Charles Russell Speechlys LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘Best value in the London market – experienced, sophisticated lawyers who can handle any M&A transaction.’

‘Good bench strength and availability of a variety skills that ensure transaction is as seamless as possible.’

‘Mark Howard is a machine: he just keeps going until the job is done. He has a really good understanding of what is important to a deal.’

‘Jason Freedman is rigorously commercial, has excellent litigation judgment, and knows how build and lead effective fraud litigation teams.’

‘This is a market-leading practice, with deep experience of dealing with litigation and investigations arising from complex fraud. Its distinctive characteristic is that the team is highly collaborative and creative.’

‘I would particularly single out Caroline Greenwell – a new partner in 2021, with all of the skills to become one of the best client lawyers of her generation.’

‘Stewart Hey – a dynamic and engaging operator, hardworking and incisive, with specialist knowledge of Middle East issues. Charlotte Pender – an impressive and user-friendly litigator, adept at running big teams of lawyers efficiently.’

‘This is a fantastic firm with great depth and strength. Every lawyer I deal with from this firm is seriously competent- and that’s unusual in a firm of this size!’

‘Stewart Hey is magnificent- he is everywhere at every moment. He leads a super strong team, he’s sensible and available, he’s smart, considered and a lovely guy.’

‘The CRS Civil Fraud team are absolutely brilliant. They work efficiently and effectively, always keeping in mind the commercial realities and the client’s objectives. The work product is second to none.’

‘True seasoned experts in international fraud, with knowledgeable lawyers at all levels, which means the operation can be scaled depending on the level of work required at any given time.’ 

‘The team has unparalleled expertise in all matters relating to cultural property: heritage tax, offers in lieu, private treaty sales, Government Indemnity, export licensing, conditional exemption and all fiscal issues relating to chattels; artists and artists’ estates. I have no hesitation in recommending them as the best of the best in the field of heritage property‘.

‘Robert Blower, Suzanne Marriott, Rudy Capildeo and Tim Maxwell  – all outstanding in all they do: expertise, handling particularly complex and sometimes contentious cases; they know who to ask. Last year I said that their late partner Ludo de Walden had the Midas touch and I know his legacy is safe with them‘.

‘As far as I am aware this is the biggest art and cultural property team in the country. It has well recognised people who are actively engaged in this niche area. They have a very good client base and do very good work. Suzanne Marriott,  Robert Blower, Tim Maxwell, Rudy Capildeo‘.

‘One of the most experienced and deep art law teams in the UK – covering transactional, litigation and private client advice. Rudy Capildeo – hardworking and very easy to deal with. Tim Maxwell – a determined and impressive litigator. Robert Blower – one of the most experienced private client advisors around‘.

‘What makes the CRS team exceptional among its UK peers is the breadth of expertise in both disputes and transactional expertise in the arts. Tim Maxwell and Rudy Capildeo are exceptional litigators‘.

‘The team at Charles Russell Speechlys has been exceptional. Knowledgeable, patient, diligent and responsive.  Its handling of a complex restitution case, spanning historic case law and multiple jurisdictions has been superb. The lawyers have worked with desks across the globe to help verify the legality of certain areas, and gone above and beyond to support (pro bono) the charity I represent‘.

‘In particular, I would highlight Rudy Capildeo and Tim Maxwell.  They have been diligent, extremely helpful, knowledgeable and ethics driven. They have the unique ability to translate confusing, complex (and sometimes unknown) details into digestible, clear options/position statements. They have undertaken extensive research and due diligence to ensure the best outcome for my organisation. A total pleasure to work with!‘.

‘Rudy Capildeo – Mr Capildeo has very deep knowledge of the art market and puts across very easy to implement solutions to complex issues in multimillion-pound, multinational transactions. His ability to deliver expert legal advice has made a huge difference to our business and we always feel we are in good hands. In comparison to his peers, Mr Capildeo excels in the understanding of not just the legal side of the transaction but also the specific asset, something that is very rare to find. Suzanne Marriot – Mrs Marriot is an extremely proficient operator who is always available to provide expert support to her clients‘.

‘Top team involved in all the big cases in this area. Incredible expertise and experience both on and offshore. Its client handling skills are excellent and the lawyers always look for a sensible solution. Graeme Kleiner is outstanding with huge experience and expertise. He has a superb team with the very bright Robert Avis. Tamasin Perkins is extremely clever and excellent with clients. Duncan Elson has enormous experience and is a really tough litigator.’

‘CRS features in more than its fair share of the high-profile trusts and estates cases. It has an impressive line up of highly experienced partners and well trained associates who serve their clients very well. Graeme Kleiner appears in a large number of high-profile trusts cases and for good reason. His technical knowledge is excellent and he takes both a forceful and imaginative approach on behalf of his clients.’

‘Everyone you come across is practical, commercial, astute and very nice to deal with. Graeme Kleiner – a very hands on partner, who works hard for his clients and is tenacious. He also sees the bigger picture and gets good deals done for his clients. Rob Avis – intelligent and astute. He is quick to grapple with difficult problems and find a practical and commercial solution.’

‘The breadth of its practice is unusual and notable – from large-scale offshore trust litigation, UK probate disputes, Court of Protection work, and divorce litigation. It is a quality outfit with a great private client team behind it and a strong regional presence – unusual for a City firm of this profile and strength. Graeme Kleiner – at the top of his game at the moment. Knowledgeable, pragmatic and cunning when he needs to be. Duncan Elson – an understated but highly effective and experienced litigator. Rob Avis is a standout associate based in the Geneva office.’

‘This is a classy firm which gives consistent and well-measured advice against a background culture which always seeks to identify the clients’ best interests. An unflappable team which operates well regardless of the pressures which frequently arise in this area. Tamasin Perkins and Graeme Kleiner are names that spring to mind. They are great representatives of the firm giving cool-headed, balanced advice as part of a well co-ordinated team effort.’

‘Very impressive team with expertise to handle traditional domestic disputes and complex international cases. Graeme Kleiner continues to be one of the most popular figures in this sphere and runs a very impressive and efficient ship. Tamasin Perkins is an excellent partner and a joy to work with.’

‘Clear thinking and focus on the important elements of cases. Sound practical advice. Graeme Kleiner – absolute standout. One of the very few “go to” solicitors in the contentious trust and probate field. A wide knowledge of the principles of law and an excellent application of them to facts of particular cases. Superb at identifying the key issues and advising accordingly.’

‘A team with superior strength and depth, led by the brilliant Graeme Kleiner. Graeme Kleiner – a dynamic, analytical and strategic operator. Duncan Elson – fantastically knowledgeable – calmly guides clients through the process. Rob Avis – based in Geneva – totally brilliant – will fly.’

‘CRS has a busy, well-regarded and effectively functioning financial remedy team. James Freemen is a hardworking, thoughtful and reliable talent with good bedside manner who successfully represents many high net worth clients. Sarah Jane Boon is thoughtful and hardworking, and full of intelligent ideas about the best ways to progress a client’s case‘.

‘They are heavyweights in the family arena, able to take on the best, yet approach cases with common sense and humanity. Jamie Kennaugh, Emily Borrowdale and Joshua Green. Sarah Anticoni- an extremely safe pair of hands as a a mediator‘.

‘CRS is a stellar team full of excellent people. The lawyers are simply a cut above the rest. Their strengths are a virtually unrivalled experience in the biggest and most complex family cases and the quality of their family team. They are enormously respected by judges and the wider profession, which is hard earned’.

