Mills & Reeve LLP > Birmingham, England > Firm Profile

‘Excellent client care and a strong commercial approach’.

‘David Gooding – an excellent tactician with a particular knowledge of claims against accountants. Angus Turner – prepared to fight cases but always has one eye on achieving a commercial settlement of the action. Particular knowledge of claims against solicitors’.

‘Angus Turner – a great person to have on your side. Intelligent, responsive, commercial’.

‘David Gooding’s crew are like an outsourced internal legal team. They seek to understand the context first so that legal advice can be tailored to meet our needs. David Gooding is the gold standard that I hold all other firms to. Very few measure up!’.

‘Mills & Reeve’s contentious probate team is one of few in the country that offers the necessary quality and expertise that was required. Lucy Howard – an expert in her field with a great bedside manner’.

‘I would regard Mills & Reeve as the leading team in the Midlands – a superb group of highly trained and skilled legal advisers that provide advice of the highest standards to my clients. The training courses are particularly noteworthy and provide great insight to accountants and IFAs – and their ability to think outside the box and provide solutions for HNW and UHNW clients is second to none’.

‘John Grundy and Matthew Hansell are two of the very best legal advisers in the country. Sarah Wood also deserves particular praise for all the work she does for STEP and her general amazing positive attitude working with professionals and clients’.

‘In-depth knowledge of the sector. Sound advice and always readily available to deal with issues promptly’

‘Richard Sykes – keen ability to apply theory to difficult issues in order to reach a sound yet workable solution’

‘Helen Tringham – Reliable and articulate with an in-depth knowledge’

‘Adaptable, responsive, and with specialists who really understand the sector and can adapt to a range of complex situations. Easily our go-to practice for anything public-law or HE-law related.’

‘Richard Sykes in particular is outstanding — intelligent, incisive and able to see to the heart of complex high-risk situations; equally good at thinking on his feet and at giving considered advice on multidimensional nuanced issues, and exceptional in his ability to tailor advice and explanations to specific organisational circumstances.’

‘Approachable, pragmatic practical advice.’

‘Christian Bull and Robbie Turner – both have a deep understanding of the Higher Education sector and the issues faced by Universities.’

‘Jill Mason is a first point of contact and great at connecting me to the right member of the team.’

‘Jog Hundle has been a pleasure to work with. Jog has helped us on several occasions with really quick responses, frequently with very short turnaround times. She has a measured approach to risk and her sector expertise is excellent.’

‘An ability to listen, digest and offer constructive and practical solutions to deliver an end goal that meets the client’s needs.

‘A willingness to involve all relevant parties in delivering the above. Many law practices seem to shy away from getting all relevant parties together which is counterintuitive and generally the best approach when challenges arise.’

‘It is paramount that when specialists are engaged with, they have the ability to provide insight and guidance in a way that can be digested and be useful in making a decision.’

‘They are well resourced with people of City firm background with the benefits that brings without the cost. They seem to be a contented bunch of people.’

‘James Hunter makes himself readily available and is easy to obtain advice from that goes to the question asked. He explains the advice cogently and are able to present well to our main board when required. He has a good work ethic and deal with counterparties and their lawyers well in a constructive and non egotistical way.’

‘Technically proficient with commercial astuteness. Collaborated well with our accountants and achieved the result we needed.’

‘The firm has a good and deep tax practice that is well integrated so that matters are looked after without interruption even when the lead partner is not available – something that was highly relevant during the pandemic.’

‘Matthew Short is a dedicated and well versed tax counsel that provides in depth as well as practical tax advice.’

‘The team have always been very quick to answers questions and provide the right answers every time.’

‘Rachel Higgs is a tenacious litigator which is exactly what you need.’

‘Mills & Reeve have high quality staff who provide quality advice with skill and compassion. They are able to outperform other local firms because of the depth and width of expertise available within their organisation. Their staff are promptly available and deliver their expertise and advice in an easily understood and direct manner.’

‘They instill confidence, are easy to reach and discuss matters with and always try to progress and complete issues in as non-confrontational way as circumstances permit.’

‘Really talented team who undertake a wide range of disputes work. Bright and sensible, provide excellent value to their clients’

‘Rachel Higgs is a star of the provincial litigation market – very bright, very experienced, applies both intellect and common sense to her clients’ legal problems. Always outcome-focussed.’

‘This work has been protracted partly due to Covid, making the courts extremely slow and therefore the work for lawyers also slow, so maybe difficult to judge.’

‘The team are professional and knowledgeable. I always receive a prompt response to enquiries and where a colleague is an expert in a particular area their input in sought. Advice is tailored to our organisation and considers our desired outcome.’

‘Nicola Brown is the partner that we work closely with. She provides us with an excellent service and harnesses the particular skills of her team really well. Alex Russell has recently dealt with some difficult cases, working closely with team members to navigate these.’

‘During Covid, everything went digital and many webinars still remain digital, that ensures that we can all attend or watch back a recording, even if we have other work or personal commitments.’

‘David Mills is very knowledgeable about the subject, as you would expect, but he stands out because he is also highly aware of the breadth and depth of my knowledge so doesn’t waste time explaining what I know already or assuming I know things I don’t. He is also extremely commercial in his thinking so is clear on what the law says, what case law has demonstrated but also gives me the level of risk to enable us to way up all the different factors before making a decision on how to proceed.’

‘We use the practice via an annual retainer for complicated issues as we don’t have any in-house legal support. We have a dedicated point of contact which makes it very easy to navigate through to the right advice when we need it. The ability to hold case meetings with HR colleagues and managers has been invaluable in managing difficult and sensitive issues and gaining trust and buy-in to the advice and proposed solutions.’

‘Alex Russell has supported our HR team for several years. Working with Alex is always rewarding as he takes the time to help us understand the background and context for his advice, treating us as peers and fellow professionals.’

‘Very good knowledge of the HE sector. Keenness to come to the client and discuss solutions.’

‘Nicola Brown – excellent sector-specific knowledge and experience. Patrick Gass – a safe pair of hands for managing employment tribunals.’

‘The team continue to provide great advice and are very responsive and understanding of the sector. We have a longstanding relationship which has been very productive and useful, going back a number of years.’

‘I primarily have dealt with Alex Russell. His work is consistent and of a high quality. Alex always seems able to make himself available at short notice and his advice is always excellent. Alex has also provided training across the university and been involved in numerous speaking engagements which are always well received.’

‘Extremely knowledgeable and has contacts in the visa service that they could contact with queries which was helpful regarding timescales.’

‘Tracey Yates is very knowledgeable in the law and practice but also in nuances of the system and things to look out for. She gave useful hints and tips on navigating home office systems and bureaucracy, and how to get to the front of the queue for fast track routes. the turned very formal, legal, difficult to understand language and jargon into plain English.’

‘Advice is pragmatic, relevant to our scheme and provided promptly.’

‘The Mills and Reeve team provide excellent pensions legal advice at a very competitive price. They are always responsive to our queries and proactive when required.’

‘Laura Sayer’s advice is always very clear and she has never sat on the fence. Proposed actions are always well thought through and backed up with sound reasoning. Laura has helped us with some contentious cases and always delivered, which has meant we have always been on the front foot and achieved the best results.’

‘Very strong capital market steam in the higher education sector. Strong communication and collaboration, commercial, practical and responsive.‘

‘Both Sarah Seed and Matthew Howling are excellent to work with. Strong communication and collaboration, commercial, practical and responsive.’

‘They are well resourced with people of City firm background with the benefits that brings without the cost. They seem to be a contented bunch of people.’

‘Frances Churchard is our lead contact she is quick and responsive answering the points raised. She is capable academically but also deals with counterparties and their lawyers US or UK well.’

‘I am instructed as counsel by Mills & Reeve insolvency and corporate recovery team. I have principally worked with the teams in Cambridge and London, although I have also undertaken some work for the Manchester office. They are all great, have superb up to date knowledge of the law, a genuine dedication to getting the best result for the client and are a pleasure to work with.’

‘Lino Di Lorenzo is an excellent lawyer, he analyses problems accurately and rapidly and provides confident practical advice. He can be relied upon to deal with complex legal issues and get them right.’

‘The local contentious practice in Cambridge provides a “London service” giving excellent technical, practical and commercial advice.’

‘Lino di Lorenzo has a wealth of experience in the contentious arena and provides quick well thought through advice.’

‘We regularly fund Mills & Reeve in connection with their Official Receiver work and they are one of a small number of firms who have successfully tendered for that work. They also have acted for us in relation to insolvency claims that we have purchased.’

‘The team has long experience of professional liability matters and there is little that they haven’t seen before. You get sensible, commercial advice from people who know the field and have properly considered the issues and the likely outcomes, so you don’t waste time on points that don’t matter. They are very experienced dealing with insurers and insureds, so highly astute to the particular issues that can arise where interests might diverge.’

‘Neil Davies: vastly experienced, commercially astute, and a robust litigator – he is someone you want on your side. Neil gives practical advice and fights hard for his clients’ interests.

‘Sophie Briggs: Sophie is thorough, intelligent and a creative thinker who can see different angles to a case and spot important issues that others miss, but remains down-to-earth and commercial. A rising star in the team.’

‘Extremely knowledgeable, professional and efficient. Able to deal with matters for us at very short notice and decipher large amounts of information swiftly so they are able to provide guidance on next steps, which enables us to proceed.’

