Payne Hicks Beach LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘A dynamic clever team who deal with very high-profile litigation and have real experience and expertise in this area. Richard Manyon is extremely clever and really fights his client’s corner. Jessica Henson is similarly clever, a very good lawyer who is sensible.’

‘For its size, the firm is a powerhouse in contentious trusts and probate and more than holds its own with the other big names in the area. It also has a very strong and well-established expertise in areas such as private client/tax and family, upon which the team can draw where cases involve some element of cross-over in these fields.’

‘Payne Hicks Beach are a firm which punch above their weight in this area. By this I mean they are relatively small but get involved in many of the high profile and high value claims in contentious trust and probate. The team is hard-working and well-organised. Richard Manyon is a skilled litigator in this area.’

‘Jess Henson and Richard Manyon are two of the leading lights in our field. Their abilities and standing within the market are well beyond their years. The team also has the support of one of the best private client teams in the market’.

‘Jess Henson’s kindness and sharp wit make her a pleasure to work with. Jess is very clever, tactically astute and sensible. She’s one of the best litigators. Sean Knight was a good hire from Stone King. Richard Manyon is a very large presence in our market. The team are very busy.’

‘There is no firm that has made greater strides in developing their reputation in contentious trusts and probate work than this firm in my opinion. That is largely due to the strength of several core individuals who are total specialists in this work. They also benefit from a very strong non-contentious private client team, so they do provide an all-service offering to clients.’

‘Richard Manyon is now one of the foremost practitioners in this field, despite still being relatively young. He has had the biggest role in making PHB into a Tier 1 firm. He is incredibly smart but also very commercial in his outlook. He is a formidable opponent and an excellent person to work with’.

‘Jess Henson was a fantastic pick up from BCLP. She was already well-respected in the sector, and she has only become busier since joining PHB. Her biggest strength is her personality – she is just terribly pleasant to deal with. Standout associates are Emily Stoneham, Rosie Sells (a great recruit from Baker McKenzie) and Charlotte Henshall.’

‘The team at PHB is simply fantastic. They are a varied group of talented lawyers who work to their strengths, delegate well and provide a very high-quality service to their clients. They are a well-resourced, intelligent, compassionate and thoughtful group of lawyers.’

‘Fiona Shackleton is an exceptional practitioner. There is nothing Fiona does not know about family work. She has extraordinary judgment and tactical acumen. She is extremely personable, astute and totally dedicated to her cases; she knows the case inside out.’

‘Joshua Moger is fantastic. He is tactically astute, intelligent and gives robust advice. He is not overly reliant on counsel, which makes working for him a joy.’

‘Ben Parry-Smith is first rate. His pro-active strategic leadership of his team and of the client’s cases is particularly effective. His client management skills (particularly for high-net-worth clients) are especially impressive, and borne out in the demonstrably strong and trusting working relationships that he achieves with them, counsel and opponents.’

‘Rebecca Cockcroft is a person that you want leading your team. Rebecca’s forensic approach to cases is extremely effective, and she always goes the extra mile for clients. Working collaboratively with counsel at an early stage often gives her clients a clear tactical and strategic advantage.’

‘Matthew Booth, Rebecca Cockroft, Catherine Costley, Orlaith Devereaux, Ben Parry-Smith, Joshua Moger and Philip McGuirk all stand out as brilliant lawyers and tacticians who work exceptionally hard for their client.’

‘Philip McGuirk is a wonderful lawyer; possessed with enormous wisdom, he has a fantastic instinct and knows exactly what is needed in order to get the best possible outcome for the client. Nick Manners is strategically astute and very clever. Isabella Savill is a brilliant lawyer. Highly intelligent and hugely charming.’

‘Sarah Williams is an expert in international surrogacy, advises on co-parenting agreements with same-sex parents, and on declarations of parentage and the exercise of parental responsibility for gamete donors, same-sex parents and intended parents following surrogacy. Her knowledge and expertise on modern families is second-to-none.’

‘Highly competent at a technical level. Very much a partner-led practice.’

‘Kathryn Bradbury is exceptionally thorough in her approach; she has unequalled knowledge of the workings of the home office, considers all possible options for her clients, has excellent judgment, and, unusually for practitioners in firms who mainly represent high net worth individuals, she is expert in human rights and protection work and in immigration litigation.’