‘William Longrigg: Exceptionally measured with impeccable judgment. The man for any occasion. Sarah Higgins: Exceptional intellect and eye for detail and incredibly hardworking. Sarah Anticoni: Very skilled litigator always several moves ahead of everyone else. Erica Shelton: Oozes class and confidence. Family law royalty. Sarah Jane Boon: A force to be reckoned with in any case. She has a seniority and gravitas way beyond her years and is one to watch’.

Jamie Kennaugh: Jamie is wonderful with clients and is devastatingly understated but effective in litigation. Emily Borrowdale: A rising star in family law who will get to the top. Wonderful manner with clients coupled with an impeccable instinct and judgement. Joshua Green: Another rising star. Able to get right to the heart of any case instantly and make the most complicated issues seem straightforward‘.

‘Excellent commercial nous and the ability to draw on a large team of other subject-areas makes the family team well placed to deal with almost any query thrown at it. James Riby is great- hardworking and dedicated. Really prepared to go the extra mile‘.

‘If my clients need assistance in the UK in family issues, the first law firm I am thinking about is CRS as the firm follows the highest professional standards and international best practices. They are client-friendly and very practical. They have Russian-speaking lawyers that provide the Russian clients with the possibility to discuss extremely sensitive matrimonial issues. Miranda Fisher: she has strategic thinking, which allows her to be two steps ahead of the clients‘.

‘A very solid family team. Lots of very good HNW clients and international cases. The lawyers are sensible and concentrate on the important issues. They are straight and you know where you are with them. Good people to have on the other side who will represent their clients’ interests fairly and sensibly. James Freeman is excellent. Very bright, on top of the law, settlement minded and able to cut through the detail to concentrate on what is important quickly. Highly pragmatic. William Longrigg. A very well known and liked operator who has huge experience – getting into Senior Statesman category. Miaranda Fisher. Well known for her navigation of Russian cases‘.

‘Very large team. Very strong technically, very responsive and great at dealing with clients. They are brilliant on the both the legal and tax side. Bart Peerless. Superb. He is extremely capable, extremely approachable, extremely good with clients, and very nice person to deal with’.

‘Piers Master and Nicola Thorpe are both brilliant‘.

‘Solid leader in this field with an enormous depth of expertise. Bart Peerless – a Colossus of private client. Suzanne Marriott – brainily sensible. Piers Master – a walking tax encyclopaedia. Nicola Thorpe – prodigious. Simon Weil – the grandfather of private client‘.

‘Highly impressive group of partners. I know Bart Peeless, Piers Masters, and Robert Blower best. They are all superb. Bart did a monumental job for a client on a matter I am working on‘.

‘The CRS private clients team is extremely knowledgeable regarding the quite complex interplay of the US and UK tax regimes, so the team is an invaluable resource and partner for high net worth clients who are subject to tax by both countries. I have worked extensively with Sangna Chauhan in recent years on a complex matter and have found her to be responsive, knowledgeable and resourceful.  She really went above and beyond during the pandemic lockdown in organising and executing document signings for an elderly client. She is also very personable, which is greatly appreciated by the clients’.

‘Complex approach, Russian speaking team, dual qualified with ability to support ex-CIS countries clients. Personal approach, diversity, ability and wish to develop relationship’.

‘Technically excellent team and one of the best in London. I have worked with Dominic Lawrence and Sangna Chauhan who are some of the most technically capable private client lawyers I have worked with‘.

‘The CRS private client tax, trusts and probate team is unparalleled in its depth of expertise in dealing with UK tax, trusts and probate matters. Piers Master is the perfect private client lawyer: he combined detailed technical knowledge with excellent judgement’.

‘Quick responses to requests for advice. In-depth knowledge of media rights issues. Ability to propose innovative solutions in difficult negotiations.’

‘Jon Higton has provided invaluable advice on media rights matters and contracts. He understands the issues and drafts sensible and productive responses that progress negotiations.’

‘Responsive team with wide experience of other sports and an ability to provided sound advice in a short time frame.’

‘Easy to discuss issues with. Edward Craig is very efficient.’

‘The team has strength in depth, which permits it to cover a number of different areas.’

‘Danielle Sharkey goes the extra mile to understand a client’s needs and expectations.’

‘Nick White is particularly recommended.’

‘The team provides pragmatic and commercial approach to deals. They are able to support in terms of not only the transaction, but also in terms of the pervasive skills.’

‘Very professional in their approach and helping us and guiding us on legal and commercial matters. Very approachable firm and easy to get on with’

‘Very approachable and most important to us is their availability across their firm, so we can cover any legal matters related to our business.’

‘CRS has exceptional knowledge in the healthcare sector. This is important as the nuances within this sector change very rapidly.’

‘They have been working with us for over two years and are able to anticipate the needs of the business to ensure smooth transactions.’

‘The structures of our deals sometime involve a great deal of complexity and the team have shown the ability to meet and structure such complexity in a commercial manner.’

‘Jonathan Steele  is pragmatic, commercial and efficient, bringing a huge amount of technical knowledge tapered with commerciality.’

‘Tim Jenkins is an outstanding lawyer within the retail pharmacy space. He combines commercial pragmatism with an in-depth, unsurpassed sector knowledge. He is collaborative in approach and enjoys strong support from his wider practice team. He focuses upon delivering solutions rather than scoring points and is a pleasure to work with.’

‘A very strong regional team with excellent knowledge of the requirements of its clients.’

‘This is an excellent team which punches above its weight. ’

‘Excellent understanding of our business and requirements for legal advice, well researched and practical advice and reasonable and transparent fees.’

‘Stephen Burns is responsive, sensible and pragmatic. He has a good sense of what a court is likely to respond to.’

‘Jamie Cartwright is a go-to litigator for our business; an excellent lawyer who is also practical and client-friendly. He gets to grips with the issues and offers timely advice and solutions.’

‘Charlotte Healy is diligent and on top of the detail.’

‘Excellent employment law knowledge, coupled with good commerciality and common sense. Has spent time trying to understand the business and company culture and is able to frame advice accordingly. They have a collegiate environment and clearly work closely with colleagues from around the firm and internationally. Responsive, friendly, good to have a debate / discussion with and come up with pragmatic solutions, rather than just telling me what the law says.’

‘Excellent team work, high responsiveness, excellent knowledge of UK and EU-law, very good understanding of the economic background and fair and reasonable billing. ’

‘It does what it says on the tin. Honest, transparent, fair and always have your personal well-being at the heart of their work.’

‘I value their excellent judgment as a collective, and how well organised they are in their approach to their work.’

‘Nick Hurley is responsive, commercial and pragmatic. His knowledge is current and he keeps abreast of market developments. His client base is broader than just Financial Services and is therefore able to bring in good industry practices and knowledge from broader sectors.’

‘Ben Smith is extremely personable and Senior Associate Emily Chalkley has excellent judgment, is tenacious, and very hard working.’

‘Ben Smith will always go the 1000th mile for his clients; hard working, efficient and always keeping an eye on the bigger picture.’

‘Andy Williams is an outstanding legal adviser from whom I have received valued employment and pension legal advice for around 20 years. He is a trusted responsive adviser, who I know I can contact if there is a complex employment issue.’

‘The partners and associates are very hands-on. They always have the interests of their clients in their minds and are not afraid to give good direct advice. They are also one of the more diverse groups in the restructuring and insolvency world.’

‘Roger Elford is extremely competent and really good with clients. Really clever but never big headed. Always listens carefully to more junior members of the team and gives them a lot of responsibility so that they learn although he is always there supervising.’