‘All individuals are very professional, knowledgeable, efficient and very approachable and friendly. These qualities make it very pleasant to work with them and makes our jobs that bit easier.’

‘They have a wide range of expertise in every area of law that we have approached them about, including commercial litigation, immigration, patents, contract law and more. The team that we have dealt with have all been very personable and supportive and Neil Davis has been exceptional.’

‘Neil Davis has an exceptional level of knowledge, his advice is clear and very helpful. He’s also a really nice guy and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Excellent at dealing with complex matters on agricultural estates such as development land and also tax issues.’

‘Ability to understand the issues and speedy and efficient response times.’

‘Great general capabilities with excellent specialist knowledge and experience.’

‘in depth experience and knowledge, determination and eye to details.’

‘Very user friendly and knowledgeable they make it very easy.’

‘No problem is too difficult for Matthew Hesketh. Very communicative. Very timely.’

‘Calm, comprehensive and reassuring.’

‘Neil Burton is excellent; a great communicator and with great technical knowledge.’

‘My family have used this firm for anything of significant importance for three generations. The depth of knowledge and professionalism delivered in an understanding and compassionate manner cannot be overstated. Abaigh Compton became the epitome of this ethic.’

‘Abaigh Compton not only provided an extremely competent and robust defence aided by the expert advice from David Catchpole and the team, she was also the “listening ear” I so very much needed at that time. I cannot overstate the level of compassion shown towards myself.’

‘They have stayed with me for nearly five years on a contentious and complex matter, giving me enormous support. Their work is accurate and precise. They have been very consistent’

‘Mills & Reeve are well known as having a busy contentious trusts and probate practice, and often have some of the largest cases outside of London.’

‘Able to compete with the best-known London firms in quality of lawyers, commercial awareness, and tactical nous but without the fee rates to match. They are a very close-knit team who go above and beyond in servicing their clients, with whom they have a great rapport.’

‘David Catchpole is vastly experienced and has excellent judgement. He is incredibly personable but by the oppsoite of a pushover: he fights tenaciously for his clients always with a keen eye and their greater interests.’

‘David Catchpole – knowledgeable without being arrogant and very calm.’

‘I found Mills & Reeve to be utterly professional, exactly what you would hope to find in any highly respected legal firm. I had no personal prior experience or dealings with the legal profession and feel incredibly fortunate to have received a recommendation to enlist the services of this firm and particularly Nick Stone. I found the whole approach of this firm to be entirely straightforward, prompt and efficient.’

‘Nick Stone was, in my opinion, the epitome of professionalism and exactly what any client should expect from their legal representative. Nick gave me clear, precise, unbiased and completely straightforward advice with a dedicated focus on the best outcome for me as an individual. Nick guided me diligently through the process during a very difficult time but his robust advice and utter professionalism gave me the focus I needed.’

‘Nick Stone identified the key points concisely and clearly during our discussions and this resulted in excellent value for money and a clear understanding of how things were going. He did not waste time with matters that were insignificant or trivial & rather focused his wealth of experience in his area specialty to ensure I received a fair and proportionate outcome.’

‘They are the go-to premier regional firm: a truly London service with regional specialist knowledge. The quality of the lawyers is truly exceptional and the level of service is not replicated anywhere else in East Anglia.’

‘Frances Bailey: no case is too large, a wealth of experience, up to the minute with her legal knowledge, a highly pragmatic, professional and approachable excellent lawyer. Naomi Shelton: provides a most professional service, with clear explanations and transparency at every step and a sympathy of touch married with a solution-focused overview.’

‘The premier firm in family law in Cambridge. The team has strength and depth and is adept at dealing with very challenging cases and issues. Underestimate them at your peril!’

‘Caitlin Jenkins is the best family lawyer in Cambridge. Super-numerate and skilled in all aspects of family law. Hannah Wilson has fantastic judgment and can see a case from all sides. Great with clients and handles experts with ease. Ania Tarasiewicz is a star and a a force to be reckoned with.’

‘Caitlin Jenkins is a partner of the highest quality; detailed and able to provide an overview. Wonderful with clients. Nick Stone – master tactician. Frances Bailey – undertakes partner level work and is a partner in all but title. Ania Tarasiewicz – meticulous level of detail, masked by excellent client facing skills Rachel Brand is a rising star.’

‘In-depth knowledge of trusts and advice for international clients.’

‘Very clear communication and clearly know their stuff. Alex Hunt is very knowledgeable on trusts and international clients.’

‘Mills & Reeve Cambridge has an international practice which would be the envy of many London-based firms. Their team have a great intellectual depth of knowledge and are accessible and a pleasure to deal with. We are always happy to recommend our clients to Mills & Reeve.’

‘Chris Belcher stands out not only for his huge expertise and outstanding technical knowledge but also for his ability to distill that knowledge to clients and colleagues alike.’

‘Alex Hunt is also one to watch – huge intellectual capacity matched by his personable and easy style.’

‘We have used Mills & Reeve for many years regarding our trust and will arrangements and they have always provided first class advice and made sound structural changes. Our main contact has now passed us over to one of his excellent colleagues for the future, and where appropriate have delegated work to others in their team. They have been sensitive regarding costs.’

‘Having been expertly looked after by Justin Ripman for many years, we now have Lauren Parker as our main contact and adviser. We have the highest regard for her assessment of our situation, and the advice she has given has stood the test of time, with appointments etc having the built-in flexibility to cope with our ever-changing circumstances.’

‘I very much like the direct contact with a partner, even though other members of their team play a part as well. The partner engagement gives confidence that the various specialists are joined up. They established online meetings rapidly during Covid and this continues as an effective way of working.’

‘We have worked with Virginia Edgecombe for many years and find her to be outstanding. She is very hardworking, knowledgeable and personable.’

‘The team at Mills and Reeve Norwich work very closely together and well, so that the communication between them is excellent. This is not only between team members but also between different departments.’

‘I have worked most closely with Virginia Edgecombe and with her associate Emma Bowers. Virginia is a truly excellent and thoughtful partner. She came highly recommended to me as someone who would truly get to grips with the complications of our family finances, and has shown herself to be highly sensitive about family circumstances, but also detailed and shrewd in her approach, always thinking through the possible consequences of legal statements on both a legal and personal level.’

‘Virginia Edgecombe and Emma Bowers have been exceptional. They are detailed, efficient, realistic and very supportive at what has been a very trying time. I have always felt that they were empathetic as well as being extremely efficient and capable. They work closely together, and Emma has always followed up on meetings with alacrity and explained things to me clearly when the complex issues were confusing for me.’

‘Strong personal tax and probate team with other complimentary departments who deal with related issues. Confident that, whatever the issue, there will be someone who will be able to deal with any query.’

‘The team works really well together to provide a responsive and professional service which is tailored to our needs.’

‘We always receive an excellent service from Nicola Brown as the key partner that we work with.’

‘The full team are very good and provide a seamless service from billing to work and transaction completion. I cannot fault their work.’

‘The team at Mills & Reeve which does the work for the university are excellent and cover a very wide range of specialisms, they are always able to run through the casework and work very efficiently at great value for money, I work closely with associate Laura Ludlow and Abigail Williams who are all exceptional and provide a very high standard of work on numerous complex transactions.’

‘Always responsive and willing to provide advice even with very short notice. I find their advice on a range of public sector law to be excellent, the firm has a sound understanding of the higher education sector.’

‘Gary Attle, Emma Tuck, Patrick Gass are excellent in terms of responsiveness, quality of advice provided and all-round client support.’

‘The team has a real depth of expertise in construction and facilities services contracts and provide fantastic support in commercial negotiations, contract drafting and the like.’

‘The practice provides practical solutions to property issues.’

‘Very personable team who seeks to do a deal and find solutions to achieve their clients’ goals.’

‘We are extremely pleased with the strong relationship we have forged with Mills & Reeve’s real estate team with whom we work on a wide variety of projects. The team operate across offices and regions to ensure we have the right people for the right jobs. Mills & Reeve invest heavily in our relationship taking time to get to know our business so as to tailor legal services, training and market updates accordingly.’

‘Christine de Ferrars Green has provided significant support for a number of years now.’

‘The team has real strength in depth and excellent technical knowledge. They are also very responsive, and genuinely nice people to deal with. They want to work with you to find the best approach and outcome and are flexible around fee arrangements.’

‘Mostly it’s their willingness to work as a team, collaborate and work together. Every person I’ve dealt with has been a pleasure to speak to and work with. They’re open to feedback and always looking to improve and learn.’

‘Carina Cobbold stands out as very driven to provide a client with the best advice and legal service and this filters down into her team in the Commercial Property Department.’

‘Caroline Dean has a tenacity not often seen in my opinion, as a landowner involved in development over several years and still ongoing Caroline has guided me through the ups and downs. She is available anytime of day or week and has been a major reason I have been so successful.’

‘The team have a comprehensive skills set which meets the needs of our charity. They are efficient and client focused. Information/advice is clear and advantages and disadvantages are thoroughly explained.’

‘We work closely with Judy Day. Judy supports us as if we were her only client. Her work is efficient; Judy is always responsive to our needs. Judy’s advice is always clear and well thought through. I have never been disappointed with the service Judy has delivered or the advice/information she has given.’

