The Legal 500

Within Corporate and commercial: Bristol, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s corporate practice enjoys an ‘excellent reputation in the market‘, and is led by Andrew Betteridge. The team advised Swarraton Partners on its investment in Navetas Energy Management and represented Eden Ventures on its investments in music download website We7.

Within Corporate and commercial: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

: The ‘impressive‘ corporate practice at Ashfords LLP is led by Simon Rous, who recently led work for Gemalto on the UK elements of a US$20m acquisition of the smart-card business, IP portfolio and trademarks of Keycorp including shares in Multos Limited. The firm’s international clientele includes Enghouse, Parkeon and Schlumberger. Its recently established Taunton group is led by Peter Fox, and Plymouth-based partners George Wilkinson and David Heard are recommended.

Within Corporate tax, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Angus Bauer leads the team at Ashfords LLP. Recent work includes advising Enghouse Systems Limited in the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Gamma Projects Limited.

Within Crime, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s John Smith heads the team, undertaking prosecutions for the Royal Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals and the Health and Safety Executive. He has special expertise in prosecuting defendants for regulatory offences, with instructions coming from a leading national supermarket regarding food safety regulations.

Within Licensing, tier 5

The ‘tenacious yet practical‘ Tom Ward at Ashfords LLP displays ‘a breadth of knowledge‘ in liquor licensing and regulatory crime. Managing partner of the Plymouth office David Beadel specialises in Hackney carriage licensing.

Within Commercial litigation: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

: Exeter-based partner Antony Lee leads the ‘knowledgeable and responsive team‘ at Ashfords LLP. He delivers ‘practical advice given in a clear, jargon-free manner‘. Clients include Lloyds TSB, National Grid Gas plc and South West Water. Managing partner David Beadel leads the Plymouth team. Exeter-based sports specialist Rory Mac Neice is also recommended.

Within Debt recovery, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘knowledgeable‘ team at Ashfords LLP provides ‘a very good-quality service‘ and is led by insolvency specialist Alan Bennett. Recent client wins include Snacktime Direct Limited and Smith & Williamson.

Within Banking and finance, tier 5

Ashfords LLP’ ‘first-class‘ three-partner practice is led by Andrew Smith and was boosted in 2008 by the arrival of Clare Brewer from Norton Rose LLP. Clients include Bank of Scotland.

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

Ashfords LLP’s ‘proactive‘ two-partner team is led by Bristol-based David Pomeroy, who ‘gets the job done efficiently and commercially‘. The team is experienced in cross-border insolvency work, and highlights included acting on a bankruptcy involving a freezing order to secure assets in the US, Bulgaria, South Africa and Cyprus.

Within Employment: The West Country, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s ‘strong team‘ advises on redundancies and senior level departures, and PFI and PPP projects. Michelle Fox is appreciated for her ‘keenness and speed of understanding‘. Clients include the London Borough of Wandsworth, City College Plymouth, and Sedgemoor District Council.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s team, headed by Darren White, enjoys a ‘fantastic reputation‘ with a focus on catastrophic injury cases. Jason Squire represented the family of ten-month-old Rhianna Hardie, who died as a result of severe burns. The team is based in Taunton, Tiverton and Exeter.

Within Personal injury - defendant, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP acted for Cornish Mutual Assurance Co and received instructions from Treasury Solicitors to act for government agencies. Civil litigation specialist Flora Wood heads the team with Stephen Walker providing ‘reliable, high-quality service‘.

Within Agriculture and estates, tier 4

Ashfords LLP acts for landed estates, particularly in Devon, with clients including private individuals and agricultural businesses. In 2008, a number of instructions came from high-net-worth clients in relation to sporting rights matters connected to estates. Tim Howells heads the team.

Within Bloodstock, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP acts for leading jockeys and trainers in Britain and Ireland, representing them before regulatory tribunals. Clients include participants in eventing (including Olympians), showing, dressage and polo. Rory Mac Neice heads the sports team.

