Field Seymour Parkes LLP > Reading, England > Firm Profile

‘Rob Crowther is an extremely talented lawyer with a lightness of touch that belies his expertise. Very good with clients. Ben Oliver is a super technical trusts and tax lawyer who offers great service to clients.’

‘The team demonstrates real strength and depth. They give excellent client service and are very supportive to professional colleagues, including counsel. The quality of work is outstanding.’

‘We do a fairly high volume of corporate transactions and the team is always able to cope with our workload.’

‘Penelope Garden and Rachael Maunder understand our typical deal structures and know when to take pragmatic views and when to be tough.’

‘Great team to work with and takes the time to understand your needs as a client, your aims with respect to the deal and how you like to work.’

‘Penelope Garden is an absolutely fantastic addition to our deal team. She is quick to respond, understands the problem and takes a pragmatic and sensible approach to overcoming any issues and getting the deal done. She works well with members of our team at all levels and is never too busy to help when we have a problem.’

‘The team was always available and acutely aware that it was a complicated and challenging transaction and therefore provided much needed reassurance, guidance and encouragement.’

‘Both Jeremy Parkes and Rachael Maunder broke everything down into bite size pieces and guided us through some challenging decisions. They complement each other and I don’t think we would have got the deal over the line if it wasn’t for their diligence and encouragement.’

‘Penelope Garden and Jeremy Parkes are consistently exceptional. Jeremy was wonderful. Penny always gives coherent and holistic advice which considers all facets of a problem; obtaining her advice is so much more valuable because of it.’

‘Sian Daly is an exceptional associate with a bright future.’

‘The team is strong in general and commercial litigation, having personable and approachable litigators that are able to clearly explain complex matters.’

‘Bill Dixon is the standout fee earner. He has a huge amount of experience and expertise in high value, complex international litigation. He has an excellent bedside manner and grasps difficult issues quickly and effectively.’

‘Combination of broad (different fields of commercial law) and specialized (litigation) legal knowledge and experience. Partners with prior magic circle experience, but not London prices. Practical approach with a focus on settling out of court.’

‘Bill Dixon has many years of experience as a litigator in a wide range of different fields of law. Combination of legal knowledge and business common sense. Bill provides clear and practical advice. Moreover he is a likeable person and easy to deal with.’

‘FSP provides a multi-disciplinary team, which makes them an excellent “one-stop shop” where support is required on matters which may be multi-faceted. The team shares information with colleagues internally rather than a client having to explain a problem multiple times, and the single point of contact co-ordinates and manages the flow of information and communications.’

‘Billing arrangements are clear. Quotes are available if requested, and the breakdowns of costs provided with invoices are clear. Usefully, the team provides information in advance of an invoice on accrued time and confirms with a client the amount of time to be invoiced in any given period.’

‘Very friendly, open-minded to various options, willing to discuss and debate options, rather than offer a single option. Communications with clients is detailed, but presented in a clear, non-legal way.  Stand-out individuals: Ian Machray and Jackie Denham.’

‘All our needs running an SME have been met by the team at FSP. We have dealt with them on employment-related issues during the unique COVID 19 crisis. Highlighting their attention to detail that was appreciated by us having little or no experience of the process.’

‘Ian Machray is a cool, calm head, and takes a very sensible approach.’

‘They have a depth of talent, are highly knowledge and are very approachable. Proactive is a description that is appropriate. They keep clients informed as legislation unfolds, through seminars ,regular online briefings and with individual advice. Their use of technology is excellent.’

‘Ian Machray is simply an outstanding Lawyer who combines excellent technical ability with practical, common sense advice. He looks and delivers not just legal opinions, but the solution to any personnel issue or problem that I as a client may encounter.’

‘Ian is a calm, even-tempered leader who makes himself available as required. His team also has an approach which is empathetic but they remain focused on delivering a solution and offering advice in a balanced way, ensuring we are aware when we are taking greater risks than ‘normal’ so we can adjust our stance as necessary.’

‘A proactive firm that feel like having our own internal legal team.’

‘Alex Illingworth is an exceptional lawyer. You just know your ‘back is covered’.’

‘FSP’s banking & finance term provide consistently high quality advice. Response times are excellent. Advice is always clear, protective of our  interests whilst maintaining a commerciality that characterises the firm.’

‘John Barker is an excellent banking lawyer. John’s advice is sound, his responses times swift and communication with all parties consistently clear.’

