Freeths LLP > Birmingham, England > Firm Profile

‘First-class customer service, responsive, technically strong and go the extra mile.’

‘Always available, innovative and pragmatic.’

‘Approachable, down to earth and very knowledgeable.’

‘Tom Brown was excellent. Available anytime time to answer questions and guide us with his wisdom and experience. A firm but fair negotiator.’

‘Mohammed Abbas was excellent. His patience and perseverance helped us through the whole transaction.’

‘The team provides a tailored service, and where I particular value them is their ability to understand what I am trying to achieve – they then find a way to do it. Their commerciality is a particular strong point – they come with solutions rather than problems. Their technical abilities are strong and they understand the market incredibly well.’

‘Lee Clifford is exceptional. He provides excellent service from across his team while giving a personal approach. Lee is always available and takes the time to understand the situation, the wider transaction and what you are trying to achieve. A stand-out corporate lawyer in the Midlands, respected across the community.’

John Jeffreys – exceptionally responsive , pragmatic and commercial in the advice given, good all round knowledge even if not his speciality area of law and ensures where other within Freeths are involved he retains control of the matter to avoid a silo approach.’

‘Strong and highly capable restructuring team with a partner led focus on delivery and advice.’

‘John Jeffreys – High calibre, experienced professional who has excellent client interaction skills and provides a commercial, partner-led approach to restructuring situations .’

‘Everyone knows that with partners it is the name on the door that matters more than the name above it. and John Jeffreys is one of the best reasons to work with Freeths. He relates to clients well, is resourceful and creative and forceful when necessary handling some very delicate situations for us. I cannot recommend him highly enough.’

‘Freeths have been an exceptional team lead by James Larmour. He is always at the forefront of market developments, PFI handback being a particular example.’

‘James Larmour always provides excellent balanced and commercial advice. Well known and regarded in the infrastructure market. A go to lawyer.’

‘Clever lawyers who use their legal intellect to guide you towards sound practical conclusions. Good value for money.’

‘James Larmour is our main contact. While we haven’t yet worked on a full transaction together, from the work he has done for us we have been pleased with the level of service provided. He can be depended on to provide clear commercially-minded advice.’

‘James Larmour is a fantastic project finance and PFI practitioner, with a skill set that is easily as strong as the best magic circle firm partners I have dealt with in the sector over the years.’

‘They have a great understanding of our business and the ability advise us in a commercial and practical way, whilst remaining professional.’

‘Very experienced team in soft IP, in particular trade marks / passing-off, and copyright and designs.’

‘Freeths’ IP team has spent time really getting to know our business and brand and what is particularly important to us. The team proactively advise on brand protection, key case law updates that may impact our brand and present their advice in a commercial, pragmatic way.’

‘Simon Barker and Michaela Selvester are always very professional but pragmatic.’

‘Simon Barker – very experienced in dealing with competing products to the market leaders. Is great at handling lay clients’ expectations and guiding them through the whole litigation process.’

‘Simon Barker is excellent – calm, pragmatic, experienced and will find every point.,

‘Iona Silverman – very experienced in soft IP matters, in particular trade marks and passing-off. Very level headed in reaching and advising upon a commercial settlement.’

‘Martin Noble has a good understanding of patent and design law, combined with sound strategic sense.’

‘The team are extremely professional yet friendly and personable to deal with. Their advice and expertise is always sound and their strategies extremely effective. They’re excellent at getting local authorities on side which is extremely challenging.’

‘Lisa Gilligan is an extremely talented licensing solicitor. Her work for our business has been outstanding. She is calm, friendly and professional and she creates excellent relationships with stakeholders and local authorities.’

‘Lisa Gilligan is hugely knowledgeable, trustworthy and approachable. Timely, accurate and commercially-minded advice is always provided in a form which is suitable to the audience it is being delivered to.’

‘Having confidence in the quality of the advice from the team members.’

‘Always available, providing clear and commercially based advice on all cases.’

‘A very knowledgeable and experienced team. Very responsive and commercially minded. A good team player. A diverse team which adds to their knowledge base.’

‘Client care and attentiveness to client needs.’

‘Harjit Saund is technically proficient and a true client partner.’

‘The team I have worked with have always been extremely professional and explained legislation in a practical and easy to understand method. They have always collaborated with us to provide a good service. I have worked with several members of the team on various projects and have found everyone I have dealt with very helpful, knowledgeable, trustworthy and professional.’

‘The individuals I have worked with have gone the extra mile to support me in the issues we have faced; explaining processes at every stage and were available whenever necessary to discuss through issues. Dan Cuthbert, Duncan Tringham and Ella Carroll  have been extremely helpful and supportive in dealing with wayleaves, leases and tribunal issues.’

‘Good strength and depth in the media and communications team.’

‘I have worked closely with Tom Rudkin recently. He has a superb grasp of both black letter law and strategy and is good with the clients. Clearly partner material.’

‘The Freeths Milton Keynes team is an extremely flexible and supportive department that provides invaluable support at an extremely competitive rate. Their advice is always practical & commercial and explained in a way that enables our local teams to understand the situation clearly.’

‘Christopher Sing has provided us with excellent commercial advice on a timely basis throughout the entire year, even when he was on holiday! Christopher clearly understood the legal ramifications of all issues that occurred during the year and was able to explain the various actions available to the business and the risks associated with them in a way which enabled us to make decisions with all of the necessary information in front of us.’

‘Professional, responsive and understand the subject area very well.’

‘Proactive with attention to detail, think outside of the box and are attentive.’

‘We mainly use Christopher Sing for our clients because he is simply the best employment lawyer that I have had the privilege to have worked with. An expert in his field, he provides sound advice to myself and our clients. I feel safe and empowered in the knowledge that I can ask Christopher tricky questions and that he will respond in good time to any queries. Where necessary I know I can hand over a case to him for a client that will be handled expertly to bring a dispute to a satisfactory conclusion.’

