The Legal 500

Within Customs and Excise, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

The ‘highly proficient’ team at Irwin Mitchell LLP is ‘pre-eminent’ in the field, and has strength in tax investigations involving a criminal element. Areas of note include investigations into football club transfers and tax fraud, and offshore tax fraud. Practice head Maurice Martin is valued for his ‘years of experience’, and has an ‘excellent relationship with senior staff of HMRC’. Sarah Wallace and Kevin Robinson are also key figures.

Within Financial services, tier 5

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s financial crime regulatory experience is noteworthy. Andrew Wallis is recommended, and Kevin Robinson’s track record includes acting in the largest-ever insider dealing prosecution. Sarah Wallace is ‘dedicated to achieving the client’s best outcome’.

Within M&A: smaller deals up to £50m, Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s M&A profile continued to rise with the hire of David Glover from Eversheds LLP. Led by corporate head Andrew Woolf, the firm advised Southbank UK on the reverse takeover of AIM-listed company Nviro Cleantech.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , Irwin Mitchell is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP is acting for numerous individuals in substantial prosecutions involving the FSA, the SFO, and HMRC. Kevin Robinson ‘combines client care of the highest order with thorough preparation, insight into the real issues in a case, and truly excellent judgment’. The team successfully defended a British Airways director in the OFT’s price-fixing investigation and subsequent criminal prosecution.

Within Commercial litigation, tier 6

Irwin Mitchell LLP ‘staffs cost-effectively, and the quality of output is high’. The team recently acted in litigation against a bank in relation to a fraudulent loan. Jeremy Marshall ‘gets things done. He also manages the team effectively and in an inclusive manner, engendering confidence’.

Within Debt recovery, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP undertakes a significant amount of pre-litigation work across its eight regional UK offices. In 2010, the ‘efficient’ and ‘easy-to-work-with’ team received instructions in relation to over £31.8m of debt, of which it successfully recovered around £17m. Clients include a major national accountancy firm, government bodies, and a chain of decorating material suppliers. Barry Hogg heads an 11-strong team in London.

Within Professional discipline, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s ‘top-notch’ practice is active in representing professionals from the educational, healthcare, financial and legal sectors. Sheffield-based Andrew Lockley heads the team; and Sarah Wallace in London is also recommended, particularly for her experience in representing individuals facing FSA disciplinary proceedings.

Within Employment, tier 8

Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is structured around sector specialisms, and works with clients such as Allianz, Kier, Morgan Stanley and Wal-Mart. Helen Farr is ‘good at analysing complex matters and relaying them in lay person’s terms’, and recently defended a Lloyds Banking Group client in the £1m Constantine whistleblowing case; and Bob Mecrate-Butcher is noted for TUPE issues. Team head Michael Ryley is ‘excellent, with a great deal of experience’. Lisa Patmore and Tom Flanagan left during 2010.

Within Health and safety,

Also of note are: Clyde & Co LLP, for its energy sector specialisation; the ‘pragmatic, sensible’ Anne Davies, now at Crowell & Moring; D avid Egan at Irwin Mitchell LLP; Kingsley Napley LLP, whose criminal law background is an advantage in investigations by maritime authorities, among others; Weightmans LLP’s strong national team; and Plexus Law, which ‘continues to push the boundaries’.

Within Pensions, tier 6

Anne Taylor’s pensions group at Irwin Mitchell LLP recently advised Liverpool Victoria on its retirement solutions business.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

With a ‘seemingly endless supply of top-end work’, Irwin Mitchell LLP fields one of the largest teams in the market and earns ‘nothing but praise’ from many clients, and is noted for its national network of teams and ‘inspirational choice of barristers’. Areas of particular expertise include obstetric, neurosurgical, psychiatric and oncology claims. The group regularly obtains claim settlements exceeding £4m, with some recent cases topping £7m. Its ‘standout performers’ include practice head Alison Eddy, a ‘pioneer in clinical negligence cases who is very experienced’, and Auriana Griffiths, who is ‘honest and supportive, and gives good advice’. Other notable practitioners include Ian Christian, and Amanda Stevens; the latter joined from Charles Russell LLP and is experienced in clinical negligence and personal injury cases.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

Home to the UK’s largest personal injury practice, Irwin Mitchell LLP is a ‘market leader’, with ‘experience and client-handling skills that are second to none’. Practice head Colin Ettinger is ‘a great campaigner for causes’, and particularly adept at brain and spinal injury cases. Tracey Storey is renowned for her ‘pioneering work for victims of childhood abuse’, ‘relates well to clients, and adopts a sensible and holistic approach to problems’. The practice is structured to include a number of specialist teams, including a ‘superb’ asbestos disease unit. Recent recruit Amanda Stevens, who joined from Charles Russell LLP, is ‘a great addition’, being ‘quietly authoritative and extremely industrious’, and showing ‘superb judgement’. Alison Eddy, Guy Darlaston, Demetrius Danas, Michael Zurbrugg, Caroline Pinfold and Keith Barrett are also recommended.