‘Marcus Francis is an excellent property lawyer and head of the real estate team at FSP. His advice is highly regarded and communication skills strong. He maintains a broad business network and consistently looks for opportunities to collaborate and make mutually beneficial introductions.’

‘Excellent, friendly and exceptionally competent team.’

‘Joe Preisner is excellent, as is Alex Illingworth. All of the people there are.’

‘Very strong private client team that is well integrated with the contentious probate team. This makes for a deep reservoir of expertise, offering good value specialist service outside London’

‘They are a regional firm with a strong reputation for good and efficient service to clients. Their staff are always helpful and friendly.’

‘Katharine Riley is approachable and very capable and finds practical solutions for clients’ issues.’

‘Excellent team with an outstanding leader.’

‘Katharine Riley has a vast array of experience which allows her to think creatively to find ADR solutions.’

‘Katharine Riley is a talented lawyer – a real asset to her firm, and going from strength to strength.’

‘Sue Baker was outstanding. She had the ability digest all facets of the information given, and act on it in a straightforward and effective manner.’

‘This strong team was further strengthened by the arrival of Bethan Thomas. They now have really able people at all levels. As a consequence they have the ability to provide a first class service for all types of family work.’

‘Hannah Sims is organized, efficient, hands-on and approachable- a brilliant combination!’

‘Lindsay Davies is wonderful. She is bright and very conscientious and is a safe pair of hands.’

‘There was plenty of time for discussion and a fair degree of flexibility to have calls and discussions at a time that suited me. There was lots of clear explanation of the process.’

‘Thorough and experienced matrimonial finance lawyers who are a match for any London firm. FSP are tenacious when they need to be, but also keen to reach a resolution provided it is in the best interests of the client.’

‘Lindsay Davies has a photographic memory and knows all of her cases inside and out. In addition she is very analytical and able to dissect the most complicated expert reports to the benefit of her clients. She is an excellent lawyer. Sue Baker is hugely experienced and clients find her very reassuring. She is able to analyse a case and drill down to the relevant factors and shape the progress of the case.’

‘I felt FSP were a cohesive and well-integrated series of specialist teams who worked well together for my case.’

‘I think the most important thing for me is the availability of the team. Their fees are fair and reasonable and transactions are dealt with in a timely manner.’

‘Michael Higgin is thorough, patient, and a pleasure to know and work with.’

‘Joe Preisner is excellent. All of the people there are.’

‘Excellent, friendly, and exceptionally competent team.’

‘Modern, corporate approach but with friendly and personable delivery.’

‘Hazel Eccles – great understanding of what clients want and need and how to delivery the relevant solution in a practical and timely manner.’

‘Excellent interpretation and analysis of the matter and advice. The solicitors that I deal with are very personable and good to work with.’

‘Kelsie Essenhigh – super operator, concise and to the point. Advises clients in a no fuss way that everyone benefits from.’

‘Excellent working relationship, knowledgeable, friendly, engaging and very helpful.’

‘Kelsie Essenhigh and Hazel Eccles, who I work with regularly, are exceptional.’

‘The solicitors have been exceptional in all aspects, from understanding the needs of our charity, guiding us through the process, as well as responding to the multiple questions that we had along the way. They also worked at our speed of need, which was really important for us.’

‘The company has a policy of responding efficiently to communications. The partners were always responsive during the week, within 48 hours of receiving an email (at the most). More importantly, the individuals tried to understand our needs and what our charity does. Finally, it was really good value for money.’

‘The team that we have dealt with have been extremely helpful and personable. Providing explanations where required and directing us to relevant podcasts they have produced. Pricing has been clear and transparent in advance of work being started.’

‘We have worked with Ruo Wu, who has been so helpful and patient when we have required further explanation.’

‘In-depth specialist knowledge of the practice area. Commercial and pragmatic advice.’

‘Julia Mactear – straightforward and a brilliant communicator. Gets to the heart of what the client really needs to achieve and focuses on getting there as swiftly and effectively as possible. Mark Banham – calm and organised strategist.’

‘The Field Seymour Parkes property litigation team have incredible strength in depth; they have good commercial know-how and deliver a really great product at a very reasonable price.’

‘Julia Mactear: very bright, diligent and experienced. I have worked with her on a number of cases, from beneficial co-ownership cases to drainage and riparian rights cases, and she has always impressed me with her tactical acuity and easy manner with clients. Mark Banham: recently made up to partner and well-deserved. He is a very streetwise and commercially minded litigator.’