‘An organically grown team that has gone from strength to strength, bolting on new offerings and establishing itself as a serious player in the area, often rivalling (and up against) large London firms. The team is overseen by Matthew Brandis, who is an exceptional leader and fantastic lawyer.’

‘Matthew Brandis is an incredibly safe pair of hands for any legal dispute – he is calm yet enthusiastic and has an excellent bedside manner with clients. He is great at looking to resolve disputes, but willing to fight for his clients. Rajiv Malhotra is currently a rising star, which is a thoroughly deserved accolade.’

‘It has an impregnable reputation for fine quality commercial work in its region. Staggeringly good local market knowledge. Long-standing team. ’

‘I know I can rely on Matthew Brandis to get me results. Craig Williams oozes charm and builds a great rapport. ’

‘They are so knowledgeable and are leaders in their field. Particular mention should go to Craig Williams, Matthew Brandis, Simon Carroll and Rajiv Malhotra whose expertise is invaluable. ’

‘This is a long established firm of solicitors which is more than capable of providing a service which might be expected of a larger silver circle London based firm whilst at the same time retaining the sense of the personal and bespoke approach which its clients appreciate.’

‘The overall team has depth and this means that there is always someone available with the correct expertise who can take on even the toughest of cases.’

‘Craig Williams – strategically astute. Craig is commercially focused who understands the importance of strategically mapping out at the outset the route through litigation to ensure that clients’ goals are achieved.’

‘A strong litigation team in Milton Keynes who punch well above their weight in terms of the quality of their work. They frequently conduct high profile litigation in the London High Court.’

‘Sarah Rutnah: A star partner in the making, very assured and organised with a fantastic capacity for work.’

‘Sonia Villar: an up and comping associate who is calm and measured and wins the trust of clients.’

‘London commercial litigation expertise outside the London commercial market.’

‘Sarah Rutnah has excellent technical and commercial judgement.’

‘Dentons have collaborated with a disclosure provider to offer a scaled-back disclosure platform that is suitable for small-medium disclosure exercises, and is much less expensive than the full disclosure platform.’

‘Dentons work seamlessly with the client, collaborating on extensive claims reviews/document analysis using document sharing platforms.’

‘Rob Francis – working with Rob is like working with a member of your own team. He knows the business. He listens to, understands and delivers what I want, whilst pro-actively making his own insightful recommendations.’

‘A small but perfectly formed team, comprising heavyweight litigators like the excellent Sarah Jackson.’

‘Sarah Jackson is the stand out star of the team. She is technically excellent, thorough, tenacious and passionate in fighting her clients’ cases. She is also a caring mentor to juniors in the team and very well respected by her peers.She is also a huge supporter of women in the profession.’

‘IBB’s commercial offering has gone from strength to strength, in particular their franchising department headed by Russell Ford. They are one of the best out there, with huge amounts of experience in contentious and non-contentious matters, fielding an strong team offering from junior associate to partner.’

‘Russell Ford is an exceptional lawyer who I cannot more highly recommend for inclusion in the directory. He is a titan in the franchising world, a hugely knowledgeable and dynamic lawyer.’

‘Sarah Jackson is a very hands on lawyer, very personable and clearly gets very involved in her client’s cases. You don’t get many firms in the Greater London area outside of central London with the contacts, expertise and experience in complex commercial and insolvency litigation, but IBB is clearly one of those firms.’

‘Small practice but punch above their weight on capability and strength in depth for commercial and litigation.’

‘Paul Kite is smart, commercial and pragmatic. Cuts through complex information quickly and accurately, attention to detail but can see the bigger picture.’

‘Very professional and dedicated lawyers at the firm. A personal touch makes a difference.’

‘Very fast service, very well priced and very responsive with a personal touch.’

‘Commercial Matter: The team quickly grasped the crux of the problem, advised and acted quickly and brought matter to a swift and very satisfactory conclusion. As a business, that’s what we wanted and that’s what we got.’

‘Simon Walsh is an exceptional individual, who went above and beyond for us.’

