Howard Kennedy LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘Howard Kennedy has a very strong contentious trusts and estates team, with experience across the wide range of disputes that this encompasses. It also has the particular benefit of being supported by an excellent private client team, that is able to provide invaluable assistance with ensuring that the tax and other technical aspects of any dispute are addressed’.

‘Naomi O’Higgins is a hugely experienced litigator. She is a strong team leader and sets by example in the effort she gives each and every case. She is incredibly pleasant to work with and very tough to be against’.

‘Monika Byrska is a fantastic hire. She is one of the best estates and trusts litigators practicing today. Monika combines a deep knowledge of estates and trusts litigation and administration with thorough forensic analysis, excellent judgment and devastating negotiating prowess’.

‘Naomi O’Higgings has a long established and well earned reputation as a formidable estates and trusts litigator’.

‘Partner Emily Mailer is very experienced and knowledgeable, has a great rapport with clients. Partner Naomi O’Higgins is extremely tenacious and determined on behalf of her clients’‘.

‘The team has grown recently with the addition of Monika Byrska which reflects its expanding position in the market place’.

‘Howard Kennedy has an outstanding international reach, with clients from all over the world. The Contentious Trusts team has recruited well in the past few years and has some star players. Emily Mailer remains a market leader. Always calm under pressure and with a commercial sense for the deal, she gets clients’ trust and the respect of her opponents. Nothing is beyond her ability’.

‘Monika Byrska was a great hire. She is trilingual and brings an international view to the team for its increasingly large overseas client base’.

‘The team has a good network of contacts across the globe which makes multi-jurisdictional tax planning more efficient. We have been working with Liz Palmer for many years. She is very knowledgeable about UK, offshore trust structures and is up to date with all the regulatory and legal changes affecting tax planning. The client always comes first with Liz, she always delivers good advice in a timely way’.

‘A very experienced team with an amazing list of clients. Nothing they can’t do. Simon Malkiel – Very technically able and a creative thinker. John Annetts – A wealth of experience and always unflappable’.

‘Howard Kennedy is approachable and has practical lawyers. Their communication skills are excellent and their response times impressive. Liz Palmer is a great private client lawyer: practical, approachable, responsive and attuned to a client’s needs’.

‘We have worked with this team for many years. We appreciate the stability of the team (i.e. working with the same people for more than a decade, rather than being a team where members come and go every few years), its depth of knowledge and experience on combined US/UK matters and their “house style” of providing thorough work without “overdoing” the work’.

‘Michael Lewis has so many years of experience, which he combines with sage wisdom and good humour to make an excellent team leader on a number of our mutual clients. I am surprised he is not honoured for his long service as a really top notch international private client lawyer publicly, perhaps because like me he spends his time doing client work rather than on public appearances/publications’.

‘Liz Palmer is the next generation of excellent, technical, common sense advice and on top is a truly lovely person. Simon Malkiel is also extremely good on complex technical matters‘.

‘Excellent, deep and thorough knowledge of their practice area. Simon Malkiel is my go-to lawyer on anything trusts and IHT-related. Responsive, client-friendly, on top of the legislation and practice’.

‘Howard Kennedy have great strength in depth, they fight hard for the clients and they are able to manage complex and fast moving litigation.’

‘At the partner level, Howard Kennedy boasts a number of highly capable lawyers who are equally as adept at dealing with legal issues as their clients’ broader strategic goals.’

‘The partners are supported by hard working and reliable associates.’

‘Mark Stephens: an extremely experienced lawyer who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, and who gives bold advice where needed. Mark’s committment to his clients is unsurpassed.’

‘Elizabeth Morley: delightful and brilliant: She is a pleasure to work with and has added real value on every case on which I have worked with her. She gets clients on side and manages them throughout litigation, and she is excellent at managing a claim.’

‘Unique features are care for the client and a commitment do ensure that justice is done.’

‘Efficiency of service. Good communication between members of the legal team.’

‘Empathy with the client and care taken by senior partner Mark Stephens in supervising the work of junior colleagues.’

‘Small but effective team with real experience of how the media operates.’

‘Mark Stephens is a media heavyweight with significant experience and a loyal client base.’

