Longmores Solicitors LLP > Hertford, England > Firm Profile
Longmores Solicitors LLP Offices
24 CASTLE STREET
HERTFORD
SG14 1HP
England
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Longmores Solicitors LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings
Employment > Employment: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 2
Longmores Solicitors LLP handles a range of employment matters including reorganisations and redundancies, complex disciplinary and grievance concerns, discrimination issues, TUPE as well as the employment aspects of commercial transactions. The team advises companies and high-net-worth clients, and has particular expertise in the recruitment and education sectors. Practice leader Richard Gvero has experience in employee competition disputes, injunction proceedings and restrictive covenant matters. Miranda Mulligan advises on contracts of employment, consultancy agreements and settlement agreements, as well as defending employment tribunal proceedings including whistleblowing complaints.
Practice head(s):
Richard Gvero
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘An exceptional team lead by Richard Gvero, known for their work in the recruitment sector in particular. The team is very knowledgeable on employment law issues and in tune with their client’s needs and the industries in which their clients operate.’
‘Richard Gvero has been outstanding in his professionalism, ethics, and his invaluable combination of smart, open, ethical, caring approach to his clients and their cases, but also firm and pragmatic in his practice.’
‘The team are extremely knowledgable, with access to a strong network of experts such as actuaries and specialist barristers when needed.’
‘Miranda Mulligan has been energetic, ethical, focused, committed and thorough, producing a true sense of confidence and assurance that my case is at safe hands.’
‘Richard Gvero is indomitable; a creative legal thinker and committed to getting the best results for his clients. Richard had particular expertise over the past year in guiding a wide range of clients through the perils of the furlough scheme and in responding quickly and decisively to the pressures the pandemic has placed on clients.’
‘Miranda Mulligan is completely dedicated to her clients, whilst delivering realistic and commercial advice.’
‘Richard Gvero really couldn’t have been more helpful during any engagement. Always seeming to have time for our matters and we have complete trust in his judgement.’
‘Miranda Mulligan deals with all our queries and she has excellent knowledge and experience in all HR related matters. In addition, Richard Gvero has also been excellent when his expertise has been called up on.’
Key clients
Chugai Pharma Europe Limited
Transport Planning Associates Limited
Fusion Global Management Limited
Keble Preparatory School
Endoline Machinery Limited
Nord Gear Limited
RSA Consulting Limited
Omron Electronics Limited
Independent Clinical Services Ltd/Acacium Group
Pulse Healthcare Limited
Work highlights
- Acted for a postdoctoral scientist bringing complex claims against his former employer for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, race discrimination, victimisation, whistleblowing detriment and failure to make reasonable adjustments.
- Acted for a staffing business against a senior employee disclosing confidential information and advised on the enforceability of the restrictive covenants.
- Acted for a leading recruitment business defending a claim of unfair dismissal and detriment on the grounds of whistleblowing.
Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 2
Based in Hertford, the private client team at Longmores Solicitors LLP focuses on strategic planning work for rural and farming families, advising on matters pertaining to the preparation of wills and trusts, inheritance tax planning issues and the administration of trusts and estates. Practice leader Richard Horwood specialises in high-value estate administrations and tax planning issues, and also undertakes Court of Protection work. Newly promoted partner Alastair Liddiard is noted for his work on complex estates, often involving foreign assets, and trusts.
Practice head(s):
Richard Horwood
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team has consistently demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism and service, despite the difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. They are efficient and communicate quickly and effectively.’
‘Richard Horwood leads the private client team and provides personal, tailored advice in a form that is clear and concise. Clients benefit from Richard’s wide experience.’
‘The private client team works well together; they are knowledgeable, personable and provide a high level of service. This has been a difficult year due to lockdown and working from home but it is noticeable that Longmores’ communication and service levels have not reduced over the period.’
‘Friendly and very professional.’
‘Richard Horwood – no nonsense, plain speaking clarity to challenges that clients have that require solutions. Obviously a specialist who does not need to seek answers to everything from colleagues. Supported by Alastair Liddiard who clearly understands trusts.’
Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 3
Located in Hertford, Longmores Solicitors LLP advises clients on commercial matters relating to IP, technology and data protection, as well as corporate deals including private M&A, restructuring and shareholder agreements. Practice leader Michael Budd handles early-stage fundraisings and investments, management buy-outs and buy-ins, and group reorganisations and restructuring. Rina Sond focuses on commercial contracts and intellectual property matters.Practice head(s):
Michael Budd
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘I have used Longmores for various things over the last 10 years, from commercial contracts to debt recovery, and have found each department very helpful and professional. Each time I have found the team to understand my particular problem and deal with my needs to a high standard.’