‘High degree of knowledge with robust advice. Excellent client care skills and good on strategy.’

‘Tracy Lacey-Smith is comprehensive in her detailed advice. She is able to produce documents with excellent quality. She is very proactive and is good with making sure that the case is fully prepared.’

‘Simon Walsh is pragmatic and sensible. He can analyse a legal problem quickly and get to grips with the material. He is tenacious in correspondence.’

‘Clare Mackay is excellent with clients. She is able to write eloquently and persuasively. She has a high degree of knowledge concerning partnership disputes and commercial claims. ’

‘Paul Marmor provides a very keen and tailored client service.’

‘Top quality service provided by firm based outside London, with particular focus on CIS / Central Asian work. Leaves no stone unturned in trying to achieve best outcome for clients. ’

‘Paul Marmor, partner: very hard-working and attuned to needs and objectives of client. Good strategic grasp.’

‘Marta Grieve, partner: excellent at managing expectations and demands of Russian clients (fluent in Russian).’

‘Greg Pooler, senior associate: very bright and hard-working. The glue underpinning Sherrards’ services.’

‘The team excel particularly in business protection disputes and injunctive relief including in relation to team moves.’

‘Aaron Heslop has excellent judgment and is also excellent with clients, including when working under pressure in an urgent injunctive relief context.’

‘Blaser Mills are hugely knowledgeable for our sector and always provide us with the support and advice and guidance on how best to proceed on certain cases. I value their opinion majorly and will always take their advice on situations. I trust their decisions are made with our businesses best intentions at heart.’

‘I have worked with Nina Toor and her team over a few mediations. Blaser Mills are always well prepared and reliable when setting up mediations.’

‘Nina Toor, in the Dispute Resolution team, is excellent: she gives clear and thoughtful advice to her clients and remains calm when tensions rise in mediation.’

‘Nina Toor in particular is smart, pro-active, commercially savvy and very client focussed. ’

‘The practice is very much client focussed with excellent communication skills. Although we work with the practice in only 2 key areas, the range of services is expansive & over the past 12 years one-off service requests have been dealt with in the same professional & excellent communication manner.’

‘The individuals all have a “can do” approach to service provision, advice is always relevant & based on the best possible outcome. Jackie Ray specifically has always provided solutions to numerous issues with excellent outcomes.’

‘I have used Blaser Mills for over 15 years and the team have always been a diverse set of professionals where nothing is too much trouble. They are down to earth, talk sense and make things happen. I have always had a good experience with Blaser Mills. ID checks are online and billing is prompt and efficient. Blaser Mills have various offices but can also meet online and are flexible to me needs.’

‘Jade Brooks is super efficient, very knowledgeable but also very happy to seek advice from partners in the firm to check her instincts are correct, they usually are. Jade is easily contactable and always meets deadlines, even when they are tight.

‘The Debenhams Ottaway commercial litigation team is pragmatic and sensible with strength and depth at all levels. Specialising in professional negligence, shareholder disputes and general commercial litigation, they are a force to be reckoned with. Notable practitioners are Robyn Adams and the excellent Juliet Schalker, who is deservedly seen as an expert in her field.’

‘Robyn Adams is engaging and knowledgeable and very client focussed with a firm handle on the detail of any case.’

‘Juliet Schalker is a master practitioner with a deft sense of what a commercial outcome looks like. She guides her clients skilfully to the best result whilst managing expectations. She is a force to be reckoned with.’

‘Alexander Neale is commercial and pragmatic and specialises in insolvency and company litigation.’

‘Robyn Adams is brilliant; her strength lies not only in her technical legal knowledge but also being pragmatic and commercially astute.’

‘Debenhams Ottaway are excellent – they are lovely to work with and extremely able.’

‘This team is extremely tight knit and approachable and provide a seamless service.’

‘Juliet Schalker always gives commercial, pragmatic advice which means clients return time and time again. Robyn Adams is a star associate in the making. She is quick to identify the real issues and to tailor solutions to the client’s needs.’

