The Legal 500

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

Entrepreneurs are a target for Withers LLP’s corporate team, which has been bolstered by the arrival of Adam Duthie from an in-house role. Acting for mining company KazakhGold as the target of a US$500m partial offer was the standout transaction among the 20 deals that the firm worked on in 2008, totalling US$1bn.

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

Withers LLP is building a strong presence in the area. Practice head Jennifer McDermott is ‘a very serious force in this field with immense experience, wisdom and status’. The firm advises a number of celebrities and public figures. Amber Melville-Brown, formerly with David Price Solicitors & Advocates, joined the firm in 2009, and Roberto Moruzzi is ‘quite superb’.

Within Investment funds, tier 6

Also recommended are: Baker & McKenzie LLP; Bingham McCutchen (London) LLP; Burges Salmon LLP Bristol; CMS Cameron McKenna LLP; DLA Piper UK LLP; Denton Wilde Sapte LLP; Dundas & Wilson LLP; Katten Muchin Rosenman Cornish LLP; Latham & Watkins; Maclay Murray & Spens LLP; Mishcon de Reya; O’Melveny & Myers LLP; Olswang; Osborne Clarke; Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP; Reed Smith; Speechly Bircham LLP; Taylor Wessing LLP; Weil, Gotshal & Manges and Withers LLP.

Within Employment, tier 6

Meriel Schindler heads a ‘faultless practice’ at Withers LLP. It was instructed on several team moves in 2008, including a 13-person move from Dresdner to Collins Stewart and a five-person move from Lehman to Nomura. Elaine Aarons is recommended for her flourishing senior executive practice.

Within Professional negligence, tier 4

The ‘adaptable’ and ‘brilliant’ Christopher Coffin leads the ‘first-class’ four-partner team at Withers LLP, which acts for defendants, insurers and claimants. Highlights for 2008 included defending several high-profile barristers in relation to negligent advice claims.

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

Forsters LLP recently took on much of Withers LLP’s agriculture and estates practice, including well-known and highly respected group head Penny Elliott and the ‘focused’ Andrew Lane. Recent highlights include some high-value sales and complex tax restructuring advice.

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

Withers LLP offers an ‘excellent level of service and first-class business acumen and industry knowledge’. Bertie Hoskyns-Abrahall, who was promoted to partner in 2008, heads the practice, while Tony Thompson and Stephen Cooke (noted for his ‘valuable experience’) are recommended by clients. Penny Elliott and Andrew Lane left the practice to join Forsters LLP in 2009.

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

Withers LLP’s team is ‘immensely professional, timely, knowledgeable and offers excellent value for money’. Practice head Alison Paines is regarded as a ‘leader in the field’, while Chris Priestley is ‘valuable not only for his technical merits, but also because he is shrewd about the broader commercial, policy and personal context for his clients’, and Clive Cutbill is also recommended. Recent client wins include the Imperial War Museum.

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

Withers LLP’s ‘excellent’ practice is led by Dawn Goodman, who is ‘almost legendary in this area’. Paul Hewitt is ‘a skilful and tactical litigator and is entirely realistic with his clients as to their prospects of success’. Sue Medder is ‘pragmatic and will fight cases worth fighting with nerve and judgement’. Ziva Robertson recently joined the team from Mourant du Feu & Jeune, adding Cayman capabilities. She ‘fights her clients’ corner with zeal tempered with realism’. Graeme Kleiner recently left to head Speechly Bircham LLP’s practice.

Within Family, Withers LLP is a first tier firm,

Withers LLP ‘has great ability at every level, from the most senior partners, right through to the newly qualified assistants’, and ‘is excellent in every respect’. Gill Doran, Diana Parker and Mark Harper are ‘three of the biggest hitters amongst the top echelon of matrimonial lawyers’, while practice head Julian Lipson is ‘clever, discreet, reassuring, with a quiet strength’. The practice is consistently involved in the highest-profile cases in the market, and offers ‘excellent judgement allied to incisive, innovative thinking and a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the law’. Suzanne Todd and Michael Gouriet are also recommended.

Within Heritage property, Withers LLP is a second tier firm,

Withers LLP is highly recommended for its experience in advising art collectors and prominent galleries on tax, commercial and IP issues, as well as disputes. The art and cultural assets team is led by the highly regarded Pierre Valentin and includes quality practitioners Stephen Cooke and Jeremy Scott. Recent highlights include advising the National Gallery London on an important acquisition, and assisting an international contemporary art gallery in a dispute with HMRC.

Within Overview,

Withers LLP’s practice covers the gamut of private client advice including tax planning, rural estates and family. The firm is truly international, with offices in Milan, Geneva, Hong Kong and the US.

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

Withers LLP offers an integrated international private client practice, with offices worldwide. Richard Cassell leads the ‘wonderful’ London team, which includes the highly respected John Riches. Judith Ingham and Penelope Williams were busy in 2008 making representations to HMRC/the Treasury in relation to the taxation of UK resident non-domiciliaries. Highlights included advising an African-based family on the structuring of assets worth £2bn. The team has also recently assisted UK, Latin American, and US clients. Tony Thompson is recommended.

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

Withers LLP, headed by the ‘very accomplished’ Jennifer McDermott, represented the Barclay brothers in the high-profile judicial review into the constitution of Sark, as well as advising the Spoliation Advisory Panel and working on several coroner-related judicial reviews. ‘Response times are very fast’, ‘the team is well informed and accessible’, and ‘client service is excellent’.

Within Commercial property

Within Commercial property

Within Commercial property

Within Property litigation, tier 5

Withers LLP acts for a number of high-profile charities in relation to recovering possession of property from tenants, and dealing with business tenancy renewals. It has a strong private client base and the ‘calm, pragmatic and reassuring’ Susan Satchell ‘quickly grasps the main points in dispute’.