Firm Profile > Blake Morgan LLP > London, England

Mediators

Professional discipline Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's sizeable practice is best known for its representation of professional regulators, particularly in the fields of healthcare, legal, education, accountancy and engineering. The group has a strong track record appearing as counsel in appeals in the High Court, as well as first-tier and upper-tier tribunals. It also undertakes high-profile judicial review and Court of Appeal work. Reading-based Nick Leale heads up the professional discipline practice, while Bradley Albuery in Southampton leads the regulatory business group. In Cardiff, Graham Miles is a regulatory law specialist. Claire Rawle leads the health, safety and environmental team. The senior associates to note are Delme Griffiths, and Antonia Dowgray, James Danks and Guy Micklewright. Barrister Matthew Corrie is also recommended.

Healthcare Tier 2

The team at Blake Morgan LLP focuses on complex and high-value transactions in the healthcare sector, as well as providing highly specialist support to NHS England, NHS Wales, and national private providers. The team also has expertise in public law, prison health, social care transactions, and GDPR compliance. Practice leader Bruce Potter focuses on PPPs, transactions, and private procurements. Cardiff-based health and social care head Eve Piffaretti advises on statutory interpretation of health and social care and regulatory law, while professor and consultant Richard Jones advises on mental health and community care law.

Charities and not-for-profit Tier 3

Blake Morgan LLP has offices in a number of locations throughout England and Wales, and as a result is well placed to advise charities, not-for-profit organisations and social enterprises nationally. It advises on a broad array of matters, including charity legacies, safeguarding, healthcare and charity retail under the leadership of legal director Ben Price. The practice also has considerable skill in advising corporate and unincorporated charitable and not-for-profit structures on issues such as mergers, joint ventures, income generation and governance matters.

Education: institutions Tier 3

Blake Morgan LLP has a sizeable offering in the education sector, with the practice being led by experienced practice head Matthew Smith in Cardiff. The higher education team handles a range of contentious and non-contentious matters for further education and higher education clients. The workload includes litigation, specialist education tribunal matters and advice on governance issues. Tim Forer is a name to note for advice on employment issues. while Penri Desscan handles procurement work. John Deech is a commercial property specialist.

M&A: smaller deals, up to £50m Tier 3

Blake Morgan LLP focuses on small and mid-market M&A across a wide range of industries, with particular experience in the real estate, travel, technology, finance and commercial sectors. The team continues to handle fundraisings for high-growth early-stage companies and SMEs to help position the clients for organic growth and M&A activity. Stojan Essex's practice has a particular focus on high-net-worth individuals, serial entrepreneurs and owner managed businesses, while Lawrence Phillips has experience working on exit strategies, joint ventures and fundraising mandates. Martin Kay leads the department.

Education: schools Tier 4

Blake Morgan LLP's 'unique' education team is led by Cardiff-based practitioner Matthew Smith. Its expertise is reflected in its ability to advise on child protection, employment law, education and charity law, and various regulatory issues. The team group handles academy conversions and transfers, and it also undertakes a significant amount of transactional work. Mike Wilson and Tim Forer, who are both based in Southampton, handle contentious and non-contentious employment matters. Penny Rinta-Suksi is a key contact for commercial law advice. A key differentiator of the team is its ability to act for both the teacher's regulator and other professional bodies.

IT and telecoms Tier 4

Blake Morgan LLP provides a broad range of technology advice, including handling matters involving fintech, AI and cloud issues. The firm also has experience in technology disputes, as well as advising financial services clients on technology procurements, data privacy mandates and outsourcings. Practice head Simon Stokes specialises in IT law, outsourcing work, cloud services issues and data protection matters.