‘The team is experienced, engenders confidence in the client and offers sound counsel at a time when emotions are often running high. They work hard and put their clients at the front. They are pleasant people and that is important when you are working as a “team”.’

‘Tom Holden and Simon Hobbs understand our business, our own personalities and what we expect the outcomes to be. At the (as I thought) end of a recent case I actually said “I’ll miss working with you guys..”’

‘Freeths provide first class legal advice alongside a deep understanding of our needs and objectives as as business. Freeths always go that “extra mile” and look for ways in which they can add value for the client. They do this by putting in the effort to understand us as clients, to know what our plans and objectives are, so that they can see opportunities for us that we may have missed. Freeths are excellent partners to work with and not just exceptional advisers. ’

‘Simon Hobbs is a first class litigator. He provides clear and thorough advice, always setting out objectively the strengths and weaknesses of any given matter. Simon will set out a clear path for dealing with a case from the outset so that we as the client have a good understanding of how the case will be managed. Simon understands the importance of having a good strategy and always thinking one step ahead. Tom Holden is incredibly hardworking with excellent technical knowledge. He is tenacious and is always striving to deliver the best outcome. Tom provides sensible and pragmatic advice. ’

‘In terms of what makes the firm unique, having Neil O’Callaghan means that clients can get the same quality of service as they might expect from a specialist City firm, without paying City prices.’

‘Neil O’Callaghan is an excellent and knowledgeable lawyer and a pleasure to work with. He is a specialist in this area and a real asset to the firm. I wish to take this opportunity to thank those involved in my case for their wisdom and professional guidance throughout my case period.’

‘The Machins team has supported our businesses with legal support for nearly 10 years. They have always provided strong and dedicated team members who are diligent and well versed in their particular areas of specialism. They have a range of practitioners who have assisted us with general business, property and asset purchase as well as a full acquisition. The billing has been transparent and fair and the inclusion of online platforms such as Microsoft Teams has enabled quick and easy communication.’

‘When a subject or point of law requires layman explanation this has always been provided in a way that comprehension is achieved as efficiently as possible.’

‘There has never been a pushy culture of sales, services are offered without obligation and fee estimates have been accurate. Pro bono elements have been included in some cases to ensure parity with the estimates allowing a long term partnership to develop in line with our business growth.’

‘Machins benefits both from being partner-led whilst maintaining strength across all fee-earners. Knowledgeable and responsive, it is a pleasure to work with Machins.’

‘Neil O’Callaghan is an excellent solicitor with a great command of the relevant legal framework and the facts of this case. During a conference with the client, Neil was very helpful in bridging the complex legal advice given and the commercial objectives of the client.’

‘User friendly, reliable, cost conscious for their clients.’

‘Approachable, professional and personal.’

‘London quality at regional rates.’

‘Jason Torrance delivered exceptional litigation advice and guidance, highly recommended, Jason helped us navigate one of the most challenging times. We would not hesitate to use Jason and his team at Tees again, we found all Tees staff to be exceptionally professional and approachable.’

‘Jason Torrance gave sound advice and had excellent contacts for expert Court compliant reports. The barrister Jason recommended was also highly skilled, he offered helpful advice on how to approach the trial and was also very approachable. We could not have had better professionals by our side.’

‘The team have specialist knowledge of the sector which means they can provide clients with tailored advice. It is clear that the firm have good and efficient case management systems in place. ’

‘Jason Torrance has excellent people skills. He gives clear and honest advice to clients at the outset and is a great litigation tactician.’

‘Tees as a multi disciplinary firm provides real in depth expertise with an ability to identify and deal with the exceptional alongside the everyday commercial issues that arise. It merits its reputation for its responsive and often innovative approach to problem solving. What is more this excellence always comes at a competitive price, and their high percentage cost recovery on detailed assessment is enviable.’

‘Darren Perks is hugely capable with in depth knowledge and an ablity to bore down, identify and then retain focus on what is key to a case. Definitely someone you want on your team.’