‘We are extremely pleased with the strong relationship we have forged with M&R’s real estate team with whom we work on a wide variety of projects. The team operate across offices and regions to ensure we have the right people for the right jobs. M&R invest heavily in our relationship taking time to get to know our business so as to tailor legal services, training and market updates accordingly.’

‘Carina Cobbold is a truly exceptional lawyer who understands commercial requirements and is able to draft and negotiate the details of complex legal agreements with style and aplomb. A pleasure to work with.’

‘The building industry can be a difficult industry and there are many different types of people. The M&R team worked very well with us and took us through the stages as we went along, we were also not afraid to question the advice to ensure that we all knew where we were heading.’

‘The team at M&R is knowledgeable, skilled and highly qualified to provide incisive and informative legal information to facilitate decision by the client. They listen to the needs and requests and respond quickly and accurately.’

‘They are very customer-focused and highly response for information requests.’

‘The team is always available to assist with all matters and provide prompt and clear advise. They are able to provide a good level of resource even where projects appear at short notice and are very urgent or have tight deadlines.’

‘The team are exactly that. They work together, share experiences and lessons learned and pull together for us as client when ever required. the standardisation and knowledge sharing works well for both parties and whilst you always feel that there is a “project lead” you equally know that there is a wide foundation of support below, stabilising the whole process.’

‘Person and personality. The relationship you develop with individuals and the passion and integrity with which they drive through the client requirements with utmost professionalism, quietly confident and with the engagement that we have never found elsewhere.’

‘Peter Seaborn and Alex Round are positive, practical and realistic with their advice and approach.’

‘The team is well skilled. The Cambridge office has been very thorough in understanding heads of terms and converting this quickly, and efficiently into Section 106 agreements, understanding and acting quickly on client instructions. When specialists have been required Mills and Reeve have been able to draw this in from other offices to complement the Cambridge team well.’

‘The individuals have always been responsive and quick to engage with new instructions and/or issues as they arise. They have an excellent understating of local issues, but are able to draw in case law and precedents from elsewhere to support and negotiate complex areas of law.’

‘The planning team at M&R has always been one of the key reasons we work as extensively as we do with M&R. They are thoughtful, innovative, reliable and well resourced. They are also exceptionally lovely people to work with. We have worked alongside each other on some of the largest and most regionally significant projects and negotiated complex but highly workable s.106 agreements. There are very few planning teams that could manage this and we are delighted to have M&R in our corner.’

‘Peter Seaborn is quietly confident and knows his stuff. For large-scale strategic mixed use developments there are many flashier lawyers but none quite so capable.’

‘Alex Round is one of the most rigorous and strategic thinking senior associates in the market. One to watch without any doubt.’

‘Hannah Edwards and Howard Felstead ensure that everything gets sorted and demonstrate the strength in depth of the M&R team.’

‘The team at M&R are very good at understanding the priorities and aims for us as the client. Quickly engaging with very complex and technical data and arguments they helped form and propose a very strong case, which both satisfied our requirements and legally gave us the best chance of success.’

‘We had two solicitors working for us on the same case and both were highly motivated, very bright, hard working and easy to communicate with.

‘James Hordern has worked with us for nearly five years has been excellent throughout. He has never missed a beat, he is always available, has a calm presence which gives confidence and most importantly provided excellent advice and explanations so we could make informed decisions and give appropriate instructions. Intellectually and legally he has been a calm powerhouse and has steered our case to a very successful conclusion.’

‘Chris Brand started working on our case a couple of years ago and has also been extraordinarily good. He grasped the complex arguments quickly and gave excellent advice and guidance, particularly as we moved into the Tribunal phase. He has a top-class mind and is an astute strategist.’

‘I have worked with James Hordern and Julian Steed for many years and always find their advice to be clear, correct and easy to understand, despite the complexity of the matters we deal with. Very approachable and easy to discuss options and risks available.’

‘As a whole, the firm successfully combines the heft of a nationwide operation with the accessibility and responsiveness of a local firm. They have the technical expertise, commercial knowledge and pragmatism to handle even the most complex or sensitive disputes successfully.’

‘Richard Hanson – a very sound lawyer with sound judgement. Julian Steed – an assiduous, approachable and very able lawyer. James Hordern – a first rate lawyer whose judgment I trust.’

‘I have mostly been dealing with Sam Maw. He is bright, energetic and wise beyond his years, and is a real asset to the firm. He gets to grips with the issues in a case swiftly, and provides focussed and sensible instructions and the advice he gives clients is pragmatic and effective.’

‘The team works effectively as one, so that even when dealing with different team members the level of service/attention to detail is consistent and ‘nothing sticks out’ as amiss or of a lower level. The team proactively collaborates with each other and you to find the best personnel for the particular matter i.e. there is no ego or ‘ownership’ of clients/instructions. This essentially results in the best person(s) for the job, which is great for results.’

‘Richard Plaistowe is a pleasure to deal with. His work, clients and practice clearly matter to him, and nothing is too much trouble or effort. His communication is excellent – clear, concise and timely. His advice is commercially pragmatic. He won’t sugarcoat for the sake of appearances if a client’s position is poor. Nevertheless, even when in a weaker position, he looks for a good outcome. He is also very willing to share information and international contacts, which I personally am very grateful for.’

‘Mills & Reeve has excellent clients, extremely professional service and invoicing that makes sense. We love working with them. It’s a great and diverse team that works with our lawyers so smoothly!’

‘Nicola Hanglin works with many top educational organizations in the UK, and her sense of casework is suitably brilliant.’

‘Richard Plaistowe is an absolute genius – we love working with him.’

‘Richard Plaistowe is very client-oriented.’

‘Peter Wainman is really friendly and approachable and, therefore, client-friendly. Always calm and measured and finds a solution to the problem presented. A wealth of experience which he applies in a commercial and risk based way.’

‘James Edmonds and Lisa Cham re two junior lawyers who perform above their PQE. Each have benefitted from training with Peter Wainman and provide drafting and comments which are considered and well drafted, plus take into consideration commercial realities. I am more than happy to put them in front of my internal clients.’

‘The team at M&R are personable, they are able to provide advice on different subjects and are on hand to talk through our enquiries.’

‘Our main contact is Sophie Burton-Jones, Sophie understands our business models and from that is able to give us valuable advice. M&R are able to put us in touch with advisors around the global or specialists in specific fields, this has enabled us to support all our customers and understand specific business risks.’

‘M&R continue to be our trusted legal advisers, providing seamless and valuable support on a range of IT matters, of varying complexity and value, and with first class client service.

‘Kevin Calder provides fantastic partner support on all our commercial work and offers valuable insights and input on matters as and when necessary.

‘Katy Carson is superb, and definitely someone you want on your team! She assists with a wide portfolio of work, identifies issues, provides clear and pragmatic advice, is robust in negotiations with the other side, very efficient and a delight to work with!’

‘They had exceptional experience of the transaction that we were looking to undertake whilst as a client we had no experience. The team led and supported all aspects of the transaction efficiently and transparently.’

‘Their approach led us through the process and they also managed the relationship with other consultants so that they created a cohesive team enabling the transaction to complete in record time.’

‘The team has a really good balance of experience and capability and can always help with the numerous issues I pass their way. The team is very well balanced regarding gender with a wide demographic and provides a seamless service in regard to documentation and interaction.’

‘Team has a great knowledge of both commercial and NHS sectors and will go away and come up with answers even with the most difficult issues.’

‘M&R have an exceptional conveyor of talent – all have been really good quality and brilliantly managed by the more senior team, including Natalie Wade. For the smaller ticket items they are prepared to work on a fixed fee and are always sensible around remaining commercially viable.

‘They don’t seem like an external partner reaching into our business. They take the time to get to know the business, our people and our strategy, so they present more as an extension to our team. That allows them a lot of latitude in dealing with unexpected circumstances.’

‘Caring, knowledgeable, proactive and professional are words I would use to describe all of the team we have been exposed to. They really care about our business and display that in their behaviour’

‘Consistently first rate. Communication, advice, administration all spot on and delivered by a team of outstanding lawyers.’

‘Niall Innes is outstanding. First rate legal advice, commercial, and always a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Extremely knowledgeable, professional and efficient. Able to deal with matters for us on very short notice and able to decipher large amounts of information to then be able to guide us on next steps.’

‘All individuals we deal with are extremely professional and efficient and also very friendly and approachable, which is a great asset.’

‘Ben Hardiman and his team perform admirably, clean and concise relatable advice in plain English.’

‘Very talented team that has a wealth of experience. They are very personable and diligent.’

‘Ben Hardiman is a great lawyer. He is very comprehensive and manages to deal with competing interests in a professional and calm way.’

‘There is real expertise here and years of being one of the best regional firms. As a result the firm attracts excellent and high-value work.’

‘Simon Pedley is extremely experienced and a very good lawyer. Ben Reeves, while more junior, is extremely clever. They both have good client-handling skills.’

‘Mills & Reeve in the NW has real local expertise in this area of work, but can also call on others in the firm nationwide. They offer a class service.’

‘Simon Pedley is a leader in this field. He is confident, experienced and a smooth operator.’

‘Simon Pedley is outstanding. He is astonishingly bright and tactically astute, with exceptional judgement. He gives first rate support for clients during the conduct of a case and is readily available as needed. He makes good use of his team and works cost-effectively.’