‘Provides a brilliant service.’

‘PHB’s immigration and human rights team provides a bespoke service to high net worth individuals who have exceptionally complex affairs, often defending multiple legal proceedings. The team know the law inside out and have strong strategic and tactical judgment.’

‘Matt Ingham leads on immigration and human rights litigation at PHB, and he really is a superstar. He has particular expertise in immigration cases with an extradition element, and where clients’ assets are being targeted in the civil courts.’

‘PHB’s business immigration team provides a bespoke service to high net worth individuals and businesses. They know the law inside out and have strong strategic and tactical judgment in dealing with the Home Office. The team are particularly good at collaborating within the firm, taking advantage of the firm being smaller than others in the marketplace.’

‘Kathryn is a highly efficient, strategic thinker who is solution focussed, and has really succeeded in building a team who provide a rounded, personal service to clients who have high expectations. The immigration team under Kathryn’s leadership has grown into a highly efficient group who can be relied on to provide top quality legal advice.’

‘One of the top firms in the UK for complex and high profile asylum work.’

‘Matt Ingham is one of the leading asylum lawyers – he’s brilliant. Kathryn Bradbury is also a first-rate immigration lawyer.’

‘The team has evident strength in its depth of knowledge and contacts within the sector. It also can draw on highly experienced colleagues in other departments of the firm when required to give concise advice to clients’.

‘Simon Blackburn – Simon is readily available to speak to and provides excellent advice, showing an in depth knowledge of his subject. He is also very personable and down to earth which clients and other professionals quickly relate to’.

‘Quick, knowledgeable and personable. Prepared to put the work in’.

‘Simon Blackburn is as good a private client and agricultural lawyer and trusted adviser as one could hope to meet’.

‘Simon Blackburn is diligent, quick, responsive and communicates well. First to say if he is not sure about something and happy to find the answer, or right person who knows the answer’.

‘PHB is one of the few London firms with a dedicated agricultural and estate property practice’.

‘Simon Blackburn lives and breathes agricultural law but is also very commercially aware and constructive in his approach with the other side – he must be the best agricultural lawyer of his generation. Rupert Burchett is a charming and impressive associate who instils confidence’. 

‘The team are pragmatic, fast thinking, agile and most of all superbly able. I find Rupert Burchett to be incredibly client friendly, able and cuts through detail efficiently and pragmatically’.

‘The team are extremely professional and courteous and are always on hand to offer guidance, especially on matters of a potentially complicated nature. They provide updates on workstreams and the expected timeframe for them, so you never feel like any matter is forgotten’.

‘The team I work with at PHB have been professional and personable at all times. They are always contactable and available for calls/meetings, even those that are often called at short notice’.

‘As good as it gets. PHB have a vast wealth of top-notch lawyers, who know all there is to know, and can do all there is to do. Their clients – rightly – love them. Undoubtedly at the top of the tree, but don’t waste time that could be spent on clients blowing their own trumpet’.

‘Basil Dixon has an extremely loyal following especially among clients, trustees and solicitors in the offshore world. Partner James Bacon has an uncanny ability to solve the most exacting tax or trust problems, and is much sought-after by families wishing to makes their estates or trusts future-proof’.

‘A blue chip Private Client firm that is a one-stop shop for wealthy families seeking a discreet first class service. While maintaining their client base of Landed Estates. They are equally excellent attending to the needs of non-UK families’.

‘Sara Morgan is an excellent addition to the PHB Private Client team. She is technically extremely good and combines this with first class client handling skills’.

‘Ane Vernon is simply excellent. A very fine legal mind, she is pragmatic, thinks of all possible angles, and is not afraid to give her assessment of the situation. As an Education Law specialist, she remains focused on achieving the best outcome for children. Her experience as a litigator is a particularly helpful additional skill should the need for a more combative approach be required.’

‘Henry Watkinson is one to watch. Ane Vernon is a pleasure to work with too. Exceptionally bright pair.’

‘I have worked with Emma Copestake for many years and always appreciate her advice and her judgement’.

‘Emma Copestake – long term relationship, totally understands clients, great at giving advice on all the elements on a deal’.

‘The team are very professional, very efficient, and very knowledgeable. The team are able to respond to the challenges presented, whether time restricted acquisitions or the complexities of the matter’.

