The Legal 500

Within Financial services, tier 4

Kingsley Napley is noted for FSA criminal and enforcement proceedings. The ‘authorative and calm’ Stephen Pollard ‘handles tricky issues in a helpful and collaborative way’.

Within Partnership

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

Highlights for Kingsley Napley in 2008 included the successful defence of former Swiss Re employee Alberto Izaga, who was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity. The 12-lawyer team handles all types of general and serious crime, and has acted for a number of high-profile celebrities and individuals including Gerry and Kate McCann. Mark Beardsworth is ‘very shrewd’, and ‘one to watch’ Jonathan Grimes is ‘tenacious and very hardworking’.

Within Fraud - commercial and regulatory investigations, tier 5

‘Lawyer’s lawyers’ Kingsley Napley acted for Torex Retail in an SFO investigation into allegations of misleading the market. The ‘experienced’ Stephen Pollard is ‘particularly well known for his FSA-based regulatory practice’; Stephen Gentle is ‘very clever and very pragmatic’; and Stephen Parkinson’s ‘background in Government has given a very good department its final piece’.

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

‘Terrific firm’ Kingsley Napley has Christopher Murray, who is ‘very experienced, with good judgement’, and Angus McBride, who ‘does very high-quality fraud work’ and has a ‘well-established’ reputation. In 2008 the firm acted for GP Noble following SFO investigations into fraud on nine pension funds amounting to £52m.

Within Commercial litigation

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

Clients sing the praises of Kingsley Napley’s ‘prompt, informed’ professional regulatory practice. The team counts the Health Professions Council as a key client, while ‘master tactician’ Stephen Parkinson acts in police disciplinary proceedings. Practice head John Harding and the ‘efficient’ Nicola Hill are also recommended.

Within Employment, tier 8

The ‘insightful and practical’ team at Kingsley Napley advised Shabir Hussain on his high-profile race discrimination claim against the Metropolitan police.

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,

Kingsley Napley’s ‘house style never fails to impress’.

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

Kingsley Napley’s three-partner department is led by the ‘very experienced, knowledgeable and highly diligent’ Nick Rollason. Its client base includes US and UK law firms, and it recently assisted with the urgent and complex transfer of a number of employees and partners from a US/UK professional practice which had gone into administration. It also acts for a number of high-net-worth individuals, and boasts a growing media and entertainment practice. Among the ‘team of specialists’ who perform in ‘an efficient and effective way’ are the ‘excellent’ Hilary Belchak (now a consultant) and Elspeth Guild. Sally Adams recently left the firm.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Kingsley Napley LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘formidable’ six-partner practice at Kingsley Napley, led by the ‘skilled’ Kate Rohde, was significantly strengthened in 2009 with the arrival of the ‘terrific’ Stephanie Code from Charles Russell LLP and Dr Jock Mackenzie from Leigh Day & Co. Focusing on high-value catastrophic work, the team recovered damages in excess of £36m in 2008. The ‘personable and utterly professional’ Terrence Donovan, the ‘bright, hardworking and brave’ Alison Moore and cerebral palsy claims expert Ross Brain are consistently praised by clients.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Kingsley Napley LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘legendary’ Richard Vallance leads the team at Charles Russell LLP alongside the ‘immensely talented’ Grainne Barton, who has joined the Guilford office from Parlett Kent. Birth injury expert Amanda Stevens is also recommended. The team lost former joint practice head Stephanie Code to Kingsley Napley and renowned associate Stephanie Prior to Anthony Gold. Associate Edwina Rawson is singled out by clients. Recent highlight cases include a high-value birth injury cerebral palsy claim.

Within Family, Kingsley Napley LLP is a third tier firm,

Kingsley Napley is highly rated in the market, and the five-partner team ‘really runs with cases’. Practice head Jane Keir ‘has commercial awareness and excellent client care skills’, while Charlotte Bradley ‘offers impressive legal analysis’. The team has strength in both money and children matters, and Duncan Ranton is recommended in child abduction cases.

Within Administrative and public law, tier 6

Also recommended are: Anthony Gold, for expertise in the overlap between public, housing and human rights law; Arnold & Porter (UK) LLP, which advises clients in the heavily regulated life sciences sector; Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, which is highly regarded for police and prisons work; Capsticks, led by the ‘very good’ David Mason, for its health and social care oriented practice; Kingsley Napley, which has ‘an excellent reputation for carrying out public inquiry work’, headed by Stephen Parkinson; Payne Hicks Beach, led by Peter Stockwell, also for its admirable public inquiry practice including working on the Rosemary Nelson inquiry; Pinsent Masons LLP, for public law work on behalf of local authorities, including judicial reviews, freedom of information and data protection advice; Public Interest Lawyers, notable for its lead partner Phil Shiner who is ‘really pushing the boundaries’ of public law; Richard Buxton, for advising public authorities on environmental law; Sharpe Pritchard, which acts mainly for local authorities in judicial reviews; and Taylor Wessing LLP, which was boosted by the arrival of Len Murray from Baker & McKenzie LLP.

Within Commercial property, tier 6

Kingsley Napley’s real estate group is led by Paul Harbour, who is described as ‘diligent, thorough and proactive’. Francis Weaver is also recommended for his ‘wisdom and experience’. The practice handles a significant volume of national work, and recently acted for Von Essen Group on the acquisition of long leasehold interests for luxury hotel, heliport, restaurant and penthouse uses in a major London development.