‘Howard Kennedy have great strength in depth, they fight hard for the clients and they are able to manage complex and fast moving litigation adeptly. At the partner level Howard Kennedy boasts a number of highly capable lawyers who are equally adept dealing with legal issues as their clients broader strategic goals. The partners are supported by hard working and reliable associates. The firm has a great client base and extensive international experience. This gives them an edge on their competitors in cases involving mutliple jurisdictions.’

‘Mark Stephens: an extremely experienced lawyer who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, and who gives bold advice where needed. Mark’s committment to his clients is unsurpassed.’

‘Elizabeth Morley: delightful and brilliant: Liz is a pleasure to work with and has added real value on every case on which I have worked with her. She gets clients on side and manages them throughout litigation, and she is excellent at managing a claim.’

‘The leading private prosecutions in the country have been handled by HK over the past few years. A number of extremely high profile private prosecutions are in the pipeline. They have a deep understanding of the role and obligations of a prosecutor and are thus able to deliver a smooth, efficient and legally robust service.’

‘Ian Ryan – head of the team, whose hand on the tiller ensures the operation runs efficiently. His judgement is always faultless.’

‘Kyle Phillips – an exciting and new talent in this field, he brings energy and enthusiasm, and is very astute tactically.‘

‘Jen Harper – hard working and bright, Jen Harper is proving herself in the engine room of the team; she is talented and astute and deploys good attention to detail, which ensures that private prosecutions HK bring remain on the right course.‘

‘Exceptional. Amazing efficiency and fantastic at judging the resourcing required. Very effective use of electronic evidence management.’

‘Kyle Phillips – As good at managing a prosecution as he is at defending one – exceptional.’

‘A strong team across all aspects of business. We particularly use them for M&A – due diligence and SPA drafting – and we have never been let down over more than 10 years and at least 10 deals.’

‘Technically very astute. Good team leadership and delegation. Very effective communication with client and counsel.’

‘I have confidence in their strategic and technical judgement. They make the right calls. You feel in safe hands’

‘Ashley Reeback has been the partner we’ve worked with for many years. He pulls the team together based on what and when we need it – and he’s always involved so no balls get dropped.’

‘Jane Amphlett is well regarded. Simon Taylor is an effective commercial litigator. Robert Craig is highly experienced. Craig Emden is an excellent commercial dispute lawyer.’

‘Sound, pragmatic and very clear advice focused on business solutions.’

‘Sam Murray-Hinde is outstanding. Hugely responsive, impressive in her knowledge and delivery. Her advice is always clear, incisive and commercial.‘

‘Howard Kennedy have a highly respected and effective general crime department. Their lawyers are experienced and know how to win a case.’

‘Kyle Phillips is a versatile and highly intelligent partner who drives his team to aspire to the highest standards. He has an excellent track record in serious general crime cases and is fantastic with clients.’

‘This is a specialised firm giving advice and representation to private clients either being investigated for crime or having been charged. The team is headed by one of the best criminal solicitors in London, Ian Ryan, who has led the team since the firms merged. The service they provide is second to none.’

‘Jennifer Harper was knowledgeable, professional and always willing to listen and address my concerns. In many ways she was able to pre-empt my next question because of her experience.’

‘My experience with the team was always positive – even if the circumstances of discussion were distressing they were respectful and offered reassurance and at times humility above and beyond my expectations’

‘Ian Ryan has great judgement and tactical awareness. He is a master at negotiating with prosecution authorities and has an excellent team supporting him.’

‘The team led by Ian Ryan at Howard Kennedy is dynamic and on an upward curve. The leadership shown by Ian Ryan to this exciting group of young lawyers has brought them great success and year on year, they go from strenght to strength attracting bigger and better work.’

‘Ian Ryan – at the very top of the tree in London. A big reputation which is thoroughly deserved by the service he and his team deliver to Howard Kennedy’s increasingly impressive roster of high profile clients.’

‘The firm has a great reputation in the industry for dealing with the most complex and high profile white collar crime work. They have achieved a string of excellent results for individuals facing prosecution by the SFO and other fraud prosecuting agencies.’

‘Kyle Phillips is a stand out performer. Now at partner level, he is gaining the reputation of a talented lawyer who always delivers.’