‘Mills and Reeve is a regional powerhouse matched by a high-quality London presence. It is increasingly recognised as being among the best private client offerings, and certainly the firm boasts very high quality work.’

‘Ben Reeves is a very robust litigator with depth and breadth of subject knowledge to match.’

‘Mills & Reeve has quality clients and delivers an excellent service.’

‘The team has a unique ability to deal with complex planning issues for private clients/OMB’s in a comprehensible manner.’

‘Zahra Siddiqui has ably stepped into the shoes of Tony Hall, having worked with him for many years and continues to provide an excellent service in a friendly and efficient manner. She is ably supported by Anna Moore who is a rising star and will do well in her own right.’

‘I think advice has been swift, succinct and pragmatic. There is good knowledge of working with a high-net-worth family and the types of issues and planning which might need to be thought about.’

‘I have really enjoyed working with our partner Deborah Clarke who has excellent knowledge across sectors, she is very accessible and prompt with response/advice. She has also been able to refer me to other departments where needed to equally high quality individuals.’

‘Deborah Clarke, Charlotte Shaughnessey and Rebecca Minto are all excellent. I have been very impressed with the work they have done for clients and the value the relationship I have with them. They offer their time and expertise without starting the clock on fees, they are of course commercial about it, but always happy for me to discuss planning points with them.’

‘Mills & Reeve lead the way in cutting edge wills and estate planning, with a depth of knowledge that is greater than any I have used for our clients. We have been using them for many years. The broad nature of their wider business and collaborative thinking means they can bring knowledge and experience to assist in many and varied client circumstances.’

‘I have worked with Zahra Siddiqui for 10-15 years on client work and have found her to be exceptional in her knowledge and ability to make complex subjects easy to understand for clients. She is consistent in her approach and works well, alongside planning work with us as wealth managers.’

‘Mark Hovell has buckets of experience and is also a seasoned arbitrator.’

‘Carol Couse knows the business backwards as well as being an intelligent and supportive team leader.’

‘Phil Hutchinson punches way above his weight – he has lots of experience and smarts, plus dedication to his clients.’

‘An excellent well-rounded sports law practice that is able to offer easy to follow technical advice on any given subject within any necessary timescale.’

‘An extremely knowledgeable team, which goes above and beyond for its clients. The partners have great industry knowledge and the team has very impressive senior associates, which ensures cases are run efficiently.’

Mark Hovell – a well-known and respected sports lawyer. Extremely knowledgeable with a very calm demeanour.’

‘Carol Couse – excellent knowledge of the football industry, good with clients and efficient at running a team in complex cases.’

‘Phil Hutchinson is an outstanding senior associate. Very knowledgeable, particularly excellent with clients and extremely hard-working.’

‘Claudia Gilham is a stand-out operator in the area, clearly ready for partnership. She leads her team with skill and humour. Her client care is phenomenal as is her attention to detail.’

‘A strong family department with expertise on a broad range of family law issues. They are committed to excellence in their approach to clients and the law.’

‘Claudia Gilham is a force of nature. She goes the extra mile for her clients both in marshalling the details of their case and in keeping in mind the bigger picture. Her dedication to her clients and their case is second to none.’

‘National presence, with great lawyers delivering exceptional results.’

‘Philip Way is the ‘go-to’ practitioner in the north of England. He has an immense knowledge basis, and is highly experienced in dealing with complex cases.

‘Claudia Gilham is another star practitioner. She reassures clients with her command of the case and her approach.’

‘Philip Way boasts a huge wealth of experience, common sense, approachability and legal skill.’

‘They instil confidence as experts in their field. Client service is outstanding. They are easy to deal with.’

‘Andrew Playle is an expert in his field. He has a great team around him and dealing with them is very straight forward.’

‘A very competent, professional, and innovative team. They prepared a timeline at the start of the project which gave us an indication of the tasks required; expected completion dates and responsibilities for inputs by all stakeholders. They liaised with stakeholders and ensured minimum movement from the timeline. Their billing is transparent, with journal printouts accompanying bills.’

‘I have dealt with many solicitors during a lifetime in business and in my opinion, Ellie Milner ranks with the best. In addition to her obvious competence and her interpersonal skills, she is very easy to deal with insofar as I have never had to chase or remind her – in fact, it is she that takes the initiative to prevent slippage by others.’

‘Ellie Milner and Nicola Turner are very efficient, thorough and organised. A pleasure to deal with.’

‘The key for me will always be the relationship. I use Mills & Reeve for all my business and personal legal support. The departments work together and keep each other informed as to my requirements and progress in delivering them; this is my view unique .’

‘I work mainly with Ellie Milner at Mills & Reeve and her ability to listen, empathise and develop solutions that are not ‘out of the box’ but clearly designed specifically to meet my stated needs or those of my clients. Ellie is also highly innovative and offers a range of solutions rather than a ‘fait accompli’. Personal wealth legal support is fundamentally based on trust; that being that you sense that the you and your family can depend upon the guidance. I trust and depend on Ellie Milner.’

‘Experts in their specialist field, good rates, and a proactive and creative approach to legal issues and challenges in and out of litigation.’

‘Mills & Reeve are technically strong whilst being straightforward to work with and take a commercial approach within the parameters of acting on professional negligence matters.’

‘Very strong local team here in Yorkshire. They are all good lawyers, but also sensible and commercial when needs be.’

‘Neil Howes leads the team excellently. Provides partner level advice and support but with a humble and approachable style. Support provided by Laura Johnson in particular is delivered to a very high standard.’

‘The Mills & Reeve team’s greatest strength is it client care. Everything that is done is focused on delivering the most efficient, digestible product to the client.’

‘Liam Burnett gets to the heart of a matter quickly and with no fuss, and then zeroes in on what needs to be done to get the client in the best position either to contest the key points or to reach the best possible commercial deal.’

‘Strong team of well-coordinated individuals, adept at complex, multi-faceted transactions.’

‘Peter McLintock is highly experienced and prepared to make committed recommendations rather than offer vague advice, which I value highly.’

‘Very straightforward, proactive and responsive.’

‘ Their ability to listen and grasp the issues quickly has been exceptional and a real comfort to us that we are embarking on the right course of action.’

‘Steve Allen is the sort of partner that any client would want to have: extremely knowledgeable, calm and good with clients, takes a sensible approach to litigation and runs a team efficiently.’

‘The team at Mills & Reeve have been exceptional to work with and made us feel as comfortable as you could possibly be. There ability to listen and grasp the issues quickly has been exceptional and a real comfort to us that we embarking on the right course of action.’

‘Steve Allen and Preena Lal have been exceptional. Worked as a team harmoniously and made us feel that our case is extremely important to them.’

‘Mills & Reeve has an exceptional employment team that is responsive, engaging and provides sound advice. The lawyers understand our organisation and the challenges we face, ensuring that advice is tailored appropriately. It is a dynamic, responsive team that adapted rapidly to the challenges of Covid and helped us stay on top of ever-changing government guidance. Not only do I value their advice on an individual case basis but they also provide excellent legal update seminars and training sessions. I would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending Mills & Reeve’.

‘Excellent on-point and on-time support and advice. Richard Santy is a seriously impressive HR lawyer’.

‘Jog Hundle – I am very grateful to her for her quick responses and ability to think creatively but pragmatically to support us. She has provided a number of training sessions, not only to the HR team but also to managers and consultants. These sessions are always well received and evaluate exceptionally well‘.

‘Fiona Goodman – I highly value her advice. She always makes herself available and is extremely responsive to queries. She has a good understanding of our organisation and our values, something she takes into consideration when providing us with advice. Her support in some recent difficult cases has been exceptional’.

‘Able to compete with the best-known London firms in quality of lawyers, commercial awareness, and tactical nous but without the fee rates to match. It is a very close-knit team that goes above and beyond in servicing its clients, with whom the lawyers have a great rapport‘.

‘Lucy Howard has been operating at partner level for years. She is one of the hardest workers in this sector and puts her clients first in all she does, which she does by deploying an excellent understanding of the law and keen strategic sense. Kieran Leahy is keen as mustard and incredibly hardworking, as well as very personable and highly perceptive‘.

‘The Mills & Reeve contentious trust and probate team has grown significantly in the few years since it was established and is one of the leading teams in the Midlands. The team is superbly led by Lucy Howard who is first-rate. She is very strong technically who really fights her client’s corner‘.

‘One of the stand out teams within the Midlands for CT&P work. Better known for dealing with high value contested estate work, and resourced to comfortably manage such work‘.

‘Lucy Howard leads the team and has a well deserved reputation as a quality practitioner in this area. Kim Ryan is also highly competent‘.

‘The contentious probate team is growing rapidly with several new key hires in 2021, following Lucy Howard being made partner. Lucy Howard is a strong litigator with a finesse for detail and case law’.

‘Mills & Reeve is one of the few firms in the country that offers the quality of expertise in this area of the law’.

‘Lucy Howard – outstanding and a leading expert in her field with a great bedside manner. Kim Ryan – very thorough and diligent in her approach‘.

‘Everybody I had contact with at Mills & Reeve was professional, courteous and always replied to my questions, quickly or within an agreed timeframe. Responses were always very well considered with detailed explanations. Katherine Kennedy explained the process well, I always knew what was expected of me, she always replied promptly (often out of working hours) to my questions and Zoom meeting requests. I really appreciate her calm and logical approach’.