‘Mel Constable is a really brilliant senior associate. A real team player. ’

‘James Hyne is one of the brightest and sharpest insolvency lawyers in the market. Quick, extremely commercial and able to grasp the nub of the problem quickly. And has buckets of charm!’

‘James Hyne – commercially excellent. Roger Elford – combines excellent technical knowledge with a practical approach.’

‘They get the job done with talented lawyers, who are genuinely nice to work with. Commercial and pragmatic, they think about and put the client’s needs front and centre. Very good communicators and always responsive out of hours. They seem to work hard on developing teams and it’s good to see strong evidence of diversity within the teams.’

‘James Hyne is a no-nonsense but nonetheless thoughtful insolvency lawyer, with a sharp eye for the right answer. Always keeps an eye on the big picture and frames his advice and legal strategy accordingly. Good fun to work with.’

‘Roger Elford has extensive and wide-ranging technical expertise in all aspects of restructuring and insolvency. Commercially astute and pragmatic in advice. Good fun to work with.’

‘First class excellent legal advice as one would expect in a City law firm, but outside of London at a competitive price.’

‘The practice was able to gain my confidence very quickly and I soon learned to trust their advice and the firm’s diligence and rounded advice. I knew I was in good hands! I like to think that they valued my opinion and this led to a close and trusted collaboration. The firm was able to take on all aspects of the case at the highest level whether it be private client or property matters. The advice was honest and had my best intentions at the heart of any decision; this enabled me to trust the team and to therefore put my future and that of my family in their capable hands.’

‘Rebecca Piper has exceptional knowledge of the legal system and how to reach a successful outcome while working within the parameters of the law. She successfully balances a no-nonsense, yet approachable style, never losing sight of the end goal, she helped keep the issue sharply focused and pushed tirelessly on many different levels to reach a successful resolution.’ 

‘We are so grateful for Rebecca and her team. I dread to think what would have happened to my mother (especially during this pandemic) had we not been able to secure an independent deputy to oversee mum’s care.‘

‘Duncan Elson is an extremely experienced and thoughtful litigator, providing immense reassurance to his clients and his team. I have also been very impressed by Rebecca Piper both in terms of mastery of the issues and documents in the cases she handles, calmness under pressure and efficiency. ’

‘In my view, CRS Guildford is the only top tier firm in this area of practice with a full service offering outside London. Clients are therefore afforded the resources of a top London firm at modest prices.’

‘The team is very knowledgeable of the charity sector and its needs and challenges; they tailor their advice to take account of these aspects and the reputational issues which a charity often faces in a contentious trusts and probate matter while being bullish in protecting our Trustees’ position and statutory obligations.’

‘I have worked with Rebecca Piper and Samantha Ewing. Both are very approachable, efficient and extremely knowledgeable of their areas of expertise. They are happy to take the time to explain the legal complexities.’

‘This is a strong, cohesive team which provides a knowledgeable and very efficient service to its clients.’

‘Serious specialists of a type not found outside big City firms, but delivered from a local office with equivalent pricing.’

‘Karen Wilsher has a good grasp of her cases and provides excellent, clear instructions. She is good at working as part of her team, as is her colleague Claire Devine, who is more junior but coming into her own. William Rollin is also impressive for his strategic thinking and excellent manner with clients.’

‘Karen Wilsher is the leading choice for matrimonial solicitors in Guildford. Highly recommended.’

‘William Rollins has instructed me for years and has developed into an excellent choice of relatively new partner for the this firm. Karen Wilsher I rate extremely highly. They are always so well prepared, so clear and so interesting in money work and in children work of all sorts. Put simply, this is a stellar team of solicitors.’

‘Shona Alexander brings top London big money expertise to clients based outside London. She has seen and done it all before on the largest stage. ’

‘I have referred many clients to Shona Alexander and her team. The feedback I get is terrific. They are looked after in a professional and sensitive manner with the team looking to mediate rather than pour petrol on a an often difficult situation as many of their competitors do. Family law is tricky to get right but Shona and the team smash the ball out of the park.’

‘For me, Shona Alexander epitomises the phrase ‘a safe pair of hands.’ Her professionalism and deep experience is respected by her clients and peers. Working within the broader CRS infrastructure is a big benefit too. CRS have invested into building a substantial practice however they have never lost the feel of intimate service ’

‘Excellent attention to detail. Excellent client focused advice, care, anticipation and appreciation of client specific risks.’

‘There is a real family feel to the practice whilst also being extremely professional. They are very knowledgeable and genuinely care about their clients and the long term outcomes. They are very collaborative when dealing with other professionals and always keep others informed where the client permits. ’

‘Excellent attention to detail and ability to advise based on the “bigger picture.” Disciplined and communicative approach. Excellent, client-focused advice, care, anticipation and appreciation of client specific risks.’

‘What makes the team different is the balance of professionalism, warmth and reliability, which seems to be pitched at just the right level. Consequently, it is clear that the team really do care about their clients, and are able to deliver appropriate solutions.’

‘Charles Russell Speechlys at Guildford provided a very friendly and responsive team, led by Natalie Butler. Natalie was available to discuss matters with both me as executor and my brother and sister – they both felt very comfortable with the advice that Natalie gave to them directly.’

‘It is clear to me that Sally Ashford has carefully put together her private client team, and that she is an excellent leader who is respected and liked by them. It is also clear that she is a trusted adviser to her clients and genuinely cares about them.’

‘Lauren Clarke is delightful to work with. Complex situations with nervous clients who find themselves in uncharted territory are addressed with warmth and confidence, making her a trusted adviser. Her reassuring and competent style, which one would normally associate with those of more advanced years, is highly effective at putting clients at ease whilst inspiring confidence.’

‘They have an established relationship with our company and understand the somewhat unique challenges of our industry. The skill set and experience of team members is well matched to our needs.’

‘Working with both the restructuring and property teams, it was evident to see the high level of collaboration between these teams to deliver an efficient and seamless client experience. The team were also highly adaptable and placed a strong emphasis on client service, producing bespoke reports to present completion progress and highlight issues so that they could be dealt with in real time.’

‘Efficient and approachable with a proactive and personal response to problem solving.’

‘No-nonsense and considered, straight forward and practical advice.’

‘The CRS commercial property team comprises a superb range of highly competent individuals operating as an efficient, client focused team. Diligent and professional, I have found all members of the team to be highly responsive and friendly.’

‘Ingrid Saffin was incredibly diligent in ensuring matters were progressed efficiently. She also made sure that she was available to discuss general project matters, such as staffing levels, in good time to ensure the project was being delivered effectively. Claire Timmings demonstrated excellent, in-depth legal knowledge and was very happy to explain the more complicated legal principles / procedures to myself and other team members, which were always set out clearly. This, together with her affable and friendly personality, meant that Claire was quickly regarded with trust, and as someone who could be easily approached with any queries.’

‘Charlotte Major is very commercial, takes practical approach and provides practical solutions. Very knowledgeable and happy to provide direction when needed.’

‘Ingrid Saffin is a stand-out lawyer, a client focused commercial property specialist with an eye for detail and a personal touch. Ingrid has proven herself to be an invaluable resource to our business. She is diligent and client focused. Clare Timmings is technically excellent; an astute solicitor with a ‘can do” approach.’

‘Trusted firm from previous development work and good relationship already in place. Covid-19 has impacted on normal working practices but the client/lawyer interaction remained very strong, with excellent IT usage.’

‘A very professional outfit with a great deal of experience and resources.’

