ellis heads the team at Higgs & Sons, and associate Sunil Abbi is appreciated for his ‘no-nonsense approach’. Clients include Begbies Traynor, and Smith and Williamson. The team has seen a surge in s110 restructurings, and advises on personal insolvencies.

Within Employment, tier 5

Higgs & Sons has a significant presence in the transport, haulage and brewing sectors. Tim Jones’ team represented Marston’s in a race discrimination claim.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Higgs & Sons is a third tier firm,

Liz Hickman’s team at Higgs & Sons specialises in pursing brain and orthopaedic injury claims, as well as claims arising out of the delayed diagnosis of cancer and spinal injuries. The group handles publicly funded work.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Higgs & Sons is a third tier firm,

Higgs & Sons covers the full range of personal injury work. Ian Shovlin is singled out for his expertise in high-value catastrophic injury cases, while Andy Shaw is noted for dealing with industrial disease cases.

Within Family: Elsewhere in the West Midlands Family: Elsewhere in the West Midlands

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Higgs & Sons is a first tier firm,

Higgs & Sons ‘compares well with established City firms on ability, but charges provincial rates’. Lucy Obrey and Robert Leek are ‘extremely good lawyers’: ‘sensitive, understanding, efficient, and most of all, knowledgeable’. Nick Moxon is ‘personable, hardworking and diligent’.

Within Commercial property: Elsewhere in the West Midlands, Higgs & Sons is a first tier firm,

The five-partner team at Higgs & Sons provides a ‘first-rate service’. It acts for names such as McDonald’s, Avis Rent a Car, and London and Cambridge Properties, one of the UK’s largest private landlords, and also has considerable expertise in property financing, advising clients such as RBS and National Westminster Bank. The ‘thoroughly professional and pleasant’ Sara Shepherd and Peter Coleman are highly recommended.