‘Pragmatic and sensible approach to complex situations. Clearly identify risk without using unnecessary terminology or making key documents undecipherable.’

‘Down to earth and easy to communicate with. Respectful of the challenges within organisations and the differences between them.’

‘The employment team understands us as an employer and have worked very hard to do so. Always supportive, the advice and support we receive is respected and valued.’

‘Depth of experience & expertise to draw upon within team; transparency of processes and available resources to deploy against tasks.’

‘Freeths is a really well-rounded team who works collaboratively and efficiently to achieve the very best for the clients.’

‘I have worked closely with Joanne Thomas who is always willing to go the extra mile for her clients and gives sensible, pragmatic advice in a sensitive manner. Clients always feel reassured by her calm nature and as counsel it is refreshing to know that she is always willing to work collaboratively to think through strategy on a case.’

‘Freeths is a large, well-organized firm. It has strength in its departments and a strong digital presence. The team is consistently good.’

‘Tom Burgess stands out. Joanne Thomas is also a very safe pair of hands. She is very calm under pressure and has a good mind for figures.’

‘I can say with certainty that the team is excellent. They are not only knowledgeable and supportive, but also responsive and proactive. They bill us clearly and transparently, the portal we have access to is extremely useful and they work with us continually to improve how we collaborate.’

‘Philip Gray and Kelly Sawyer are both approachable, available, supportive, and communicative. For me their understanding and appreciation of the fact that I am not a solicitor, and their subsequent willingness to translate complex legal matters into everyday language without having to be asked, is really refreshing – they are great to work with.’

‘The property team is very client-focused. As a client I take the fact that the team has good legal knowledge for granted, I look for committed and original thinking lawyers. The Oxford property team provides this approach and their innovative solutions to problems are extremely valuable to my business.’

‘Laura Brown deals with the more esoteric and complex property matters and her clear thinking and ability to deal with unusual situations without being phased is impressive. I also respect the fact that Laura knows when to call upon colleagues when a specific matter requires a specialist.’

‘Maxinne Endicott and Melissa Coleman in the conveyancing team have diligently and professionally dealt with a significant number of plot sales, often on sites that can be quite challenging. Their patience and communication are essential to me.’

‘Duncan Tringham stands out in particular. His strategic advice and collaborative, measured approach was absolutely critical to concluding the deal. He successfully navigated us all through many obstacles and challenges including the counter-parties and their advisers.’

‘The Team that Freeths have provided to support the commercial element of the project is excellent. Freeths have our total confidence in their activity and their knowledge of the markets that we are operating within.’

‘Duncan Tringham is a key member of the team who we trust implicitly and value his advice and guidance. He is cautious and will go the extra mile to ensure that we have all available information to facilitate decision making. He is sure and steadfast and maintains a clear and direct approach with partners to ensure there is no doubt around the legal position.’

‘Feels like it is in-house corporate legal advice.’

‘Peter Crawford feels like a very long-term friend and has our best interest at heart in all ways.’

‘Very commercially strong team, with the ability to put options on the table in the language and scenario required by business owners.’

‘We have been particularly impressed with Lisa Wallis. She has shown business-owner-type acumen when advising us of benefits and potential drawbacks of different option on transaction approach and the detail on terms. Lisa is much more commercially aware than other corporate finance lawyers we have engaged previously.’

‘The team achieves fantastic results in complex heavyweight litigation without the arrogance or noise that one often experiences with other firms. They just get the job done effectively – first-rate legal advisers but also excellent project management. They do so much more than advise solely on the law.’

‘James Hartley is consistently calm when the pressure is on. He is unflappable. Drills down to the relevant issues with ease and has a wonderful ability to bring the team together. It’s a skill that many lawyers lack.’

‘They take the time to understand the cause of disputes in addition to the current situation, they explain the legal terminology very clearly and they support customers in a personable manner.’

‘Dean Hill, an exceptional professional who always provides a fast and quality level of support.’

‘A closely-knit team who get on well and work well together. They were thoroughly on top of the matter that I worked with them on, and were able to liaise with other solicitors dealing with related litigation.’

‘The lawyers at Freeths did an exceptional job of, on the one hand, liaising with a large group of claimants in trying circumstances, and, on the other, keeping on top of a very difficult opponent amidst a sea of correspondence. It was a fantastic collaborative effort. The lawyers were friendly, knowledgeable, always on hand any time of day or night, and extremely caring when it came to their clients. They also had a high number of women in their team across levels of seniority.’

‘Chloe Oram was a indefatigable junior associate that was always incredibly responsive and had a positive attitude even amidst all of my endless annoying requests over the years of working on that case.’

‘Lindsey Clegg: very hard working and completely on top of the case, total commitment to all steps needing to be advanced in the case.’

‘The team is always accessible, friendly and willing to listen to understand more about our unique business.’

‘A high quality and flexible team to deal with.’

‘Tom Draper is an expert in the field of employment law and always has the ability to see a situation through the eyes of those who are dealing with the issues.’

‘Toby Pochron provides helpful and insightful advice. Freeths are our go-to firm whenever we need legal assistance.

‘The team at Freeths are incredibly personable, knowledgeable, patient and offer an exceptional service.’

‘They quickly build rapport and trust, offering flexible services through from sounding board guidance to end-end advice.’

‘They take into account the development of our team and work with us in a way that best enables that whilst not compromising on the quality of their services.’

‘Freeths provide a first class service in a range of restructuring and insolvency matters.’

‘The team at Freeths is pro-active, attentive and look to drive matters.’

‘In working on larger matters, Freeths is able to provide high quality advice in other areas of law (such as employment and property) from within its Sheffield and Leeds offices.’