‘There is a huge amount of experience in this team as well as very well connected lawyers – they are very well regarded by all other law firms including their competitors which gives them an edge in multiparty litigation.’

‘Ian Ryan is top of the tree, and no-one else in the field has the experience he has. Kyle Phillips is very ambitious and hard working.’

‘An incredibly hands on, effective and utterly unpretentious firm. Clients really appreciate the clear and effective advice that they receive and the experience of its partners is incredibly impressive.’

‘Kyle Phillips – Able to cut through a 100,000 pages of material and get straight to the facts that matter. He has a great ability to stop an investigation becoming a prosecution.’

‘Ian Ryan heads the team which has shown its quality and experience over the years following significant successes. They are adept at handling large scale financial fraud investigations and prosecutions with huge confidence and skill.’

‘Ian Ryan heads the team – he is exactly what you want: straight talking, super smart and someone who inspires confidence to get things done with the best possible outcome.’

‘A truly personalised service. The team works tirelessly for its clients, but in a way that is directed to clients’ (often very specific) needs.’

‘All the skill of a Magic Circle firm, but without the price tag.’

‘The team worked exceptionally well together. It even made itself available at the weekend as we approached the trial date.’

‘Fees are in line with the competition and I paid for what I got, which was a winning result!’

‘Dominic Offord is a standout. He has the perfect balance of letting team members do their jobs, understanding the detail, and driving the case in the best direction for the client. He is also delightful to work with.’

‘Joel Leigh – genuinely very impressive. He is incredibly committed, and, despite his seniority, is very hands on to make sure the clients receive exceptional service. Particularly good in commercial litigation that has a sports law or insolvency focus, but a great all-rounder too.’

‘Duncan Bagshaw – speed, efficiency, availability, and analytical skills.‘

‘Arish Bharucha is a thoughtful partner, but with a strong sense of what is commercially practicable. Excellent at advising clients, particularly on strategic decisions in cases where the position changes as the proceedings progress.’

‘They make everything seem manageable.’

‘Anthony Hunt is very approachable.’

‘Very experienced and professional.’

‘Adam Walford is an exceptional lawyer. His legal advice is second to none and his commercial advice is the best I have ever encountered.’

‘Adam Walford is an exceptional property lawyer. His attention to detail and commercial acumen set him apart.’

‘Adam Walford is commercially minded as well as being legally knowledgeable.’

‘The range of knowledge across the various areas of property litigation is impressive. Strength in depth.’

‘Bhavini Patel – very effective communicator who leaves no stone unturned in fighting the clients corner.’

‘Hollie Wright – superb attention to detail and extremely dedicated.’

‘Amanda McNeil – experienced and canny, understands how to achieve the clients objectives.’

‘Rob Boucher is a stand out performer, both within the firm and in the wider market. Rob is a very, very clever lawyer. He is particularly knowledgeable in enfranchisement and residential leasehold matters.’

‘Good attention to client needs and great at accommodating client’s every changing diary commitments. Tailored and specific advice. No fence sitting.’

‘From top to bottom this team excels in their grasp of their client’s needs and tailors their approach to litigation accordingly. They approach litigation in a practical and cost effect way always putting the client’s interest first.’

‘A truly excellent firm with strength in depth. They have a great client base, a wide-range of specialists and they work together superbly.’

‘Great client relations. Sound advice and deals with enquiries and responses in a timely manner’.

‘Speed efficiency and good humour. Not as expensive’.

‘Property team at Howard Kennedy is Premier League with depth ensuring that there is never a gap. Clients and their advisors are always kept informed and each one feels they are the only client that the firm is dealing with. Service beyond expectation’.

‘I deal with Ruby Begum who is professional, bright and who relishes a challenge. Ruby is always available and refuses to allow her clients to get anything less than 100% from her and the firm. I have no hesitation in recommending Ruby to anyone looking for the best conveyancing service’.

‘The practice provides a personalised, professional and diligent service’.

‘Ruby Begum is an exceptional individual who I have been working with a long time – always has time for her client and has an extensive knowledge base’.