Commercial litigation: mid-market Tier 5

Blake Morgan LLP is praised by clients for its 'exceptional attention to detail and commitment to client service'. It undertakes heavyweight litigation that frequently involves multiple jurisdictions, and its clients include some from Russia and the CIS region. Sarah Rees leads the London commercial litigation team, which includes Justin Weare, whose practice includes shareholder, joint venture, company, contractual, civil fraud, offshore and energy disputes. The team's work further includes insolvency litigation, as well as Proceeds of Crime Act matters (both led by legal director Lucy Edwards).

Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 5

Blake Morgan LLP advises on a broad range of taxation issues, including inheritance tax, capital gains tax, property taxes and stamp duty land tax. It also has a particular focus on providing structuring advice on the holding and acquisition of UK residential property and to owner-managed businesses. In addition, the team is well equipped to handle the administration of cross-border estates. Helen Bunker heads the team following Mark Spash's move to Fladgate LLP.

Planning Tier 5

With a focus on the development, retail, social housing, leisure and construction sectors, the planning team at Blake Morgan LLP works with both private and public sector clients, including CPOs on infrastructure projects, planning agreements for mixed-use developments and section 106 negotiations. Senior associate Keith Lancaster now co-leads the practice alongside Guthrie McGruer following the departure of Sara Hanrahan to Lewis Silkin LLP.

Family Tier 6

Flora Grossman heads the team at Blake Morgan LLP and is a Resolution-accredited specialist in high-net-worth cases. The team attracts instructions from clients in the world of sport and film, as well as professionals and business owners. In addition, the department often handles Children Act matters. Grossman is a member of the Law Society’s Children Panel, and is well placed to advise on a variety of children law matters, from child arrangements through to removal from jurisdiction cases. Senior solicitor Amy Fullerton is also well regarded.

Financial services: non-contentious/regulatory Tier 6

The ‘responsive and committed’ Blake Morgan LLP advises banking, asset finance, corporate and commercial clients on a range of financial services products and compliance issues. Richard Humphreys leads the team and has particular experience advising equipment finance lessors and motor vehicle financers. Also notable is the ‘efficient and intelligent’ legal director Felicity Rowan, who specialises in financial services regulatory compliance.

Property finance Tier 6

Blake Morgan LLP advises a wide range of lenders on development finance, secured and portfolio lending, with a growing focus on Islamic finance. The team acts for clearing banks, investment banks, private banks and property funds. In terms of asset classes, hotels, care homes and residential developments are the key areas of interest. Tony Coyne, who is notably adept at managed and secured lending, leads the practice.

Travel

As ‘a very solid outfit' led by the 'outstanding' Daniel Scognamiglio, Blake Morgan LLP’s personal injury department has considerable experience acting for both claimants and defendants in cross-border personal injury claims. It is involved in a number of high-value cases involving complex jurisdictional and evidential issues and is seeing growing numbers of instructions from legal expense insurers, which includes catastrophic injury claims for claimants and insurers as well as general insurance disputes. Senior associate Eleanor Armstrong is another name to note for personal injury matters. Elsewhere, Ian Skuse leads the commercial and regulatory offering, handling a range of commercial, corporate, finance, regulatory and advisory work for airlines, travel management companies, leisure and tour operators, destination management companies and travel agents.

Banking and finance Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP has a proven track record of SME and mid-market work, and is also on the lending panels of many UK clearing banks. The firm is also known for its expertise in Islamic finance. The practice - which is led by Kath Shimmin, who is described as 'sharp, quick and to the point' - handles the full range of banking and finance matters. Other key contacts in the team are Guy Constant, who has 25 years of experience in this area, Steve Cole and Rebecca McCabe-North.