‘We have used Andrew Keeley and his team for a number of years for all our construction advice and assistance, even when his firm has not been involved in the particular acquisition. He has all the knowledge and expertise we need and his guidance is first class’

‘David Savage has the ability to communicate complex legal issues in a way that is comprehensible for the layperson, allowing decisions to be reached on elements of the contracts.’

‘ Andrew Keeley has been exceptional in his handling of our situation. He is  extremely knowledgeable about the construction industry, very personable and has been a pleasure to work with. I would have no hesitation in working with him again or recommending him to others.’

‘David Haines is the best of the best. He is super-bright and is an excellent lawyer and strategic thinker. He gets fabulous results for his clients. He is also totally unflappable. Very well-liked and respected by colleagues and clients alike.’

‘They respond quickly, no prompting is required. Their expertise is excellent and cannot I cannot fault them.’

‘They are a cohesive and affable bunch, who obviously enjoy working together and bring the advantages of teamwork to their clients. They are efficient and shrewd litigators who correctly identify the strengths and vulnerabilities of their client’s case and manage the case from pre-issue negotiation to judgment and beyond.’

‘The team has strength in breadth from partner to associate. David Haines is the head of property litigation for the whole firm (including the London office) and is an excellent lawyer whose light touch with clients keeps them happy and who is able to plan and manage difficult and long-running litigation. Natalie Deuchar brings intellectual rigour to difficult landlord and tenant issues, has a very sharp eye for details and has a niche practise in leasehold enfranchisement. Richard Flenley is a tough commercial property litigator who makes the right calls early in the case and then relentlessly presses the client’s advantage in the home straight.’

‘David Haines is very easy to work with and a calming and relaxed influence on clients. Very willing and keen to help.’

‘David Haines is an exceptional litigation solicitor who leads his team with experience and dedication. Nothing is ever a problem for David.’

‘CRS provides well-qualified counsel with relevant experience and expertise without charging exorbitant fees or overcomplicating matters. We have worked with several other firms in the UK, including Magic Circle firms, and continue coming back to CRS.’

‘Their expanding European footprint has allowed us to leverage resources in Luxembourg, France and other countries, even though we already had relationships in those geographies. Collaborative, commercial and responsive – we value our partnership with CRS.’

‘Jonathan Morley is outstanding. We never feel outsourced to juniors or to other partners. He stays involved and provides practical and timely advice.’

‘The team provide a first-class service and have a practical and efficient approach to problems.’

‘Manoj Vaghela, Claudine Morgan and Ben Moore are a perfect team. Friendly, helpful and very much on top of their job.’

‘Manoj Vaghela is a top litigator, very calm and logical.’

‘Different due to breadth of expertise. Extremely courteous. rapid reaction to all queries.’

‘The CRS team are an absolute pleasure to work with on any matter. They are smart, focused and very easy to get on with.’

‘I would particularly recommend Claudine Morgan, who is such a delight. She works absolutely tirelessly for her clients and builds a very easy rapport with everyone. I would also highly recommend Ben Moore, who is great to work with and very switched on.’

‘This is an excellent commercial litigation team which offers London-quality services from outside London.’

‘Claudine Morgan – very user-friendly and has an excellent manner with client. She is very good at handling difficult clients.’

‘Sara Wilson is extremely empathetic. Whilst my personal situation was perhaps not the most complex she had dealt with, she quickly and effectively established how to support, guide and advise me. Whether by design or just because culturally this is how this firm operates, Sara was kind, thoughtful and considerate in their engagement with me. This put me at ease, and I believe helped us together make decisions as and when the time was right.’

‘Excellent subject matter expertise delivered well. Client-centred, yet realistic. Pragmatic advice.’

‘Highly competent team of partners and associates. Excellent experience in employment law matters and therefore I felt the advice they gave was excellent.’

‘The service I received was highly professional – I dealt mostly with an associate and she was always available and the advice she gave was very sound.’

‘Both Sara Wilson and Syma Spanjers are professional and personable in their approach to any given conundrum we may have and I believe us to have a strong business relationship. They understand our business and how it operates, and when giving any advice they apply how it will affect us and what our legal position is.’

‘Strong knowledge of legal matters, quick to respond to requests for advice. Good capability within the local practice but also in the wider firm offices,’

‘Sara Wilson on the HR side is excellent. Always available with strong communication skills. I always receive very good and consistent advice from Sara’

‘I absolutely love the team at Charles Russell Speechlys – not only are they commercially minded, they are friendly and efficient. They give practical advice. As a client, I am always conscious of the time spent. However, I feel like the team at Charles Russell are always aware of this.’

‘Knowledge and experience of lots of different and technical areas.’

‘High level of technical knowledge.’

‘Very efficient. Good communicators and problem solvers. Quick response time. Well resourced and consistently reliable. A good balance of speed and thoroughness. ’

‘ They are very good at what they do ’

‘ Katie Talbot is very calm, capable, efficient, grasp of detail. I can’t praise her too highly.’

‘A truly collaborative, joined-up team of lawyers – an individual and supportive approach to the client. High level of knowledge across all areas that I have engaged them in.’

‘Trust, communication, dedication – they have the depth of knowledge and skill to manage difficult situations. I have not worked with professional and dedicated lawyers like this before, they stand out as real thinkers and innovators.’

‘The strongest private client team in the UK as far as I know. The team work hand in glove with their corporate team which is great for my entrepreneurial clients.’

‘They offer a friendly, clear and efficient service to clients in a subject which can sometimes be quite complicated.’

‘The team at CRS are market-leading, they balance uniquely the ability to be approachable, collaborative with other advisors and provide the very best advice and support. ’

‘Julia Cox is a triumph, she is incredibly bright and balances this with her approachable and compassionate style. 

‘Christopher Page is an astute lawyer, easy to communicate with, and builds a good rapport with clients.’

‘A very user-friendly commercial property team, who understand how to progress complex development agreements.’

‘Ian Brothwood is extremely conciliatory in the face of difficult contract negotiations, and understands what is commercially relevant to development agreements, ensuring that transactions maintain momentum and meet the clients’ objectives.’

‘They really work as a team and share an interest celebrating what they achieve for their clients.’

‘Julie Sharpe has delivered an excellent service in dealing with complicated development land transactions, and has an ability to ask only right questions of her clients and to ask them clearly with good advice.’

‘The relationship with our legal team is vitally important to us. There is a great deal at stake and they are a key part of our professional team. We have ever learnt to have ever confidence in them. We rely on them for ideas, advice and guiding us through the legal contracts and issues which keep arising.’

‘I have always found the CRS team to be approachable, polite and helpful. Their advice is always well considered and of a high standard. They are an excellent firm, and lovely to work with.’

‘An excellent practice with a broad range of commercial and residential property experience, co-ordinated from the Cheltenham office. They have shown a willingness to work alongside other law firms on specific projects, to share systems and processes and in doing so to generate greater efficiencies.’