‘Rob Norris works exceptionally hard to achieve a beneficial outcome for his clients. He is pragmatic and calm. He creates trust and rapport and with his skilled assistance his clients are often able to reach negotiated settlements‘.

‘Katherine Kennedy does a great job for her clients, providing expert advice whilst also supporting them through the process effortlessly’.

‘Marc Saunderson – great with clients, very approachable, runs his team well. This is an excellent team with good working relations which make for a better case management system when people are away. They are relatively strong on the law and able to provide an excellent service and a polished product’.

‘Mills & Reeve appears to provide an extremely high quality of service for its clients. Katherine Kennedy’s briefs are a pleasure to receive. She is sure to have advised her clients thoroughly and proficiently prior to my instruction’.

‘It provides a high quality service which is extremely professional. Katherine Kennedy is very wise and has a great knowledge of the law. She provides clear explanations to her clients. Stephanie Hawthorne is a young up and coming lawyer who is likely to progress into the premier league of family lawyers’.

‘Nothing is too much trouble.’

‘Martino Giaquinto demonstrates a real command of the detail and an equally significant contribution to strategy. Very impressed.’

‘What makes Mills & Reeve’s construction department so valuable to us is that they’ve invested time and energy in getting to know how we work as an institution. It means that their advice is truly tailored.’

‘Stuart Pemble’s strategic oversight of construction projects is invaluable to us as an institution.’

‘Martino Giaquinto’s advice on disputes – especially those arising out of contractor’s insolvency – is well judged and pragmatic.’

‘Caroline Foster’s attention to detail is never anything less than exemplary.’

‘Excellent knowledge of the legal and commercial issues experienced by companies when facing complex IT contract structures and negotiations. The team is happy to guide clients on what to expect from negotiations and fight hard for positions which are high risk having thought carefully about the nature of the client’s business.’

‘Jagvinder Singh-Kang stands out as a true expert in his field. He is very easy to deal with and puts in lots of effort to understand a client’s business which then is reflected in the approach he takes to give the most relevant advice to the client and negotiate the most appropriate contracts with counterparties. He is my “go to” IT lawyer for the most important (or unusual) IT transactions.’

‘Effective in chasing the debt on our behalf. All instances have resulted in full settlement’

‘I have dealt with Lynne Lawn for the occasions that I have needed help with recovery of debt. Lynne has been prompt in her responses and also effective in chasing the debt on our behalf. All instances have resulted in full settlement. We originally looked at using a local firm, however, despite emails and phone calls we were never responded to! Mills & Reeve have always been timely, effective, professional and efficient!’

‘Have always used Mills & Reeve for a fast and reliable service. Their depth of knowledge over a wide range of issues is outstanding.’

‘We have always found the individuals we have worked with to be very efficient and informative and excellent at keeping us up to date with every case as it proceeds.’

‘Pragmatic, good all round advice – from agreements, fund-raising and due diligence.’

‘James Fry has excellent oversight of what is need to support a growing biotech company.’

‘The M&R Team that we interact with feel like an extension of our business. They are extremely responsive and a pleasure to work with. The M&R team work with us on a variety of different areas across our business: corporate, regulatory, employment, commercial.. and do a great job in all areas.’

‘James Fry and associate James Edmonds are my main contacts and both do a fantastic job.’

‘Experts in their field with a pragmatic approach.’

‘James Fry provides guidance like a General Counsel.’

‘Mel James is first class. Her advice is clear, practical and she is a great support on potentially contentious employment matters.’

‘Really impressive team. Adapted to remote working so well is as if they’ve always done it.’

‘Thoroughly know the area and able to provide insights from different areas to provide imaginative solutions to problems posed.’

‘Mill & Reeve was recommended to us for advice on business and estate planning for a farming family partnership. The firm gave us sound advice at the time and has subsequently acted for us on many levels’.

‘Dawn Chapman first acted for us when we decided to dissolve our partnership and sell the farm. She has always been very approachable and efficient in all our dealings‘.

‘Suzanne Kingston is an outstanding lawyer and mediator. She is my absolute go to mediator for clients – she has helped clients settle their cases which all parties and lawyers involved were convinced would need to go to trial. She is an extremely skilled mediator’.

‘Huge strength in depth across the board for a range of clients be it those struggling to meet needs, or high-net-worth clients. They take an innovative approach to supporting clients and are at the cutting edge of the evolution of family law’.

‘Tim Whitney is a stand out solicitor and mediator with an excellent reputation, in particular at enabling clients to not only obtain an excellent outcome to a case, but doing it in a way which enables matters to be resolved amicably and efficiently’.

‘Alison Bull is committed to achieving fair outcomes for clients and uses her undoubted intellect and capabilities to achieve this. She has a wider commitment to the dispute resolution world and puts enormous energy into enhancing that world’.

‘Katherine Kennedy has impressed as a professional who is able to bring together her deep legal knowledge and experience – enabling her to grasp and explain complex and nuanced legal implications within any mediated negotiation’.

‘Suzanne Kingston is one of (if not the) best mediator for family work here in England & Wales. Her generations working at the top end of family law work, coupled with her dedication to international family law, make her the go to mediator for high profile, high value, complex and/or international cases’.

‘The Mills & Reeve team is superb. It is very well organised, efficient, client-focussed, compassionate and sensible people who are a pleasure to work with. They have always provided an excellent service to clients in cases I have done with them. They are well supported in the administration and it is useful to have colleagues in other areas of law who can provide a full service for the clients’ needs’.

‘I have been very impressed with Joanna Grandfield for her determination and pragmatism. I have also enjoyed working with Tim Whitney and Amy Starnes and Suzanne Kingston and  I think that Zoe Fleetwood was a strong addition to the team recently. There are many top quality individuals at M&R – too many to name them all’.

‘Mills & Reeve has one of the leading and most innovative family law teams around – many would say it is the very best and a clear leader in the field, with an emphasis on alternative dispute resolution, and with exceptional solicitors and mediators and an all-round approachable and extremely effective negotiation and litigation style. They achieve outstanding results for their clients whilst remaining very down to earth and pragmatic’.

‘I am instructed regularly by Zoe Fleetwood, partner and head of the children department and it is always a privilege and a joy to work with her. Zoe has every quality you could wish for in a family lawyer. She is hugely intelligent, knows the law inside out, is jaw droppingly efficient and always on top of a very busy work load, crystal clear in her communications, strong and determined in her negotiations and in court, warm, empathic and supportive, creative, imaginative and energetic’.  

‘Jo Grandfield is a former barrister. It shows: she can do the job of barrister and solicitor and is excellent at both. She’s tough and commercial and a force to be reckoned with’.

‘Suzanne Kingston is known as a mediator but is also a first rate litigator and brings to her cases a wealth of experience and savviness. She knows exactly which points to fight and win and which not to. She is also very experienced in complex cases and very able in assembling the team of experts needed’.

‘Zoe Fleetwood is a stand out partner and a seasoned and committed children law practitioner. Jo Grandfield is superb. She is fiercely bright but incredibly constructive. She will always pick up the phone to resolve issues and is genuinely committed to finding a good way through conflict. She is a joy to work with’. 

‘Tim Whitney is an outstanding mediator. He grapples with very difficult cases, provides a calm environment and invariable leads clients to settlement.’.

‘Great team with a range of specialisms across the practice. The team are incredibly responsive with quick turn arounds and are able to arrange a call to talk complex subjects through. The team are all very personable and make every effort to understand the business.’

‘M&R continue to be trusted legal advisers, providing seamless and valuable support on a range of IT matters of varying complexity and value, and with first-class client service.’

‘Kevin Calder provides fantastic partner support on all our commercial work and offers valuable insights and input on matters as and when necessary.’

‘Jagvinder Singh Kang provides fantastic partner support, particularly on the data protection aspects, and offers excellent, pragmatic support on some of the more tricky compliance issues.’

‘Katy Carson is superb, and definitely someone you want on your team! She assists with a wide portfolio of work, identifies issues, provides clear and pragmatic advice, is robust in negotiations with the other side, very efficient and a delight to work with!’

‘Sophie Burton-Jones has helped advise on a range of different subject matters. Each engagement with Sophie is positive with clear expectations and deliverables are set. Sophie’s flexibility supporting other areas of the business in different time zones and participating in customer discussions is appreciated.’

‘They want to understand thoroughly the matter they are supporting the organisation with, and allocate the right resource in the team to the case.’

‘They always respond promptly to queries, or new requests and are clear on the time needed to undertake the work. Jennifer Lewis in the property team is very good. Always trust her advice and judgement and she grasps tricky issues really quickly.’

‘A collegiate team that works with expertise and experience to ensure the client receives comprehensive and proportionate legal advice and options.’

‘Responsive and experts in their field.’

‘The billing is clear, work set out was very clear, no surprises at all. I was very grateful for this thorough understanding and plan of work which as a charity is incredibly important. Would thoroughly recommend this firm.’

‘The individuals in the team were very responsive, thorough and simply lovely to work with.’

‘Sue Brookes is an excellent solicitor. I found Sue does not leave anything out and goes through things with a fine-toothed comb. I am very impressed with her ways and work, I would certainly recommend her services to others.’

‘The team at Mills and Reeve North West is constantly alert to changes in the family law market and innovative in its approach for individual clients. This gives them enormous strength in their abilities to be agile and responsive and to identify key trends early. They are able to offer a full range of services across dispute resolution services, additional services to support their clients and in litigation as and when necessary.’

