Withers LLP > London, England > Firm Profile

‘Withers is a fantastic firm with quality from top to bottom. They have a strong international presence and are very well placed to deal with commercial disputes. Strongly recommended!’

‘Knowledgeable, on top of issues, thorough, responsive, respectful, and diplomatic. Punctual and will send follow-up chasers. The team is also multilingual, and incredibly efficient at managing very difficult time differences. They also have cross-subject expertise, which is very important, and they all operate very effectively.’

‘Very effective litigators with a collaborative approach. Partners and associates work well across multiple offices. Communication is excellent, and there is real depth of knowledge and experience. ’

‘Tatiana Menshenina is a great strategist. She never loses sight of the bigger picture and is extremely knowledgeable about particular issues that can arise in connection with Russia and Ukraine-related disputes (including sanctions).’

‘A standout partner is Lesley Timms who is very competent and a pleasure to work with.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou is a fabulous strategist and incredible manager of very complicated global litigation – works very quickly in fast-moving cases.’

‘Stephen Ross is excellent. He is very experienced in fraud claims, and maintains a very calm head in challenging moments.’

‘Daniel Gore is definitely one to watch. Knowledgeable and committed, he drives cases forward. Ruzin Dagli is a commercial litigator, who is thorough and incisive and very well versed in procedure. She works all hours to get a result.’

‘I found the practice to be extremely professional. It certainly lives up to its reputation. Clearly it is more expensive than local firms but the service, experience and response you get cannot be faulted. The differentiator for me were my contacts – the partners who I worked with were both highly skilled but also sensitive to the issues which were overwhelming at times.’

‘Claire Christy was my key partner. She is detail orientated, and highly skilled in clarifying the route through sone complex issues. In addition to her competency, she is also uniquely thoughtful, sensitive, and totally dedicated to supporting me in whatever way required. I feel very grateful to have found her – she has helped me through an incredibly difficult time.’

‘Very efficient in dealing with all aspects of legal issues. Easy access to different specialists if needed.’

‘Melissa Paz gained a thorough yet rapid understanding of my situation and objectives, wasting no billable hours on superfluous information. She provided an outstanding service which left me feeling protected at every stage. She was engaging, and there was a real sense of care and understanding which left me feeling that I would not hesitate to recommend her for any employment-related matter.’

‘Strong knowledge and experience of senior personnel departures from financial services firms.’

‘James Hockin is responsive and creative.’

‘They have unrivalled experience of the very senior executive market, and they do respondent (employer) work.  All to an extremely high standard.’

‘Elaine Aarons is an exceptionally gifted lawyer. She and her team and fellow partners always go above and beyond. They are accessible, constructive and clear.’

‘Large team with great experience.’

‘Good experience and practical knowledge of the subject and the law.’

‘Leading the way in the rural sector, with a deep understanding of country property. Offer confident, competent advice, with a pragmatic approach to issues and they look for solutions rather than problems.’

‘Bertie Hoskyns-Abrahall is an outstanding professional with a calm, highly intelligent approach to all legal matters. Always easy to recommend Bertie to clients who want the highest levels of service and advice.’

‘Very technical, in-depth knowledge of their field providing truly expert advice. Providing practical solutions is a strong point. ’

‘David Holland is very responsive, with an excellent grasp of the practical application of his advice. A good sounding board.’

‘Matthew Woods is very well respected and astute. An excellent private client advocate.’

‘The standout partner here is Chris Priestley. We often describe him as our ‘phone a friend’ in times of need! He goes the extra mile to fully understand the needs of his clients and to provide practical advice and solutions to complex problems.’ 

‘A stand-out associate is Amy Carter. Amy is very diligent and highly organised and is able to deliver at the highest level. She is very approachable and attentive.’

‘The team bring together a range of disciplines, all of high calibre, that means we have excellent advice on tap across the range of issues with which we are concerned. The pragmatic but authoritative approach of the team is reassuring and instils confidence.’

‘Philip Reed is just great! He can always be relied upon to provide sound advice, quickly and sensitively. He is always willing to be available as a sounding board, to help check understandings and to flag up issues that need greater attention. His advice has always been excellent.’ 

‘We have enjoyed working with Hugo Walford and Alison Paines and found their advice very helpful.’

