The Legal 500

Within Financial services, tier 4

Kingsley Napley LLP acts in complex investigations. Stephen Pollard is ‘an excellent criminal lawyer who understands commercial sensitivities’; and Louise Hodges ‘carries weight with the regulators’.

Within Partnership, tier 4

Kingsley Napley LLP was boosted by the arrival of ‘real star’ Michelle Chance from Fox.

Within Crime, Kingsley Napley LLP is a first tier firm,

The highly recommended Stephen Parkinson heads the practice at Kingsley Napley LLP, which continues to attract high-profile, sensitive and complex matters. Highlights included successfully defending Dr Ejup Ganic in an extradition request from Serbia relating to the alleged commission of war crimes in the early stages of the ‘Siege of Sarajevo’. Angus McBride and John Harding are valued for their ‘superb service, in-depth knowledge of the law and ability to engage with clients’.

Within Fraud: civil , tier 4

The expanding civil fraud team at Kingsley Napley LLP focuses on defendant work but also acts for claimants, and its work regularly involves large multi-party actions covering multiple jurisdictions. Civil fraud specialist Sophia Purkis has ‘a tenacious approach and an utterly comprehensive grasp of detail in the most factually complex and documentarily voluminous matters’.

Within Fraud: corporate crime, Kingsley Napley LLP is a second tier firm,

Kingsley Napley LLP has one of the largest teams in this field. Recent work includes advising a global company in complex, multi-party criminal proceedings. Stephen Gentle has ‘a practice to die for, and which he manages with calm and realistic aplomb’; and Mark Beardsworth is ‘well known, and brilliant with clients and fellow solicitors in other firms’. Stephen Pollard has ‘a legendary reputation for his work against the FSA’.

Within Fraud: white-collar crime , Kingsley Napley LLP is a first tier firm,

Kingsley Napley LLP has exceptional strength in depth. Stephen Gentle provides ‘calm, unflappable and considered advice’; Mark Beardsworth is ‘good with clients, has good judgment and gets good results’; and Stephen Pollard has ‘depth of experience, freshness of vision, and commercial acumen’. Recent work includes advising senior members of British Airways in the OFT’s price-fixing investigation. The team is led by the highly recommended Stephen Parkinson.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Professional discipline, Kingsley Napley LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephen Parkinson heads a ‘formidable’ team at Kingsley Napley LLP. It is ‘renowned for its expertise’ in the police sector; longstanding clients include the Chief Police Officers’ Staff Association. It also advises clients such as the Health Professions Council, the General Teaching Council and the General Optical Council. John Harding, Julie Norris and Nicola Hill are also recommended.

Within Employment, tier 8

Kingsley Napley LLP’s four-partner team brings significant experience to bear on contentious and advisory matters for employers and senior personnel in the accountancy, legal, and commercial sectors.

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 Immigration, Kingsley Napley LLP is a first tier firm,

Kingsley Napley LLP has ‘enormous experience and great depth of practice ’, covering business and EU immigration law for clients ranging from small independent organisations to multinational corporations. Sector strengths include financial and legal services, IT, engineering, pharmaceuticals, media, fashion and construction. The group has expertise in the recent changes to the PBS, and made several creative and successful applications on behalf of individuals in 2010. Elspeth Guild is ‘top notch on EU law’; and Andrew Tingley is one to watch.

Within Clinical negligence: claimant, Kingsley Napley LLP is a first tier firm,

Kingsley Napley LLP’s ‘top-flight’ clinical negligence team remains a ‘front runner’, and provides an ‘amazing level of service’. Recent instructions include substantial claims involving birth injury, inquests and fatal accidents, and spinal injury. Practice head Kate Rohde ‘continues to be a leader in this field’, and is ‘highly intelligent and always calm under pressure’. Other notable names include Ross Brain, whose recent work includes acting for children with cerebral palsy, and Stephanie Code, who is excellent for complex litigation and ‘has the patience of a saint’. Newly promoted partner Verity Danziger is well liked by clients; Alison Moore is ‘a hidden gem who deserves full recognition’; and Terrence Donovan and Jock Mackenzie are also recommended.

Within Family, tier 4

Kingsley Napley LLP is ‘first rate’ for complex international family cases, whether children or family money are concerned, and has ‘an excellent understanding of cross-border issues’. The ‘outstanding’ Jane Keir heads the practice, which includes Duncan Ranton, an ‘excellent lawyer with a pragmatic approach’; the ‘vastly experienced’ Michael Rowlands; ‘utterly meticulous’ surrogacy specialist Miranda Baker; and the highly rated Charlotte Bradley and Emily Moore.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 4

The ‘great’ Adam Chapman leads the practice at Kingsley Napley LLP. It was instructed in the 7/7 inquest by seven families of victims, and continues to represent Action Against Medical Accidents and The Patients Association in the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust public inquiry. Stephen Parkinson advised The Law Society in a judicial review of a decision to limit the costs recoverable by acquitted defendants to legal aid rates.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Kingsley Napley LLP acted for Amsprop Group on the £68m sale of Dolce and Gabanna’s headquarters at 6-8 Old Bond Street, and the sales of 10-10a New Bond Street and 24 Albemarle Street. The team also acted for the von Essen Group regarding a new terminal building for London Heliport. Paul Harbour, Liam MacDonnell and Francis Weaver are recommended.