The Legal 500

This niche practice, working nationally and internationally out of Bristol, is known for its high-quality commercial services, including litigation, commercial work, intellectual property and employment law, as well as planning and real estate. Private client specialisms include occupational disease litigation and contested inheritance litigation.

The firm: Humphreys & Co is an independent solicitors’ firm working for commercial and private clients, delivering a high-quality, cost-effective range of legal services with experience, energy and professionalism. Its lawyers work closely together; clients’ affairs are not compartmentalised into unconnected issues of law.

The firm is not a legal factory turning out a mass-produced legal product. It offers, and it finds that many clients prefer, an independent approach. Personal case-handling by solicitors working in a financially disciplined way is the firm’s approach.

The aim is always to be transparent about the legal process, giving advice and explaining options to clients in a concise and straightforward way, identifying clear courses of action, whatever the technical or legal complexities of the subject.

The costs approach is competitive, particularly by reference to the fee rates of large firms. Charges are generally by reference to time spent but the firm often agrees fixed fees for specific projects or in some cases, risk-adjusted funding structures.

Types of work undertaken: A wide range of commercial services is provided, including, for example: negotiating, drafting and explaining agency, distribution and supply agreements, partnership terms, conditions of trading, computer and IT contracts, franchising and outsourcing documentation.

Corporate transactions include: company and partnership structure, company law and director compliance, shareholder arrangements, new ventures, joint ventures and share/asset sales and purchases.

The firm has strength in depth in litigation of all types, aiming to make court, arbitration and mediation procedures work positively for clients. The litigation practice includes: contractual claims and recoveries, shareholder and partnership disputes, professional negligence claims, land and property claims, construction disputes, insurance and reinsurance litigation, defamation actions, receivership and liquidation claims, including mediation and other alternative dispute resolution processes.

All kinds of commercial property work are undertaken, including: developments (residential and commercial), acquisitions and disposals, investments, industrial properties and lease negotiations.

With The Planning Inspectorate for England and Wales located in Bristol, property planning work is a specialist strength through the firm’s planning advice and representations unit, including: negotiation with councils, applications, appeals against refusals, objections, enforcement notices, appeals against enforcement, lawful development/use certificates and advocacy at hearings and inquiries.

Intellectual property and IT law are core practice areas. Registration, maintenance, transfer, licensing of and litigation about IP are long-established strengths. The firm’s lawyers work extensively with issues of: trade marks, patents, copyright, designs, trade secrets, know-how, employee obligations, media, publishing, the internet, trade libel and passing off.

Employment and human resources services include: contracts and staff issues, occupational health and safety, redundancy, dismissal, discipline, severance compensation, unfair competition, post-termination restrictions, discrimination (including in relation to race, sex, age and disability), employment tribunal proceedings and industrial relations.

Private client work includes a long-established and highly regarded claimant occupational disease unit, in particular working with asbestosis, mesothelioma, respiratory diseases and other conditions. Contested probate and inheritance litigation is also a key area. The firm has a well-regarded, efficient practice in residential conveyancing, as well as in property and negligence litigation for and against private clients.

Number of UK partners 4
Number of other UK fee-earners 16