The Legal 500

Within Cambridge, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John ‘has assembled a corporate team with a wide range of experience, much of which has been gained at well-known London firms‘, note clients. The ‘forward-thinking‘ Duncan Walker is praised for his transactional skills as part of an ‘approachable, constructive, helpful, prompt and organised‘ practice. Fiona Roberts has left the firm.

Within Norwich, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Edward O’Rourke is an ‘outgoing, excellent networker‘ and leads the ‘personable and professional‘ team at Kester Cunningham John. Clients appreciate the commercial approach that makes it ‘one of the leading firms in the county‘. In 2008 it handled the £12m disposal of an environmental surveying business and advised Saudi investors on a £1.5m healthcare investment, with Damian Humphrey playing a key role.

Within Cambridge:, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

‘Superb, friendly and professional‘, Kester Cunningham John provides ‘a City-style service at Cambridge rates‘. Michael Frape and Huw Wallis are ‘sensible, helpful and to the point‘.

Within Elsewhere in East Anglia, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Luke Hibbert’s arrival at Kester Cunningham John from Denton Wilde Sapte LLP adds experience in international disputes to Don Sheahan’s highly rated team. The firm recently represented the managers of pop star Shaun Ryder.

Within Norwich, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John’s Christopher Gilbert has ‘great ability in very quickly understanding many of the fine nuances of a complicated commercial relationship‘ and ‘an ability to instil confidence in difficult circumstances‘. He recently advised North Norfolk Potato Growers in a dispute with the British Potato Council.

Within Regional review,

The Norwich, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge and Thetford offices of Kester Cunningham John all have specialised practices, including private client work that has kept the firm buoyant in these difficult times.

Within Banking and finance, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Clients say Ron Clare at Kester Cunningham John is ‘the most proactive solicitor‘, teaming up well with Duncan Walker to assist clients such as RBS. Luke Hibbert’s arrival from Denton Wilde Sapte LLP adds litigation capacity.

Within Insolvency and corporate recovery, Kester Cunningham John is a third tier firm,

Luke Hibbert, formerly of Denton Wilde Sapte LLP, heads insolvency at Kester Cunningham John, a practice that ‘punches well above its weight‘. Michael Frape and Edward O’Rourke are ‘well liked by colleagues, peers and local professionals‘.

Within Employment, Kester Cunningham John is a third tier firm,

‘A most pragmatic lawyer, whose sense of humour keeps his clients positive‘, Kester Cunningham John’s Hywel Griffiths leads ‘the most approachable employment law team in East Anglia‘. Ross Strowger is ‘comprehensive, thorough and brutally honest‘.

Within Clinical negligence - claimant, Kester Cunningham John is a first tier firm,

Child-related claims specialist Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp joined from Bolt Burdon Kemp to enhance a strong team at the ‘well-run and focused‘ Kester Cunningham John. Tom Cook is ‘shrewd, direct and sympathetic‘. Simon John, Sandra Patton and Trefine Maynard are important parts of this ‘efficient, courteous and friendly‘ practice.

Within Personal injury - claimant, Kester Cunningham John is a first tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John is rated ‘in the top bracket‘. Ruth Booy sets the tone with a ‘warm, friendly but very professional‘ style. Simon Davis and Hannah Rutterford are identified for ‘personal service and a genuine interest in what is best for the client‘.

Within Cambridge, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John’s newly remodelled wealth management team has Lynn Wicks back from maternity leave. ‘Speed and efficiency, safe hands and a wide range of knowledge‘ underpin Jennie Pratt’s strong standing regionally.

Within Charities, Kester Cunningham John is a third tier firm,

Mark Watson’s corporate practice at Kester Cunningham John sets up and winds down charities. Jennie Pratt, Robert Chalmers and Mary Ambrose’s charity clients include numerous Cambridge colleges. Fiona Roberts has left the firm.

Within Elsewhere in East Anglia, Kester Cunningham John is a first tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John’s Adrian Mundell is ‘extremely professional, knowledgeable and approachable‘. The wealth management team welcomed ‘extremely friendly and helpful‘ partner Simon Crooks from Curwens.

Within Family, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John ‘provides a first-class service, responding quickly and efficiently with sensible, practical advice‘. The ‘helpful and trustworthy‘ Fiona Bethel and Mary Pearce star in ‘one of the best practices in East Anglia for matrimonial work‘. Neale Grearson’s arrival from Steeles Law LLP is a major boon.

Within Family, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Steeles Law LLP lost Neale Grearson to Kester Cunningham John, leaving assistant Melanie Pilmer, secretary of Norfolk Resolution, to lead a team focused on constructive solutions.

Within Norwich, tier 4

Clients laud the ‘old-fashioned values and up-to-date savvy in family and financial matters‘ of Kester Cunningham John’s chartered tax adviser, Robert Chalmers.

Within Public sector, Kester Cunningham John is a third tier firm,

Local authorities praise ‘prompt, experienced and commercially aware‘ planning expert Bob McGeady at Kester Cunningham John for his ‘exceptional negotiation skills‘.

Within Cambridge, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

‘A very competent and diligent firm‘, Kester Cunningham John has the ‘approachable, friendly, knowledgeable and effective deal-maker‘ Magnus McManus and Charles Webb in a team known for ‘promptness, responsiveness and commercial acumen‘.

Within Construction, tier 4

Kester Cunningham John’s Christopher Gilbert is ‘positive and proficient‘, lending the practice a ‘polished, professional approach‘. This ‘proactive, thorough‘ team has ‘excellent technical knowledge‘ and arbitration expertise.

Within Elsewhere in East Anglia, Kester Cunningham John is a first tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John’s Ron Clare is ‘solid and detailed‘ in his approach. He advised Southend Borough Council on disposal of land and related transactions as part of a £19m college development, and Suffolk County Council on its £4.5m acquisition of a site in Ipswich for relocation of its highways depot.

Within Norwich, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Simon Cunningham’s ‘practical, realistic efficiency‘ stands out at Kester Cunningham John, which clients praise for ‘responding professionally and knowledgeably in a short time-frame‘. James Slinger has ‘all the attributes of a rising star - competent, professional and likeable‘.

Within Planning, Kester Cunningham John is a second tier firm,

Kester Cunningham John’s Bob McGeady ‘injects humour and practicality‘ into work including new sixth form centres for Suffolk County Council. His promptness and excellent rapport with local authorities, developers and individuals on contentious matters is second to none.

Within Property litigation, Kester Cunningham John is a third tier firm,

Plaudits abound for Michael Frape’s ‘practical and constructive‘ approach at Kester Cunningham John. The firm advises Cambridge colleges, agribusinesses and landlords on matters including rent arrears, trespass and dilapidation.