‘Naomi Nettleton’s team offers a wide range of expertise and is well-resourced at all fee earner levels, offering experience where it’s needed and more junior support where appropriate. Naomi has a habit of asking the right questions and always manages to provide clear and practical answers. ’

‘Top-class dispute resolution practice with all the necessary skills and experience.‘

‘Capable of handling complex, high-value or sensitive commercial litigation with great efficiency and tactical skill.‘

‘A diverse and inclusive team that is client service-oriented, and has great availability and a strong track record of delivering success.‘

‘Excellent, commercially-minded lawyers.‘

‘They go the extra mile and are always available on short notice for any questions we have.‘

‘Edward Craig is very client focused – a  tremendous lawyer with really excellent judgement.‘

‘Caroline Greenwell, a new partner in 2021, is one of the most impressive solicitors around for her grasp of detail, commercial sense, and intuitive approach – brilliant at managing a team and in instilling confidence in clients. One of the very best.‘

‘Senior associate Max Davis is a tenacious litigator.‘

‘Rose Carey has extensive legal knowledge and provides very good advice. She ensures that she is up to date, and with this tremendous understanding of the rules and their application, she provides practical and excellent advice for each situation. She has a very good heart and always thinks from the client’s point of view and treats clients very well.’

‘The individuals took time to understand our specific requirements and relate to our needs. They shared experiences from working with peers that allowed for us to visualise the priorities and challenges of our own project. Potentially complex regulation was made simple and where further explanation was required they took time to do so and follow up in writing.’

‘I have found CRS to be extremely knowledgeable, with the ability to provide proactive advice.’

‘Adam Kyte and Kelvin Tanner both provide personal service on a commercial turnaround, which is highly important when business clients are moving from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.’

‘The team has excellent and up-to-date industry knowledge with extensive experience. Rose Carey and her team are extremely hard working and provide excellent service to their clients.’

‘Initial discussions were clear, expectations for the project were well communicated and costs were transparent and shared in advance. The project was delivered on time and they have been retained on a follow-up basis to ensure that the advice remains current at all times.’

‘James Bradford and Bart Peerless are a formidable combination. They show great technical knowledge, empathy towards the client and are very collegiate with other advisors. They operate in exactly the way you’d hope for from another advisor‘.

‘Excellent service and knowledge‘

‘The Charities Team has taken the time to fully understand the nature of our charities and the complex environment in which we work. The team is excellent at drawing in different expertise as appropriate whilst still focusing on the underlying needs of our organisation and balancing the financial resources we have to spend on external advice. The team is always willing to pick up the phone when we need it and will often provide instant high level advice when we need it. The flexible approach to the way advice is provided across the whole of CRS and the way it is delivered to us as a client is why we value the team at CRS so much‘.

‘We have worked with Sarah Rowley over a number of years and her detailed knowledge of our organisation together with the incredibly practical and clear  advice she provides has made her an invaluable adviser to our charities‘.

‘The team is knowledgeable and efficient. Sarah Rowley is extremely knowledgeable, but also has an excellent, patient and understanding manner when supporting with Trustee Boards who have a variable range of knowledge and understanding‘.

‘Charles Russell is a well respected firm but my dealings are with one individual Penny Byatt and her supporting departments. The trust is reasonably large and gives out grants to animal charities. It is a complicated Charity. It needs skill and an intimate knowledge of Charity law and numerous other disciplines from agricultural property to data protection law. Penny manages these disciplines within the firm so the trustees obtain seamless advice‘.

‘Willingness to engage and provide excellent value inhouse training for our trustees. Sarah Rowley and Lyn Povey –  both are extremely approachable and responsive. They quickly understand our needs as a client and provide pragmatic and clear advice‘.

‘In sync with the client, empathetic and knowledgeable. Good collaborators – work principally with Penny Byatt and occasionally Mike Scott. Penny works hard to understand the business and what makes us unique. Valued the ability to receive quick, well-thought through advice. It has been a tough year for us and CRS has supported us through that‘.

‘CRS has an excellent charity practice. I always find it very quick to respond to queries and deliver work. The lawyers very swiftly feel like part of the “home team”. Sarah Rowley who leads the team is a first-class lawyer’.

‘Approachable and knowledgeable team in place dealing with a wide range of different issues relating to charities of varying sizes. Sarah Rowley is always approachable and helpful, taking the time to answer questions‘.

‘The firm has been involved in one of the huge court of protection cases which have been raging this year and deservedly so-it has the expertise and experience to be a first choice. The private client team is exceptionally strong.  Suzanne Marriott is unsurpassed in her knowledge of Court of Protection matters. She is a first choice as deputy in so many cases. The lawyers are all great team players‘.

‘An excellent team at all levels who have a deep understanding of Court of Protection practice – fee earners from trainees to partners are very knowledgeable and hardworking. Suzanne Marriott is a leading light in Court of Protection practice: she is a go-to litigator in contentious cases, and often put forward as an independent deputy in the most high-profile cases. She is extremely well-trusted and respected by the Official Solicitor’.

‘Sally Ashford is inspirational in her approach to her work as a Professional Deputy for her clients with very complex needs. She deals not only with Property & Finance (as many Professional Deputies do) but also with the challenges of acting as a Professional Deputy for Health & Welfare.  Her breadth of knowledge, approachable and “hands on” stance and genuine engagement with and for her clients is impressive in the sector. When instructed by Sally, I know that she and her team have left “no stone unturned” and the fact that they do instruct us as public law community care law experts to assist with issues outside their expertise is a reflection of the commitment to cover all possible angles in the clients’ best interests. Sally Ashford – as above; and her excellent assistant Robyn Hack‘.

‘The firm is well respected in the Private Client/Court of Protection arena. I have worked with Suzanne Marriott who has years of experience. She is easily approachable, very knowledgeable and has a wealth of experience particularly with complex multi-jurisdictional Court of Protection matters’.

‘CRS is always great to work for, it has some of the best cases and is incredibly well resourced‘.

‘Suzanne Mariott- super lawyer and great deputy‘.

‘Sarah Anticoni is an exceptional mediator who has vast experience and lots of common sense. She will always go the extra mile to help clients reach outcomes which are fair for them both’.

‘Sarah Anticoni is an extremely safe pair of hands as a a mediator‘.

‘Experience and knowledge within our sector is second to none.’

‘Commercial experience from a depth of transactions within our sector. This is highlighted when other, less experienced firms are acting on other sides.’

‘The dedicated team at CRS is comprised of highly intelligent and motivated individuals with a diverse range of skills. Very focused on client outcomes and deadlines. A very commercial and practical approach.’

‘Michael Lingens is extremely supportive of client aims and objectives and able to offer innovative and practical solutions to problems and organise his team to assist us in the most efficient way.’

‘CRS offers an exceptional service to its clients. They are responsive, well prepared and collaborative.‘

‘CRS has a very collegial attitude to all things real estate and manages to provide holistic solutions to sometimes difficult situations, taking the stress out of the transaction.‘

‘There is excellence at both partner and associate level.‘

‘Robert Highmore is vastly experienced, extremely knowledgeable and a thoroughly charming individual. Clients love him.‘

‘Louise Clark is very open to alternative opinions which she is very happy to debate.‘

‘A very strong and able team with strength, depth and experience.‘

‘Emma Humphreys is a star. She is a good lawyer, with a commercial brain and a very reassuring manner.’

‘James Souter is able, enthusiastic and commercial.‘

‘A strong property team, with an outcome based focus, and great attention to detail. There seems to be expertise to cover all eventualities.’

‘Tom Moran has long been the key to this successful team. A calm and reassuring professional who is able to break down issues logically and address them, whilst keeping the deal as whole moving along smoothly.’

‘There are many other good people in the team, and Hannah Catt stands out as a very client focused solicitor who get things done.’

‘William Marriott is a pleasure to work with. You just know the sale will proceed no matter the difficulties encountered along the way. He is a problem solver and always charming with it.’

‘Extremely proactive and professional at all levels of their service across all team members.’

‘William Marriott is always extremely responsive, a forward thinking modern solicitor who always looks for resolution rather than creating obstacles.’

