The Legal 500

Within Cambridge, Birketts LLP is a third tier firm,

‘Too many lawyers are unable to translate intellectual legal commentary into practical legal advice, but they do not suffer from that‘, say clients of Adrian Seagers and the Birketts LLP team, which has built up the presence of its young Cambridge office despite difficult market conditions.

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

Birketts LLP has sharpened its focus on corporate tax, bringing in the experienced Gavin Birchall from Barker Gotelee to work with consultant Ben Goodfellow. Recent instructions include negotiating tax warranties and covenants in a £14m purchase of regional garden centre companies.

Within EU and competition, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s Paul Hughes possesses good knowledge of UK and EC merger control, and represents technology, agriculture and food industry clients.

Within Ipswich, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP remains dominant in Ipswich, with ‘excellent and personal service‘ evident throughout the team. James Austin and Mark Henry provide ‘friendly, customer-facing and realistic advice‘ and have the ability to express ‘reasonable and commercial thinking in layman’s terms‘. Major regional clients include Notcutts Ltd. Annette Whybrow is now a consultant.

Within Norwich, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Adrian Possener leads Birketts LLP’s ‘user-friendly, efficient and professional‘ team. It advised Suffolk Life Group on its takeover by Legal & General, and bomb disposal equipment maker Richmond Electronics & Engineering on its sale. Clients note that its ‘committed and highly competent‘ service rivals London firms.

Within Licensing, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients of Birketts LLP feel ‘assured of its expertise and commercial understanding‘. New department head Brian Hardie joined from Howes Percival LLP, which has moved away from licensing work. Richard Eaton and barrister Laura Thomas in Ipswich are also recommended.

Within Debt recovery, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Clients laud Birketts LLP’s Robert Howard as ‘peerless in his field of uncontested debt recovery‘. Greene King plc and Archant plc are longstanding clients.

Within Ipswich, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s team has ‘strong business acumen and gives practical and sound advice‘. Clients particularly appreciate Matthew Atkins and Bob Wright, who ‘can translate intellectual legal commentary into practical legal advice‘.

Within Norwich, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s Max Roessler and Paul Matthews are valued by clients for their ‘quick and professional‘ response times. The practice achieves results at the highest level; highlights included the successful defence of claims of misrepresentation against a former company director by NatWest Bank, dismissed after a High Court trial, and high-value matters for agricultural clients.

Within Regional review, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

There have been changes to the region’s legal scene, including Dorsey & Whitney’s withdrawal from Cambridge. In contrast, Birketts LLP and Charles Russell LLP continue to strengthen their foothold in the city.

Within Banking and finance, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s Mark Henry in Ipswich, Adrian Seagers in Cambridge and Adrian Possener in Norwich are ‘nice people to deal with, efficient and extremely professional‘. Clients include HSBC, Lloyds TSB and Barclays Bank. The firm also assists borrowers, recently handling a £22.5m refinancing for a further education college. New partner Steve Clark from Addleshaw Goddard LLP brings 22 years’ specialist experience.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, tier 4

Birketts LLP offers ‘five-star‘ service through Mark Henry and the ‘calm, knowledgeable‘ Paul Matthews, whose small but active contentious corporate insolvency practice has blossomed.

Within Employment, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s team attracts very high praise from clients. Jolyon Berry’s Ipswich team and Jeanette Wheeler’s Norwich group offer ‘timely, practical and conscientious‘ advice. Matt Newnham is ‘personable and practical‘ - he is singled out for advice to NHS clients.

Within Health and safety, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Malcolm Savory’s newly rebranded corporate criminal defence team at Birketts LLP offers sound advice and value for money. Barrister Laura Thomas’ court experience and organisational skills are impressive. Clients include Tulip UK and the NHS Ambulance Trust.

Within Pensions, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Jolyon Berry and Birketts LLP ‘continue to provide excellent, pragmatic and practical legal support‘ as part of the employment practice.

Within Personal injury - claimant, tier 4

Good value and high standards at Birketts LLP are embodied in ‘professional, caring, efficient and very patient‘ litigator Richard Hayes. The firm acts for the North Anglia branch of the Communication Workers Union.

Within Professional negligence, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Birketts LLP has a focus on ADR, and claimants are pleased with the ‘quick and professional response times‘ of Max Roessler, Paul Matthews and Matthew Atkins. Matthews recently led a claim for negligent tax planning advice valued at over £1.5m.

Within Agriculture and estates, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

‘Top notch‘ for rural property matters, Birketts LLP’s James Harbottle ‘gets to the nub of the situation and provides sensible solutions‘. Clients praise the team’s ‘excellent negotiation skills and professional conduct‘, particularly recommending Neil Sparrow and Nick Taverner.

Within Cambridge, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Birketts LLP recruited Caroline Stenner from Mills & Reeve LLP. Clients across the UK report ‘meticulous service and considered advice‘ from this practice as the firm pushes into Cambridge.