‘Oliver Jackson is a very experienced and knowledgeable restructuring and insolvency lawyer who should be recognised among the very best in the Yorkshire and Humber region.’ 

‘Isobel Callaghan is a very approachable and knowledgeable insolvency lawyer.’

‘Thomas Childs is an up and coming restructuring and insolvency lawyer in the region. Thomas is certainly one to watch.’

‘In my opinion, Freeths is in an extremely strong position in its insolvency and recovery department due to the calibre of staff it continues to attract due to partner, Oliver Jackson.’

‘Helen Bates is both proactive and commercial and has helped us on a number of matters. She is always willing to chat through a problem and has provided some great direction on a couple of matters.’

‘The team deals very sensitively with very delicate matters, they are able to communicate difficult matters sympathetically and they try to reduce emotional charge in order to reach the right outcomes.’

‘Laura Short deals with very sensitive matters in a very sympathetic manner. She helps to reduce clients’ anxieties and extreme emotions to help them achieve the best outcome under, what can be, very difficult circumstances.’

‘The whole team is well-informed and professional. Whenever I spoke with any staff member in this team, they were extremely helpful and genuinely cared – they spoke to me as a client and a person – and all really went above and beyond to help. I would go so far as to say, I don’t think I would have achieved the result I did had it not been for Freeths and, in particular, Laura Short and Nicola Heslop.’

‘I found the advice given was perfect from start to finish. Nothing was too much trouble, however big or small, all questions asked were always answered in an easy to understand way. The guidance and information provided was excellent. I was always kept up to date on every aspect, and at no point did I feel in the dark throughout the whole process.’

‘If the situation arose where I would need advice of this nature again, I would not hesitate to use Freeths and I would definitely recommend Laura Short and Nicola Heslop to anybody.’

‘A strong team.’

‘Mark Keeley is an excellent mediator.’

‘Freeths has a well-established and well-regarded private client team. The strength of the team transcends the regional offices. It is often involved in large private client disputes also involving the elite London private client firms’.

‘Freeths has a solid team in the West Midlands. Max Orbach is a strong managing associate‘.

‘Freeths provided a breath of fresh air and it was a relief to find a firm not only actively willing to help but willing to go the extra mile to ensure the issue was resolved. I dealt directly with Max Orbach and wouldn’t hesitate to contact him in the future. Max went above and beyond for me and I couldn’t hold him in higher regard. He is extremely passionate, professional and knowledgeable in his field’.

‘Freeth’s management of my case was extremely organised. Max Orbach was fantastic, he was ahead of all the other solicitors involved from other firms, his predictions as far as time lines were always spot on and could advise me on what was around the corner, he showed a great understanding of my situation and the difficulties I had dealing with being a defendant‘.

‘ From my perspective it has a great deal of inhouse specialist knowledge, including a very strong private client offering. Thus the private client side and the litigation side work well together to ensure that the client receives very well rounded advice. Some solicitors rely on counsel to guide the case, but this team is very confident and knowledgeable. They think very strategically about the conduct of the litigation. There is also very good quality partner oversight, which is also proportionate’.

‘The lead partner I deal with is Mark Keeley. He is very bright, had a deep knowledge of the law in particular as it develops, and had a great no nonsense but sympathetic manner with the clients. Very easy to work with.  I also work with Max Orbach who is a very deep thinker about his cases, reviewing matters from every angle. A pleasure to work with’.

‘Mark Keeley is an experienced litigator with superb judgment. I often recommend him as a mediator. Max Orbach continues to be impressive’.

‘Good technical knowledge and great client engagement.’

‘Freeths LLP take a pragmatic approach, delivering strong legal support balanced with the technical and commercial considerations of our industry.Very personable and are always available on short notice. All deliverables and support are of high quality and performed efficiently.’

‘Alex Johnson always delivers strong legal advice, finding creative solutions to complex problems that typically arise in construction projects. Alex goes above and beyond to understand the technical side of our industry (high-end facade industry). Alex takes a pragmatic approach balancing legal matters with commercial realities.’

‘Alex Johnson is personable and very professional, and is an asset to any team, especially during meetings with clients and other third parties.’

‘Alex Johnson is very good in the area and able to succinctly explain the English law to overseas client in clear and easy to understand manner.’

‘Freeth provides unique strategic advise and legal know-how to our team to assist us to meet the challenges of our projects. Committed to providing excellence service through a solution-oriented approach.’

‘Alex Johnson is compassionate with clients, and always provides the professional legal advise to solve the complex construction legal issues with due balanced consideration to the practical situation of the project and the interest of client. Alex has good communication skills, fast in his response, and precise in his legal opinion. We are glad to have Alex as a part of the company’s legal strategy.’

‘Freeths have great experience on private equity bolt-ons with a specialist focus on portfolio work. They are particularly adept at managing transactions on the buy-side where the sellers are owner/founder managers. I particularly liked their succinct fee proposals, very commercial in approach and easily understood by my deal team colleagues. They approach to fees is straightforward, commercial and transparent. They see their role as a partner and not just a service provider. They are more than a match for many of the larger City firms we work with.’

‘Francis Dalton is a skillful and shrewd negotiator, legally exceptional, easy to work with and very responsive. While he is very hands-on, he lets his very competent senior associate take a lead role in negotiations and only leans in when required to emphasize the importance of his client’s position.’

‘Naomi Spring is a class act. She is type of senior associate your want to bottle and give to your other relationship firms. She is personable, bright, fastidiously organised and very responsive. She is a great deal executioner, with good recall and attention to detail.’

‘The team has a fundamental focus on complex issues and excellent service levels, which makes everything done at the more simple levels also of a high standard.’