‘Chris Priestley has fantastic knowledge of the voluntary sector. Hugh More has great knowledge in employment law and is brilliant at translating this into pragmatic solutions which work for people and the organisation.’

‘The unique experience of very complex legacy and probate cases involving charities is notable. The innovation includes the global team who can operate on global charity estates, whilst advising on charity law specific to each country.’

‘The standout lawyer is Alison Paines, who is simply excellent. Philip Reed, Hugo Walford and Roger Waite are also very good.’

‘This is one of the strongest contentious trusts and probate teams in the country. Paul Hewitt is a master of strategy and tactics and not someone you would want to face on the other side.’

‘Stephen Richards is an excellent solicitor and litigator. He is calm and unflappable, providing clear and measured advice to clients, even in very difficult and challenging circumstances and is excellent at identifying a clear strategy for a case.’

‘Natasha Stourton provided seamless support for me and my junior. Other excellent work in the team was done in particular by Richard Walker and Alexandra Dix.’

‘A huge and talented team that is industry leading in its scope, knowledge, and experience. Paul Hewitt is one of the big names. A tenacious and highly effective litigator.’

‘Paul Hewitt is one of the best in this area; an astute tactician, unflappable, clever and hugely experienced. Natasha Stourton is sensitive to the client’s needs, calm, experienced and strategic. Sarah Aughwane is very calm, has a wealth of knowledge and above all a strategic approach.’

‘Steven Kempster is exceptional in his attention to detail, his calmness and clarity of thinking and his manner with clients. He comes without any ego or airs and graces and provides excellent service.’

‘Natasha Stourton and Dawn Goodman are arguably the finest trusts and estates team in London; there is nothing they do not know and nothing they cannot do. Real strength at all levels.’

‘Paul Hewitt is an outstanding practitioner. Extremely knowledgeable and super experienced; a consummate litigator. Stephen Richards is both one of the finest and also one of the nicest litigators around. Sarah Aughwane is clever, approachable, and diligent.’

‘Having Stephen Richards and Alice Tomlin in your corner gives you the confidence that every detail will be addressed and you won’t be out thought by the other side.’

‘The CoP team have a well-deserved reputation as experts in the sector and a niche in complex cross-border mental capacity matters. Julia Abrey is the specialists’ specialist: her expertise and enthusiasm are impressive and she is a great and engaging public speaker.’

‘Stephen Richards is an excellent solicitor and litigator. He is calm and unflappable, providing clear and measured advice to clients, even in very difficult and challenging circumstances and is excellent at identifying a clear strategy for a case.’ 

‘Stephen Richards and Natasha Stourton demonstrated their ability to formulate a clear strategy and provide strategic and commercial advice to their client.’

‘One of the few firms able to take on the really big cases, but give the same attention and service down to the smallest cases. As adept at acting for HNW families and national charities as they are in small family disputes.’

‘Stephen Richards is perhaps first amongst a small handful of lawyers who know how, can, and do take on really big Court of Protection litigation. He is great at pivoting from the strategic big-picture to the micro and tactical. He has a real feel for how a judge will see a case. Hugely dedicated.’

‘Alice Tomlin is very bright and extremely diligent – she understands the area extremely well and has a great eye for detail. She is extremely client responsive.’

‘Sensational team with real depth and skill. Stephen Richards is a standout individual in the team. Julia Abrey is excellent.’

‘Jennifer Dickson is a rising star and has a very bright future ahead of her. She is very bright and effective and will look for creative and pragmatic solutions for her clients. She always has her clients’ interests front and centre.’

‘Katharine Landells is a pleasure to work with. She plays with a straight bat, cuts to the chase, and is solution focused for clients. That is a breath of fresh air when acting against London firms. She’s a cut above.’

‘Sarfraz Ali works efficiently, has a keen eye for detail and welcomes an open dialogue on resolving issues for clients. He is a rising star.’

‘Without doubt one of the top London firms. A well-deserved reputation for providing an elite service.’

‘In my opinion, Withers is the standout family law team in London. They have a strength in depth, from the most junior trainee to the most senior partner, which is unparalleled.’

‘Withers are an exceptionally strong team – they have good people with a broad range of strengths and abilities and are exceptionally good at pulling together teams of personnel at different levels of experience.’