Clinical negligence and personal injury: defendant Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's 'highly competent team of true clinical negligence specialists' has a 'wide range of experience' and is one of the few law firms in Wales with a significant focus on defending clinical negligence claims brought against doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals. Praised for his ability 'to think of innovative approaches in clinical negligence cases', consultant David Mortimer has vast experience defending doctors, dentists and other healthcare professionals against claims of clinical negligence and remains a key member of the team that is now increasingly overseen on a day-to-day basis by 'tactically astute' senior associate Tina Whitman . Praised for her ability 'to navigate difficult issues delicately but confidently to bring out the best result', Whitman has also developed a strong track record defending public sector clients in personal injury claims brought against them. The 'dynamic and client-focused' Alison Huckle  focuses exclusively in defending health care professionals in clinical negligence claims. The firm's overarching multi-disciplinary expertise within the healthcare sector as a whole also enables the firm to tap into complementary practice area strengths, allowing it to also excel at providing risk and reputation management, as well as fitness to practice concerns.

Commercial litigation Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's 12-strong team has the strength-in-depth to provide 'invaluable advice' to private and public sector clients across a wide range of commercial litigation. The 'highly experienced and knowledgeable' Lee Fisher co-heads the overall litigation offering and largely focuses on the representation of the firm's private sector client base across a range of corporate, shareholder and partnership disputes and unfair prejudice claims. Spearheaded by 'very strong' senior associate Joanne Thompson , the team has developed an excellent reputation for public and private sector clients in relation to procurement litigation challenges and defences. As well as work in the health sector and on IT and technology-related litigation, legal director Kevin Manship  has also developed a particular niche in relation to commercial agency disputes. The team is rounded out by the 'experienced and no-nonsense' Paul Caldicott, who regularly handles contentious work as part of his broad-ranging insolvency and restructuring practice.

Commercial litigation: Hampshire Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's commercial litigation team has significant experience in the health sector, regularly acting for NHS England in a variety of procurement disputes, as well as representing a range of other healthcare providers. Practice head Jill Bainbridge, who clients praise for her 'top-notch knowledge and experience', specialises in trademark prosecution and brand management, while Susie Dryden  is a technology disputes expert. Ben Evans acts in several brand management cases and has 'great experience as both a solicitor and trademark attorney'.

Commercial litigation: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's large team uses its diverse range of specialisms to act for national and international business clients on a full range of commercial disputes, including professional negligence, contentious probate and trust disputes and Privy Council agency for foreign law firms. Sector specialisms include construction and the firm also advises on insolvency-related disputes. 'Highly experienced' Chris Potts  leads the practice and has particular expertise in shareholder disputes, company disputes and fraud. Nicola Diggle, recently appointed legal director, advises on IT and software disputes. Property litigation partner Zoe Wright joined from Shoosmiths LLP in 2019.

Commercial property: Hampshire Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's property group has a strong reputation across the retail and leisure, development, commercial and charitable sectors, while also establishing a growing presence in the healthcare property and retirement living markets. The team's client base ranges from top 10 house builders to high street retailers and the firm has been involved in a number of regeneration initiatives in the region. Practice head Sean Palka is a specialist in the purchase, sale and development of commercial property and advises on complex landlord and tenant cases.

Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP has been expanding its Reading real estate practice, recruiting  partner Robert Lynch and director Angela Mildenhall from Harrison Clark Rickerbys  and Shoosmiths LLP respectively. The team provides real estate advice to corporates, as well as advising clients in the  charity, education and banking sectors. Practice head Andrew Farmery manages some of the most significant client relationships alongside Michael Ward. Associates George Panteli  and Sophie Boswell  are both recommended.  Ruth Leadbitter  retired in 2019.

Construction Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's construction team provides a "cradle-to-grave" service for a broad mix of national and regional clients and the practice has developed a strong reputation advising both private and public sector organisations. The team has expertise across a number of industry sectors including residential and commercial development, retail and leisure, energy and health. The Hampshire group is particularly well known for its contentious construction work. Jessica Tresham is the name to note for adjudication, while Richard Wade leads the practice.