‘I have worked at length on a number of transactions with Tom Moran. He is proactive, extremely capable, willing and expedites matters. He is an excellent solicitor, is a credit to his firm and I look forward to our next transaction.’

‘CRS are a top firm with the ability to help clients looking for advice in all aspects of the law. Their real estate team is high class and constantly gives excellent and sage advice.’

‘CRS put a lot of effort into getting to know their clients’ businesses and are also very keen to support beyond the day to day work, for example by delivering dedicated training sessions.’

‘Chris Ingram – very responsive, collaborative and quick to deliver.’ 

‘Good commercial understanding of our needs as a start-up. Clear communication and quick to respond. Making the legal aspects easy to understand and focusing on the salient issues rather than getting bogged down in all the detail . Strong negotiating skills that reflect our brand.’

‘Good profile and connections within the data centre sector.’

‘Mark Bailey is a very knowledgeable and experienced commercial lawyer who has deep experience of a range of data centre related contracts and is a very able negotiator.’

‘Efficient and friendly. Proactive and creative. Genuinely interested in my businesses and their success.’

‘Great in-depth legal knowledge for employers, but also looking for practical, effective solutions for business.’

‘Personable and practical approach.’

‘They are very impressive and give the sort of service one would expect with their reputation.’

‘Handled very well and professionally by Rachel Warren. Good on tactics, lovely to work with and ultimately played a large part in a very successful outcome.’

‘They are easy to deal with and can involve others in the team very quickly.’

‘The firm has people with experience who have dealt with similar issues so the job gets done quickly.’

‘Mixture of reliability, depth of support and willingness to take commercial and practical decisions at the right times. Whilst a strong regional player, the partners also have extensive UK and international expertise which brings a wealth of related contacts.’

‘Richard Norton is outstanding. Brings a depth of both UK and international expertise to support corporate transactions. Richard’s attention to detail is impressive. Takes time to understand the detail and provide first class practical support often during unsociable hours. ’

‘To find a firm with a specialist charity law team is quite unusual, and it makes a huge difference to be able to speak with someone who deals only with charity law, as the depth and range of their experience are so great.’

‘The advantage of dealing with Penelope Byatt at Charles Russell is that she is an expert in all things to do with charities, and so because she has so much experience, she has information at her fingertips. Dealing with people who do charity law as only one of several areas of expertise is a much less positive experience.’

‘The Cheltenham team are approachable and responsive to requests for assistance. The advice is relevant and practical and really helps us solve our problems and challenges.’

‘Mike Scott and Penelope Byatt are knowledgeable and experienced in charity law and back this up with such a depth of personal experience of the sector.’

‘The team has a good knowledge and experience in this sector of the market and able to give effective and actionable advice on issues that are discrete to small cap companies such as ourselves. We have worked with the team for 15 years and have seen it mature into an excellent practice.’

‘Paul’s pragmatic and commercial approach enables him to move deftly through deal issues without jeopardising transaction timetables.’

‘Personal attention at partner level. Rapid response and turnaround.’

‘Excellent service from Mark Howard.’

‘I have worked closely with Paul Arathoon and found him to be calm, efficient and extremely reliable. I have found Paul to be incredibly responsive and very quick to grasp the nature of the job at hand.’

‘I really enjoy working with Victoria Younghusband. She is intelligent and empathetic and able to see problems from her clients’ perspective.’

‘The team assigned to our company has had excellent understanding of plc business. They were also very efficient and quick. The turnaround time of assignments was very short.’

‘An excellent firm, with depth and breadth of experience in regulatory matters.‘

‘CRS is the premier legal team for pharmacy law. The team has an encyclopaedic knowledge of pharmaceutical regulations, which enables it to give fast, detailed and tactically astute advice in a number of different jurisdictions; and it is hugely experienced in defending both individual and corporate pharmacy clients.‘

‘The team is experienced and highly capable in integrity-related matters; and they are adaptable to our needs – without doubt a market leader in the area; and the firm’s method of electronic bundling is particularly impressive and not something that I have experienced with other firms over the COVID period – extremely easy to use.‘

‘Rachel Warren is tactically very good – clients will accept robust advice from her because they respect her and she is invariably right.‘

‘Danielle Sharkey is highly experienced in equine-related regulatory matters. Her knowledge and willingness to help with any matter is greatly appreciated – Danielle sees possible issues in cases that would otherwise go unseen, and is able to offer practical solutions.‘

‘Extremely personable and easy to converse with; flexible; provide quick responses when you need something urgently.’

‘Megan Paul is exceptional. Megan has taken a lot of time to understand our business requirements and the specificities of our industry. A good level of realism mixed with an excellent legal understanding means you can trust her advice fully. We wouldn’t work with anyone else now.’

‘They provide a technical, practical and commercial application of their property knowledge in a form easily understood by their housebuilder clients.’

‘They are professional within their particular residential field – informative, receptive and communicative.’

‘Robin Grove has great all-round knowledge.’

‘They have an outstanding grasp of the London and Cambridge real estate markets, and have provided expert legal and practical advice, helping us adapt to the UK legal and business climate. They are our most trusted outside law firm globally, and we greatly benefit from their expertise and practicality. They are responsive, personable and well respected by their peers. They are an integral part of our team, and I have recommended them numerous times to other potential clients.

‘Louise Ward’s expertise in real estate has proven invaluable. While other firms’ lawyers are prone to trying to win negotiations, Louise recognises that completing a transaction is the desired result and do not let others’ egos or bluster distract her.’

‘They provide a technical, practical and commercial application of their property knowledge in a form easily understood by their housebuilder clients.’

‘They are professional within their particular residential field – informative, receptive and communicative.’

‘Robin Grove has great all-round knowledge.’

‘They have an outstanding grasp of the London and Cambridge real estate markets, and have provided expert legal and practical advice, helping us adapt to the UK legal and business climate. They are our most trusted outside law firm globally, and we greatly benefit from their expertise and practicality. They are responsive, personable and well respected by their peers. They are an integral part of our team, and I have recommended them numerous times to other potential clients.

‘Louise Ward’s expertise in real estate has proven invaluable. While other firms’ lawyers are prone to trying to win negotiations, Louise recognises that completing a transaction is the desired result and do not let others’ egos or bluster distract her.’

‘They provide a technical, practical and commercial application of their property knowledge in a form easily understood by their housebuilder clients.’

‘They are professional within their particular residential field – informative, receptive and communicative.’

‘Robin Grove has great all-round knowledge.’

‘They have an outstanding grasp of the London and Cambridge real estate markets, and have provided expert legal and practical advice, helping us adapt to the UK legal and business climate. They are our most trusted outside law firm globally, and we greatly benefit from their expertise and practicality. They are responsive, personable and well respected by their peers. They are an integral part of our team, and I have recommended them numerous times to other potential clients.

‘Louise Ward’s expertise in real estate has proven invaluable. While other firms’ lawyers are prone to trying to win negotiations, Louise recognises that completing a transaction is the desired result and do not let others’ egos or bluster distract her.’

‘Collaborative and supportive advisers, always on hand.’

‘Michael O’Connor is a reliable pair of hands who can cut through the issues and advise through a clear commercial lens.’

‘There is strength and depth of knowledge and experience within the team and an excellent speed of response and availability when needed. Problem-solving in difficult situations has been first class.’

‘Good communication, clear advice and a no-nonsense approach in dealing with the issues and their resolution.’