‘Suzanne Todd is superb – she is very adept at communicating complex issues in a straightforward way. She is extremely good working in a team and is good at getting the best out of people – both lawyers and clients.’

‘A strong and deep team involved in the biggest cases. Put real effort into technical knowledge and have a wide breadth of experience. Their uncoupling offering is novel and being copied by others.’

‘Incredible strength in depth, all lawyers are industry leaders. They have great experience with clients from all different nationalities and backgrounds.’

‘Philip Munro – my go-to for complex private client matters. He’s incredibly intelligent and has a great way with clients. He identifies problems and works out solutions.’

‘Depth of experience, knowledge and resource on offer across all aspects of personal, company and trust needs.’

‘Great people skills. Empathetic and responsive to our needs.’

‘The Withers team provided us with very prompt and thorough analysis that showed an excellent understanding of the sector. Their comments on documents were practical and pragmatic, while also making sure our interests were protected. We felt comfortable that we were receiving quality advice despite working across time zones from Australia to the UK.’

‘Incredibly knowledgable – we had a relatively complex transaction, and we felt incredibly well covered. Pace of work is incredibly high, with rapid turn around on documents, and questions. Team was constantly available, with minutes to reply to emails throughout the day and late into the evening. High-pressure project, team delivered very well under changing and complex circumstances with a diverse set of stakeholders.’

‘We’ve been with Withers for many years through several rounds of funding and various other situations where we’ve needed their help. For such a large firm, you would expect things to be less personal, but they are not. The team are brilliant and feel like we’re always in safe hands and they spot issues and gaps where others might not. They’ve saved our bacon a number of times – a great firm.’

‘Paul McGrath was unflappable, bright, and able to filter the issues we needed to consider as trustees. He presented and articulated himself in a way that was clear and relevant.’

‘Withers has truly exceeded my expectations. Their deep expertise and innovative practices shine through in every interaction.’

‘They consistently deliver tailored legal strategies across a wide range of sectors, and their comprehensive knowledge in investment, corporate law, and international business matters is impressive. Working with their team has given me invaluable clarity on complex issues.’

‘Despite being a large firm, their approach to collaboration and communication makes each experience feel personal and attentive. Their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive environment speaks volumes about their values. Plus, they leverage technology to make the process efficient and seamless.’

‘I couldn’t be happier with their service and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone in need of legal assistance.’

‘Sharon Whitehouse has been absolutely amazing to work with. My understanding of legal matters was limited, but she has always been patient and willing to dedicate time to ensure I fully grasp everything.’

‘What sets Sharon apart is that she genuinely cares, treating me as a person rather than just a client. Her willingness to offer personalised advice and her unwavering support make her stand out among competitors.’

‘Sharon’s expertise, empathy, and dedication have made navigating legal challenges a much smoother process, and I couldn’t ask for a better partner than Sharon. She truly is the best!’

‘This team has a very unique international approach to its work, and its knowledge of legal contexts is incredible and very useful.’

‘Clients are very pleased with the commitment and professional skills of those involved in their work.’

‘The team is technically skilled and commercial. They take a commercial approach that is much appreciated.’

‘The firm’s commitment to pro bono, especially in the international sphere, really places it a cut above others.’

‘Withers has a fantastic team that specialises in both public international law and international arbitration.’

‘Led by the outstanding Hussein Haeri KC, they offer one of the best practices in this area in London.’

‘Hussein Haeri KC is an excellent lawyer and a rare combination of intellectual prowess and commercial nous. Very impressive, as clients do not often get one with the other.’

‘Hussein Haeri KC displays his exceptional intellect and experience to good effect for his clients throughout the preparation and hearing of a case.’

‘The team has broad knowledge and experience in art law and related subjects. Sarah Barker and her colleagues are extremely attentive, responsive and experienced.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou gets great results. She understands the art world and knows what works and what doesn’t when dealing with people from the art world.’

‘Sarah Barker is quite possibly the lead partner on transactional and advisory art law in London having had her specialist firm bought out by Withers. She is also extremely able.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou is a fabulously strategic litigator, managing this very complicated multi-jurisdictional litigation with all the conflicts and problems that brings, heading a team of many, many lawyers.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou is on top of her game, aware of every detail in this complex piece of litigation, which is rare at this level. Very quick on her feet and very astute strategically, with an exceptional eye to find a commercial solution for the client.’

