Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors > Reading, England > Firm Profile
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors Offices
One Valpy
20 Valpy Street
Reading
RG1 1AR
England
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors > The Legal 500 Rankings
Private client > Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 2
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors acts on behalf of clients in a range of financial cases, including pre and post-nuptial agreements and an increasing amount of work regarding unmarried couples and trustees of land. Rekha Joshi heads the Wokingham-based family team, focusing on complex financial work involving high-net-worth individuals and tax issues. Managing partner and experienced practitioner Anne Deller leads the Reading family contingent, managing a caseload that involves pre and post nuptial arrangements, and child cases.Practice head(s):
Anne Deller; Rekha Joshi
Other key lawyers:
Lisa Lee
Testimonials
‘I found everyone I encountered to be the perfect mix of professional, knowledgeable and friendly when dealing with an emotionally difficult subject such as divorce this was really reassuring.’
‘I worked with Rekha Joshi and her style of working suited me perfectly. She is kind and gentle yet at the same time straight to the point, pragmatic and solutions focussed. At every step of the way she kept me informed, patiently explained things to me, set out options to consider and guided me through them.’
‘Lisa Lee is an exceptional individual. Her experience is invaluable, her knowledge excellent and she always dealt with any matters with the greatest professionalism. As a person she is warm and shows empathy which was incredibly important and supportive when you are going through the toughest of times in your life.’
‘A firm that really cares. They care about you as an individual, and you are most definitely not just a client. You are treated as part of the family.’
‘Rekha Joshi stood out for me at our initial meeting as having a no-nonsense approach, get the job done and gave me every confidence she would do a good job. Her confidence, knowledge, experience and contacts worked amazingly well together in court and did a brilliant job.’
‘Rekha Joshi was professional, efficient and very knowledgeable, she had excellent professional contacts and her and her barrister colleague worked to great effect to achieve an excellent result in court. She also showed empathy and understanding.’
‘Modern and forward thinking and strong in children and finances work. Down to earth, pragmatic, sensible and very supportive towards their clients.’
‘Anne Deller stands out, in my experience, as a hugely experienced and competent lawyer. She handles every level of complexity with unparalleled competence and ability and is extremely good at holding clients’ hands through difficult periods.’
Work highlights
Real estate > Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 2
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors comes recommended for its ‘professional, responsive, cohesive and cogent advice’, specialising in freehold acquisitions and disposals, leasehold, residential development, and agricultural-related work across a range of asset classes including office, industrial, educational, licensed, and retail premises. Jonathan Foulds leads the Thames Valley commercial property team, splitting his time between Reading and Wokingham. Ian Graham is a go-to lawyer on advisory work for charities regarding property matters, whilst Spencer Grimshaw is a key name for commercial leases for offices, developments, as well as investment sales and purchases. Partner Tim Read retired in 2022.Practice head(s):
Jonathan Foulds
Other key lawyers:
Ian Graham; Spencer Grimshaw; Lydia Methven
Testimonials
‘Jonathan Foulds really is the best! He is always on the ball and proactive and will work out the solutions without asking.’
‘Their corporate team and commercial property teams work closely together and I have worked with them on several company acquisitions in the last year – professional, responsive, cohesive and cogent advice. Problem solving has been approached with a “can do” attitude and quite clearly they enjoy working with their clients to achieve best outcomes.’
‘Lydia Methven is an up-and-coming star in the commercial property team. Extremely intelligent with a tremendous grasp of property law, and eye for detail. One to watch.’
‘The whole team is outstanding especially Jonathan Foulds. They always complete as promised.’
‘We have worked with Clifton Ingram for many years. This has included a variety of services but we use them now mostly for Lease renewals on our properties. They are always helpful and proactive with good communication and sound advice.’
‘Jonathan Foulds is very committed and knowledgeable. Takes a sensible approach to get the job done.’
‘There are specialists in every area we require for our very varied business requirements from domestic conveyancing, commercial purchases and leases, personal tax planning and dispute resolution. Where work crosses divisions, Clifton Ingram are able to coordinate their work to ensure all our needs are met.’
‘Jonathan Foulds keeps the pressure up on other solicitors involved in the transaction and keeps us well informed on issues and how best to resolve them quickly.’
Key clients
Lawsons Holdings Limited
Nike Group
Natta Group
Todhunter Limited
Egbury Developments Ltd
Work highlights
- Advising the Natta Group on disposals of new build residential properties with a value of excess of £18m over a year.
- Acting for the Nike Group on a sale of freehold land and premises comprising a disused ice rink and parking areas for a value of just under £6m.