‘They want to work with you rather than for you. They want to understand your business, what the real issues are and how those issues really impact it. A unique blend of legal expertise, working knowledge of the industry, a hands-on and can-do attitude, great drafting skills, sheer hard work when required, approachability and charisma.’

‘Steven Carey manages and motivates a great team but is always there himself to provide that extra experience and expertise just when needed. His legal skills and problem-solving abilities are special but, just as importantly, he listens and works with you and is never too proud to consider and adopt your suggestions. He is great to work with.’

‘James Worthington is very reliable, knowledgeable, extremely thorough and a great drafter. You disagree with his legal interpretation and advice at your peril!’

‘The team are very thorough with their advice. Their attention to detail is next to none.’

‘Steve Carey manages and motivates a great team, but is always there himself as well to provide that extra experience and expertise just when needed. His legal skills and problem-solving abilities are special, but just as importantly, he listens and works with you and is never too proud to consider and adopt your suggestions – great to work with.’

‘James Worthington is very reliable, knowledgeable, extremely thorough and a great drafter. You disagree with his legal interpretation and advice at your peril!’

‘The firm is really customer focused, much more than many other firms I have come across. There is a true breadth of experience and knowledge, and willingness to assist.’

‘They want to work with you rather than for you. They want to understand your business, what the real issues are and how those issues really impact on it. A unique blend of legal expertise, working knowledge of the industry, hands on can-do attitude, great drafting skills, sheer hard work when required, approachability and charisma. The legal team that you need!’

‘There is strength and depth of knowledge and experience within the team and an excellent speed of response and availability when needed. Problem solving in difficult situations has been first class.’

‘The team are very thorough with their advice. their attention to detail is next to none.’

‘Collaborative and supportive advisors, always on hand.’

‘The breadth of expertise and the ability to provide truly expert and focused advice has been a great source of confidence for me as a client.‘

‘The team have an excellent knowledge of trade mark protection, from the procedural to the practical aspects of protecting a trademark. They have provided me with thoughtful, insightful and level-headed advice.‘

‘Peter Byrd has provided responsive, considered, detailed, practical advice and support on trade mark matters.‘

‘Very commercial attitude; problem-solvers. Deliver what they promise and on time.‘

‘Nick White – understands business needs, very approachable and thinks out of the box.‘

‘Mary Bagnall’s knowledge of color and enforcement paradigms in the UK and EU is invaluable.‘

‘Charlotte Duly has provided a high level of understanding and experience in trade mark matters, giving very clear advice.‘

‘Olivia Gray has in-depth approach to each case and request. She is working very well with deadlines.‘

‘Charles Russell Speechlys are reliable, swift to respond, incredibly reassuring throughout any proceedings, and extremely knowledgeable.’

‘The team has a good understanding of how we, as the client, operate.’

‘Duncan Lamont is an expert in the field of reputation management and has a fine judgement of where the opposing party has made a mistake.’

‘I have worked with several departments within the firm and the common thread is outstanding service to the client. Everyone’s attitude is positive and respectful. No matter how dumb my questions are they get treated with a professional and respectful approach.’

‘ Duncan Lamont is incredibly approachable and is always willing to make himself available at short notice – which is really important when dealing with fast-moving media issues. His advice is thoughtful and pragmatic.’

‘Stephen Burns is a canny operator with great enthusiasm for his clients’ cause.’

‘They have a very good grasp of all the key points and don’t get too bogged down in name-calling or chest-beating. The team is willing to take on board client’s views rather than insist they need to know everything to form their own views.’

‘Stephen Burns is cool-headed, can see where a good outcome is, and works towards it in the most direct way possible.’

‘Pragmatic and very good to work with. Good personalities who you’re confident will go the extra mile. The team deserve an excellent reputation and confidence.‘

‘Charlie Ring is a credit to the firm. He consistently goes above and beyond and showed unrelenting dedication to a major transaction for our firm.‘

‘I found CRS easy to work with. Always approachable and personable. They were transparent and explained in detail all the necessary legals required for the transaction, while taking into account our needs. They went over and beyond what I would expect from any solicitors. They were solid in their approach, and understood that this deal was very personal to us. It was a pleasure to work with the CRS team.’

‘A very strong and entrepreneurial team.’

‘Experienced and knoweledgeable, very approachable, candid.’

‘The CRS Private Client Tax Litigation and Investigations practice are at the cutting edge of private client litigation. Their team combines technical knowledge with litigation judgment and always delivers for its clients.’

‘Hugh Gunson is the rising star of the UK private client tax litigation market. His background at the Bar combined with his technical tax knowledge gives him a real market edge.’

‘The team has got strength in breadth and depth and offer dispassionate, balanced and detailed advice which always serves the client’s interest in the long run.’

‘Hugh Gunson is likely to go far – effective, polished but ultimately a real lawyer’s lawyer when it comes to the detail.’

‘The team were accessible and took time to understand the complications of issues and work through solutions in an open and transparent way. They were realistic in their options and were able to deliver great service and a positive end result.’

‘Highly professional and accessible, taking time to explain and de-mystify the complex issues they were dealing with.’

‘Michael M Jones and his colleague Esther White were responsive, friendly and commmunicative.’

‘Michael and Esther are good at identifying the key issues and focusing their advice where it is most effective. They are also commercial and understand the working of their clients’ business, as well as how to get the best out of their interactions with other professional advisers.’

‘The CRS team understand hospitality and brand reputations. They enable us to think differently and look at issues from a different point of view. They are ahead of upcoming issues and help to define the industry’s response and conversations.’

‘Mike Powner has a deep understanding of the hospitality space and is highly engaged around the issues and opportunities that we face. He and his team’s advice is first class and their attention to detail around contractual matters is excellent.’

‘Charles Russell Speechly houses a superb team of lawyers, working right at the heart of the real estate sector. They act for high-profile institutional developers and companies in contentious property matters.’

‘The firm is highly regarded throughout the wider property market, with commercially astute professionals available at every level. They are extremely good at recognising and facilitating the needs of their clients, they’re highly responsive, and on technical matters, they are truly excellent.’

‘Claire Fallows is accessible at all times to resolve issues as they occur. Her knowledge in respect of planning law is exceptional. She has the ability to make complex issues seem very straightforward.’

‘Helen Hutton is outstanding. She gives completely clear and commercially practical advice. She produces work quickly. She is very good at bringing council legal departments to heel.’

‘They are team players, understand the business and people very well and collaborate easily’.

‘Friendly and knowledgeable’.     

‘Quick availability’.

‘Good knowledge of GDPR and data protection’.

‘Clear in the scope of work and advice’.

‘Knowledgeable, friendly and flexible’.

‘Very professional and competent.’

‘A strong team of talented professionals with considerable experience in real estate litigation across a range of fields. The team works seamlessly across its London and Cheltenham offices.’

‘Very good strength in depth. All members of the team I have dealt with, whether in the Cheltenham or London offices, have been excellent lawyers who are easy to work with.’

‘Emma Preece has a good sense of the merits of an argument and is responsive and personable.’

‘CRS are always on the ball. They provide clear and thorough instructions which are usually targeted at all the right issues. They are always willing to go the extra mile for the client even when the battle is extremely uphill.’

‘A pretty seamless team across both London and the South West – one team across both offices means that they can get the levels of experience, expertise, people and cost just right, which is what many property clients demand. Very responsive.’

‘Samuel Lear – really building up his expertise and experience; well attuned to client aims.’

‘Emma Humphreys – excellent lawyer; very commercial, with a good strategic mind; very focused on client aims, on managing a case efficiently, and on achieving the right outcomes.’