‘The whole of the family law team are stand-out practitioners and it is difficult to name any one of them as offering less than excellent, knowledgeable and exceptional client service. However, high praise must go to Alison Bull who brings her passion for the law and for assisting families in a very human way to what is overall superb practice as a cutting edge family lawyer.’

‘The team is experienced, hardworking and committed to its clients. They are also innovative and embrace all forms of dispute resolution and technology to assist their clients in resolving their family law issues.’

‘Andrew Moore is a safe and sensible pair of hands. He is absolutely focused on finding the right solution for his clients, whilst working hard to avoid unnecessary animosity.’

‘Nigel Shepherd is a leader in his field. He is absolutely dedicated to the improvement of the family law justice system and his expertise and experience is unrivaled.’

‘The best private law team in the jurisdiction in terms of reputation and quality of solicitor. Their focus on collaborative family law means that family disputes, often, are resolved through less destructive means on court proceedings. Their solicitors are without exception highly qualified, very bright and also careful with every detail of a case. Their client care is very impressive.’

‘Wide ranging experience across all aspects of Higher Education. Mills and Reeve have a number of partners and paralegals with expertise across the sector. Attention to detail and speed of response, often over long periods, are especially noteworthy.’

‘Richard Sykes – attention to detail, personal approach, excellent follow up. Takes care to ensure all aspects of a case are covered and that the client understands fully what action should be taken.’

‘Known experts in the field and good local knowledge.’

‘Mills & Reeve’s education practice is second to none. The team have significant experience in this area which they are able to apply in a practical and user friendly way, navigating and supporting through thorny issues, providing creative solutions.’

‘Richard Skyes is a stand out lawyer, who is responsive and nice to deal with, giving piece of mind that a matter has been thoroughly considered.’

‘Very knowledgeable about the sector and a “go to” firm when needing higher education specialist advice.’

‘Adaptable, responsive, and with specialists who really understand the sector and can adapt to a range of complex situations. Easily our go-to practice for anything public-law or HE-law related.’

‘Richard Sykes in particular is outstanding – intelligent, incisive and able to see to the heart of complex high-risk situations; equally good at thinking on his feet and at giving considered advice on multi-dimensional nuanced issues, and exceptional in his ability to tailor advice and explanations to specific organisational circumstances.’

‘I have worked with a number of people from the firm and each one of them has a fantastic grasp of their particular field and is able to help clients who do not have their expertise understand the important issues and ensure that all the points are covered. We have felt guided but not herded towards conclusions and the approach has been helpful in a number of key areas notably NHS Property and GDPR/Confidentiality and areas where case law had not yet been established.’

‘My highest praise goes to Jennifer Lewis who works as a Principal Associate.’

‘Within the north west team, two individuals stand out for me – Charlotte Lewis and Jennifer Lewis, who have both been outstanding in their support. Both have very positive approaches to work, always seem to be available to answer ad hoc questions, regardless of workload and often proactive in providing advice and market intelligence, making it very clear that they understand our business and what is important to us. Charlotte has also spent a lot of time on client relationship matters. She has been quick to understand my internal team structure and to adapt legal services to suit. It is unusual to find a senior associate with this level of client relationship focus in addition to subject matter experience.’

‘I have yet to find someone who knows more about property issues within the health sector than Jennifer Lewis. Her understanding of the market and knowledge of the other landlords within it means I can rely on her to provide robust advice on any and all lease requirements I have.’

‘Rachael Somerset is great to work with, understands client’s needs very well, and is calm and unflappable.’

‘Definitely one of the strongest media and entertainment practices outside of London.’

‘Rachael Somerset is the one to watch – she is exceptional.’

‘Rachael Somerset has excellent subject expertise and ability to engage across multiple levels.’

‘Excellent team of people, and excellent engagement within Manchester and the North West more widely.’

‘Rachael Somerset is exceptional. She is innovative in her approach and gives timely advice which is practical and effective.’

‘In-depth agricultural and rural knowledge.’

‘Nichola Ross is very capable, with attention to detail.’

‘They have built up a good understanding of the particular complexities of our organisation.’

‘Mark Ashton’s advice is always sound and straightforward. We can partner the organisation through complex issues, without fuss.’

‘Excellent in-depth knowledge of the education sector.’

‘Adaptable, responsive, and with specialists who really understand the sector and can adapt to a range of complex situations. Easily our go-to practice for anything public-law or HE-law related.’

‘Mills & Reeve are very good at understanding the risk appetite of the organisation and helping to craft pragmatic yet robust solutions to different scenarios all the while effectively supporting the business to manage its legal risks.’

‘Stuart Craig – well respected, extremely knowledgeable, well connected partner.’

‘Rebecca Pallot – recently made partner, not before time. Astute, robust and highly efficient.’

‘Rebecca Pallot has a great legal brain and always seems to have her finger on the answer – and she is very personable with it.’

‘The pensions team is small, but the deliverables are high quality and the fees are very competitive. Clare Grice was outstanding on the recent pensions project I worked with her on, where she was the lawyer and I was the actuary. She was personable, quick, pragmatic, and I know the trustees valued her contribution. She proved to be extremely capable, experienced, and helped deliver a very good outcome for the trustees‘.

‘The legal advice was of the highest quality, clear and timely. The responsiveness to questions raised by the trustees was swift and thorough. It felt as though we had the full attention of our primary contact and the wider team at Mills & Reeve‘.

‘Responsiveness and excellent communication were the differentiators that were consistently demonstrated by Clare Grice. She provided proactive and consistent guidance throughout the process and was thoroughly professional and courteous’.

‘Clear, easy to use, pragmatic advice which doesn’t require a GCSE in pensions to understand. Clare Grice – personable, great to chat through an issue and quick to follow up in writing‘.

‘Excellent market knowledge and a calm and level-headed approach to negotiation that made the process of agreeing a transaction collaborative rather than combative.’

‘David Varnham impresses with his thorough technical knowledge and pragmatic, commercial approach.’

‘The personal service and the fact they explain everything to you in terms and ways you can understand.’

‘Their lawyers are first class and have a brilliant knowledge of the law and sectors in the areas in which they operate.’

‘Very responsive and capable team who dealt with our Intellectual property issue quickly and efficiently with high levels of communication and transparency.’

‘As well as providing the legal advice, they are well aware of the commerciality in dealing with issues.’

‘I work with Claire O’Brien in this context. I have always found her responsive, efficient and helpful, with a “can-do” attitude to the projects she\’s involved with.’

‘I have worked with Claire O’Brien, a fantastic lawyer, knowledgeable and personable. Knows what I want and the right way to go about it.’

‘Natalie Welch – Natalie provides valuable, practical and pragmatic assistance on our contentious IP matters.’

‘The team have a diverse range of skills and capabilities including using resources within other teams to assist with the legal advice given. The firm ensures we have good contacts within a range of offices and teams which assists with their overall offering and reserving and billing are transparent.’

‘Andrew McConnell is extremely approachable, communicative in terms of different strategies, and has a good knowledge of construction.’

‘They are a very visual team in terms of getting out in the market, attending events and offering training.’

‘The team is professional and approachable, and collectively brings a wealth of knowledge to matters concerned’.

‘Neil Ward and his team are always on-hand when I need advice. There are many individuals across the firm that I work closely with or have been in contact with, and every individual has consistently been professional, approachable, realistic and collaborative in their approach’.

‘The team is very knowledgeable on various Court of Protection matters and will pass cases to partners/other team members if better suited for the case’.

‘Each person from the firm has been very responsive and clear and concise in their responses and requests. Very easy to work with.’

‘Very professional, knowledgeable and responsive firm. Feels very approachable’.

‘Lucy Johnston always seems to ensure that legal cases run efficiently and cost effectively.’

‘The team at Mills & Reeve who represent us is responsive to questions, takes time to explain legal options and opinions and where required has been able to call on the expertise from different branches of legal advice. Many thanks to Sarah Garrood, Jill Weston and Kevin Duce’.

‘Good knowledge of the sector; responsive to client needs;’

‘Individuals have good industry knowledge – they have built up a good working relationship with us and have sought to understand our needs and to build responses based on this.’

‘They are responsive to requests for meetings and creative in thinking through potential solutions.’

‘Specialist sports lawyers with an unrivaled reputation.’

‘Mark Hovell is an esteemed arbitrator.’

‘Carol Couse is particularly knowledgeable in football matters.’

‘Phil Hutchinson and Tiran Gunawardena are excellent  associates.’

‘Mills & Reeve’s sports team has provided invaluable support to our organisation across a range of issues. They have an in-depth knowledge of the sports sector and a reputation for quality within the industry.’

‘Julian Moore’ quality of work thas been exceptional, with several clients commenting on the quality of the agreements.’

‘Associate Phil Hutchinson has a great ability to be deliberate and clear in his advise relating to issues and enquires associated to the governance of elite level sport here in the UK.’

‘Mills & Reeve have huge knowledge, experience and expertise in elite sports law issues.’

‘Real quality throughout the team, and an ability to draft in appropriate resource at all levels.’

‘Richard Dawson-Gerrard is what you want in a senior partner. He is able to provide direction or a light touch as required and provides clients with a consistently excellent experience.’