- Advising Lawson Holdings Limited on the property aspects on a number of company acquisition transactions including due diligence of several leased properties, and also advising on both freehold and leasehold acquisitions and lease management for existing branches.
Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 4
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors comes recommended for its ‘strong client ethos’ and places emphasis on the SME market and large owner-managed businesses. Practice head Barry Niven focuses on business and share sales and acquisitions, alongside corporate recovery and insolvency.Practice head(s):
Barry Niven
Other key lawyers:
Lily Holland
Testimonials
‘The team are focused on M&A activity in the SME sector and understand that clients value straightforward, commercially-focused legal advice. The team take time to explain issues in non-legal terminology and have a strong client service ethos.’
‘The team are willing to go the extra mile to provide a great service to clients. Barry Niven leads the team and makes himself available to clients and is highly responsive. This approach is shared through the team including Lily Holland who is highly professional in her dealings with clients.’
Key clients
Lawsons (Whetstone) Limited
Jargon PR LLP
Realogist Limited
Work highlights
- Acting for Lawsons (Whetstone) Limited on its continued buy and build strategy by advising on three share acquisitions and two business and asset acquisitions.
- Advising Realogist Limited on its acquisition of the Relocation Agent Network from Dwellworks LLC.
- Acting for Duncan Yeardley Estate Agent Limited on its buy and build strategy including the acquisition of a 3 site letting and estate agents business.
Employment > Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 4
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors has a robust track record for providing specialist advice to clients in the technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sectors. Alison Gair leads the department, lending her expertise to both contentious and non-contentious matters including TUPE, harmonising terms, and dismissals. Dispute resolution partner Robert Cherry also frequently acts on employment matters.Practice head(s):
Alison Gair
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Clifton Ingram – all contacts friendly and helpful.’
‘Robert Cherry gave advice on my case, which was complex, he read in detail my agreement, picked up some issues and gave excellent advice on areas the company had not considered. I felt totally confident with his help and support. His approach was friendly and helpful as well as giving brilliant advice.’
‘Clifton Ingram were recommended to me from colleagues who had used them before. They were very professional, gave objective and direct advice based on the information given to them. They provided a level of confidence in a time when it could have become emotional.’
‘My legal support and advice came from Alison Gair. She was very clear and impartial on all aspects of business. Her knowledge was good and always had time to consider all options available for the best outcome of all parties.’
‘We have used Clifton Ingram LLP for years, always finding them resourceful and reliable.’
‘The Clifton Ingram team have a good understanding of our business.’
Work highlights
Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 4
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors‘ team of practitioners dispenses advice on both corporate and personal insolvency matters, often in relation to debt recovery. The team regularly acts for trustees in bankruptcy, debtors and spouses of debtors, and directors of companies. Barry Niven works out of Wokingham, and leads the team with his extensive experience in acting for insolvency practitioners in asset retrieval matters, corporate restructurings, and the defence of winding up petitions.Practice head(s):
Barry Niven
Other key lawyers:
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors > Firm Profile
Clifton Ingram is an established, professional and trusted law firm, providing legal advice over the full range of corporate and private client services.
The firm: Clifton Ingram LLP was founded over 100 years ago and has grown both organically and through various acquisitions to become one of the largest full-service law firms based in the Thames Valley.
Known for being proactive, capable and honest, Clifton Ingram attracts significant and high-value work to its offices in Reading, Wokingham and Farnham. Its increasing client base ranges from multinational organisations to individuals, and it has a reputation for providing practical, plain-speaking legal advice and for putting client care foremost in its priorities.
The firm is currently recruiting to increase its commercial capacity, and will continue to grow both organically and through further acquisition.
Types of work undertaken
Corporate services: Clifton Ingram’s corporate team is regularly instructed to advise on acquisitions and disposals, MBOs and MBIs, corporate finance, joint ventures, shareholder agreements, buy-back of shares, reduction of capital, company reorganisations and general company law issues. The emphasis is on owner-managed businesses and professional practices, but the client base also includes several large organisations and banks.
Intellectual property: the firm’s IP expert provides advice in relation to all aspects of IP law, trade marks, designs, names and reputation.
Insolvency and corporate recovery: the team regularly advises on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency, and has specialists in both the contentious and non-contentious aspects of insolvency law. Clifton Ingram is regularly instructed by insolvency practitioners, asset-based lenders, banks and fixed-charge receivers, directors of companies, creditors and other stakeholders, (such as shareholders, charge holders and landlords), and debtors.
