The Legal 500

Within Customs & Excise, Irwin Mitchell LLP is a first tier firm,

At Irwin Mitchell LLP, Maurice Martin is regarded as ‘one of the best lawyers in this area in the UK’. The firm has promoted the well-regarded Sarah Wallace to partner in May 2008. Particularly strong in criminal matters, it received instructions in numerous cases arising from Operation Rize. The cases have raised significant legal issues, the operation having been carried out by the Metropolitan Police into many areas where HMRC would traditionally have been the agency involved.

Within Financial services, tier 5

Irwin Mitchell LLP attracts praise for its ‘specialist FSA enforcement knowledge, skills and experience’. The practice acted in the FSA’s first criminal boiler-room prosecution for alleged unauthorised regulated activity and money laundering. Sarah Wallace is ‘highly responsive and absolutely passionate in her service delivery’.

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

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team has grown significantly in the last year with leading corporate partner Edward Persse joined by a new practice head Andrew Woolf from Howard Kennedy and David Beech, who joins from an in-house private equity role. The majority of deals are in the £5m to £30m range, though two were over £250m.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, tier 4

Irwin Mitchell LLP acted for Mercury Tax Group in an HMRC investigation into an alleged multimillion-pound fraudulent tax plan. Sarah Wallace is ‘committed’, and Maurice Martin is a ‘very wily’ tax practitioner. Kevin Roberts left for Morrison & Foerster (UK) LLP, and Sarah Cleary has joined DLA Piper UK LLP.

Within Fraud - crime , Irwin Mitchell LLP is a second tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell LLP acted for a BA director following a criminal prosecution brought by the OFT for alleged price-fixing of fuel. The ‘very experienced’ Kevin Robinson is known as a ‘very able’ and ‘very good lawyer’.

Within Commercial litigation

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

Irwin Mitchell LLP handles an increasing number of cases, particularly in the building, telecoms and retail industries. Though a smaller team than some in the ranking, in 2008 the value of the debts received for collection by the practice increased to £29m, with known recoveries in excess of £14m. Among recent highlights, the practice started to assist the administrators of Tenon Recovery, the insolvency practitioners, in the collection of book debts. Barry Hogg heads the London team.

Within Professional discipline, tier 4

At Irwin Mitchell LLP, Sarah Wallace’s FSA work demonstrates ‘experience beyond her years’.

Within Health and safety,

Also of note are: Clyde & Co LLP (‘very impressive under pressure’); Crowell & Moring, for ‘enormous experience and quality Crown Court work’; Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, which recently acted for a mainstream tour operator following a double fatality; Irwin Mitchell LLP, for its solid national capability; and Kingsley Napley, where the ‘house style never fails to impress’.

Within Health and safety,

Irwin Mitchell LLP is noted for its solid national capability.

Within Immigration,

Also renowned for their expertise in immigration law are: Clifford Chance; Davenport Lyons; Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP; Irwin Mitchell LLP; Paragon Law; Pinsent Masons LLP; Steeles Law LLP; and Watson, Farley & Williams LLP.

Within Pensions (incl pensions dispute resolution), tier 6

The small but well-rounded practice at Irwin Mitchell LLP is led by the ‘highly experienced’ and ‘reliable’ Anne Taylor.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Irwin Mitchell LLP is a second tier firm,

With 25 years of experience particularly in cases relating to obstetrics and neurosurgery, the ‘renowned’ Alison Eddy leads the practice at Irwin Mitchell LLP, which is praised for its reputation as ‘a national team with real presence in each office’; clients are ‘guaranteed good service’ from ‘well-structured’ teams. Birth injury specialist Auriana Griffiths is ‘excellent’. Work highlights in 2008 included a number of multimillion-pound awards for brain-damaged babies as well as several cases involving severe spinal injuries. Muiris Lyons moved to Stewarts Law LLP in 2008.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Irwin Mitchell LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘renowned’ Colin Ettinger leads Irwin Mitchell LLP’s truly national personal injury practice that is praised by clients for its ‘high level of expertise’ and ‘exceptional service’. It represents clients on the full range of claims, and is split into specialist teams covering neurotrauma, serious injury, asbestos, child abuse and travel. Guy Darlaston’s asbestos disease team recovered more than £9m in 2008, and the ‘committed’ Tracey Storey heads the firm’s renowned child abuse team. Particularly experienced in head injury claims, Alison Eddy is a ‘first-class litigator’. ‘Outstanding’ associate director Keith Barrett is praised for his constant availability to clients and his ‘thoughtful and constructive advice’.

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

Andrew Tucker heads the team at Irwin Mitchell LLP. Recent work includes representing claimants in complex multi-party actions, in relation to the Human Growth Hormone/CJD, and also Vioxx, Reye’s syndrome, silicone breast implants, and Opren. Other high-profile cases in the firm’s track record are the British coal respiratory disease litigation, and tobacco and BSE cases.

Within Professional negligence

Within Family, tier 4

At Irwin Mitchell LLP, practice head Elizabeth Hicks ‘runs a phenomenal practice’ recommended for ancillary relief as well as ‘difficult children cases’.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 4

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s Sheffield-based claimant public law team is led by ‘real expert’ Andrew Lockley, and has ‘unusually strong business acumen for public lawyers’. Yogi Amin, ‘a first-class public law solicitor - one of the best in his field’, focuses on challenging PCT refusals to fund new drugs, while the practice also pursued a House of Lords case against the Rent Service. More than half the practice’s work is legally aided.

Within Civil liberties and human rights, tier 4

Irwin Mitchell LLP has ‘a team of first-class lawyers’ led by Andrew Lockley, with Yogi Amin also recommended; both are based in Sheffield. The practice is acting in several cases regarding deprivation of liberty to adults without mental capacity, though it also covers prisoners’ rights, health and community care.

Within Education - individuals, Irwin Mitchell LLP is a third tier firm,

Part-time SENDIST chair Andrew Lockley at Irwin Mitchell LLP represents children, parents and teachers, bringing his vast experience to bear in public law litigation and human rights matters.

Within Healthcare, tier 5

Irwin Mitchell LLP’s team represents local authorities and healthcare trusts on high-profile public law cases, as well as individuals, care homes and charities on disability and elderly client issues. Yogi Amin leads the practice and is praised for his work, particularly in the community care field.