‘Jacob Walker is studied, calm and has real attention to detail. He is equally adept at insolvency and CDR.’

‘Strong commercial offering, good experience in work relating to team moves and business protection cases.’

‘Simon Pedley’s key strength is his breadth of experience and the judgement that he brings. He is able to understand the detail of complex legal issues while not losing sight of the bigger picture and overall strategic goals.’

‘Sara Barrett gives excellent employment advice and is always mindful of the context of our organisation. She goes above and beyond the statement of fact to find the best way forward.’

‘Sara Barrett and her employment team are spot on. They are up to date, available, understand what our liabilities are and help us get through some tricky issues with professionalism and pragmatism.‘

‘A massive depth of skills across the practice. Huge reservoir of knowledge.’

‘Caroline Hanratty and Rachel Pitman stand out in the commercial property department. The readily available knowledge and their ability to speak from a position of having experienced the issues before is invaluable.’

‘Very responsive with a good turn around in dealing effectively and commercially with instructions.’

‘Mike Edge and Rachel Pitman are tremendously experienced, well connected within the market and very client focused.’

‘Readily available and formed a good business relationship. Understand where we need to get to and very solution focused.’

‘The team work well as a unit and coordinate advice across various areas of specialism.’

‘The team are very professional, personable, approachable and pragmatic. They have the right specialists in the right place to deal with projects and transactions of a unique, large and complex nature.’

‘Mike Edge leads the team exceptionally well and has a great team beneath him. Everyone we have dealt with at Mills & Reeve has the skills and expertise to do the job we appoint them to do and they do it in a highly personable and approachable manner and communication and the pace of work is excellent.’

‘Keith Davidson is responsive, down to earth and a fountain of knowledge.’

‘The team are very professional and very personable. They get the job done but are pragmatic whilst having specialists in the right areas to deal with large complex projects and transactions.’

‘I really value their personable approach, they’re contactable and you can have a sensible conversation and kick ideas and thoughts around such that they feel like an extension of the team and make contributions accordingly.’

‘On environmental due diligence and transactional support around contaminated land, the team is an excellent resource, especially using Keith Davidson’s vast and unparalleled knowledge of contaminated land. Very competent and capable team who can deliver on a wide range of matters.’

‘Keith Davidson is a shining star in terms of non-contentious environmental matters. Around contaminated land, there is not much that Keith has not seen and dealt with already, which makes him great at getting to the heart of the issue and offering a sensible and workable solution. He is the ‘go-to’ resource for warranties and indemnities and ensuring liabilities are appropriately dealt with in commercial transactions.’

‘We worked with Melanie Grimshaw in this team. She was outstanding in terms of her commitment to what transpired to be a huge project, which needed delivery in a very short amount of time. She dealt every detail and went above and beyond many times. Knowing that she would be available made all the difference as we had a lot of queries and were under pressure with timings. She showed her excellent subject knowledge and insightfulness in the many meetings we had.’

‘The planning team at M&R has always been one of the key reasons we work as extensively as we do with M&R. They are thoughtful, innovative, reliable and well resourced. They are also exceptionally lovely people to work with. We are delighted to have M&R in our corner.’

‘Melanie Grimshaw is charming and highly knowledgeable both in respect of the local Manchester market but also nationally.’

‘Paul Knight is our main point of contact. His advice is clear and concise and his client care is exceptional. He is a great commercial negotiator who understands our requirements and the need to maintain strong customer relations whilst ensuring that we protect our own position properly.’

‘We receive a highly responsive, partner-led service, providing first-rate commercial advice. They work hard to understand our business.’

‘Simon Sherwood is very client-focused and offers an efficient and effective service with good commercial understanding.’

‘Simon and his team are always professional and point out the different solutions possible and any consequences therein. His advice is commercial and he is at pains to discuss both sides.’

‘Simon Sherwood is the reason we use Mills & Reeve. He is our go-to real estate external provider. He understands how we work, what we want and always delivers.’

‘The firm offers a client-focused, partner led service for real estate development and related-property work at rates that offer good value for money.’

‘Excellent team who are all very helpful with a can-do attitude.’

‘Responsive, proactive, and a safe pair of hands. They made sure we understood each stage of the process and always had one constant point of contact for continuity.’

‘Holly Hill was exceptional from start to finish. I would not hesitate to recommend Holly and she would definitely be my first choice of solicitor, should we ever need legal advice again in the future.’

‘I have always found the team to be impressive.’

‘They are a small firm with good individuals so for smaller cap companies, one is an important client which drives a high level of attention and commitment to our work. A tight knit team that is efficient. Stephen Hamilton and his senior associate Emma Plaxton demonstrate these qualities.’

‘Zickie Lim has always been practical and responsive. A really effective legal advisor.’

‘Katherine Robinson was highly responsive and a clear communicator.’

‘The application of their expertise in a concise and pragmatic manner sets then apart from similar firms. They understand our business needs and are always on hand as a virtual extension of our in-house team.’

‘James Fry leads an excellent team. His experience and understanding of the challenges that small biotechs face results in agile and reliable advice.’

‘Excellent employment team. Practical, timely, reasonably-priced advice.’

‘They have highly specialised solicitors –  each experts in their field. Highly professional and courteous, a thorough understanding of the issue at hand and confident approach’.

‘The firm is renowned for the legal work in the private client/contentious probate/trusts area nationally and has developed a profile which is hard to match. In practice, the reputation is well deserved’.

‘Simon Pedley is absolutely top of the tree for this kind of work. He is outstanding. He is astonishingly bright and tactically astute with exceptional judgment. He is calm and has an open personality which makes his client manner unbeatable’. 

‘An exceptional team with great strength and depth in core private client areas. Compares extremely favourably to other HNW firms. Certainly respected as being a team with credibility’.

‘Is a provincial powerhouse that offers real value for money. They regularly and happily go toe-to-toe with the really big London firms. Partner engagement is excellent and it gives the clients real faith. Also very good at selecting associates so the whole team has real strength in depth’.

‘David Catchpole is very experienced and really personable. Manages the litigation process to great effect. Lucy Howard is an absolute star. Really brainy and keeps you on your toes as counsel. Has a great feel for the law and fights ferociously for her clients, who adore her. Kieran Leahy is barely qualified but you’d never believe it. He has a natural ability and has been taught extremely well. Works tirelessly too’.

‘Mills & Reeve has a nationwide presence with some exceptionally good lawyers who have real expertise in this field they are involved in some seriously high profile cases. They are excellent with clients’.

‘Mills & Reeve is a great firm to work with. It has a palpable team spirit and positive approach to litigation and attaining the best outcome for clients’.

‘Jacob Walker  is thorough and well prepared in his approach.’

‘A strong base of associates with great leadership from partners.’

‘Jacob Walker is my standout associate. Works hard, takes ownership and brings ideas to the table.’

‘When working with Mills & Reeve I am always confident I will receive sound advice, and that there will be someone available on the other end of the phone.’

‘Jacob Walker is highly skilled in reviewing instructions issued and providing clear, concise advice, which has been thoroughly considered. He deals effectively and expeditiously with complex and contentious insolvency matters. We are always confident that all bases are covered, and our position protected, in a timely manner when working with Jacob.’

‘Mills & Reeve provide a more holistic service, raising the awareness of employment law issues. This includes an extremely helpful monthly digest on emerging employment law issues.’

‘Individuals in the team are practical and approachable, and take the time to fully understand the organisation and what it really needs before providing legal advice.’

‘I found this practice to be responsive to client needs and far more solution focused than other firms. They listen to what we want to achieve and then work on outlining the risks and using their HR and sector knowledge to help us to find solutions to the issue.’

‘They are technology focused especially when looking at easier ways of sharing and collaborating in complex paperwork.’

‘I find their junior staff knowledgeable and it is clear they are well trained and briefed by their partners.’

‘Stuart Craig leads a team of knowledgeable staff but Stuart is a real dynamo behind the practice. His work ethic is brilliant and regardless of the pressures he may be under he always meets deadlines and returns calls. ‘

‘A very good team led by Christian Bull. Competitive pricing and very good communication and response times.’

‘Whenever I have a query, no matter how complex or simple, I always get a response.’

‘Mills & Reeve provide a fantastic service to the insurance industry, which feels considerably more personal and better focused than their competitors. They understand the commercial side of our relationships with our clients, and give honest advice as to when we should take a firm position and when we should compromise. The utilisation of resources is sensible, with appropriate numbers of associates appointed to claims, resulting in reasonable billing outcomes.’

‘Andrew Tobin is very personable and easy to work with; he has the ability to make complex matters of law sound relatively simple. He is very responsive and makes himself available at short notice, and I’m confident of obtaining the best possible outcome on anything he’s involved with.’

‘I do not feel that we would have received the same level of dedication and responsiveness on our important claim from another firm.’

‘Detailed and pragmatic knowledge’.

‘Neil Burton, Simon Pedley – responsive and reassuring, with a wealth of experience’.

‘Sarah Cormack is a very bright and practical legal advisor. She’s very dedicated to her clients’.

‘Huge breadth of experience, plus pragmatic advice.’

‘Jagvinder Singh Kang just knows everything and what to do in a crisis.’

‘Not only does Mills & Reeve has deep knowledge of data protection laws, it is adept at finding solutions for implementing processes that comply with those laws. Mills & Reeve has invested time to learn about our organisation and our industry, dramatically enhancing the value of the data protection advice its lawyers provide.’

