The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: The West Country, Stephens Scown LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP’s four-partner team demonstrates ‘commitment, tenacity and clarity’. It has acted on loan, mezzanine and straight equity investments as corporate adviser to Dragons Den Investments, and also advised Imerys on joint-venture matters relating to the Clay Vision Eco-Town projects. Team head James Keliher has ‘excellent negotiating skills’, and Guy Curry has ‘great breadth of knowledge’.

Within Commercial litigation: The West Country, Stephens Scown LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP’s advice is ‘balanced and always proves to be the best course of action’. It acted for Viridor Waste Management, as the occupier of a waste disposal site in the north of England, in a dispute with a landowner regarding the payment of royalties. ‘Outstanding litigator’ Chris Harper is ‘readily accessible’ and ‘ensures the client is kept aware of developments at all times’.

Within Debt recovery, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Brian Dolan and Andrew Ring are recommended at Stephens Scown LLP, along with dispute resolution team head Chris Harper .

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP is ‘always accessible, technically adept and commercial’. It acted for Cladding Consultants as parent company of Stone Firms in administration and voluntary arrangement, and advised Neville and Co regarding Unigreg’s administration and voluntary arrangement. Matthew Wald is ‘one of the ablest lawyers around’.

Within Employment: The West Country, Stephens Scown LLP is a second tier firm,

In 2011, team head Terry Falcão joined Stephens Scown LLP from Stones Solicitors LLP, bringing with him extensive experience in discrimination claims. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Devon County Council are clients.

Within Personal injury: claimant, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Nothing is too much trouble’ for Philip Snell’s team at Stephens Scown LLP, which enjoys a good reputation for occupational disease and serious injury cases.

Within Regional review, tier 5

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 Agriculture and estates, Stephens Scown LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP acted for 90 large land-owning farmers regarding a photovoltaic solar energy project, and is well known for its mining and mineral rights expertise. Team head Philip Reed and rural land use specialist Richard Baker are both recommended.

Within Family, Stephens Scown LLP is a first tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP is a leading presence in the region, with lead partner Liz Allen a standout practitioner. The team recently advised on the first reverse pension sharing case in the country, and Michael Lowry acted in a large ancillary relief case involving US jurisdictional issues.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP’s lawyers ‘deal with complex matters efficiently, imaginatively, courteously and economically’. The practice is led by Graham Murdoch.

Within Energy, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP is ‘very swift, very efficient and competent’, and has acted on various significant solar energy projects for large landowners, as well as handling panel work for wind developers. Sonya Bedford is ‘excellent in any situation’.

Within Commercial property: The West Country, Stephens Scown LLP is a second tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP acts for clients on housebuilding, investments and renewable energy matters. Jonathan Hoggett and Michael Northcott provide ‘sound and commercially astute’ advice.

Within Environment, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP has an excellent name in the mining, minerals and waste sectors, and acted for Imerys on the creation of an eco-town. Ian Lamond leads the four-partner team.

Within Planning, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP’s ‘responsive and professional’ team acted for Imerys on a number of matters, including the periodic review of St Austell china clay area planning permissions. Other areas of expertise include hospitality developments and mining and minerals. Ian Lamond is recommended.

Within Property litigation, tier 4

Stephens Scown LLP’s Mark Richardson gives ‘very good technical advice’, and is ‘personable and receptive to how the client wants to deal with a matter’.

Within Social housing, Stephens Scown LLP is a third tier firm,

Stephens Scown LLP has niches in community land trusts and advising rural housing associations. It acted for Cornwall Rural Housing on the development of housing on the off-islands of the Isles of Scilly. Keith Wright leads the three-partner team.