The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Cardiff and South Wales, Berry Smith is a second tier firm,

Berry Smith is ‘incredibly responsive and offers strong, practical advice’. Andrew Bound provides corporate finance experience, and the ‘very bright and personable’ Nigel Greenaway advises SMEs on corporate and commercial matters. It advised on a number of significant regional transactions, acting for biotechnology sector clients BBI Holdings and EKF Diagnostics, and also advising on the public-to-private MBO of road infrastructure company Forest Traffic Services from its AIM-listed holding company.

Within Commercial litigation , Berry Smith is a second tier firm,

Berry Smith acts for local SMEs, including Julian Hodge Bank, GSM (trading as Billabong) and Opus International Consultants. Practice head Nick Parker acts as an independent mediator and is experienced in high-value, technical disputes, recently defending a £2m dispute at the High Court. Iwan Doull is leading on a breach of warranty claim in a trial involving concurrent evidence.

Within Debt recovery, Berry Smith is a second tier firm,

Focused on business-to-business debts, the team at Berry Smith is led by Jane Rees, and advises clients such as GSM (trading as Billabong), Grant Thornton and Atradius.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Berry Smith is a third tier firm,

Berry Smith’s Nick Parker handles insolvency claims.

Within Employment: Cardiff, Berry Smith is a third tier firm,

Berry Smith is well regarded for its business knowledge and acumen on contentious issues. Newly promoted partner Fabio Grech leads the practice, following Stephen Moore’s departure for Ashfords LLP. Clients include Opus International and EKF Diagnostics.

Within Professional negligence, Berry Smith is a second tier firm,

‘Commercially minded, friendly and experienced’, the team at Berry Smith is led by Iwan Doull on real estate related issues. Highlights included a £1m-plus High Court claim against solicitors, and representing new client Dunbar Bank in a claim regarding a South Wales redevelopment.

Within Family: Cardiff, Berry Smith is a second tier firm,

Berry Smith’s Katie McColgan acts for Cardiff-based clients, and has experience in high-value matrimonial issues.

Within Family: South and Mid Wales, Berry Smith is a first tier firm,

Berry Smith’s practice head Katie McColgan is now an accredited specialist in domestic violence issues. The Bridgend team serves clients across South Wales on high-value matrimonial finance disputes and international children law 
issues.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Berry Smith is a third tier firm,

Berry Smith’s practice head Chris Beames focuses on estate planning and trusts for commercial property clients.

Within Commercial property: Cardiff, Berry Smith is a second tier firm,

Berry Smith mainly acts for lenders and developers, recently advising Principality on developments in Wales and England. Other highlights included Bridgend Council’s land disposal for the high-profile Porthcawl regeneration scheme. Practice head Roger Berry is a highly regarded figure and leads a specialist team including Chris Jones, whose focus includes residential and commercial developments, and Martin Pursall, who leads on secured lending work.

Within Property litigation , Berry Smith is a first tier firm,

Berry Smith has a specialist practice led by the ‘very reliable’ Iwan Doull, who handles civil and commercial disputes. Recent work has shifted to construction, planning and dilapidation issues. New clients include Storage Giant, which it represented in a High Court claim, and Principality, which it advised on potential injunctive proceedings brought by William Hill.

Within Intellectual property , Berry Smith is a third tier firm,

Berry Smith acts for corporate and industrial clients, recently advising a number of biotech companies on licensing and agreements. Newly promoted partner Erica Westerman is ‘responsive and proactive’.