‘Sarah Barker is very approachable, highly attentive and extremely knowledgeable. Assisted by Natalie Sherborn, she returns calls in good time, garners information and provides advice clearly, efficiently and where possible without delay.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou was extremely professional and took charge of the case as expected and required.’

‘A top-rate practice with a huge knowledge of the market and the key institutions and players. Eleni Polycarpou is brilliant. She really knows the market and how it operates.’

‘Withers have one of the leading family teams in London, supported by trust, tax and other private client support teams of the highest quality. A stand out firm for HNWs.’

‘Suzanne Todd is exceptional. She leads a strong team and is a fabulous mediator who can get to the heart of an issue and resolve it, seamlessly, for clients. She is wise, experienced and fantastic to work with.’

‘The mediators in this team are very good mediators but also amongst the best lawyers in the country, so clients get the best of all worlds; skilled mediators to help them discuss options but also legal knowledge.’

‘Claire Blakemore and Suzanne Todd are top of their game and the clients I refer to them report back that they are very happy with them. They are practical, sensible and also very personable so clients are put at ease which is incredibly important in mediation.’

‘Prompt and very knowledgeable in residential and commercial real estate.’

‘David Holland – Does a fantastic job on residential properties and works patiently with clients to understand their situation.’

‘Wide ranging expertise and real attention to detail on more complex matters. But are also very easy to work with, accessible and communicative with clients.’

‘Nick Vaughan is one of the best in the business; a positive and engaging partner.’

‘George Coleman is head and shoulders above many of his peers, particularly on leasehold reform matters. Excellent at keeping clients informed and manages to make even the most complex matters far less overwhelming.’

‘Leading the way in the rural sector, with a deep understanding of country property. Offer confident, competent advice, with a pragmatic approach to issues and look for solutions, rather than problems.’

‘Bertie Hoskyns Abrahall – outstanding professional with a calm, highly intelligent approach to all legal matters. Always easy to recommend Bertie to clients who want the highest levels of service and advice.’

‘Excellent legal knowledge; strongly practical, professional. They exude confidence. Good client management. Cross-departmental services are delivered in a joined-up way. Incomparable client support- better than any other private client firm.’

‘I had a very positive outcome with this team. My core objective was to de-escalate a potentially difficult and distressing situation and avoid litigation. The team listened to my concerns and gave sound advice, and their legal approach delivered the outcome I desired. Their strength is their ability to minimise and then eliminate a crisis situation and cauterise the threat.’

‘Jo Sanders was outstanding. She listens to the client’s needs and advises an approach which will protect and deal with the threat in the fastest way possible, whilst creating the least amount of noise, which is crucial when seeking to protect reputations.’

’Withers have a strong practice, headed by Jo Sanders who is excellent. She has built (and is growing) a team with strength at all levels. They are a sensible, measured unit, who I am very happy to refer clients to on conflicts.’

‘Jo Sanders is very experienced, and sensible. Andrew Fremlin-Key is an up-and-coming partner, who comes across as very knowledgeable and personable.’

‘Andrew Fremlin-Key: highly intelligent, well educated, with a deep and broad knowledge. Highly practical and very experienced.’

‘The team provided expert and extremely helpful advice and support.’

‘The team was extremely effective in dealing with my case and all my inquires with care and attention to detail. They have always felt my issues at the heart and felt they made a very convoluted and stressful bureaucratic process much more human and surmountable.’

‘Tracy Evlogidis and Ana Nicorici made enormous contributions to me feeling safe and cared for here in the UK.’

‘Their knowledge in the sector is commendable and we feel we have the best people handling our case.’

‘Tracy Evlogidis and Anna Nicorici are kind, courteous, efficient, sympathetic, patient, professional and give the personal touch. And they know their sector well and are up to date with the latest news, rules and guidelines.’

‘Withers has been exceptional.’

‘Nicolette Bostock has been absolutely exceptional. Her knowledge and expertise in immigration matters is remarkable. She makes it very easy for you to understand the laws and processes.’