Corporate and commercial Tier 1

Led on the corporate front by the 'experienced and pragmatic' Robert Cherry and James Williams, Blake Morgan LLP handles a significant volume of transactional work (including a sizeable amount of private equity-related matters for management teams) and day-to-day general company law advice, including on corporate governance matters and compliance issues. Although the firm is active across a myriad industry sectors, it has built up a particularly strong track record handling work in the healthcare space, and has advised on 19 sales of domiciliary care, foster care and Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools businesses in the last three years. Richard Jones was recently promoted to partner, partially in recognition of his pivotal role in many of the firm's most significant private equity and venture capital mandates; he recently took the lead for Zip World and the management team in connection with the £45m management buyout backed by LDC and HSBC. Penri Desscan leads the firm's commercial offering and specialises in advising on long term, complex, high-value services and supplies contracts, including on major public procurement matters.

Corporate and commercial: Hampshire Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP has a reputation for assembling large deal teams to complete complex transactions in short time frames. The department advises a wide range of clients, from owner managers and entrepreneurs through to SMEs and private equity houses. A large amount of the firm's work is advising on refinancings, disposals and corporate restructurings but it also acts on  M&A deals within sectors such as health, education, tech and retail. James Hawkeswood, who leads the practice, specialises in joint ventures and private equity investments.

Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 1

Working from Oxford and Reading offices, Blake Morgan LLP advises on a full range of high-profile transactions, with a particular focus on banking and technology deals with a cross-border element. Simon Staples leads the corporate practice, handling mergers, acquisitions and private equity matters. Commercial lead Alison Patten-Hall specialises in large projects such as outsourcing and IT procurements, supported by Elisabeth Bell, who leads on technology and GDPR matters. Senior associate Timothy Coles  advises a number of university spin-out start-ups. Legal director Mary Pears joined from Harrison Clark Rickerbys in 2020.

Debt recovery Tier 1

The 'outstanding' Sadak Miah leads the debt recovery team at Blake Morgan LLP. Assisting clients in 'overhauling' their repossession processes, he also handles notice of defaults and credit sale agreements. Aside from this, the firm's offering is known for its focus on vehicle finance, an area in which it assists a number of major businesses. In addition, the purchase of debt and related insurance matters are also advised upon. Key clients are drawn from the automotive, recruitment and utility sectors. Elizabeth Bowden is another key name to note

Employment Tier 1

Praised for its 'technical ability, overlaid by a strategic approach', Blake Morgan LLP excels in providing complex bespoke employment solutions to employers in the private and public sectors. Headed by Joanne Davies, the eight-strong team is able provide a wide-ranging contentious and non-contentious service to clients and has the strength-in-depth which allows a considerable level of partner specialism. Davies herself regularly provides the employment input concomitant to corporate transactions handled by the firm and is also noted for her advice on the TUPE issues arising on outsourcing in the public sector. Praised for her 'calm and empathetic approach', Paula Kathrens has niche expertise handling internal disciplinary proceedings involving doctors in NHS Wales and also excels at handling employment-related matters within the higher and further education sectors. The team is rounded out a partner level by the 'intelligent, assiduous and hardworking' Matthew Smith, who specialises in contentious work for private and public sector clients.

Employment: Hampshire Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP 's employment practice has a particular focus on the retail and leisure, education and charities sectors and has a large client following in these areas. A recent growth area for the practice has been in data protection, and it continues to advise businesses/third sector clients on GDPR and the Data Protection Act matters. Vicky Schollar who takes the lead on  corporate support work with Holly Cudbill, also manages VIGIL, the firm's fixed-fee service providing unlimited day-to-day employment law advice. Tim Forer heads up the employment practice and specialises in contentious employment advice, often acting for clients in employment tribunals, as well as providing strategic management advice. The team regularly provide bespoke training relating to employment and regulatory law for both employers and HR professionals.  

Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's 'pragmatic and commercially sensitive' team offers top tier advice to long-standing, high profile clients in the technology, pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. With offices in Oxford and Reading, the firm is able to offer expertise in employment disputes work at Tribunal and High Court level, as well as transactional matters including TUPE issues relating to corporate acquisitions and disposals. Practice head William Downing advises on strategic planning and boardroom-level matters. Rajiv Joshi has expertise in complex discrimination claims and in police and health sector workforce issues.