Within Charities, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Ecclesiastical work is the main focus of Birketts LLP’s practice, particularly for deputy registrar for the diocese of Norwich James Hall. Charles Boscawen and Neil Sparrow help set up and administer charitable trusts in a team that is ‘excellent with clients - it is comforting to sit at the same table‘.

Within Family, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Birketts LLP is a ‘top-class firm‘ with a compact team that is ‘intelligent, responsive, and always on the ball‘. Clients say Oliver Gravell provides London standards at regional prices. The ‘honest, up-front‘ Ginny Colman joined from Kester Cunningham John, complementing collaborative lawyer Stephen Anderson.

Within Ipswich, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Tim Galloway’s ‘understanding of the technical issues‘ and Charles Boscawen’s ‘encyclopaedic memory of client issues‘ make Birketts LLP a ‘go-to‘ practice for complex matters. The practice’s ‘technical knowledge is first class‘. Clients also highlight Gavin Birchall, formerly at Barker Gotelee.

Within Norwich, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

‘People you can rely on to get you out of a tight corner‘, say clients of Birketts LLP. Lorna Speer’s arrival from Speechly Bircham LLP adds depth in probate, wealth protection, tax and trusts for wealthy UK and overseas clients. Neil Sparrow and John Hurst assist many agricultural clients.

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

Birketts LLP’s Erika Clarke brings extensive PPP project experience to the firm’s many public sector clients.

Within Public sector, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Seven partners contribute to Erika Clarke’s public sector team at Birketts LLP. Chris Barker’s education group advises Gloucestershire’s Hartpury College and has won numerous new panel appointments. Richard Eaton’s health team is popular with NHS trusts, particularly for employment matters. Work for local authorities includes the whole range of PPP projects, procurements and commercial contracts.

Within Cambridge, Birketts LLP is a third tier firm,

Jonathan Greenhalgh is ‘pragmatic and to the point‘. He has consolidated Birketts LLP’s foothold in Cambridge, advising the likes of recruitment consultancy Badenoch & Clark.

Within Construction, Birketts LLP is a third tier firm,

Birketts LLP ‘demonstrates deep industry knowledge‘ and impresses clients with its flexibility and responsiveness. Andrew Rush is ‘experienced, accessible‘ and recommended for his practicality, and Dan Leno is noted for his contentious work for regional and national contractors.

Within Environment, Birketts LLP is a third tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s offices are peppered with environmental expertise, including Richard Eaton’s litigation skills and the in-house district council experience of Graham Wright, who joined from Birkett Long LLP. Barrister Laura Thomas has specialist knowledge gained during her time at a prominent London set.

Within Ipswich, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP remains dominant in Ipswich, where Chris Schwer, James Dinwiddy and Chris Barker bring ‘speed, accuracy‘ and a ‘professional, commercial approach‘ to bear. Clients appreciate their ability to quickly identify relevant issues. Jeremy Bristol has retired.

Within Norwich, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Clients are impressed by the knowledge and negotiating skills of Birketts LLP’s Peter Goddard and Robert Gibbs, whose approachable manner eases complex deals. Highlights included advising Norfolk County Council on the construction of a primary school, and City Living Developments on its flagship Regatta Quay development.

Within Planning, Birketts LLP is a second tier firm,

Richard Eaton’s reputation for contentious and enforcement issues at Birketts LLP has been complemented by the arrival of the ‘well-informed and thorough‘ Graham Wright from Birkett Long LLP. New clients join the likes of Hopkins Homes and Mid Suffolk District Council. Andrew Shallish left to establish his own consultancy.

Within Property litigation, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP’s growing team relies on the ‘relevant and sensible advice‘ of John Scannell, Nigel Farthing and Richard Eaton. Their ‘professional and commercial‘ understanding of clients’ needs is a boon to the likes of Bernard Matthews Farms, Norfolk Police Authority and East Thames Group.

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

‘Extremely professional and helpful‘, Birketts LLP’s growing team excels at co-ordinating multidisciplinary expertise to assist major clients such as Orbit Housing Group and Iceni Homes. Peter Goddard has impressive negotiation skills.

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

An ability to ‘think through different aspects of a matter and break them down into fundamental issues‘ pervades James Austin’s team at Birketts LLP, which has built its presence in IP audits, trade mark prosecution and international IP portfolio management. Matthew Atkins is recommended for contentious matters.

Within Shipping, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Birketts LLP is a leading choice for all shipping matters, providing a ‘high-quality service‘; it has a team of ‘very talented and dedicated lawyers with a genuine desire to help‘. Clients appreciate Nicholas Woo’s promptness, in-depth knowledge and focus on amicable resolutions to disputes. Sally Azarmi is bringing in more work from the Middle East, while China is another growing source of instructions.

Within Transport, Birketts LLP is a first tier firm,

Max Roessler’s team at Birketts LLP inspires great confidence in clients, particularly for disputes. Sally Azarmi, John Winn and Alex Davey (now a partner) are highlighted for their ability ‘to reason out and apply logic within a legal framework‘.