‘Joey Byrne has extensive investigation and litigation experience in many of the most complex reported judgments in the field.’

‘I have been very impressed with the team’s expertise and turnaround. The team’s fees are reasonable for the excellent service level.’

‘I have worked with Miles Hacking for a number of years now. He is very responsive and offers practical advice for resolving complex issues.’

‘Kevin Pinkerton – knowledgeable approachable, commercial. Joey Byrne – recognised as amongst leading contentious insolvency solicitors in Manchester. Astute and tactical.’

‘Miles Hacking – technically excellent and commercially minded!’

‘They provide practical solutions to some very complex problems. They are efficient and provide guidance for the best possible outcome for insolvency matters – from a sale of a business to the pursuit of antecedent transactions, their pragmatic approach provides answers to almost any scenario faced by an Insolvency Practitioner.’

‘Kevin Pinkerton and Miles Hacking are a very good team, providing overall leadership and guidance on a wide variety of matters. They are both available at the end of a telephone call and can accommodate your requirements for advice efficiently. Just knowing that they are on the end of a telephone means that as an IP, you always have good backup.’

‘Can do approach and collaboration working.’

‘They are prepared to offer discounted rates under the EMLS framework, their people are professional and approachable, and the offer a streamlined service in terms of confirming instructions.’

‘They are approachable, knowledgeable and prepared to respond in detail and at short notice.’

‘Luke Hopkins is exceptional. Has great knowledge, very approachable and is able to communicate in a way which assists with explaining complex situations.’

‘A fantastic team; the best I know. Large enough and knowledgeable enough to deal with all transactions and small enough to care. The USP of the individuals is that they answer the phone, return emails, provide solutions not problems and have a genuine interest in looking after their clients.’

‘The individuals I deal with are the best lawyers I know and I know alot. As I said above, the provide solutions not problems. They are contactable, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. They have confidence in their expertise and are not afraid to use it. They don’t hide behind their PII.’

‘The team have long standing and loyal relationships with their clients and always go above and beyond what can be reasonably expected.’

‘Andy Nichol offers a very personalised and diligent service that always exceeds expectations. His advice is clear and concise and puts the client’s needs at the forefront. He is an effective communicator and is always able to take a commercial view on complex matters and advise accordingly.’

‘Joei Cheung – drives the transaction, has a positive and can-do attitude.’

‘Great commercial awareness. Excellent client relations. Very good understanding of the client’s needs and objectives.’

‘Simon Hobbs has expert knowledge in this field. Sound, logical, commercial advice.’

Tom Holden is methodical with a good attention to detail.’

‘Freeths are a pleasure to work with, good at communicating with each other across offices and generally very proactive and thorough.’

‘Jonathan Hambleton is very considered, close to the detail but also has a great helicopter view of the overall project.’

‘Hands-on experience from senior level to most junior, with in depth knowledge and commercially driven approach to problem-solving. Excellent interpersonal skills, unmatched knowledge of the energy sector, excellent management skills.’

‘Clare King – Exceptional knowledge across the energy sector. Builds fantastic and long-standing relationships.’

‘Incredible up-to-date knowledge of the energy sector and important influences. Outstanding Partner in Clare King.’

‘Very proactive and have great, trusting relationships with clients.’

‘Freeth’s clearly have a deep understanding of the market, legislation and technology  as well as the approaches being created and taken within the market.’

‘Duncan Tringham is clearly developing a deep knowledge in this area, but specifically in the area of green energy solutions and approaches and their use in the planning and developing of large scale commercial and residential projects. You absolutely need Duncan in your tool bag when managing complex large scale developments.’

‘Duncan Tringham is an absolute rock. His advice and guidance is excellent and is matched by his experience and commitment.’

‘Throughout the time we’ve been working with Freeths and in particular Duncan Tringham, they have provided an excellent service, committed to achieving the outcomes that we as a team are trying to achieve. They are able to bring forward great advice and excellent support at the times when it is absolutely required.’

‘Freeths always feature when recommending specialist litigation for telecoms matters to clients. Their superior knowledge of this complex area of law stands out, as does the attention to detail and relentless pursuit of the best outcome for the client.’

‘The litigation team work seamlessly with their transactional colleagues to deliver the complete package – a true “one-stop shop.’

‘Dan Cuthbert  is an expert litigator in telecoms disputes, having had experience on both operator and property owner sides.’

‘The team is collaborative, working across centres effectively. They are experts in the area and thoughtful litigators.’

‘Mark Heppinstall continues to develop a very well-deserved reputation as one of the best matrimonial finance exponents in Leeds. Mark is exceptionally bright and brings to bear a highly impressive level of attention-to-detail in the conduct of his cases. Mark’s analytical skills and his conduct of negotiations always impress, invariably resulting in client satisfaction.’

‘Mark Heppinstall is a stand-out individual with an excellent technical grasp of the law.’

‘Mark Heppinstall was my solicitor during my divorce case. He was compassionate and understanding – he gave me practical and procedural advice, explained things simply and did not make me feeling inadequate when asking questions. I might not have liked what he said sometimes, but he was definitely acting in my best interest. I would have no hesitation in recommending Freeths – especially Mark Heppinstall.’

‘Freeths have a broad range of experience in family law and related areas. Mark’s clients benefit from his expertise and that of others in the firm, including the corporate team.’

‘The calibre of client that they attract and represent (high-net-worth and complex financial set up), show the level at which they are working.’

‘From my experience of working with Mark Heppinstall, he is a solicitor that provides realistic and sensible advice. To his credit, he supports clients to participate in dispute resolution out of court, focusing on what is in their best interests.’

‘They are a very high quality yet approachable and accessible specialist family team, with a broad-ranging practice. They don’t just focus on net worth, but provide excellent service whether there is a lot or a little at stake financially. They also undertake the full range of child arrangements and relocation cases. They focus not just on litigation but on other solutions aimed at resolving disputes through ADR and mediation.’