Key clients
Acacium Group
Shine Partnerships Ltd.
Minority Supplier Development UK Ltd.
Shareholders of Endoline Machinery Ltd.
Chugai Pharma Ltd.
ClickDealer Ltd.
MCP Property Services Ltd.
Andusia Recovered Fuels Ltd.
Exquisitely Equine Ltd.
HP Tuners Europe Ltd.
Work highlights
- Acted for Acacium Group with various commercial contracts and data protection matters, to assist their expansion into the digital health and wellbeing services sector.
- Advised Endoline Machinery Limited in relation to the restructuring of its corporate group of companies.
- Advised Minority Supplier Development UK Ltd on articles of association and membership terms for the organisation, drafted commercial contracts and advised on GDPR issues.
Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 3
Longmores Solicitors LLP offers 'high quality service', with expertise in the recruitment and property management sectors, as well as acting for waste management companies on commercial disputes. Based in Hertford, practice leader John Wiblin handles shareholder and partnership disputes, and has experience in advising clients in the recruitment sector. John Wagstaffe specialises in property litigation matters. 'Tremendous litigator' Nathanael Young has particular expertise in insolvency issues, intellectual property and defamation law, while Lauren Mackenzie splits her time between commercial litigation and contentious probate.
Practice head(s):
John Wiblin
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Nathanael Young is a tremendous litigator. You always know that he has thoroughly taken a grip of the case and the lay clients are in very safe hands.’
‘The firm offers strong legal analysis for a regional firm and high quality service.’
‘John Wiblin is very knowledgeable about the law and procedure. He is always thinking about tactics, outcomes and what happens next.’
Key clients
Independent Clinical Services Limited
Andusia Recovered Fuels Limited
Selwyn Court Residents Limited
ES Manufacturing Limited
Verulam Advisory Limited
Zero 21 Brands Limited
Co Co B Design Limited
Work highlights
- Represented Andusia Recovered Fuels Limited, exporters of refuse derived fuel, in recovering the costs of a successful breach of contract claim against a waste management company.
- Acted for Selwyn Court Residents Limited in a contested application before the First-tier Tribunal to vary the flat leases, to allow required changes to the heating system.
- Acted for construction main contractors John Coyle in resisting an application for pre-action disclosure.
Private client > Family: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 3
At Longmores Solicitors LLP in Hertford, divorce and family law head Tracey Dargan primarily advises on the complex financial fallout from divorce, as well as prenuptial agreements, often working with high-profile clients - she is described as 'up there with the very best' in her line of work. She is supported by 'empathetic and understanding' senior solicitor Kerrie Hall, who also handles high value financial cases, as well as complex Children Act matters.
Practice head(s):
Tracey Dargan
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team at Longmores is professional yet approachable and user-friendly. The firm is welcoming and do a great job for their clients.’
‘Kerrie Hall is pragmatic, sensible and gives sound, realistic advice.’
‘Tracey Dargan is very thorough and diligent and is always thinking strategically in terms of the best interests of her client. She is an absolute pleasure to work with.’
‘Kerrie Hall is a fantastic solicitor. She provides a highly personal level of service whilst fighting her clients’ cases with tenacity and determination.’
‘Tracey Dargan – in the words of my ex-husband, she is a class act. Professional, human, steadfast in her resolve and unwavering. She is inspiring and has clear goals, communicates effectively and takes you on the journey with her. At a time in my life when I was the most vulnerable, the fact she listened, advised, consulted and didn’t have her own agenda – just mine – stood out a mile.’
‘Tracey Dargan is thoughtful and considered in her approach, with a clear focus on getting the best outcome for the client.’
‘Kerrie Hall is an empathetic and understanding family lawyer. She is also quite feisty and strong and works well to ensure you have a successful outcome. To be honest, she is the type of person, if she were not my lawyer I would like to befriend.’
‘Tracey Dargan is up there with the very best. Always easy to communicate with, offering prompt replies to issues raised and despite these restricting times it feels as if we have been in actual one to one meetings rather than the reality of the no contact meetings we have to put up with at the moment.’
Real estate > Commercial property: Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx Tier 3
Based in Hertford, the property team at Longmores Solicitors LLP is split into two departments dealing with commercial and residential property matters. Practice leader Rachael Spalton advises both developer and landowner clients on development and strategic land transactions, as well as handling promotion, option and overage agreements. Victoria Sandberg specialises in rural land mandates and deals with estate disposals and property management work. The practice benefits from the support of John Wagstaffe, who heads up the property disputes team.
Practice head(s):
Rachael Spalton
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘The team work well together and have very good communication skills, which is vital in ensuring the smoothest conveyancing process.’
‘Victoria Sandberg is very efficient and provides a high degree of confidence.’