‘Property is a key element of Payne Hicks Beach’s practice. It acts for a wide number of extremely rich individuals. The practice has strength in depth: Andrew Berry is highly experienced and first-rate. Emma Copestake is an absolute star’.

‘Emma Copestake is absolutely formidable. She has arguably unparalleled experience, great depth of knowledge of the law in her area, a rigorous intellect, sound common sense and an ability to explain difficult concepts to clients in a comprehensible way’.

‘Emma also has an incredible work ethic, as well as being overall delightful to work with’.

‘PHB are generally well known as being a private client firm that punches above its weight’.

‘I work mainly with Emma Copestake and her team. They have a fantastic stable of HNWI/FO clients who have full trust in Emma. This trust has been built up over decades with some clients following continued service of the highest quality’.

‘A strong team with vast experience of media and reputation management issues, and of high-profile litigation.’

‘Dominic Crossley – a brilliant team leader, who is always a calm and reassuring presence, even at difficult moments.’

‘Andrew Willan – strong on drafting and communication with counsel and clients, a pleasure to deal with.’

‘Dominic Crossley: a heavyweight, great with clients, knows the industry inside-out. Hanna Basha: safe pair of hands, very experienced. Andrew Willan: pragmatic, personable, delivers great advice.’

‘Hanna Basha – astute and commercially minded lawyer who is able to assist clients who have reputational issues to achieve the best result in the best way.’

‘Andrew Willian – a more recent addition to the partner team following his continued success in this field. He is approachable and has an in-depth knowledge of reputation management issues.’

‘PHB offers a highly personalised service from a team for whom nothing is too much trouble. They are empathetic at times of challenge and tactically very astute in their handling of sensitive personal affairs with a view to achieving a good outcome.’

‘Hanna Basha is excellent. Sensible, pragmatic and fearless in her advocacy for her client.’

‘A niche firm, which has the ability to generate interesting and high-profile work and to deliver it with great effect.’

‘Good service and commercial nous.‘

‘The best boutique practice in London. Wonderfully collaborative and technically superior to all its rivals.’

‘PHB operates at the intersection where a law firm steeped in history meets an innovative and dynamic team with bucketloads of commercial acumen.’

‘Lucas Moore’s appreciation for the commercial realities of a claim, particularly at the outset, make him stand out from other lawyers.’

‘Lucas Moore is razor-sharp and identifies the quickest possible route to the solution, which is invaluable.’

‘Paul Dorrans has a very reassuring presence and rightly gives clients great confidence. He shows excellent judgement.’

‘Georgina Bayley is excellent – a first-class litigator with a deft touch for clients.’

‘Peter McRoberts was exceptional. His manner was delightful and his listening skills were highly astute.’

‘Payne Hicks Beach is an exceptional and unique firm, filled with brilliant lawyers.’

‘Peter McRoberts is a highly experienced and established practitioner who has a great knack for being involved in significant and high-profile claims. He acts mainly for claimants and inspires confidence and loyalty in them.’

‘James Townsend is an experienced, confident and assured practitioner, with excellent client care skills. Terrific commercial acumen and a great tactician. A real stand-out legal adviser.’

‘The team at PHB have a great client list who own art or are thinking of buying art’.

‘The arrival of Till Vere-Hodge has bolstered the PHB art practice and particularly on the restitution side. He has been excellent, combining knowledge and experience to very good effect’.

‘Friendly. Expert. Knowledgeable. Efficient’.

‘Emily Woods -very knowledgeable and expert in her field. Efficient and friendly’.

‘Till Vere-Hodge is a practitioner of exceptional knowledge and judgment. His breadth of expertise in matters related to the contemporary art market and its disputes, to questions of ownership and interaction between choices of law between the UK and Germany are unmatched’.

‘They provide the highest quality professional advice in the field of art and cultural property legislation, and their knowledge within this field is unparalleled’.

‘Till Vere-Hodge is the star of the team, with his many years of experience in undertaking complex litigation and legal research. He is more approachable and customer focused than any of his market competitors, and his intelligence, humility and discretion are second to none’.

‘The team is well-resourced and innovative, at the top of their game.’

‘Mark Jones is utterly exceptional – the man to see if you’re in trouble – and has an incredible gift for making things go away.’