Employment: the employment team handles a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious work, predominantly for UK-based SMEs and foreign-owned subsidiaries, as well as employees. All aspects of employment law are handled, including TUPE, discrimination, redundancy, contracts and tribunal cases.
Commercial property: the firm has one of the largest commercial property departments in the area. The team operates a diverse practice, specialising in leasehold work for both landlord and tenant for office, industrial, educational, licensed and retail premises, residential development work for both developers and landowners, and agricultural-related work encompassing farmland and large country estates. In addition the team has wide experience of commercial property litigation, planning law and related areas, including enforcement and lawful use issues.
Dispute resolution: dispute resolution expertise covers all litigation, ranging from High Court and County Court proceedings, to ADR and arbitration. The team has specialists for both residential and commercial property disputes, corporate and partnership matters, debt, contract and intellectual property disputes.
Family: Clifton Ingram is renowned for its family work and has one of the largest dedicated family teams in the Thames Valley, which specialises in matrimonial finance, private law children and care work.
Private client: Clifton Ingram has long been regarded as one of the leading firms in the Thames Valley in both the non-contentious and contentious private client fields. In addition to advising on and conducting the administration of estates and trusts (whether acting as executor and/or trustee or not), the preparation and drafting of wills, codicils and lifetime disposals, the team specialises in advising clients in relation to tax affairs at every stage of their lives, with a view to implementing tax-efficient financial arrangements during their lifetimes and for passing on wealth for future generations.
Residential property: accredited by the Law Society with the Conveyancing Quality Scheme in recognition of the high levels of service, Clifton Ingram’s residential property team is committed to providing a first-class service for clients purchasing or selling properties throughout the UK.
Other offices: Reading and Farnham
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Property | Tim Read | ||
| Dispute Resolution & Employment | Robert Cherry | ||
| Corporate & Commercial | Barry Niven | ||
| Commercial Property | Ian Graham | ||
| Wills & Inheritance | Peter McGeown | ||
| Wills & Inheritance | Stephanie Rose | ||
| Family | Anne Deller | ||
| Family | Rekha Joshi | ||
| Employment | Alison Gair | ||
| Residential Conveyancing | Lorna Thomson | ||
| Commercial Property | Jonathan Foulds | ||
| Wills & Inheritance | Sonia Dhesi |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Sonia Dhesi | Partner | View Profile |
|
Mr Tim Read | Partner | View Profile |
|
Mrs Stephanie Rose | Partner | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 12 Number of other UK fee-earners : 43Languages
PunjabiMemberships
Law Society ELA (Employment Lawyers Association) Law Society Children Panel ResolutionClient Testimonials
CLIENT: Michelle Weiss
COMPANY/FIRM: Just Eat plc
TESTIMONIAL: I’ve worked with the Commercial Property team at Clifton Ingram for 8 years. They have always given top notch professional support and advice and dealt with matters in a straight talking, efficient and friendly manner. Clifton Ingram supported me and the business with some very complex lease agreements which helped us to grow from a tech startup to FTSE 100.
CLIENT: Rick de Kerckhove
COMPANY/FIRM: Longacres Garden Centre Ltd
TESTIMONIAL: Our business has a very varied demand for legal services and Clifton Ingram have always been able to respond exceptionally quickly to our needs and demands. Over the last twenty years they have taken us step by step through many complex issues, making it easy to understand and fully informing our decision making processes in matters such as commercial property law, business acquisitions, tax planning, employment law and dispute resolution as well assisting on personal concerns including conveyancing, family law, wills and probate. We regularly work with Tim Read, Lewis Djemal, Louise White, Lydia Methven, Barry Niven, Tina Crow, Lesley Bacon and Peter McGeown and would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending their services to others.
CLIENT: Paul Ellison
COMPANY/FIRM: KRE Corporate Recovery LLP
TESTIMONIAL: At KRE we have worked with Barry Niven and Joel Malloy for about 7 years and their corporate recovery offering is one of the best in Thames Valley. They are fast in reaction and their advice is clear and well supported and we would have no hesitation in recommending their services as they are one of our preferred suppliers for legal advice.
CLIENT: Chris Nike
COMPANY/FIRM: The Nike Group of Companies
TESTIMONIAL: We take great pleasure in recommending the legal services of Clifton Ingram Solicitors LLP. Having used their services for the last two years we have found their experience on how to deal with negotiations very professional and practical and field specific specialists have been tremendously helpful. We were kept up to date from start to finish and assistance was provided when we needed it with an outstanding reaction and response time. The quality of service was of the highest possible standard and we would not hesitate to use Clifton Ingram again in the future.