‘Communication and timeliness are key in agency transactions. I have worked closely with Victoria Sandberg on a number of transactions and, as well as ensuring that the legal side of the matter is dealt with properly, she is in regular contact with all parties and especially if a problem arises, which means that the matter in hand can be dealt with quickly.’
Key clients
Shine Partnerships Limited
Yellow Tomato Homes Limited
Tappenden & Co Limited
Rooff Group
Wedge Investments Limited
James Taylor Group
Pulse Healthcare Limited
Svenska Handelsbanken AB
Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust
Great Northern Works Limited
King & Co Properties Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Shine Partnerships Limited on the sale of a portfolio of supported living accommodation to a large social housing provider for over £4m.
- Advised landowning clients on a promotion agreement for a potential residential development of greenbelt land, with a minimum sale price of over £4m.
- Advised Yellow Tomato Homes Limited on its first purchase of a small development site for £1.5m.
Longmores Solicitors LLP > Firm Profile
About us: Longmores is a progressive firm of specialist solicitors renowned for its professional yet personal service that has been advising businesses and individuals for over 200 years.
We help individuals and families to buy and sell homes, resolve disputes, with employment related issues, divorce, relationships and children issues, and with their wills, trusts and inheritance matters.
We work with businesses across numerous industry sectors from smaller enterprises to market leaders on all aspects of their commercial matters including property, company and commercial, disputes, employment and rural land.
Our history: Much has changed since Longmores was founded in 1819. Our values and our approach to our work with clients have not.
We continue to pride ourselves on our legal expertise. Clients tell us that they value our common sense, commercial, no-nonsense approach; they also value our clear, concise advice and the fact that we make practical recommendations rather than simply reiterate the law.
They also like the robust manner in which we negotiate on their behalf and how we present their case when it comes to litigation. They know that we seek to avoid the cost, distraction and risks of litigation where we can, through the use of alternative approaches such as mediation, so long as that will likely secure the best outcome possible for our clients.
When it comes to non-contentious work our clients say they like the fact that we focus on the outcomes that matter to them and that we communicate proactively and effectively. That means that they understand how things are progressing at every stage of our work with them and can make informed decisions on their options if choices need to be made. These characteristics are simply part of the way we do things across the firm.
Although the geographic reach of our work is greater than it was some two centuries ago, we remain involved in the community of the Hertfordshire area. Our leading lawyers have always made time to give back, through public service and in other ways. Charles Elton Longmore, a descendant of our original founder, served as Chairman of the County Council for over 35 years. In 1914 he was also made President of the Law Society, representing the legal profession across England and Wales. Other partners have served the community as county coroners, judges and elected officials.
Our hardworking spirit has been passed on from generation to generation. It is perhaps best typified by Bertie Cull, who joined the firm aged 14 in 1905. During World War II, he kept Longmores afloat almost single-handedly with clients always forefront of his mind. An article in the Hertfordshire Mercury praised his extraordinary efforts, saying that “Bertie would work daily from 8am until after midnight. He did this seven days a week, and every week for six years”.
Today, whilst we aspire to continue in the tradition of solicitors like Charles Longmore and Bertie Cull, our Joint Senior Partners, Chris Pease and Richard Gvero, lead a modern and progressive firm of experienced solicitors. Many join us because they feel that they can make a real difference for our clients and because they value our culture of client service and practical, intelligent delivery of real professional expertise.
Types of work undertaken
Commercial property: all aspects of commercial property transactions including acquisition and disposal of business premises, property development agreements, promotion and option agreements (including overage), business leases and landlord and tenant advice. The team has a specialism in dealing with rural land transactions.
Company commercial: acting for corporate and commercial clients across numerous industry sectors. The firm’s expertise includes business sales and purchases; mergers and acquisitions; company formations and reorganisations; joint ventures; shareholder agreements; share buybacks; share option schemes; commercial contracts; software licensing, IT service and outsourcing agreements; intellectual property; partnerships and LLP agreements.
Dispute resolution: most aspects of commercial litigation (and some private litigation) are undertaken. The team has higher courts advocacy expertise and includes a mediator and an arbitrator. Specialist experience of search orders and other emergency remedies is offered. The team has significant expertise in matters involving the recruitment industry. The firm also have a Property Litigation department of specialists dealing with property disputes acting for landlords, tenants and developers.
Employment: the specialist team deals with all aspects of employment law, contentious and non-contentious, and provides comprehensive support for HR departments. It also specialises in post-termination restrictions and TUPE. The team has developed a niche in the recruitment and education sectors.
Family: advising clients on divorce and separation, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, dissolution of civil partnerships, financial provision, protective injunctions and child related disputes. The team work with other solicitors within the firm on issues such as tax, trusts and company law and has access to a network of experts outside the legal field. The solicitors are members of Resolution.
