The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Dorset and South Wiltshire, Lester Aldridge LLP is a first tier firm,

: ‘Top-quality’ firm Lester Aldridge LLP ‘delivers on time and on budget’. It advises local SMEs as well as a growing number of national and international clients; examples include Enhanced Computer Solutions and Bournemouth University. The ‘thoroughly professional’ team is led by Grant Esterhuizen, who is ‘always calm’.

Within Commercial litigation: Dorset and South Wiltshire, Lester Aldridge LLP is a first tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP’s ‘excellent’ team has expertise in international, marine, defence and financial matters. Michael Giddins ‘grasps the facts of a case very quickly and gets to the nub of the issue’.

Within Debt recovery, Lester Aldridge LLP is a second tier firm,

Karen Savage leads Lester Aldridge LLP’s sizeable commercial and consumer debt recovery team, which handles defended and undefended claims and insolvency matters. Sector strengths include banking, motor finance, waste disposal and telecoms.

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Lester Aldridge LLP ‘consistently outperforms competitors in the Bournemouth area’. Paula Swain is ‘very approachable and will always offer a balanced business view on any contentious issues’. Recent instructions include reviewing, negotiating and agreeing a £5.1m term loan facility and associated security, and acting on a large hotel refinancing.

Within Employment: Dorset and South Wiltshire, Lester Aldridge LLP is a second tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP acts in TUPE-related matters and is developing its insolvency-related expertise. London-based Allison Grant supports Bournemouth-based Jeremy Allin.

Within Health and safety, Lester Aldridge LLP is a second tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP represented the Health and Safety Executive in various high-profile prosecutions, and also has environmental and trading standards experience. Michael Veal is the lead partner.

Within Regional review, tier 4

Elsewhere in the region, Charles Russell LLP has excellent corporate abilities in Cheltenham. Clarke Willmott LLP has regrouped following past troubles and grew with several lateral hires, including Peter O’Brien from Osborne Clarke; traditional strengths of the practice include agriculture and estates and private client. Foot Anstey has followed the example of several Exeter firms and opened a Bristol office; its broad practice is admired but, in a flat market, it remains to be seen how the new office will fare in an already crowded city. Lester Aldridge LLP in Bournemouth has a wide-ranging practice that leads the market locally and across Dorset. Exeter-based Michelmores LLP has an excellent, comprehensive offering. Thrings LLP has formidable expertise and coverage along the M4 corridor and has seen growth in insolvency and commercial litigation. Veale Wasbrough Vizards is a dependable firm with longstanding expertise in education, general commercial and health matters for regional SME clients. Stephens Scown LLP is a good regional firm covering Cornwall and Exeter, and has a loyal following locally. Bath-based Withy King LLP has seen growth in personal injury, clinical negligence and Court of Protection work.

Within Charities, Lester Aldridge LLP is a third tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP represented the benevolent funds of the National Westminster Bank and RBS in a charitable status determination over three days at the Upper Tribunal. Team head Geoff Trobridge is highly recommended.

Within Family, Lester Aldridge LLP is a second tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP’s Jane Porter is ‘very personable and fights for her clients’, and acts in high-value financial remedy cases as well as Children Act matters. John Randle acts in complex, cross-border children cases, and is ‘a solicitor you would rather instruct than be up against’.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Lester Aldridge LLP is a second tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP attracts high praise for its level of service. Geoff Thomas heads the private client group and leads on contentious trust and probate work. David Parkhouse specialises in wills and estates, and Barry Glazier is highly experienced in onshore and offshore tax planning.

Within Health, Lester Aldridge LLP is a second tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP advises care homes, NHS organisations, equity funds and a wealth of GP practices nationally on health and social care regulatory matters and other issues. Highly acclaimed team head Peter Grose ‘will take time to really listen to the issues’, and Guy Morgan and Susan Cowan are also recommended.

Within Commercial property: Dorset and South Wiltshire, Lester Aldridge LLP is a first tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP’s key areas of expertise are housebuilding, ports and marinas, and clients include McCarthy & Stone and Santander. It acted for Marina Developments on leasing Chatham Marina from SEEDA. Matthew Barrow’s ‘responsive’ team is ‘commercial both in its approach and its advice’.

Within Construction, tier 5

Lester Aldridge LLP’s team includes contentious construction expert David Herbert.

Within Property litigation, Lester Aldridge LLP is a third tier firm,

Lester Aldridge LLP focuses on real estate and landlord and tenant disputes. It acted for Marina Developments, as the landlord, in a substantial service charge dispute in proceedings before the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal. ‘Undoubted star’ Jenny Hermer is ‘best in her field on the south coast’.