CLIENT: R P COFF
COMPANY/FIRM: HARRY A COFF LIMITED
TESTIMONIAL: We have been using Clifton Ingram LLP for our Commercial/Development Business for some 20 years now (which I think is a testimony in its self) they have dealt with transactions up to £5 million. I have personally dealt with Mr Tim Read since we started to use them and have always found him to be efficient and enjoyable to work with. In the last couple of years I have also dealt with Mr Lewis Djemal in the Commercial Property Department who did his training under Tim and as such works in a very similar manner which suits the way I like to work.
Client Testimonials
COMPANY/FIRM: Lawsons Whetstone Ltd TESTIMONIAL: Extremely satisfied with the exceptional service we receive from the team at Clifton Ingram and would strongly recommend them to anyone looking for a diligent acquisitions and conveyancing service. All communication is transparent and the team keep us fully informed at all times. Lawsons have worked with Tim, Barry and the team on many occasions. Efficient, professional and reliable, we will continue to use Clifton Ingram for all our property purchases and legal matters.
CLIENT: Nigel Page
COMPANY/FIRM:TESTIMONIAL: Private Client We have probably all met law firms whose expertise is unquestionable, but where the human touch is demonstrably less evident. Having had the opportunity to work with various Clifton Ingram practices over the years, I can attest first hand to the attention which goes beyond the legal advice per se, and considers you, the individual, not as some cog in the machine, but as a true partner in the process. Highly recommended!
CLIENT: Michelle Weiss
COMPANY/FIRM: Just Eat PLC
TESTIMONIAL: I’ve worked with the Commercial Property team at Clifton Ingram for 8 years. They have always given top notch professional support and advice and dealt with matters in a straight talking, efficient and friendly manner. Clifton Ingram supported me and the business with some very complex lease agreements which helped us to grow from a tech start-up to FTSE 100.
CLIENT: Rick de Kerckhove
COMPANY/FIRM: Longacres Garden Centre Ltd
TESTIMONIAL: Our business has a very varied demand for legal services and Clifton Ingram have always been able to respond exceptionally quickly to our needs and demands. Over the last twenty years they have taken us step by step through many complex issues, making it easy to understand and fully informing our decision making processes in matters such as commercial property law, business acquisitions, tax planning, employment law and dispute
resolution as well assisting on personal concerns including conveyancing, family law, wills and probate. We regularly work with Tim Read, Louise White, Lydia Methven, Barry Niven, Lesley Bacon and Peter McGeown and would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending their services to others.
CLIENT: Chris Nike
COMPANY/FIRM: The Nike Group of Companies
TESTIMONIAL: We take great pleasure in recommending the legal services of Clifton Ingram Solicitors LLP. Having used their services for the last two years we have found their experience on how to deal with negotiations very professional and practical and field specific specialists have been tremendously helpful. We were kept up to date from start to finish and assistance was provided when we needed it with an outstanding reaction and response time. The quality of service was of the highest possible standard and we would not hesitate to use Clifton Ingram again in the future.
CLIENT: Paul Ellison
COMPANY/FIRM: KRE Corporate Recovery
TESTIMONIAL: At KRE we have worked with Barry Niven for about 7 years and their corporate recovery offering is one of the best in Thames Valley. They are fast in reaction and their advice is clear and well supported and we would have no hesitation in recommending their services as they are one of our preferred suppliers for legal advice.
Diversity/community
At Clifton Ingram we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace. We value and celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings to our organisation. Inclusion and diversity are a key part of our culture and core values. We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, religion or sexual orientation. Our diversity makes us stronger and gives us the power to better serve our clients.
Our diversity and inclusion policy
Clifton Ingram is fully committed to the elimination of unlawful and unfair discrimination and will not discriminate because of:
- age,
- disability,
- gender reassignment,
- marriage and civil partnership,
- pregnancy and maternity,
- race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins),
- religion or belief,
- sex or sexual orientation.
Clifton Ingram will not discriminate because of any other irrelevant factor and will build a culture that values meritocracy, openness, fairness and transparency.
All employees are responsible for the promotion and advancement of this policy. Behaviour, actions or words that transgress the policy will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in line with the organisation’s disciplinary policy.
Our diversity and inclusion policy is applicable to all employees, secondees, agency staff, clients, communities, suppliers and contractors, whether permanent or temporary. The policy applies to all processes relating to employment and training and to any dealings with clients. Decisions relating to clients and communities will be based on business-related criteria only and any irrelevant information will not form part of the process.
Our diversity policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis to reflect changes in the law, demographics and internal business requirements.