‘Mark Heppinstall really stands out as someone who fights passionately for his clients. He is immaculately prepared and very hard working and really instils confidence in the client, as someone who cares about them as individuals.’

‘John Flathers is very easy to work with, he understands what we are needing to achieve and works to get there on time and on budget.’

‘They’re very easy to work with, commercial and forward-thinking.’

‘Liz Banks is excellent, with great commercial acumen and consistent delivery of her commitments.’

‘They are very easy to work with, providing practical solutions to issues and work well as a team to get the job done.’

‘At partner level, I have worked closely with Rachael Yates. She has extraordinary attention to detail and whilst managing multiple matters, knows so much about her clients’ businesses that she can turn herself to emerging issues in seconds. She is sharp, intelligent and committed to her clients.’

‘Marie Mulligan is extremely engaged and communicative. Marie has been supporting our business’s non-contentious requirements and has gained understanding of our business and needs. She is available to support us when required and is very helpful in taking up initiative and suggesting solutions where appropriate.’

‘The team are extremely responsive, passionate and fight hard for their clients. They assemble a formidable team for each case and they leave no stone unturned.’

‘Geoff Cunningham is the star of the show. He is down to earth, efficient, and always on top of his brief. His tactical nous is second to none. Angélique Richardson is also one for the future. She too fights hard for her clients and her written work is always excellent.’

‘Specialty-focused and extremely knowledgeable in this space.’

‘We use Freeths for all of our employment law issues and we have found them to be exemplary. Rebecca Sawbridge – very helpful and also responsive’.

‘Excellency in communication.’

‘The team understand our business and culture therefore providing both pragmatic and tailored support.’

‘Team is well placed to advise on a wide range of commercial contracts. We have received good solid commercial advice in desired timescales. Thorough reporting and tailored to our specific needs. Very friendly and cooperative team with colleagues happy to pick up and cover at short notice when necessary.’

‘The team is very versatile in responding to different challenges, i.e. HR concerns, detailed legal matters, TUPE, etc. and always available when we make contact.’

‘Lee Ashwood provides very detailed advice and takes ownership of an issue, allowing me to make informed decisions. His legal knowledge and advice is as good as I have experienced.’

‘Practical and approachable.’

‘Working with Emily Settle and Charlotte Hugo was a pleasure. Both were very well structured, very responsive and had an excellent knowledge of the mandate.’

‘Well run and efficient team. Always available to help and deliver a direct and no nonsense approach to corporate transactions.’

‘Charlotte Hugo stands out as a star performer. She has an excellent eye for detail, is a brilliant project manager and has a warm personable style. One to watch.’

‘The team were a well oiled machine. They were incredibly organised and had great time management. They also maintain thorough and regular communication throughout the entire project. They were on top of all the key legal and commercial issues that a complex deal could face.’

‘Emily Settle and Associate Charlotte Hugo have been a pleasure to work with on projects. Their eye for detail is impeccable. They are also great communicators, a trait very important in project work consisting of various parties.’

‘The work Freeths do for us is very much partner led, so we know we are getting experienced corporate advice that has been well thought-through.’

‘I have worked mainly with Emily Settle, who has led the corporate advice given to us by Freeths. Whilst not directly involved in individual transactions, Emily’s role has been to assist us from a wider group perspective – giving that “bigger picture” analysis. Emily is extremely effective in delivering this at a high quality. Her advice is clear, concise and is pitched at the right commercial risk level.’

‘Andy Francey provides exceptional service.’

‘The team is very responsive, practical and commercial. The attitude is to work constructively to get a deal done. We value the advice in particular because the Freeths corporate team find commercial solutions to problems as they arise.’

‘Dahren Naidoo is excellent. Dahren is responsive, practical and organised. I always trusted Dahren and his team to stay on top of matters and manage transactions from start to finish.’

‘A highly competent team that lead the company through quite complex transactions with an authoritative style, using plain English and an ability to focus on the key issues.’

‘Experience coupled with a pragmatic approach and a sense of humour when required. A real pleasure to work with.’

‘Attentiveness to client needs.’

‘Technical competence and commercial view, in particular Mukesh Patel.’

‘Rena Magdani is an outstanding lawyer.’

‘The teams’ strength comes from their cohesiveness and their recognition by the judiciary. They cover for one another seamlessly and provide the relevant level of support without any sense of being over sold services’.

‘David Potter is an employment law partner and leads as a solid, approachable presence managing and discussing the case from a tactical point of view and also managing the litigation. David has a wealth of experience and a thorough knowledge of employment law and case law.’

‘Freeths communication and professionalism is spot on. They are professional and helpful, and always keep our company informed every step of the way and follow up with the agreed actions similarly.’

‘David Potter takes full advantage of his experience and authority to consistently deliver excellent results.’

‘Matt McBride is quick to respond and always thorough in his advice. The training we have received from Matt is of immense value and greatly assists and supports our employment practice. Matt is friendly and approachable. His knowledge and experience means that we can be confident in bringing difficult queries to him for help untangling them.’

‘The whole team were very helpful. Gemma Bedford was extremely helpful and supportive being our advocate every step of the way’

‘Jane Williams has always reassured and explained the process, her drive, knowledge and passion for her work is outstanding’

‘Freeths has a great clinical negligence pedigree. Their lawyers are pragmatic and sensible. They rarely pursue weak cases/or argue weak points. They are forward-thinking and ready to embrace new ideas to explore novel ways to resolve claims. They are confident in their assessment of liability and quantum such that they will discuss resolution of cases at an early stage, rather than painting by numbers.’