Environment and planning Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's specialist planning team is best known for its judicial review work, and has more than 15 years' experience acting for major housing developers. The Oxford-based practice acts for a number of Wales-based clients and has an in-house team of planning consultants. Guthrie McGruer leads the department and is an expert in compulsory purchase law, with significant experience in dealing with judicial reviews and statutory challenges. He has also been involved in many High Court and Court of Appeal cases, negotiating complex Section 106 agreements on behalf of both developers and local authorities.

Family: Hampshire Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's has developed a strong reputation for family law, including financial matters - advising on a range of high value cases. The team has seen an increase in work with an international slant, advising on a number of cross-jurisdictional matters, including post-nuptial agreements and division of assets. Practice head Simon Burge specialises in the financial consequences of relationship breakdowns and has particular expertise in handling high net worth cases. Elsewhere in the team, Jennifer Williamson has significant experiencedealing with high value wealth management cases.

Health and safety Tier 1

Claire Rawle heads a 'strong team' at Blake Morgan LLP that has a 'depth of knowledge, skill and expertise in health and safety regulation and case law'. The firm's 'hardworking and canny lawyers' have expertise on both the defence and prosecution side and are 'able to provide their clients with a distinct advantage by virtue of their practical handling of many such serious cases'. Although she has expertise on the defence side across a broad swathe of industry sectors, Rawle has recently been particularly active representing health and care sector clients in investigations and prosecutions following sudden unexplained deaths. On the prosecution front, although consultant Robin Havard is still active, 'highly committed' senior associate Tom Walker  takes the lead on most of the work and is appreciated for his ability 'to quickly get to the heart of the matter', and to conduct his own advocacy if needed.

Intellectual property Tier 1

Led by the 'exceptional' Lee Fisher, Blake Morgan LLP's 'very experienced' four-strong team provides 'detailed and clear advice' across a range of contentious and non-contentious matters, including as it relates to comparative advertising and patent law, for public and private sector clients. Fisher is particularly strong at handling IP disputes, including those requiring urgent injunctive relief. Senior associate Joanna Corbett-Simmons is a 'highly proficient litigator' and regularly handles breaches of confidential information and copyright claims.

Intellectual property Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's IP team includes cross-border enforcement and expert Jill Bainbridge - who also leads the firm's commercial litigation teams in the South and Wales - and chartered trade mark attorney Ben Evans. Noted for its work on behalf of charities, public sector bodies and retail clients, the firm is proficient across a number of areas. These include: competition issues, brand protection, reputation management (including defamation and harassment), digital copyright and social media. Having consolidated a first-rate reputation for this type of work, it attracts a significant number of clients from overseas law firms. Chris Williams is recommended for software cases concerning the misuse of confidential information.

Pensions Tier 1

Led by Ron Burgess , who divides his time between the firm's London and Cardiff offices, Blake Morgan LLP's 'personable and pragmatic' pensions team has a strong reputation among scheme trustees and employers, both locally and throughout the UK. Leveraging the firm's 'technical expertise' across core business law matters relating to finance and corporate, Burgess is regularly called on to advise on the pensions-related implications of transactions handled by the firm. The team is also noted for its expertise on public sector pensions-related matters, an area that 'friendly and professional' Gillian McCue  has a 'depth of knowledge'.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Hampshire Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP covers the full breadth of wealth protection work and advises clients on all aspects of trust creation and administration. The firm can leverage the resources of four specialist teams across the South East: advisory, probate, trust administration, and court of protection. Paula Shea joined the practice from Lester Aldridge LLP  and is particularly skilled in advising elderly clients and assisting families with vulnerable children. She leads the Southampton practice alongside Simon Treherne , who works primarily with entrepreneurial clients. Jonathan Sleep is an inheritance tax specialist and helps to provide safeguards for clients losing mental capacity.