‘A growing presence in the field of criminal law, particularly white-collar crime. Mark Jones, an outstanding recent hire, has raised their profile considerably.’

‘Mark Jones is a first class fraud lawyer, who is able to draw on his experience in defending complex and serious white collar criminal cases to defend in general crime as well. He is a great tactician, and he has first class client care skills.’

‘Mark Jones knows his law, has a great rapport with clients, and exudes class. Top drawer.’

‘Mark Jones is wonderful to work with. He has sound judgement, excellent client care skills, and is strategically a great tactician.’

‘Mark Jones provides an exceptional service both to clients and counsel alike: he is analytical, thoughtful, attentive and his instincts are spot-on.’

‘This relatively new team is going from strength to strength, attracting high profile clients.’

‘Alexander Blain is very dedicated and service-orientated.’

‘One of the go-to firms for property work. The department is brilliantly headed by Andrew Berry and Marissa Beccarelli is a total star.’

‘Matthew Spring is a very experienced and accomplished litigator who has made it his business to understand, in-depth, all the history of the litigation at the mansion block which is the subject of the litigation. This provides him with an advantage over the opposition lawyers.’

‘Matthew Spring is entirely dedicated to acheiiving the best outcome possible for his clients. He works extraordinarily hard to ensure that they receive the best possible service.’

‘Scott Goldstein handles difficult cases with ease – he addresses all angles and is assiduous and thorough in his preparation and presentation of the paperwork, enabling complicated matters to be readily digested and put forward to the client’s best advantage.’

‘The team is well-known for private client work and has a good range of resources from residential and commercial landlord and tenant work, to tax and wills work so that he can provide good all-round advice.’

‘Matthew Spring is very detail-orientated and goes the extra mile for his clients. A robust and effective litigator who deals well with challenging and demanding clients.’

‘Scott Goldstein has proved to be an excellent solicitor; tenacious yet considered and always ready to consider any angle to assist his clients.’

‘They are very tenacious and knowledgeable litigators. Their quality of work is tremendous given the size of the team, and they are able to collaborate to great effect with the exceptional family law team at the firm.’

‘Matthew Spring embodies the firm’s approach, combining tradition and modernity. He’s a punchy litigator who knows how to press his clients’ case all the way, and leaves no stone unturned and no angle unexplored.’

‘Long experience in the field. Good, strong individuals’.

‘Till Vere-Hodge is very keen to do his best for his clients and is a pleasant person to work with’.

‘This firm is a pleasure to deal with. They are responsive, thorough and very professional’.

‘The team I work with most closely is led by Rosamond McDowell, supported by Sara Morgan (Partner) and Dean Ryan (Senior Associate). They are a formidable team which brings clarity and solutions to complex issues, who provide an exceptional and outstanding service’.

‘I have enjoyed the privilege of working closely with Martin Paisner for some several decades. Martin’s professional work, whether as a private client adviser, his wonderful skills as a charity solicitor, or his numerous appointments as a trustee of more foundations than any other solicitor I know, is a testimony to the high regard and esteem in which he is held’.

‘Martin Paisner’s skills are extraordinary.’

‘Alex Blain is a rough diamond with excellent legal skills.’

‘The team are always willing to help and go the extra mile. ’

‘Mark and his team were very professional and understanding to our needs. They did a great job and helped us throughout the process in every way possible.’

‘Smart, multidisciplinary, at the forefront of innovation in this sector.’

‘Mark Jones is a man to see if you need help and are in big trouble’.

‘Mark Jones is a very valuable addition to the PHB offering.’

‘Mark Jones is fantastic for individuals work. He has great client care skills and deep knowledge and experience of white-collar crime matters. He is tactically astute and unflappable.’

‘Mark Jones is a very impressive fraud lawyer with huge knowledge in the field and with a first-class approach to strategy. He also has excellent client care skills, and is very responsive.’

‘I’ve worked with Mark Jones on a complex cartel case, brought by the payment systems regulator. He is fantastic to work with, excellent with the client, and brilliant on the law. He gets to grips with the detail of a case but can also stand back and see the big picture. I would highly recommend.’

‘A growing presence in the white collar crime field. The arrival of the excellent Mark Jones has given them a real boost.’