‘Jane Williams is a tenacious but sensible opponent. She is always open to discussing cases. She leads the way on collaborative working -that has probably short-circuited resolution by many months and enabled the Claimant to achieve some measure of closure through sharing her experiences. Jane has the insight to see that resolving claims is a healing process and is about more than money. Up-and-coming team members include Gemma Bedford.’

‘Jane Williams – exceptional communication and responsiveness and a clearly defined work programme with all players in the know. Fabulous and responsive to work with and genuinely caring about the client in the middle of all of it.’

‘Freeths are the leading clinical negligence law firm in Nottingham in my view. Paul Balen is a living legend in Nottingham and beyond, more than ably supported by Jane Williams. Being focussed on the clients’ individual needs and providing exception legal support, they continue to lead the way in the East Midlands.’

‘Paul Balen is an exception ‘been-there, done-that’ lawyer that is unflappable. A pioneer of the use of mediation to achieve the best results for clients, he has been a shining light for personal injury law in the Midlands.’

‘Jane Williams is an exceptional lawyer and one of the most caring individuals I have come across in professional life. Jane has devoted her life to ensuring the right outcome for her clients and long may that continue.’

‘Freeths are a leading player in the field of Contentious Trusts and Probate. The specialist team sits within an organisation that is very well resourced and which offers a full range of private client and litigation services to high net worth clients. Despite their heavyweight presence, leader Mark Keeley and his team are all very down to earth and approachable.’

‘Mark Keeley is rightly regarded as a leading figure in this sector. His knowledge his extensive and his judgment is impeccable. With his calm manner and skills honed as an experienced mediator, he is able to de-escalate even the most hostile situations, cutting through to find workable solutions for his clients.

‘Robert Hill is highly knowledgeable and pragmatic, providing a steady hand on the tiller. ’

‘The team is led by Mark Keeley who is a very experienced and knowledgeable specialist. He is ably assisted by Rachel Gaffney. Certainly one of the leading teams in the region.’

‘Good national coverage, large and experienced team of specialists who are all down to earth and approachable.’

‘Freeths are one of the heavyweights in contentious probate. Excellent across the board’

‘Mark Keeley knows his stuff. An excellent academic lawyer and mediator’.’

‘Mark Keeley has been a leading figure in contentious probate for many years both in practice and as a much sought after mediator – his skills are second to none.’

‘They have strength and depth and cover all matters pertaining to local government – a real all rounder!’

‘I have worked with Stephen Pearson on a number of matters ranging from advice on procurement matters to complex negotiations on Investment Partnerships. Stephen is very comfortable in presenting to councillors and his approach puts them at ease.’

‘I have found Freeths to be a friendly, reliable and very capable practice willing to help on an urgent basis when needed. They not only provide legal advice but real practical solutions, which is invaluable and, in fact, exactly what clients want.’

‘Quality of advice from all members of the team.’

‘Confidence in the advice and ability to deal with cases in a timely manner.’

‘They are a helpful and friendly team always keen to perform and go the extra mile.’

‘The standard of advice and speed of turnaround is consistently high.’

‘This team is focused on assisting clients to deliver sites for development and provide expert knowledge of the whole process, anticipating potential areas that will cause issues, especially those for lenders and purchasers.’

‘The team understand all the aspects of the process a developer needs to follow to both acquire a site and then deliver a successful development. Any red flags are highlighted promptly, with potential solutions/options, clearly set out with concise advice. A truly specialist team at the top of their game.’

‘Approachable team that understands the requirements of its clients. Key focus on residential development which is important for us as a major housebuilder.’

‘Freeths always adopt a proactive approach to problem-solving. They have a strong and knowledgeable construction team and always respond timeously.’

‘Chris Holwell is extremely knowledgeable, an excellent problem solver and communicator. He is always amenable and has assembled an excellent team around him. I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Chris.’

‘Chris Holwell is an outstanding lawyer able to analyse the most complicated issues and the impact that alternative approaches may have in order to provide straightforward practical advice.’

‘We’ve found the team at Freeths to have a lot of general understanding of market standard practices, but to also have an ability to remain flexible in achieving the protections we require to make our contracts bankable while not being unduly restrictive on our counterparts.’

‘Freeths take a pragmatic approach, delivering strong legal support balanced with the technical and commercial considerations of our industry. The team are very personable and are always available on short notice. All deliverables and support are of high quality and performed efficiently.’

‘Freeths is a “one-stop-shop” providing legal advice and support in all fields: they employ a panel of lawyers with the knowledge and tenacity sufficient to tackle any challenge.’

‘Very strong knowledge and thought leadership on construction contracts.’

‘Chris Holwell is very good at appreciating the commercial vs legal elements of the contracts and advising where commercial views need to be taken.’

‘Outstanding level of knowledge on niche environmental topics.’

‘Emma Tattersdill has provided an excellent level of service to our company. She’s extremely approachable, highly knowledgable and efficient in her work. She always provides us with very clear, detailed and pragmatic legal advice. She’s a clear expert in her field and I would go to no other lawyer for advice on environmental permitting or waste regulations.’

‘The team are helpful, knowledgeable and proactive regarding all planning matters. They have the ability to review and understand planning policies and work with councils to obtain planning approvals whilst co-ordinating a full team of consultants to support the planning process. I tend to use Freeths on more complex planning applications.’

‘Paul Brailsford is my key contact. He has an exceptionally wide range of knowledge regarding planning and the appeals process. You can always contact Paul, no matter how busy he is, and he works with a supportive team within the company.’

‘Emma Tattersdill is an exceptionally helpful and wise provider of legal advice. Her knowledge of environmental law is to the highest level and her ability to explain this, often to clients who are not always willing to listen, is particularly impressive. If I have a client that needs advice about environmental law, she is always my recommended first port of call.’