Property litigation Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP's five-strong team is well-versed at advising landowners, tenants, developers and property companies across the spectrum of disputes, including on the enforcement of covenants, lease renewal proceedings, dilapidation claims and adverse possession matters. The team has strong visibility for its work in the public sector, and has recently defended the central government in numerous compulsory purchase order claims brought in relation to a new road scheme. Team head Sian Jones' diverse workload includes portfolio management for several large property companies (including contentious advice regarding break notices and the forfeiture of leases), social housing-related disputes and advice in relation to development overage litigation.

Public sector Tier 1

Blake Morgan LLP is considered a leading provider in the field with its expertise spanning the health, local government and education sectors. The health team, under the leadership of Bruce Potter, assists a number of large healthcare providers including national bodies on complex transactional matters. The local government practice is headed up by Penny Rinta-Suksi, who is highly rated by clients and is noted for her work on leisure and housing projects. On the education side, the group is well known for advising institutions on a range of issues including contentious and non-contentious advisory work. Cardiff-based Matthew Smith oversees the group and is supported by associate Vicky Schollar. Rajiv Joshi is recommended for employment-related transactional matters.

Public sector Tier 1

Led by Eve Piffaretti, Blake Morgan LLP's multi-disciplinary eight-partner team provides a 'responsive and highly flexible service' to public sector entities spread across local/central government, health, social housing and education. The firm has an excellent understanding of the political framework in which such bodies operate in, and as well as providing expertise on practice specific work, including as it relates to corporate, commercial and employment, it is also steeped in public law knowledge, including in relation to devolved Welsh law. Praised for her 'timely and pragmatic advice', Piffaretti has deep knowledge across Welsh public law issues, particularly in relation to statutory interpretation of health and social care and regulatory law. Himself formerly in-house at the Welsh government, Simon McCann has excellent insight with regard to public sector-related work and provides 'practical and sensible' advice to public sector bodies on both non-contentious and contentious procurement matters. Legal director Kevin Manship  excels in public law-related matters and regularly represents the NHS in England and Wales in judicial review challenges. 'Diligent and capable' senior associate Joanne Thompson  has a superb reputation for procurement litigation, for both private sector entities bringing claims, as well as public sector clients defending challenges.

Social housing Tier 1

The 'approachable and efficient' team at Blake Morgan LLP is 'capable of responding to the pressures and challenges' faced by the firm's impressive roster of Welsh and English housing association clients. Resourcing matters utilising practitioners with core substantive social housing knowledge, as well as being able to tap into the expertise of lawyers in complementary practice areas (including employment, property, health, finance and construction), the team is well-placed to advise across the spectrum of issues, ranging from governance and compliance, through to tenant-related matters. Leveraging her broader property litigation credentials, and also able to handle her own advocacy, team head Sian Jones has developed a strong track record representing housing associations across a range of disputes, including on mental capacity, public sector duty and equality act issues. The 'exceptional' Louise Howells  has the 'ability to expedite complex situations' relating to development and regeneration projects for social housing clients.

Agriculture and estates Tier 2

Operating out of Southampton, the team at Blake Morgan LLP provides advise on a diverse range of matters for families with landed estates, farmers, and agricultural businesses, covering complex tax and trust advice. Practice leader Oliver Sowton is known for his work on business park infrastructure and renewable energy projects. Senior associate Caroline Lindon-Morris comes recommended. Partner Paula Shea joined from Lester Aldridge LLP in April 2019; Zoe Wright joined from Shoosmiths LLP as a property litigation partner in the summer of 2019.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Now headed by senior associate Paul Duggan, Blake Morgan LLP maintains a 'responsive, commercial and results-focused' service to banks and borrowers across a range of mid-market activity throughout Wales and the UK. The 'highly knowledgeable and personable' Duggan is praised for his 'ability to communicate complex issues in straightforward language', and has niche healthcare and social housing financing expertise. Paul Caldicott is one of the country's foremost insolvency experts and regularly handles restructuring work for insolvency practitioners and lenders.