‘Howard Kennedy have great strength in depth, they fight hard for the clients and they are able to manage complex and fast moving litigation. At the partner level Howard Kennedy boasts a number of highly capable lawyers who are equally adept dealing with legal issues as their clients broader strategic goals. The partners are supported by hard working and reliable associates. The firm has extensive experience working with and against high profile sportspeople and celebrities. That experience of fighting cases on “both sides” gives it a real knowledge of the pressure points in litigation, something that can prove invaluable in high value and high cost litigation.’

‘Mark Stephens is an extremely experienced lawyer who is not afraid to roll up his sleeves, and who gives bold advice where needed. Mark’s commitment to his clients is unsurpassed.’

‘Elizabeth Morley – Delightful and brilliant. Liz is a pleasure to work with and has added real value on every case on which I have worked with her. She gets clients on side and manages them throughout litigation, and she is excellent at managing a claim.’

‘Mark Stephens – Very talented individual with the ability to speak well, with extensive knowledge about current legal issues and a particular interest in human rights law, media law and freedom of speech, first amendment issues.’

‘Having worked with entertainment lawyers for over thirty years the lawyers I worked with at Howard Kennedy were without doubt the smartest professional and most user friendly and personable I have come across. I couldn’t recommend them more highly’

‘I think the one thing that stands out for me is that when you are working with high-end A-list clients the most important thing is the availability of the lawyers. Their availability to become part of a team. It’s not always as simple as just doing a deal. Howard Kennedy were exemplary with exactly the right blend of knowledge accessibility and knowledge.’

‘The advice is thorough; solicitors are knowledgeable, personable and easy to work with.’

‘Robert Lands is very knowledgeable on a number of areas relevant to our business.’

‘Absolutely committed to its clients, calm, empathetic and creative.’

‘The lawyers know how to communicate with a regulator and how to achieve the best possible result for their clients. A long history of excellent results.’

‘Lots of experience in professional liability and discipline, client friendly and collaborative.’

‘Extensive experience in this area.’

‘Ian Ryan- experience of both prosecuting and defending’.

‘Ian Ryan – at the top of his game and the go-to person in London in this field.’

‘Joel Leigh – very confident, client friendly and good tactical head.’

‘Kyle Phillips – a charming manner when dealing with regulatory investigators, but incredibly tough when he needs to be.’

‘Everyone on this team is enormously personable, kind with clients but extremely tenacious. They are excellent lawyers with a deeply human touch. They are a breath of fresh air’.

‘Lois Langton – a tour de force. Unflappable, the one you want in your corner.

‘Jazmin Brown – a gentler touch but equally forceful. She is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Extremely good with huge amounts of information. Jessie Smith – supremely organised, excellent judgment. She is ferociously bright with a creative flair. A force to be reckoned with. Emma Green – knows everything‘.

‘Hands on, highly communicative and straight talking.’

‘Lois Langton is simply brilliant at communicating with her clients and always provides clear advice.’

‘I am incredibly impressed by Lois Langton who leads the team at Howard Kennedy. She has built a very competent and conscientious team who really work well together. They have excellent work and provide a fabulous service to clients’.

‘Lois Langton is not only a fabulous lawyer but also a great team leader. She has earned a brilliant reputation as a tenacious litigator and has become the go to family lawyer for footballers and football agents. She is always able to identify the issues in the case and to be able to communicate clearly and concisely the next steps to the client’.

‘Lois Langton is an absolute star’.

‘Key people in key positions, always understanding the client’s needs balanced against probability of success.’

‘Jade Chalmers – led from the front and delivered an incredible appeal decision and costs award.’

‘Jade Chalmers is brilliant. Very competent, Howard Kennedy (HK) have a great relationship with councils and other firms which makes the process much easier.’

‘Jade Chalmers – always available, nice to deal with, understands a developers mindset, understands money and cost against timing, great relationship with others, respected.’

‘Always available to be contacted.’

‘Clear and concise advice. Strength and depth.’

‘Sam Murray-Hinde is excellent. Her instructions to Counsel are concise and clear and the witness statements prepared by her always include every point that needs covering. Her trial preparation is first rate.’

‘Great team headed by Jane Amphlett – who is very experienced, hard hitting, hugely bright and very user friendly.’

‘The employment team has a thorough understanding of our industry.’