‘Jason Torrance is a very experienced and talented solicitor who is always determined to get a great result for his clients.’

‘Darren Perks is pragmatic and commercial.’

‘We are extremely satisfied with the performance of the litigation team, comprising Anthony Okumah and Karolina Natkaniec. Their exemplary diligence and professionalism have been noteworthy.’

‘Very personable but professional staff who put their clients at ease and take them through each process with efficiency consideration.’

‘No doubt there is a hierarchy in place which creates continuity and depth, but this is not the emphasis of the firm. What I appreciated is the clear sense of a team working together on my issues. There is a culture of respect and openness by colleagues within the team which promotes confidence in clients and facilitates faster well researched advice. They are highly effective in problem solving.’

‘The whole practice is very good and can’t do enough for you. The billing is sent out promptly and is all itemised so you can see exactly what you are paying for.’

‘I highly recommend Longmores for their exceptional legal services and standards of client care. The team’s expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to client satisfaction have consistently exceeded expectations. They exhibit a deep understanding of the law and their professionalism and clear communication make them a key business partner. ’

‘Nat Young combines tenacity, pragmatism, and an impressive ability to balance legal considerations with commercial imperatives. His unique skill set allows him to seamlessly integrate legal complexities with commercial realities, offering insights that are both legally sound and commercially viable.

‘ They are able to develop a very clear understanding of the needs of the client and are able to articulate and take forward a plan to deliver identified outcomes.’

‘ Their knowledge in their subject areas is second to none and their ability to identify very clear ways of achieving the outcomes sought is balanced with clear advice on merits/chances of success.’

‘We found the department and in particular James Carpenter knowledgeable and efficient. ’

‘We dealt almost exclusively with James Carpenter who was accessible and prepared to discuss sometimes complex issues at length and in a language that we could understand. There was good contact via email as well. This was something we didnt receive from other law firms.’

‘The team is fantastic with clients: very responsive, manages expectations and obtains excellent results in and out of court, even where the pure legal merits of the case are not in the client’s favour. The team are able to negotiate favourable settlements and are very commercial in their approach. Their expertise in commercial litigation is a head above the competition and they provide exceptional value for money.’

‘They have a good feel for when counsel’s advice is required: they are not overly reliant on counsel but target their instructions well. In terms of working with counsel, I have always found them approachable, pragmatic and quick to provide any or any further information or documentation required.’

‘Saljuq Haideris a very strong addition to the team, having brilliantly conducted a large number of high value commercial cases. He takes a robust approach to litigation but is also able to navigate difficult negotiations diplomatically and ensure that his clients obtain a good deal, whether in or out of court.’

‘James Carpenter has broad commercial litigation experience combined with a flair for putting forward the client’s case at its best, which means that the client can be confident their case is in very safe hands. James also skillfully leads a team of outstanding associates.’

‘Saljuq Haider understands client needs, great to work with.’

‘Rather than a partner, two principal/senior associates have a wealth of expertise between them and their collaborative approach marks this compact team out.’

‘A team with a good range of experience with good delegation of work.’

‘Saagar Mehta is friendly and a great asset to any legal team. ’

‘I dealt with the team following instructions relating to regulatory and food safety issues for a number of their clients. The team was quick to seize upon the key issues, responsive and diligent in preparing papers for court hearings and exceptional at client management. I found them to be particularly efficient when compared to some other first that operate in this area.’

‘Lucy Slatter’s analysis of the law and evidence was spot on and incisive, which is not always common with those dealing with some of the more esoteric regulations.’

‘Saagar has been really really helpful both with billing and trying to retrieve the money from estranged parents He offers me continuous updates and if there is any issues with the payments not being received he informs me what the next steps will be.’

‘Having used other firms I will always recommend Nockolds as there are several members of the team who have assisted me in different matters.’

‘Saagaar Mehta was the associate dealing with my case, his advice at all time was with an eye to me achieving a reasonable outcome without expending un-reasonable costs. His advice at all times was measured and clear.’