Charities and not-for-profit Tier 2

While Blake Morgan LLP's Cardiff office does not boast a standalone charities team, numerous practitioners from across the firm's full-service offering regularly handle work for charities and not-for-profit organisations. Spearheaded by Claire Rawle, the professional regulatory team handles a significant volume of charities-related mandates, including safeguarding compliance and HSE-related investigations. Leveraging her vast knowledge within the health and social care field (which includes advice relating to the development of health, social care and education law and policy in Wales), the 'pragmatic and responsive' Eve Piffaretti is also regularly involved in safeguarding and health and safety-related matters, as well as providing regulatory and public law advice, including in relation to the emerging Welsh legislation and policy as it applies to health and social professionals. Lawyers for the Cardiff office are also regularly brought in to assist the firm's overarching core charities group which is led by Ben Brice  out of the Reading office.

Charities and not-for-profit Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP's team handles a wide variety of matters, including governance, safeguarding and structuring. It also has expertise in the creation of and amendments to Royal Charters and working with international charities in disaster areas. Legal director Ben Brice advises on a broad range of charity law issues, including complex governance and regulatory matters. Senior associate Kirsteen Hook has experience advising on new charity formations, M&A and restructuring. Rachel Sales has particular expertise in advising clients in the not-for-profit and education sectors.

Commercial property Tier 2

Led by the 'knowledgeable and responsive' James Egan, Blake Morgan LLP's five-partner team has a well-hedged practice in the commercial property sphere, as a result of its work for a balanced array of investors, developers,  lenders and end users engaged in private and public sector mandates. Praised for his 'conscientious and practical approach', Geoff Reed typifies this eclectic workload, although he is perhaps best-known for his work on high-value domestic development transactions. Nigel Griffiths is also recommended and continues to oversee a thriving retail leasing offering for landlords and tenants in a major London retail space.

Construction Tier 2

The 'knowledgeable' team at Blake Morgan LLP provides 'personable, commercially minded and pragmatic advice' to private and public sector purchasers and contractors engaged in construction projects across residential and commercial development, retail and leisure, energy, banking and education. Joanna Rees is 'always prepared to go the extra mile' and is well-versed in guiding clients through the life cycle of construction projects, from project tender through the build phase, managing risk issues and resolving disputes by alternative dispute resolution. Simon McCann provides 'sensible and practical advice' to public sector bodies tendering for major construction projects. Rachel Gwilliam departed in January 2020 for an in-house role.

Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP's 'highly-regarded team' has considerable expertise in divorce matters and Children's Act proceedings. Notably, it is well-rated for its expertise in matrimonial finance matters and divorce proceedings involving complex company issues and assets in multiple jurisdictions. Christine Plews, who has retired from the partnership to become a consultant, leads the practice and acts for high-net-worth individuals in financial remedy cases , as well as handling  pre and post nuptial agreements with an international element. Senior associate Catherine Morgan handles financial matters and domestic abuse issues.

IT and telecoms Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP's IT & telecoms team boasts a diverse range of expertise, advising on areas such as the delivery and installation of systems, software development, distribution arrangements and managed services. It can also assist clients with digital marketing technology, an area in which it focuses on social media and the development and deployment of specialist apps. Co-leads Alison Patten-Hall and Susie Dryden are renowned for high value cases and count universities, NHS Trusts and multinationals within their client portfolio. Elisabeth Bell is prominent in nano-tech licensing and virtual reality circles.