‘The team were able to support me with international enquiries and put me in touch with other legal counsel in other territories really quickly. When it came to a deal with a US company they were quickly able to get US counsel on board and get the information I needed within 24 hours to continue my deal. Expertise across countries and strong in technology and startups.’

‘I work with Sarah Melaney. She is incredibly responsive and gives me confidence with each exchange. A very strong can-do attitude and aligns the priorities with mine to keep everything slowing. High standards of work and control of deals. Sarah can tackle anything and is always around to give sound advice. What I believe being true legal counsel is about rather than transaction in nature.’

‘Phil Robinson is accessible, thoughtful, considerate to my business needs and budget limitations. He gives our venture excellent practical advice.’

‘Susanna Stanfield heads the corporate practice in Cambridge and is highly regarded, having advised on the drafting of the newly revised BVCA model venture investment documentation.’

‘Fluidity to the team’s deal making ability, born out of a deep understanding of the dynamics of a VC lead investment round.’

‘Sarah Melaney has to be one of, of not the best in this space. She’s like having a great co-founder with deep VC experience rather than external legal counsel.’

‘While we have a primary point of contact, there is always a team supporting our work, and unbelievably almost round the clock access to an individual collaborating with us. The team is well versed beyond the UK, has a good handle of various sectors, is considered with their projects, and efficient when liaising with us.’

‘Sarah Melaney has truly been a partner beyond legal. She thinks strategically at a firm level for us as well as how to best protect our interests while being fair to founders in our portfolio. She’s very commercial, works well with other lawyers / firms when necessary, and is always available. She’s been very helpful across both UK and US law, and we trust her to always take a good look at the fine print.’

‘Brilliant team – absolutely top notch for complex arbitration and arbitration-related court applications.’

‘They field very high-quality teams of lawyers from top to bottom. They also have wide experience of disputes emanating from many different parts of the world, including Russia and the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, and Africa.’

‘An excellent team. Their work is always of very high-quality, and their client engagement is outstanding. They are very strong in investment treaty arbitration, and complex high-value commercial arbitrations.’

‘Hussein Haeri KC is a leading figure in international arbitration. Equally comfortable in investment treaty arbitration and in commercial arbitration, he is a strong advocate who is very strategic.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou is a standout partner – she has excellent judgement and tactical nous and brings the best out of everyone in her teams. She has impressive expertise in arbitration practice and procedure across numerous jurisdictions and uses it to devise very successful strategies.’

‘Robert Kovacs has a bright future in arbitration. He is a very intelligent advocate who is good with clients and has a strong legal mind.’

‘Roberto Moruzzi is super-easy to work with and gives clients a real sense of reassurance that he has everything under control.’

‘Ruzin Dagli is a standout star in the firm, with fantastic people skills and great attention to detail. Thinks out of the box and very hard-working.’

‘They provide clear and well-intended advice, combined with a good understanding of their client’s objectives and constraints.’

‘Harvey Knight is very well experienced and considered.’

‘Harvey Knight is an absolute super star. He is one of the few lawyers who really understands how to defend individuals against the bulwark of the regulator.’

‘Global, innovative and embracing many legal disciplines.’

‘Exceptional experience and services. Personal approach and high level of responsibility.’

‘Very well thought-of practice for representing individuals. Very purposeful defence of their clients’ interests.’

‘Harvey Knight is very well known in the sector. We acted in parallel to him on a significant FCA Enforcement matter during this past year and he defended his client very well.’

‘Very user friendly, responsive and knowledgeable. Particularly good at guiding clients through the process, and supporting them to engage in and understand the process, while providing excellent legal knowledge and judgement.’

‘Hugely experienced, multifaceted and multilingual litigation firm.’

‘Very capable team with real civil fraud expertise.’

‘Stephen Ross is incredibly calm, but sees three moves ahead of everyone else, so that there are no unpleasant surprises.’

‘Peter Wood is a brilliant tactician and litigation powerhouse.’

‘Roberto Moruzzi is a delightful and client-friendly partner to work with.’

‘Andrew Wass and Laura Mattar make clients feel secure and understood, and they come up with good solutions.’

‘Andrew Wass is hugely experienced and incredibly capable, while Laura Mattar is a great associate – super-smart and dynamic.’