‘David Haines: simply brilliant. Very clever, measured but tough when necessary.’

‘The CRS team is fantastic. And I can honestly say their excellence level did not slip one bit during all of the challenges of the past year.’

‘I find the firm to be more pragmatic than certain of its competitors in the private banking legal advice market. In-house lawyers need clear, concise, and commercial advice from external legal counsel; they do not have time to deal with ambiguity or an overly-academic approach.’

‘The team was very commercial and solution-oriented.’

‘An awesome team that is ready to serve effectively, no matter how inconvenient. During our transaction, they were very reachable and made themselves available like we were the only clients.’

‘The firm is unique in thinking on behalf of their clients, both predicting the issues, providing creative yet simple solutions and also carefully managing both expectations and relationships to ensure a smooth outcome in the most difficult situations.’

‘I have worked with multiple associates in the practice over the years and they are shockingly competent and confident. They present like partners.’

‘Michael Powner is very business-minded and gives practical, easy-to-understand advice. He is highly responsive and a valued business partner.’

‘The employment team at CRS is exceptional. They offer calm and practical advice, they never panic and are an excellent partner.‘

‘Mike Powner is an exceptional lawyer. He challenges me, supports me and is a highly engaging person to be around. Always available and highly responsive when time is tight but equally at home playing a long game when that is right strategy. Mike’s modesty belies his incredible legal talent.’

‘Advice is practical, commercial and easy to understand for non-lawyers. Good links into firms with different specialisms / jurisdictions. Well-linked internally so will seek specialist input from within the firm as well.‘

‘It is the individuals I deal with who provide me with the experience of the team and the impression I have of the firm. Proactive, practical, collaborate well within their firm and with linked firms. Able to explain things in a practical and easy to understand way. Take a commercial view.’

‘Extremely responsive. Willing to move things around. Make you feel like their only client.’

‘Their ability to act in a collegial way to find solutions to complex real estate matters is second to none.’

‘Extremely commercial and give genuine opinions, rather than sitting on the fence.’

‘Very comprehensive and prompt advice and assistance. We have used CRS for a number of years and they understand our requirements and work very effectively with us.’

‘Jon Bond is always available to discuss and provide guidance on all matters related to real estate finance.’

‘The lawyers are extremely user friendly and work above and beyond the call of duty for their clients.’

‘The team is knowledgeable, diligent, flexible and responsive.’

‘The team provides technical excellence whilst keeping a commercial outlook on advice given.’

‘The corporate restructuring and insolvency team at Charles Russell Speechlys is very strong and compares most favourably to a lot of its competitors.’

‘Hanh Nguyen stands out for providing clear, concise and quality advice on a timely basis. She is also a pleasure to deal with and takes the burden off the individual seeking the advice by covering off all avenues’

‘Jason Freedman goes above and beyond what is normally expected of a solicitor and is able to provide technical legal advice along with practical and commercial solutions to problems.’

‘Excellent employment law knowledge, coupled with good commerciality and common sense. Has spent time trying to understand the business and company culture and is able to frame advice accordingly. They have a collegiate environment and clearly work closely with colleagues from around the firm and internationally. Responsive, friendly, good to have a debate / discussion with and come up with pragmatic solutions, rather than just telling me what the law says.’

‘Excellent team work, high responsiveness, excellent knowledge of UK and EU-law, very good understanding of the economic background and fair and reasonable billing. ’

‘It does what it says on the tin. Honest, transparent, fair and always have your personal well-being at the heart of their work.’

‘I value their excellent judgment as a collective, and how well organised they are in their approach to their work.’

‘Nick Hurley is responsive, commercial and pragmatic. His knowledge is current and he keeps abreast of market developments. His client base is broader than just Financial Services and is therefore able to bring in good industry practices and knowledge from broader sectors.’

‘Ben Smith is extremely personable and Senior Associate Emily Chalkley has excellent judgment, is tenacious, and very hard working.’

‘Ben Smith will always go the 1000th mile for his clients; hard working, efficient and always keeping an eye on the bigger picture.’

‘Andy Williams is an outstanding legal adviser from whom I have received valued employment and pension legal advice for around 20 years. He is a trusted responsive adviser, who I know I can contact if there is a complex employment issue.’

‘They are very impressive and give the sort of service one would expect with their reputation.’

‘Handled very well and professionally by Rachel Warren. Good on tactics, lovely to work with and ultimately played a large part in a very successful outcome.’

‘A truly collaborative, joined-up team of lawyers – an individual and supportive approach to the client. High level of knowledge across all areas that I have engaged them in.’

‘Trust, communication, dedication – they have the depth of knowledge and skill to manage difficult situations. I have not worked with professional and dedicated lawyers like this before, they stand out as real thinkers and innovators.’

‘The strongest private client team in the UK as far as I know. The team work hand in glove with their corporate team which is great for my entrepreneurial clients.’

‘They offer a friendly, clear and efficient service to clients in a subject which can sometimes be quite complicated.’

‘The team at CRS are market-leading, they balance uniquely the ability to be approachable, collaborative with other advisors and provide the very best advice and support. ’

‘Julia Cox is a triumph, she is incredibly bright and balances this with her approachable and compassionate style. 

‘Christopher Page is an astute lawyer, easy to communicate with, and builds a good rapport with clients.’

‘Very professional, always available, very well updated technically.’

‘They have a personalised approach and are client-focused.’

‘The team is highly skilled and extremely client focused. They offer a very personalised service which is unique in Luxembourg. Diversity is at the core of this team, with really strong leadership through its partners but also a unity and cohesiveness clearly evident throughout the team. All of this combined provides for a real comfort and top class client experience.’

‘The passion and dedication to work of the tax team, ranging from compliance assistance to structuring and day-to-day tax advices. The expertise of the tax team covers a vast part of regions, including Europe, Latin-America, Africa and Middle East.’

‘CRS Luxembourg is one of the most client-driven law firm I have ever worked with. They always come with efficient and smart solutions in a timely manner, therefore our collaboration is very profitable considering that time is essence for the closing of our deals. Last but not least, they perfectly understand the need of our business, which is helping in terms of solutions delivered.’

‘The CRS Luxembourg tax team is very competent, thorough and organized. On several occasions they have come up with solutions to complex problems that we had been grappling with for some time, and they executed on those solutions very effectively.’

‘The team has great experience in international tax planning. They are also fast in providing answers.’

‘Yacine Diallo is a really top lawyer, very dedicated to clients with the right combination of technical and communication skills.’

‘A strong team of talented professionals with considerable experience in real estate litigation across a range of fields. The team works seamlessly across its London and Cheltenham offices.’

‘Very good strength in depth. All members of the team I have dealt with, whether in the Cheltenham or London offices, have been excellent lawyers who are easy to work with.’

‘Emma Preece has a good sense of the merits of an argument and is responsive and personable.’

‘CRS are always on the ball. They provide clear and thorough instructions which are usually targeted at all the right issues. They are always willing to go the extra mile for the client even when the battle is extremely uphill.’

‘A pretty seamless team across both London and the South West – one team across both offices means that they can get the levels of experience, expertise, people and cost just right, which is what many property clients demand. Very responsive.’

‘Samuel Lear – really building up his expertise and experience; well attuned to client aims.’

‘Emma Humphreys – excellent lawyer; very commercial, with a good strategic mind; very focused on client aims, on managing a case efficiently, and on achieving the right outcomes.’

‘David Haines: simply brilliant. Very clever, measured but tough when necessary.’