‘A top-class firm. Best team in the East Midlands. Gives clients Waitrose service and Lidl prices. Very strong in commercial Landlord and Tenant matters and has a very strong position in the niche area of minerals extraction.’

‘The team is led by Paul Tomkins. Another great team leader who remains at the top of his game. A very skilled lawyer who gets his sleeves rolled-up when running the file himself. He has exquisite legal judgement.’

‘Expertise in the full range of real estate litigation areas. Very strong in the retail sector – an impressive client base of household names. Practical and creative approach to solving their clients’ problems, through collaboration between different lawyers departments.’

‘Paul Tomkins: he is known for being a commercial, pragmatic, and creative problem-solver. He excels at 1954 Act cases, dilapidations, and contentious property acquisitions. Paul is ably assisted by a strong team of associates.’

‘I have worked primarily with Paul Tomkins. He leads his team by example and gives clear uncomplicated advice. He has a great skill in being able to drill down to the main issue of complex matters and is clear at explaining the matter without technical jargon enabling those not familiar with property litigation on property law to be able to understand their position very clearly. I have always felt a valued client to Freeths property litigation team.’

‘The Freeths property team is a seamless extension to our in-house property legal team and provides pragmatic commercial advice.’

‘Professional practice providing proactive and clearly presented legal advice to a range of clients. Fast to respond, friendly and reputable.’

‘Individuals are knowledgeable and communicate with a proactive and thorough approach which is clearly understood by clients.’

‘Malin Svanberg-Larsson was fantastic in all aspects.’

‘Good solid commercial team. A very well resourced team able to provide solid legal and commercial advice on a wide range of commercial contracts and corporate matters.’

‘Leon Arnold and Malin Svanberg-Larsson always keep to their word and deliver the final agreement within time, and with a transparent and pragmatic approach to increasing the fee (if needed).’

‘Both Leon Arnold and Malin Svanberg-Larsson and their associate team are patient, understanding and professional throughout, and I will and do most certainly recommend them highly to others who need a corporate solicitor who values both their clients and their profession.’

‘Tom Walker is very much the “trusted adviser” for our firm and we frequently seek his advice.’

‘Rebecca Howlett was a key source of support.’

‘Rebecca Howlett is a pleasure to deal with, making sure reviews are carried out efficiently and within agreed timescales. Reports are tailored to our needs and additional support given when needed.’

‘The team’s sincerity, integrity and pride in their job are self-evident. And the dedication towards their clients and to their profession is second to none. Furthermore, the attention to detail – so vital in the work of a solicitor, not least of all in the corporate setting – is always very clear throughout any process.’

‘This is a team who have a longstanding history in the Oxford region of providing excellent services, and are part of a wider national firm which has a very good reputation.’

‘A highly competent and organised outfit.’

‘Catherine Bell is tenacious and organised.’

‘Catherine Bell is excellent. Warm, empathetic, very knowledgeable. A very capable clinical negligence practitioner.’

‘Lynne Foster has an excellent client manner, takes a robust but very pragmatic approach to her cases and always provides sound, common sense advice.’

‘Very close knit and well run team. The junior staff seem very well supported. Very tenacious and committed for their clients Excellent administrative support’

‘Carolyn Lowe is an excellent lawyer, calm and exudes confidence and competence.’

‘Overall I like Freeths so much, and despite knowing a huge number of other law firms, I have chosen them to act for my own personal affairs – I hope that there can be no greater endorsement! An excellent legal firm’

‘A strong historic track record in the professional negligence sphere’

‘Clare Bellis – a bright lawyer; well-attuned to client needs and pressures; very sensible and pragmatic; brings deep real estate knowledge to professional negligence disputes in that area’

‘They were very good and clear at communicating with us. Always kind, courteous and understanding. Their use of technology is superb, never had a problem at all.’

‘Managing associate Katherine Burge handled the final stages of the property transaction once the litigious stages were resolved. She also took the care to ensure that any remaining contractual wording that would remain post ownership transfer was clear before finalisation to avoid any future problems.’

‘Strength in depth in a wide variety of issues with partners and senior associates that communicate effectively.’

‘Iain Davis – Exceptional expertise for the drafting and negotiation of complex strategic promotion and collaboration agreements. Operates in a very calm fashion, enabling him to placate excitable opposition. I do not hesitate in recommending him to act on behalf of landowners.’

‘Approachable yet high-quality delivery every time. Good industry knowledge and accessibility.’

‘Sarah Duffy – a clear ‘go to’ for rural sales. Always on the short list due to her pragmatic and approachable nature, problem solving and clear delivery of the facts when needed.’

‘The team I have worked with at Freeths in the last year are Rosalyn Shephard and Clare Bellis. To me they stand out because they are both good with the factual and legal details, and also seeing the bigger picture, and understanding the tactics of litigation. They have an excellent knowledge of Agricultural Tenancies law, and how it applies in practice.’

‘Freeths has a strong team with great strength in depth. The communication from a client persepective is as good as I have ever known.’

‘Freeths has a very strong contentious trusts and estates team, led by Sarah Foster and hugely well supported by an excellent team of associates and senior associates.’

‘Sarah Foster is a wise and calm leader. I have worked recently with Sally Goodger who is unfailingly calm and retains a sense of perspective and humour under pressure.’

‘They offer an excellent service across the whole range of contentious trusts and estates and Court of Protection work. Always focused on the client’s commercial objectives. Pleasant to deal with.’

‘The contentious trusts and probate team at Freeths have very strong individuals at all levels to call upon as needed for a given case. Sally Goodger is very knowledgeable with a good commercial sense.’

‘Freeths have a well-established and well-regarded private client team. The strength of the team transcends the regional offices. They are often involved in large private client disputes also involving the elite London private client firms.’