Within Personal injury: defendant Leading individuals

Within Product liability: claimant, Irwin Mitchell is a first tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s size and status in the market enables it to handle complex group actions and individual litigation, particularly cases relating to pharmaceutical, medical, occupational health, and transport disasters. The group, led by Andrew Tucker, was recently instructed in relation to numerous claims following the failure of ‘metal on metal’ hip replacements. Also recommended are David Body, Clive Garner, Suki Chhokar, and Jim Morris.

Within Professional negligence Professional negligence

Within Family, tier 5

The ‘insightful and flawless’ Elizabeth Hicks at Irwin Mitchell LLP oversees a high-calibre international practice, which was boosted by the arrival of ‘consummate professional’ John Nicholson from Speechly Bircham LLP, who has ‘excellent analytical skills’.

Within Overview,

In terms of notable partner moves, star practitioner Rupert Ticehurst left Herbert Smith LLP for Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, beefing up the firm’s capacity to handle trust disputes; and Charles Russell LLP lost the head of its contentious trusts practice, Morven McMillan, who moved to Cayman Islands firm Mourant Ozannes. In the family sphere, Tom Amlot left Harbottle & Lewis LLP to join Alexiou Fisher Philipps; and Speechly Bircham LLP lost Richard Hogwood to Stewarts Law LLP and John Nicholson to Irwin Mitchell LLP.

Within Administrative and public law, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

The claimant-focused practice at Irwin Mitchell LLP includes Sheffield-based Andrew Lockley, who recently acted in a judicial review of the Department of Health’s compensation scheme for recipients of contaminated blood in the 1980s. London-based associate Alex Rook has an ‘admirable ability for forensic legal analysis’.

Within Civil liberties and human rights, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

A ‘very good outfit’, Irwin Mitchell LLP advises on prison law and actions against the police, and has particular experience assisting in mental incapacity cases, where it is often instructed by the Official Solicitor. Sheffield-based partners Andrew Lockley and Yogi Amin are highly recommended.

Within Education: individuals, Irwin Mitchell is a third tier firm,

Michael Longden’s team at Irwin Mitchell LLP advises on SEN and quality of education issues, and complaints regarding degree and exam results. Andrew Lockley is recommended.

Within Healthcare, tier 5

Yogi Amin’s team at Irwin Mitchell LLP advises individuals and charities on cases involving access to life-saving medication, treatment decisions, and home care packages.

Within Overview,

In the public law arena, claimant and commercial firms are ranked together in one table. City firms Herbert Smith LLP, Hogan Lovells International LLP and Baker & McKenzie LLP all have standout practices, while Beachcroft, Bindmans LLP and Leigh Day & Co remain leaders on the claimant side. Bindmans LLP also has a market-leading human rights and civil liberties practice, with other firms such as Irwin Mitchell LLP, Bhatt Murphy Solicitors and Pierce Glynn Solicitors singled out for particular expertise in niche areas, including mental health and prison law cases.

Within Commercial property, tier 5

SJ Berwin LLP remains a ‘first-class firm full of intelligent lawyers whose business acumen and industry knowledge is very good’, notwithstanding the departure of Jon Vivian and three other partners to Irwin Mitchell LLP in November 2010. Bryan Pickup and Simon Ricketts head the team, which continues to act for British Land on numerous major lettings; and for the Crown Estate, notably on the Regent Street regeneration. New partner Steven Cowins is ‘intelligent, commercial and personable’, and Pat Jones and William Boss are ‘solid and always available’.

Within Construction, tier 5

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s new construction practice is headed by David Parton. The team advised Delancey on the new Rolls Building in London.

Within Overview,

There has been some movement among firms, notably Jon Vivian’s move to Irwin Mitchell LLP, along with three other partners, to build a London presence. Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP recruited James Knox from Linklaters LLP and Michael Metliss from SJ Berwin LLP, but also lost three property finance partners to Simmons & Simmons.

Within Aviation,

Stewarts Law LLP and Irwin Mitchell LLP have sterling track records in handling personal injury cases for claimants in the aviation field. For details on these practices, readers are referred to the Personal injury: claimant section, under Insurance.