Three Cumbrian firms have been included in the leading guide to law firms and solicitors in the UK.
Bendles Solicitors LLP is celebrating after scooping a highly acclaimed listing in the Legal 500 – the leading guide to law firms and solicitors in the UK.
This is the first time the firm has appeared in the listings, which is viewed by more than six million users each year. The guide offers those buying legal services, reliable and up-to-date information on the firms operating in the dynamic UK legal market.
Bendles Solicitors has received the accolade for its work in the Family Law sector in the north area category of the guide, with partner Rebecca Tonkin leading the Family Law team.
Along with Rebecca, Alison Bone has been highlighted as highly experienced in children matters, including care proceedings, adoption, special guardianship and complex private law cases, while Vivienne Clough and consultant Doug Claxton take the lead on matrimonial work. Hannah Smith and Elizabeth Wilson are also solicitors within the Family law team.
The firm, which covers many areas of law, expanded into south Cumbria in January 2020, with the arrival of Elanor Findlay, whose practice spans a wide range of family law work, including civil partnership dissolutions, cohabitation disputes, pre-and post-nuptial agreements, and injunctive relief.
Rebecca said: “It is fantastic to be listed in the Legal 500. This is the first time we have been listed in the guide, so it’s a huge achievement for the team and we are so proud that all our hard work, along with the fantastic testimonials from clients have been rewarded.”
The rankings for the Legal 500 are the result of many months of work, with an in-depth analysis of hundreds of submissions from legal firms across the country. It gives users an informed choice when choosing a solicitor to work with, showing that firms are ranked and recommend as one of the top 500 legal firms in the UK.
Meanwhile, Burnetts Solicitors has been included in The Legal 500 with a total of nine recommended practice areas, five lawyers listed as Leading Individuals, three Rising Stars and three Next Generation Partners.
Practice areas are different types of legal practice such as commercial, wills and employment.
Meanwhile, Commercial law firm Baines Wilson was been praised for its excellence in the latest edition of the guide.
Commercial property specialists Duncan Harty and Sean Logue were named as “leading individuals”, the elite list for lawyers. They are the only commercial property lawyers in Cumbria to receive this accolade.
Dispute resolution and litigation specialist Elizabeth Black claimed “next generation partner” – someone who makes a material difference to the practice’s offering – while her colleague Imogen Duck was given the “rising star” accolade.
Baines Wilson is given the highest ‘band 1’ ranking in the north for advice on corporate and commercial law, commercial property, and dispute resolution and litigation. It is also recommended for employment law.
The corporate team is “particularly suitable” for assistance with acquisitions and disposals. Head of practice Andrew Hill “is able to grasp the issue and give his advice simply and succinctly”. His colleague Jennifer Bell is praised for her work in logistics and transport while clients recommend Kate Parker for GDPR advice. The guide adds that the team has wider-ranging expertise including healthcare, retail, IT and leisure.
In commercial property, Baines Wilson is “at the forefront of commercial and residential property development projects” able to handle property acquisitions and secured lending mandates, among other matters.
In employment law, department head Joanne Holborn has “particular expertise” in managing sickness, absence and rehabilitation matters and regularly advises clients on how to deal with complex disability discrimination issues. Her colleagues Tom Scaife and Caroline Rayner are similarly singled out for praise.
And in dispute resolution and litigation, Baines Wilson has a “very good understanding of the law” to represent clients in commercial disputes including contractual, shareholder and partnership litigation. Elizabeth Black “brings a calm air and reassurance to litigation” and the team is recommended by clients for work on insurance coverage issues, professional liability claims and directors’ and officers’ liability cases.
Burnetts
Burnetts had five departments all achieve top-tier rankings in the guide – Agribusiness, Commercial Property, Commercial Litigation, Corporate, and Medical Negligence and Serious Injury.
Burnetts’ Agribusiness team was praised for its accessibility, knowledge and clear communication style and hailed as expert and personable, while its Commercial Property team is quoted as being “technologically ahead of the game” in its response to the pandemic.
Its Commercial Litigation team retained its top tier ranking for 2022 and is praised as being “one of, if not the, leading commercial litigation team in Cumbria.”
Burnetts’ Corporate team is recognised for being excellent with good solutions and timescales and its Medical Negligence and Serious Injury team has moved to the top tier rankings this year in recognition of its specialist offering which includes a spinal injury expert, a brain injury expert and a delayed cancer diagnosis specialist.
Burnetts managing partner Nick Gutteridge said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Burnetts and for our solicitors. Our teams across Cumbria and Newcastle have a strong work ethic and are valued by our clients for their specialist expertise and practical efficiency.
“It’s good to achieve this recognition as we embark on our plans to grow our teams across both counties in the year ahead and we’re excited about the future for Burnetts.”
Sean Logue, head of partnership at Baines Wilson, was delighted that the firm was recommended in so many different areas of expertise.
He said: “To see our key practice areas recognised by this prestigious guide is a reflection of the excellent work carried out firm-wide and testament to the excellent results we achieve on behalf of clients.”