‘I really appreciate their kindness, helpful , great people, for me I would recommend them to all people that I know if they need help.’

‘The Withers team is highly responsive, expert and my ‘go-to’ firm. The team’s knowledge across universities and higher education (public and private) has noticeably grown over the last few years and they are able highly capable.’

‘Chris Priestley is exceptional. His grasp of issues is superb and he spends time thinking through the right answer for clients, not just the easy way forward that is seen in some of the contemporary teams.’

‘The Withers’ team are very knowledgeable and helpful. Plus they combine an extensive charity law practice which we call upon from time to time. Good client updates on charity law.’

‘Hugo Walford – a very knowledgeable and user-friendly senior associate.’

‘A deep knowledge of the topic and the ability to effectively highlight and explain the risks of adopting various courses of action following their advice.’

‘Philip Reed on charity matters pertaining to the education sector is outstanding.’

‘The partners are extremely competent and knowledgeable about their specialist areas. They are able to offer high quality strategic advice that is readily understandable by those less familiar with the legal concepts involved. I have had good feedback from clients that have worked with them. They have also introduced a number of innovations, such as AI-tools for reviewing large numbers of contracts, which provide significant efficiencies for clients.’

‘They are great people who empathize and provide rational guidance to help make decisions.’

‘They have a wealth of experience across the team with the ability to support globally with pretty much anything you can imagine.’

‘They are easy to work with, super rational, and thoughtful.’

‘Ben Williams’ knowledge of IPR and contracts within our industry proved to be very valuable. His advice was spot on, and he paid attention to the most efficient, i.e. cost-effective, way of achieving our goals, and was able to explain all options clearly and succinctly without burdening us with law lectures. He was also always available when we needed him.’

‘I have worked closely with Ben Williams on a number of projects and with several mutual clients. I am always confident when introducing my clients to him that they will receive high quality advice that takes into account their specific situation and requirements. He often has novel ideas and has introduced a number of innovations to provide cost effective services to clients, such as AI tools for analysing a companies portfolio of contracts and providing insights on points of strength and weakness.’

‘Ben Williams partner at Withers is an all round great human.’

‘Breadth and depth of experience across the team. Really star quality individuals.’

‘Natalie Sherborn – great within this team.’

‘Carl Newman – your rock when it comes to aggressive litigation.’

‘Led by Carl Newman, they’re top of their game in the work they undertake. He is super knowledgeable and personable.’

‘Carl Newman – very engaging, easy to understand and really knows how to present a case for all to digest and progress.’

‘Well-rounded team capable of dealing with all white-collar crime cases.’

‘Natalie Sherborn – client focused and plain talking. Able to make the complex digestible. Excellent advocacy and client care.’

‘We have found the employers team at Withers to be very flexible and responsive – they recently assisted us with an investigation /complaint and were able to bring in additional resources to advise on reputational management and with respect to the governance of a charitable body.’

‘Hugh More and Alexandra Thompson gave robust and very timely support to the appointed complaint investigator and myself about how to address a very difficult situation. They listened, clarified issues as requested and advised us throughout the investigation process.’

‘The employment team are expert, responsive and commercial. They are good at considering the human angle alongside the legal.’

‘James Hockin is my go-to for all people related matters. He is highly expert and gives pragmatic and commercial advice. Highly recommended.’

‘Claire Christy is a very astute employment lawyer.’

‘Claire Christy – An excellent communicator, Claire is able quickly to analyse difficult cases and get straight to the point. She gets a great deal for her clients and knows where all the pressure points are on the other side. A problem-solver par excellence.’

‘Claire is well-worth her salt. Libby Payne – Incredibly clever, but always measured and has excellent judgment. Clients love her, and rightly so.’

‘Alex Thompson has been a brilliant partner to us, and at points an extension of our team. She has done a great job in understanding our business and is able to tailor her advice accordingly.’

‘They are very experienced and great communicators.’

‘Eleni Polycarpou is very experienced and brilliant with clients.’

‘Caroline Thompson and Josh Swift are both excellent and highly effective lawyers, who are also both charming and pleasant to deal with.’

‘Stephen Ross is very experienced. He is extremely calm under the most ferocious of fires, which instills confidence in all clients.’