Private client: acting for individuals, including those with business and agricultural interests, providing advice on inheritance tax planning, wills, trusts and powers of attorney as well as the administration of estates and charitable giving. Within the team are solicitors specialising in issues affecting older and vulnerable people such as Court of Protection matters, care funding decisions, issues around capacity and Lifetime Trusts. All the solicitors are full members of STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners).
Property litigation: Across-the-board property law expertise with a depth and breadth of knowledge that few other firms can match. Advising on commercial, residential and rural property, the team also has a particular speciality in block management. Typical clients include management companies, managing agents, commercial landlords and tenants, investors, developers and rural landowners.
Residential property: specialist residential property solicitors with broad experience dealing with all kinds of properties, ranging from listed buildings to new builds. The team helps clients with buying and selling homes, remortgages, holiday and buy-to-let investments, disputes, shared ownership and transfer of equity.
Rural land: Acting for clients including businesses, farmers, investors, owner-occupiers, high net-worth individuals, and estate owners. The team advises on a range of rural land matters including freehold acquisitions and disposals, option and pre-emption agreements, overage clauses, commercial leases, sale and purchase of farm land, and the purchase of unregistered land.
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Richard Gvero | richard.gvero@longmores.law | |
| Residential Property | Chris Pease | chris.pease@longmores.law | |
| Company Commercial | Michael Budd | michael.budd@longmores.law | |
| Family | Tracey Dargan | tracey.dargan@longmores.law | |
| Private Client | Richard Horwood | richard.horwood@longmores.law | |
| Private Client | Alastair Liddiard | alastair.liddiard@longmores.law | |
| Rural Land | Victoria Sandberg | victoria.sandberg@longmores.law | |
| Company Commercial | Rina Sond | rina.sond@longmores.law | |
| Commercial Property | Rachael Spalton | rachael.spalton@longmores.law | |
| Dispute Resolution | John Wiblin | john.wiblin@longmores.law | |
| Property Litigation | John Wagstaffe | john.wagstaffe@longmores.law |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Polja Atkins | CILEX Associate specialising in leasehold enfranchisement and property litigation generally. | View Profile |
 | Michael Budd | Michael joined Longmores in 2020 as Partner and Head of Company Commercial. | View Profile |
 | Helen Bunting | Helen is a commercial property solicitor and advises businesses and individuals on… | View Profile |
 | Tracey Dargan | Tracey Dargan is a Partner and Head of the Divorce and Family… | View Profile |
 | Bernard Flanagan | Bernard is a Solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts, Inheritance Tax Planning, Probate… | View Profile |
 | Charles Fraser | Charles is a Senior Solicitor and is Head of the Older and… | View Profile |
 | Hayley Grantham | Hayley is a Solicitor, specialising in Property Disputes. She acts for a… | View Profile |
 | Richard Gvero | Richard is Joint Senior Partner, Head of Commercial and Head of Employment.… | View Profile |
 | Kerrie Hall | Kerrie is a Senior Solicitor in the team and has over 18… | View Profile |
 | Richard Horwood | Richard is a private client partner and head of practice area specialising… | View Profile |
 | Thomas Knight | Thomas joined the Company Commercial team at Longmores in 2019 as a… | View Profile |
 | Alastair Liddiard | Alastair is a Partner who specialises in Inheritance Tax Planning, Administration of… | View Profile |
 | Lauren MacKenzie | Lauren is a Senior Solicitor specialising in Dispute Resolution and mediation. She… | View Profile |
 | Agata Marosz | Agata is a commercial property solicitor advising a wide range of clients… | View Profile |
 | Miranda Mulligan | Miranda is a Solicitor specialising in Employment, advising both businesses and individuals on… | View Profile |
 | Chris Pease | Joint Senior Partner and head of the residential conveyancing practice area. | View Profile |
 | Victoria Sandberg | Victoria is a Partner at Longmores and Head of the Rural team.… | View Profile |
 | Rina Sond | Rina is a Company Commercial partner specialising in Intellectual Property. She deals… | View Profile |
 | Rachael Spalton | Partner and head of the commercial property practice area. Rachael has extensive… | View Profile |
 | John Wagstaffe | John became a Partner in 2020 and is Head of Property Disputes.… | View Profile |
 | John Wiblin | Head of Dispute Resolution team. A solicitor-advocate, Californian attorney and (now non-practising)… | View Profile |
 | Victoria Wood | Victoria is a Solicitor in the Older and Vulnerable Client team. She… | View Profile |
 | Nathanael Young | Nat is a senior Solicitor in the Dispute Resolution team, specialising… | View Profile |