Within Charities, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

The ‘highly recommended‘ Geoff Trobridge heads the charities and social enterprise practice at Ashfords LLP. It recently acted for MLA South West and Tiverton Exebridge, and new client Nottinghamshire County Council.

Within Family, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP has been joined by child law expert Andrew Dodd from Tozers LLP. John Smith heads the team, which advises on publicly funded work and receives private client instructions. One focus is ancillary relief cases involving businesses.

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

Estates expert Michael Alden at Ashfords LLP is recommended.

Within Private finance initiative (PFI), Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ruth Murray leads Ashfords LLP’s PFI practice, which provides a ‘responsive and flexible service tailored to project timetables and individual requirements‘. The team was recently strengthened by the arrival of Clare Brewer, a ‘strong negotiator‘ who joined from Norton Rose LLP. Work highlights included advising Viridor Waste Management on the Greater Manchester Waste PFI Project.

Within Education, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘enthusiastic‘ Clare Brewer heads the ‘proactive and helpful‘ team at Ashfords LLP.

Within Local government, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP ‘has an excellent understanding of local authority law‘. Headline work included advising Camborne Pool and Redruth Regeneration Limited on the state aid, planning and commercial property implications of a £100m regeneration scheme
in Hayle. John Bosworth’s work is ‘commended‘ by clients.

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

The team at Ashfords LLP ‘goes the extra mile‘ for clients, and Andrew Rothwell is ‘one of the most notable players in the region‘. The practice acted for Taunton Deane Borough Council on the Taunton Firepool site disposal. Other clients of the ‘sharp and diligent‘ team include Devon County Council and South West of England Regional Development Agency.

Within Construction, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP advised East Northamptonshire Partnership on five vocational centres. Stephen Homer has ‘excellent subject knowledge‘ and gives ‘sound and reliable advice‘, and acted for City College Plymouth on its rebuild project.

Within Planning, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Team head John Bosworth at Ashfords LLP ‘is extremely good at what he does‘. The practice advised Derby City Council on the Hippodrome cinema, and acted for owners of land compulsorily acquired by the London Development Agency. The team is ‘always on hand to offer sound sensible advice‘.

Within Property litigation, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Ashfords LLP is ‘able to handle complicated matters‘. The practice received instructions from the London Borough of Wandsworth, and also acted for the South West of England Regional Development Agency regarding redevelopment of various sites and on the enforcement of option agreements. Andrew Baines joined from Burges Salmon LLP.

Within Social housing, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Sian Gibbon heads the two-partner team at Ashfords LLP, which is praised for its public sector work. It acts for the London Borough of Wandsworth on contentious matters, and advises affordable housing provider Affinity Sutton Group on construction site-related issues.

Within Regional review, Ashfords LLP is a third tier firm,

Exeter is another significant legal hub, with Ashfords LLP, Michelmores LLP and Stephens Scown all present there. Cheltenham is home to several well-respected firms, including Charles Russell LLP, BPE Solicitors and Rickerbys LLP. Relatively close to Bristol, Stone King Sewell LLP and Withy King are the main firms in Bath.

Within Intellectual property and information technology , Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Exeter-based partner Mark Lomas leads an ‘incredibly professional‘ team at Ashfords LLP, which acts for both public and private sector clients and has developed a strong trade mark registration and portfolio management practice. Managing partner of the Bristol office, Garry Mackay, is highly regarded for his IT expertise. Exeter-based IP litigator Carl Steele is also recommended.

Within Sport, Ashfords LLP is a second tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s team is led by former professional National Hunt Jockey Rory Mac Neice.

Within Shipping, Ashfords LLP is a first tier firm,

Ashfords LLP’s team includes Charles Hattersley. The practice acted for Devon County Council regarding the Napoli incident, advised Babcock Marine on high-value super-yacht contracts, and represented a major marine security firm on issues in the British Virgin Islands. Marine litigator Jonathan Hadley Piggin joined from Shoosmiths.