The Legal 500

Within Customs and Excise, Withers LLP is a third tier firm,

Irwin Mitchell is noted for its ‘open-minded and lateral’ thinking, and has a great deal of experience in HMRC MTIC fraud matters and investigations into football club transfers. Senior associate John Milner maintains a ‘fantastic and supportive relationship’ with clients. In a significant move, former lead partner Maurice Martin left for Withers LLP.

Within Financial services, tier 4

Withers LLP secured the first successful judicial review of an FSA own-initiated investigation. Harvey Knight is highly rated.

Within M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m, Withers LLP is a second tier firm,

Withers LLP has a particular focus on the luxury brands and sports sectors, with 2011 seeing it advise Sarita Capital Investment on the sale of QPR FC. Global corporate head Anthony Indaimo continues to develop the practice’s CIS focus.

Within Fraud: civil, tier 5

Stephen Ross is recommended at Withers LLP, which acts for clients including Algosaibi Group. Andrew Ford has left the firm, while Gerallt Owen joined from Crowell & Moring, and is based in Singapore.

Within Commercial litigation Commercial litigation

Within Defamation and privacy, Withers LLP is a third tier firm,

Withers LLP’s Amber Melville-Brown is ‘level headed and resilient’, with a ‘“can-do” attitude’. The group has ‘a depth of experience’ in advising on reputation and privacy issues, for clients such as Britney Spears, Niall Ferguson, British Red Cross, Peter Tatchell and Renault Formula. Jennifer McDermott is also recommended.

Within International arbitration International arbitration

Within Investment funds Investment funds

Within Employment: employees/unions Leading individuals: Employment

Within Employment: employers and senior executives, Withers LLP is a first tier firm,

An impressive mix of household name companies and individuals, such as Lotus F1 Team and Sir Stuart Rose, instruct the ‘fantastic’ team Withers LLP. The ‘phenomenal’ Elaine Aarons and practice head Meriel Schindler, a ‘formidable opponent’, are widely respected, particularly in relation to senior executive work. Aarons is ‘ferocious when needed but also very compassionate’, and Daniel Isaac and Emma Sanderson also attract praise.

Within Overview,

The pressure on fees has been to the benefit of employment boutiques, where former partners of leading City firms can offer their expertise at a lower price, with the added bonus of being conflict free. Firms such as CM Murray LLP, Doyle Clayton Solicitors and Stewarts Law LLP are strong choices for senior executives needing expert muscle to challenge major institutions, as are broader, more established firms such as Farrer & Co, Mishcon de Reya and Withers LLP. The latter three lead our new Senior Executives ranking, alongside the mighty Lewis Silkin LLP.

Within Professional negligence, tier 4

At Withers LLP, ‘highly regarded’ team head Christopher Coffin is noted for his ‘knowledge’ and ‘good response times’; and Jasmine Gill is also recommended. Key clients include BMIF Selenium Holdings and Travelers.

Within Agriculture and estates, Withers LLP is a second tier firm,

Withers LLP is a ‘respected firm with deep experience and empathy’, and Matthew Woods and Bertie Hoskyns-Abrahall are ‘pragmatic and technically strong’. The practice, which acts for 130 landed estates, is built around Hoskyns-Abrahall’s hands-on experience in rural property issues, and Woods’ tax strength. It is particularly dominant in international and domestic private wealth, and has exceptional cross-departmental strength. Currey & Co has a distinguished reputation for acting for traditional landed estates, including Chatsworth.

Within Art and cultural property, Withers LLP is a first tier firm,

At Withers LLP, Pierre Valentin ‘provides efficient and concise commercial advice’; and his team is ‘professional and responsive’. The firm is acting for The National Gallery in all aspects of the purchase and lending of several high-profile Renaissance art works. It also advises living artists in relation to multi-jurisdictional issues arising out of touring exhibitions. Other clients include White Cube and the Tate.

Within Charities and not-for-profit, Withers LLP is a third tier firm,

The ‘excellent and fast’ team at Withers LLP is known for ‘impeccable client care’. Led by Alison Paines, it is particularly well known for its work in the education, healthcare, and arts sectors. Paines is ‘outstanding in the quality of her advice, and in her influence with regulatory bodies’. Chris Priestley, Emma Flower, and Meriel Schindler all give ‘practical advice’. In 2011, the firm was reappointed as adviser to The British Red Cross Society and Cancer Research UK.

Within Contentious trusts and probate, Withers LLP is a first tier firm,

The team at ‘market leader’ Withers LLP is led by the ‘savvy’ Dawn Goodman, who is ‘reassuring in stressful circumstances’, and is noted for its litigation expertise across a range of jurisdictions. Paul Matthews is known for Channel Islands work; and Ziva Robertson’s Cayman Islands practice enjoyed a strong 2011, with work including the Akram Ojjeh trial. The firm is regularly involved in cross-border succession disputes (such as Clarke v WWF and Others); domestic trust disputes (Sherrington v Sherrington); and domestic probate matters (Burgess v Hawes). Natasha Stourton is ‘patient’, and Paul Hewitt ‘professional’. Clients include Barclays, Cancer Research UK, and the RSPCA.

Within Court of Protection, Withers LLP is a second tier firm,

Withers LLP’s Julia Abrey has a ‘well-deserved reputation’ on the conventional private client side. Paul Hewitt is ‘clearly an expert’, and Stephen Richards is ‘a particularly good listener’, and together they ‘work well as a team’. Hewitt is also the go-to man for charities embroiled in statutory will proceedings, and is notable for his role in conflict of laws case Re MN.

Within Family, Withers LLP is a first tier firm,

The ‘premier league’ team at Withers LLP operates across offices in the US, Switzerland, Italy and Hong Kong as well as the UK, and has related strength in tax, offshore trusts, reputation management and property. The highly respected James Copson and Suzanne Todd have experience in Anglo-Italian issues; and Julian Lipson is well versed in Anglo-French matters. In 2011, Claire Blakemore and Copson acted for the husband in BJ v MJ, an offshore trusts case. ADR pioneer Suzanne Kingston joined from Dawsons LLP in April 2011.

Within Overview,

Art law sees firms involved across a variety of contentious and non-contentious disciplines, ranging from IP and construction, to contractual agreements between funds and galleries, to fraud and criminal matters. Lawyers plough niche terrain: Farrer & Co and Forsters LLP’s specialise in Old Masters artworks, while Withers LLP’s focus is on living artists. Mishcon de Reya is also a pioneer in the art law field.

Within Personal tax, trusts and probate, Withers LLP is a first tier firm,

Withers LLP is ‘one of the pre-eminent private client law practices in London, with an excellent reputation both internationally and domestically’. The team combines a revered older generation of lawyers such as Richard Cassell (a ‘pre-eminent expert in the field of US/UK planning’), Stephen Cooke and Robin Paul (‘pre-eminent on the probate front’) with younger practitioners such as Sophie Dworetzsky and Christopher Groves, who ‘give thorough and robust advice’. In 2011, Maurice Martin joined from Irwin Mitchell.

Within Administrative and public law, Withers LLP is a third tier firm,

Withers LLP is ‘first rate’ in regulatory cases surrounding financial services, for which Harvey Knight is recommended, and is also strong in judicial reviews and inquests. Led by Jennifer McDermott, the team is currently acting for Dr David Halpin in his campaign for an inquest into the death of Dr David Kelly. Paul Matthews has an ‘inspirational legal mind’.

Within Commercial property Commercial property

Within Brand management, tier 4

Withers LLP’s Hugh Devlin advises luxury and consumer brand clients on collaborations and endorsements. Clients include Vivienne Westwood and an F1 team.