‘Stephen Ross is a heavy weight commercial litigator and very experienced in pursuing and defending professional negligence claims against solicitors.’

‘Joshua Swift is very bright, savvy, and all over the detail.’

‘Caroline Thompson has great judgement.’

‘In the conduct of professional negligence claims, this firm is able to bring to bear its particular experience in private client and trusts matters.’

‘Great team with breadth and depth of experience. They are fantastic at dealing with high-profile clients in a discrete and sensible way.’

‘Carl Newman holds the whole team together with charisma and style – he’s very well thought of in this field and is both a great lawyer and very valued by his client base for sensible and pragmatic advice.’

‘Anthony Hanratty and Natalie Sherborn are great within his team.’

‘They all have significant defence experience which is an enormous strength when advising corporate clients as the team understands an investigation from cradle to grave and all the pitfalls and potentials outcomes.’

‘Carl Newman is a tour de force, as is Natalie Sherborn.’

‘Well-resourced team able to advise corporate crime and investigations. Making their mark in this area and competing with the more traditional firms.’

‘Natalie Sherborn – Able to present to boards and senior management with ease. Natalie gives advice in a calm and strategic manner. Very strong on internal investigations. ’

‘The Withers team provided us with very prompt and thorough analysis that showed an excellent understanding of the sector. Their comments on documents were practical and pragmatic, while also making sure our interests were protected. We felt comfortable that we were receiving quality advice despite working across time zones from Australia to the UK.’

‘Incredibly knowledgable – we had a relatively complex transaction, and we felt incredibly well covered. Pace of work is incredibly high, with rapid turn around on documents, and questions. Team was constantly available, with minutes to reply to emails throughout the day and late into the evening. High-pressure project, team delivered very well under changing and complex circumstances with a diverse set of stakeholders.’

‘We’ve been with Withers for many years through several rounds of funding and various other situations where we’ve needed their help. For such a large firm, you would expect things to be less personal, but they are not. The team are brilliant and feel like we’re always in safe hands and they spot issues and gaps where others might not. They’ve saved our bacon a number of times – a great firm.’

‘Withers worldwide have a very strong global footprint in the private client arena, including in the BVI. Withers is one of the few London firms to have a substantial presence in the BVI. This allows Withers to handle private client mandates and disputes which cut across London, the BVI and other offshore jurisdictions. The team is efficient and diligent, and always responsive.’

‘Sara Jane-Knock is a first-rate private client and disputes partner. She brings her substantial experience in commercial and trusts litigation to the table, with an intimate knowledge of BVI law and court practice. She and her team are very adept at cross-border disputes with a London and BVI nexus. Jan Alessandrini also deserves praise for his legal research and document management skills.’

‘Sara-Jane Knock has been invaluable for our mutual client in a multi-jurisdictional and complex enforcement matter. She is very hands on, strategic and her grasp of the BVI system, and the players in it, has been critical to the case.’

‘I have worked with Withers BVI for over 5 years on a number of matters. In contrast to a number of firms in BVI, they have low turnover of associates and people tend to stay there, which makes for a friendly team with consistently high quality associates. They are a lean outfit, with no ‘dead weight’. They also link up seamlessly with their other teams to offer round the clock client care on a matter – e.g. I am currently working on an investment dispute where the funds subscribed in are Hong Kong-based. It is staffed by both the BVI and HK offices which works really well for both the counsel team and the client in getting support.’

‘Sara-Jane Knock is a longstanding member of the BVI legal community, who has impressive depth of knowledge about the BVI laws and procedures and real insight into how a point will play with particular judges, which is invaluable. She is very responsive and a pleasure to work with. Lauren Peaty is also impressive.’

‘Sinead Harris is easy to reach and useful when you do. She is direct on the relevant legal matter and seeks to guide you aware from those that don’t serve the main goal. She is proactive and comfortable working with a wider team of professionals. We would use her again should the need arise.’

‘Sara-Jane Knock is a superb partner who is great fun to work with and completely on top of the most complex trust disputes. She manages the relationship between the local BVI office and wider team in London and elsewhere with consummate ease.’

‘The team are really approachable and easily accessible. They are knowledgeable and offer sensible advice. Their focus remains on the end goal not winning satellite points which don’t progress the matter; they are adept as avoiding these issues.’