Media and entertainment Tier 2

Publishing ethics specialist Jill Bainbridge leads the south east media and entertainment team at Blake Morgan LLP. Known for its work in the charity, retail and leisure sectors, it also pursues issues of unfair competition and reputation management. Partner Simon Stokes is notable for his expertise in social media and copyright, particularly as it relates to art. Ben Evans specialises in trade mark prosecution, brand protection, IP litigation (arising from social media use) and defamation. The firm's client base features a number of significant overseas businesses and other law firms.

Pensions Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP's advisory practice services both employers and trustees on schemes of various sizes. On the disputes side, recent work includes professional negligence claims through errors in scheme documentation and Local Government Pension Scheme issues. Ron Burgess splits his time across multiple UK offices and has provided advice on various high-profile transactions and pension scheme restructuring projects. Rupert Graham-Evans advises on legal compliance, benefit changes , mergers and security arrangements. Former practice head John Hamilton  departed the firm in 2020 to take up a role at the Government Legal Service.

Personal tax, trusts and probate Tier 2

Led by the 'experienced and intelligent' Lisa Davies , Blake Morgan LLP's 'professional and cohesive' succession and tax team handles a range of wealth planning work for high-net-worth individuals and business owners, either on its own or in conjunction with other practitioners across the firm's network of UK offices. The 'sensitive and thoughtful 'Nicky Sherrard has expertise across a range of private client work including estate planning and the administration of estates, with mandates often including the consideration of overseas assets, agricultural and business property.

Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP's extensive private client offering includes lifetime estate and business planning for entrepreneurs and owner managers, advice on structuring and ownership, tax advice, as well as succession planning. Susannah Treherne leads the team, having joined from Slade Legal  in November 2019, and operates a varied practice with a focus on contentious trust matters. James Greig specialises in wills, probate, power of attorney and inheritance tax matters. Senior associates Alison Craggs and Kathryn Woodward are recommended.

Professional negligence Tier 2

The 'superb' claimant offering at Blake Morgan LLP - which is led by Richard Portlock in Eastleigh - handles a myriad of matters for professional services clients including solicitors and financial advisers. Chris Williams, who splits his time between London and Southampton, is recommended for matters with an IP element, while senior associate Heather Welham handles those with a regulatory aspect. The team's client roster includes individuals, private companies and non-profit organisations.

Property litigation Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP has notable experience acting in all aspects of commercial and residential matters, and is particularly focused on the leisure, retail and charity sectors. The department regularly acts in lease renewals, rent reviews, dilapidation claims, forfeitures, break options, tenant insolvency litigation and the enforcement of easements. Zoe Wright, who joined the team in mid-2019 from Shoosmiths LLP with legal director Simon Pestell, leads the Reading-based practice, while Claire Lamkin divides her time between London and Oxford.

Social housing Tier 2

Blake Morgan LLP has developed a reputation for its work on the acquisition, development and disposals of properties and sites for housing associations, also advising on construction and planning matters. Department head Sean Palka acts primarily for residential developers, handloing initial acquisitions all the way through to final plot sales. Dan Curtis leads the residential development group and specialises in real estate with particular expertise in the development for care home providers as well as acting for house builders and land owners.

Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 3

Led by Katie James, the practice at Blake Morgan LLP advises clients including banks, landlords, insolvency practitioners and directors of distressed companies on the full range of insolvency work. Based in Reading, the team's client base is spread across the South and London. James has broad experience in insolvency law, and has particular expertise in advising on distressed care homes. She is praised by clients as 'an outstanding lawyer'.

Contentious trusts and probate Tier 4

Blake Morgan LLP advises clients on multi-jurisdictional issues relating to estates and trusts, as well as wills that comply with Islamic law and high-value Inheritance Act claims. Team leader Stephanie Walls has expertise advising in relation to disputes involving discretionary trusts, while Richard Portlock acts both for and against trustees. Arshoo Singh has extensive experience in advising both UK and international clients in relation to tax, trusts, and mental capacity issues. Susannah Treherne joined from Slade Legal in 2019.