‘Advice is always credible and precise and takes into account the outcomes the business wishes to achieve.’

‘Our go to person is Sam Murray-Hinde, her advice is always very credible, precise and takes into account the goals of the business. Sam understands the background of the company having seen the various changes over the years.’

‘Sam Murray-Hinde is professional and extremely knowledgeable in her field and she is a pleasure to work with.’

‘The Howard Kennedy commercial property development team delivers a responsive and commercially focused service to us. The advice has always been of top quality and first class.’

‘David Philips is pragmatic and easy to deal with and is extremely responsive and very practical. He is diligent, commercial and very user-friendly. He is simply an exceptional lawyer who is also extremely knowledgeable.’

‘Excellent understanding of our business and the market.’

‘Astrid Stanley is very knowledgeable. She has taken the time to really get to know our business and how we work, and also has excellent industry knowledge. She is our go-to lawyer for all property related matters.’

‘The team is extremely responsive, very practical, diligent, commercial and very user-friendly. They are also extremely knowledgeable and do not get bogged down in minutiae.’

‘They have excellent client handling skills and have the ability to manage complex property finance transactions with ease. They are a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Full-service firm that acts across the whole breadth of the property finance market. They support clients across the smallest transactions all the way up to £50m. They continue to provide an outstanding service and the highest quality work, whilst also acting commercially and prudently.’

‘They have gone beyond expecations in supporting and understanding the client’s business.’

‘Consistency of quality across the team’s advice and support goes beyond just explanation of the legal points.’

‘Of particular stand out is Laura Brown who consistently goes above and beyond in providing excellent service and work of the highest quality.’

‘Steve Clinning is always contactable and easy to deal with, and makes significant effort to support his clients.’

‘Nada Jarnaz is pragmatic and easy to deal with and is extremely responsive and very practical. Nada is diligent, commercial and very user-friendly. She is simply a very good lawyer who is also extremely knowledgeable and does not get bogged down in minutiae.’

‘A truly personalised service – the lawyers work tirelessly for their clients’ specific needs. This approach has come from the top – partners are hands on, and engaged – but has trickled down to all levels of the business. Absolutely excellent.’

‘Duncan Bagshaw is an exceptionally professional litigator..’

‘The team is headed by the terrifically talented advocate Duncan Bagshaw, who has acted in several high-profile cases. In international tribunals, he understands the temperature of the room like a thermometer.’

‘Duncan Bagshaw is a determined advocate who won’t leave a hearing without a victory.‘

‘Duncan Bagshaw – extremely likeable and with infectious enthusiasm. Impressively broad range of clients, particularly from Africa.’

‘Arish Bharucha – few people are better connected in the Indian arbitration scene than Arish -a very user-friendly operator.’

‘Arish Bharucha is a thoughtful partner, but with a strong sense of what is commercially practicable. Excellent at advising clients, particularly on strategic decisions where the position changes as the proceedings progress.‘

‘Arish Bharucha is extremely intelligent and diligent. He is also a pleasure to work with.’

‘The whole team is amazing, helpful and understanding.’

‘Always willing to help with practical advice.’

‘All the team members work so well with each other.’

‘Antonia Torr is engaging and super-responsive. Excellent qualities in an immigration lawyer!’

‘Led by the genius Mark Stephens, the IP team has an extraordinary level.’

‘Howard Kennedy offer very cost-effective, top-notch IP services and with a keen understanding of the needs of their clients as to budget, turnaround time and the type of advice required. They are very easy to work with and the overall experience is one of collaboration and teamwork.’

‘Robert Lands, himself an excellent IP lawyer, leads a first-rate team.’

‘The firm has the huge advantage of having partners that have hands on experience of sitting on the boards of various sporting bodies and regulators. There is a level of insight that no other firm can touch.’

‘Kyle Phillips is the go to partner for any sports related issue, but particularly footballing disputes

‘Joel Leigh is a brilliant litigator who is unafraid to leverage the threat of litigation in a sports dispute. Always right on the law.’

‘The team are truly hands on – making sure the clients get a personalised and dedicated service.’

‘Joel Leigh is dedicated, hands on partner who knows more about sports law (in particular, sports-related insolvency) work than any solicitor I know.’