‘Sally Goodger in the Oxford office is an astute and very able practitioner, who handles her disputes with skill and empathy.’

‘Speed of response is excellent. The advice is practical. Many of the lawyers have wider knowledge beyond the law, for example finance and taxation, that enables them to create effective solutions.’

‘Lisa Mark-Bell is both a lawyer and a chartered tax adviser, it was reassuring to deal with someone who has such knowledge in depth of financial matters, taxation as well as the legal implications of estate planning. She is constructive, practical and effective. She is positive, professional and achieves her deadlines. It was a pleasure to work with her.’

‘I found the team very cohesive and diverse in the different areas of professional needs for the work to be successfully completed.’

‘Charlotte Digby is an excellent professional who has provided me with support all along giving me sound and considered legal advice on any query I have. Her knowledge and attention to detail are to be highlighted.’

‘The team has a full understanding of situations and treat transactions personally. Technical advice is supplied and in a constructive & practical manner.’

‘Nigel Roots is vastly experienced with a broad range of knowledge. Lisa Mark-Bell is very able indeed and inspires confidence.’

‘We’ve instructed Freeths on the basis of our long standing relationship with Darren Debock but have been suitably impressed with their approach.’

‘High quality advice and very knowledgeable. Good to communicate and enjoyable to work with.’

‘High quality of individuals with broad knowledge and ability to communicate.’

‘Excellent commercial awareness and understanding of the client’s needs. The team offer solutions and put forward ideas to ensure the best possible outcome for the client.’

‘Excellent communication.’

‘Shashi Chambers and Sam Pomfret have been extremely helpful and pro-active in all our dealings with Freeths. They work hard for us as clients in a very professional, but friendly manner, always looking after our best interests.’

‘The team are experts in their field, combining years of experience and knowledge to deliver first class advice.’

‘Good knowledge of the real estate market in their areas of work.’

‘The team has a very good understanding of all litigation related matters, and a very diverse offering that is able to act as a one-stop shop. Most importantly, the team makes itself available at short notice, and delivers a high quality product.’

‘Very efficient, kind and courteous in all communication.’

‘Clare Bellis – a bright lawyer; well-attuned to client needs and pressures; very sensible and pragmatic; depth of real estate knowledge, also informed by professional negligence expertise.’

‘Adam Boyd – an expert in his field. Adam shows great attention to detail while at the same time demonstrating strategic thinking to ensure the best outcome for client.’

‘Demonstrated an excellent ability to manage large complex cases. In particular, the team collaborated very well with Counsel in relation to difficult issues that arose on an almost daily basis, while at the same time managing the expectations and concerns of hundreds of clients.’

‘Director Imogen Randall effectively managed a large team – great to work with, even under a great deal of pressure. She was diligent, hardworking and cared deeply about the case we were working on.’

‘The team were very engaged with myself and colleagues and provided a positive steer in terms of strategic direction as well as more targeted professional advice.’

‘Robert Bruce. I found him to be very knowledgeable in his field, and extremely willing to work with myself and colleagues on providing or checking complex responses within challenging timescales. His broader understanding of the issues meant that he often identified areas where we could improve or add value to technical as well as planning or legal responses.’

‘Very professional, very knowledgeable and worked hard to support us, providing us with prompt advice and a very responsive service overall.’

‘I felt far more assured having Robert Bruce representing us and presenting our case. He was quick to grasp key technical concepts and was able to present them in a strong format to the inspectors at the hearing. His efforts definitely strengthened our case.’

‘They stand out because they engage with the client in more detail and more than anyone else I know. It is very important to build a relationship with the client and engage long enough to fully understand the issues. Freeths excel in this, particularly Robert Bruce.’

‘Rob Bruce is an excellent planning solicitor who has a very good grasp of the law, possesses sound judgment, gives shrewd and well considered practical advice and always responds promptly and efficiently to client requests. I would unhesitatingly recommend him to others.’

‘The Freeths’ planning team is well led, conscientious, and goes the extra mile for their clients.’

‘Our experience with planning partner Robert Bruce is always positive, being very understanding of the challenges that our organisation faces and providing practical solutions to difficult situations with sound planning advice based on a wealth of knowledge.’

‘Absolutely brilliant knowledge and service!’

‘Superb all-round service.’

‘Fantastic attention to detail and great responsiveness to client needs.’

‘Richard Williams has excellent attention to detail and fantastic negotiation skills.’

‘Chris Freeston is excellent from simple to very complex work.’

‘Louise Kelly has an incredible work rate and output.’

‘The knowledge of the team is the main strength. The team at Freeths has been able to guide us at all stages of the process. They have also provided effective advice and support to the new employee joining our company. They have been very responsive to the needs of our business often at very short notice. This has been critical to us as we face a very fast moving labour market.’

‘We have worked very closely with Emma Brooksbank in particular during the period of time we have utilised the sponsor license. Emma’s knowledge and support has been invaluable to our business. There hasn’t been a question that we have raised that Emma hasn’t been able to provide the answer to. We have received comprehensive guidance at every step of the process. This has allowed us to build a positive and trusting relationship which is critical as this is a big focus of our attraction and talent strategy.’

‘We have worked with Freeths for in excess of 20 years. They have taken time to fully understand our business, how we work and what our standards and values are. We consider them a true partner who adds value.’

‘A helpful and responsive team.’

‘They have strength and depth and cover all matters pertaining to local government – a real all rounder!’

‘I have worked with Stephen Pearson on a number of matters ranging from advice on procurement matters to complex negotiations on Investment Partnerships. Stephen is very comfortable in presenting to councillors and his approach puts them at ease.’

‘I have found Freeths to be a friendly, reliable and very capable practice willing to help on an urgent basis when needed. They not only provide legal advice but real practical solutions, which is invaluable and, in fact, exactly what clients want.’