‘Peter Wainman ‘s knowledge of technology and its uses in the healthcare sector separate Peter from other data protection lawyers. In the continuously evolving landscape of data protection laws, he can navigate through the risks and requirements to help the quick identification of the the best available options.’

‘Mills and Reeve has a great team, which is responsive and extremely knowledgeable in the area of data protection and privacy.’

‘Richard Sykes, Helen Tringham, Emma Tuck and Paul Knight are our main contacts. They are responsive and work closely with us, taking the time to understand our situation and its nuances.’

‘The data protection practice at Mills & Reeve has played a vital role in the establishment of our charitable programmes. These programmes involve complex data sharing frameworks and arrangements and Mill & Reeve has provided accurate and practical advice throughout, which has led to the successful launch of our programmes. In particular, the tailoring of advice to our individual circumstances and the application of the legislation to the environment we operate was very impressive.’

‘We have worked closely with Paul Knight and his team. Paul’s ability to apply the relevant data protection legislation accurately but in a practical and pragmatic way to suit our needs and the needs of our constituents has been invaluable.’

‘Mills & Reeve have a solid reputation management team. They keep across the details and have a thorough approach.’

‘Rachael Somerset provides good legal analysis and a detailed approach.’

‘Rachael Somerset is excellent. She is easy to deal with, very client-focused and her advice is sensible and well-judged.’

‘One of the higher-quality firms practising in reputation management outside of London, particularly via its Manchester office.’

‘The team’s practical and sensible approach to complex matters is extremely reassuring and helps to navigate sensitive issues with ease.’

‘Rachael Somerset in particular is excellent; Rachael is very approachable and friendly and clients benefit from her wealth of experience in this area.’

‘The team provided support to contract documentation, they took time to understand our requirement and how the contract will apply in practice. Offered expertise and guidance in line with our needs.’

‘They responded quickly to requests making time to have calls to resolve issues quickly. They provided outputs quickly and responded to requests in a timely manner. All were approachable and listened carefully to our needs, offering practical advice.’

‘The construction team have supported us on a number of projects over the last 12 months. Their support and guidance has proven to be invaluable in protecting our interests. The team is diligent and always on hand to support where needed, using a collaborative approach across industries to ensure back-to-back engagement with our professional teams.’

‘They keep us well informed on their costs, providing an estimate for their engagement at the start of the project with regular updates throughout. On the projects we have undertaken, all estimates have been accurate.’

‘I deal with Catherine Kay regularly who is approachable and listen to our needs before offering advice, ensuring a commercial and legal balance. Due to Catherine’s collaborative approach, the relationship is more akin to being an extended part of the team rather than supplier/client. She has our interests at heart and supports us through construction project not only from legal perspective but from a practical one too. Catherine is extremely knowledgeable and I have never had an instant where a matter has required escalation, making this a cost-effective service.’

‘The team at Mills & Reeve is excellent as they have a range of expertise and specialists areas. The team is well resources, communicate effectively and in a timely manner and understand the clients’ requirements and objectives. The team provides transparency in billing. The team is a diverse one and have capabilities and capacities to cover a wide range of areas.’

‘The individuals that I work with are accessible and deal with tasks and requests promptly and in a timely manner as agreed. There is always the feel that they are dedicated and attached to the cases and the individuals in my company to develop the rapport and provide the support needed. Clear lines of communications, understanding the task in hand, the deliverables and more importantly timescales and deadlines. I am mainly working closely with Catherine Kay who is excellent and I would highly recommend them to potential clients.’

‘Catherine Kay regularly is approachable and listens to our needs before offering advice, ensuring a commercial and legal balance. Due to Catherine’s collaborative approach, the relationship is more akin to being an extended part of the team rather than supplier/client. She has our interests at heart and supports us through construction project not only from legal perspective but from a practical one too. Catherine is extremely knowledgeable and I have never had an instance where a matter has required escalation, making this a cost-effective service.’

‘Very personal service – specific to what we need and how we work and our scenarios. Tailors service and advice to us, shows good understanding of what we do.’

‘Accessibility and flexibility are second to none – always super responsive and innovative in their thinking. The Mills & Reeve team have always kept us abreast of salient developments in our field which has been extremely valuable at a complex, busy and challenging time for immigration.’

‘Tracy Yates is exceptionally knowledgeable and personable and is a pleasure to deal with. Tracy is a trusted adviser to the business and is always solutions driven and pragmatic with lots of personality and candour to assist colleagues at all levels and abilities client side.’

‘I think what makes Mills & Reeve have a superpower is their ability to act in the moment in emergencies. The advice is always empathic and accurate. I rely on the team in moments when I am unsure and confident they will help me in forming a decision.’

‘Tracy Yates has been instrumental in guiding and advising me. Tracy is always on hand and willing to advise. I’m amazed at the hours and dedication Tracy puts in.’

‘Mark Hovell has buckets of experience and is also a seasoned arbitrator.’

‘Carol Couse knows the business backwards as well as being an intelligent and supportive team leader.’

‘Phil Hutchinson punches way above his weight – he has lots of experience and smarts, plus dedication to his clients.’

‘An excellent well-rounded sports law practice that is able to offer easy to follow technical advice on any given subject within any necessary timescale.’

‘An extremely knowledgeable team, which goes above and beyond for its clients. The partners have great industry knowledge and the team has very impressive senior associates, which ensures cases are run efficiently.’

Mark Hovell – a well-known and respected sports lawyer. Extremely knowledgeable with a very calm demeanour.’

‘Carol Couse – excellent knowledge of the football industry, good with clients and efficient at running a team in complex cases.’

‘Phil Hutchinson is an outstanding senior associate. Very knowledgeable, particularly excellent with clients and extremely hard-working.’

‘I have worked with a number of people from the firm and each one of them has a fantastic grasp of their particular field and is able to help clients who do not have their expertise understand the important issues and ensure that all the points are covered. We have felt guided but not herded towards conclusions and the approach has been helpful in a number of key areas notably NHS Property and GDPR/Confidentiality and areas where case law had not yet been established.’

‘My highest praise goes to Jennifer Lewis who works as a Principal Associate.’

‘Within the north west team, two individuals stand out for me – Charlotte Lewis and Jennifer Lewis, who have both been outstanding in their support. Both have very positive approaches to work, always seem to be available to answer ad hoc questions, regardless of workload and often proactive in providing advice and market intelligence, making it very clear that they understand our business and what is important to us. Charlotte has also spent a lot of time on client relationship matters. She has been quick to understand my internal team structure and to adapt legal services to suit. It is unusual to find a senior associate with this level of client relationship focus in addition to subject matter experience.’

‘I have yet to find someone who knows more about property issues within the health sector than Jennifer Lewis. Her understanding of the market and knowledge of the other landlords within it means I can rely on her to provide robust advice on any and all lease requirements I have.’

‘Stuart Craig – well respected, extremely knowledgeable, well connected partner.’

‘Rebecca Pallot – recently made partner, not before time. Astute, robust and highly efficient.’

‘Rebecca Pallot has a great legal brain and always seems to have her finger on the answer – and she is very personable with it.’

‘The team provided support to contract documentation, they took time to understand our requirement and how the contract will apply in practice. Offered expertise and guidance in line with our needs.’

‘They responded quickly to requests making time to have calls to resolve issues quickly. They provided outputs quickly and responded to requests in a timely manner. All were approachable and listened carefully to our needs, offering practical advice.’

‘The construction team have supported us on a number of projects over the last 12 months. Their support and guidance has proven to be invaluable in protecting our interests. The team is diligent and always on hand to support where needed, using a collaborative approach across industries to ensure back-to-back engagement with our professional teams.’

‘They keep us well informed on their costs, providing an estimate for their engagement at the start of the project with regular updates throughout. On the projects we have undertaken, all estimates have been accurate.’

‘I deal with Catherine Kay regularly who is approachable and listen to our needs before offering advice, ensuring a commercial and legal balance. Due to Catherine’s collaborative approach, the relationship is more akin to being an extended part of the team rather than supplier/client. She has our interests at heart and supports us through construction project not only from legal perspective but from a practical one too. Catherine is extremely knowledgeable and I have never had an instant where a matter has required escalation, making this a cost-effective service.’

‘The team at Mills & Reeve is excellent as they have a range of expertise and specialists areas. The team is well resources, communicate effectively and in a timely manner and understand the clients’ requirements and objectives. The team provides transparency in billing. The team is a diverse one and have capabilities and capacities to cover a wide range of areas.’

‘The individuals that I work with are accessible and deal with tasks and requests promptly and in a timely manner as agreed. There is always the feel that they are dedicated and attached to the cases and the individuals in my company to develop the rapport and provide the support needed. Clear lines of communications, understanding the task in hand, the deliverables and more importantly timescales and deadlines. I am mainly working closely with Catherine Kay who is excellent and I would highly recommend them to potential clients.’

‘Catherine Kay regularly is approachable and listens to our needs before offering advice, ensuring a commercial and legal balance. Due to Catherine’s collaborative approach, the relationship is more akin to being an extended part of the team rather than supplier/client. She has our interests at heart and supports us through construction project not only from legal perspective but from a practical one too. Catherine is extremely knowledgeable and I have never had an instance where a matter has required escalation, making this a cost-effective service.’