A record year in the rankings for Ashfords in Legal 500 2010

Ashfords LLP holds steadfast in the list of ‘Regional Heavyweights’ in the 2010 edition of Legal 500, the independent guide to law firms in the UK, which was published today (Tuesday). 

Achieving a record seven top tier rankings, of which three are new entries in 2010, Ashfords has showcased its expertise in niche areas of the law across all five of its South West offices, complementing its established traditional full service offering.

Commenting on the commendations, Ian Daniells, Chief Executive at Ashfords, said: “All of our top tier practice areas in 2009 held their positions and were joined by a further three in 2010.  This level of independent acknowledgement of both the strength and the depth of our expertise is thanks only to the commitment of our team.  Crucially however, it highlights the market perception of our status in the region’s legal community.

“We have significant aspirations for Ashfords.  The improvement year on year in Legal 500 confirms that we are on track to fulfil those goals.”

HIGHLIGHTS:

•    Top tier rankings were achieved in: West Country: Corporate & Commercial; West Country: Commercial Litigation; West Country: Employment; Bloodstock; PFI; Sport and Shipping (three of which are new entries with PFI having jumped three tiers in the last two years).

•    Three entries in the prestigious ‘Leading Individuals’ category: Simon Rous – Corporate & Commercial; David Pomeroy – Insolvency; John Birch - Construction.

•    Eight tier two rankings and nine tier three rankings.

PRACTICE REVIEW:

The ‘extremely responsive’ West Country Corporate and Commercial practice led by the ‘excellent’ Simon Rous has staked its seemingly unassailable claim to the top flight with another year in the top tier.  The team boasts Andrew Betteridge who attracts high praise and is a key figure in Ashfords’ private equity practice supporting Eden Ventures, Swarraton Partners, Xange Private Equity and Naxos Capital, whilst additionally running the Bristol office.  Peter Fox runs the Taunton team while George Wilkinson leads work in Exeter and Plymouth with high profile David Heard.  The team recently advised Pittards Plc on its share placing to fund their acquisition of the Ethiopia Tannery Share Company.

Simon Rous, Head of the Corporate & Commercial practice and singled out in the ‘Leading Individuals’ list, acknowledged the achievement by saying:

“The Legal Services environment has been more competitive than usual with the recent economic pressures and therefore this achievement speaks volumes for our practice.  We have continued to invest in the team and remain optimistic about the future for the region.”

Angus Bauer’s Corporate Tax team has held firm with its second tier place.  Recognised for their ‘excellent availability and response times’ the team advised Gemalto on its acquisition of a with options stake of 50.1% in Severside.

Ashfords’ four Partner West Country Commercial Litigation practice provides a ‘consistently excellent level of service in all aspects’ and deserves its top tier ranking which it retains from 2009.  Antony Lee heads the team in Exeter while David Beadel is Managing Partner in Plymouth.  Taunton based Rory Mac Neice is respected for his excellent reputation.  Recent highlights include advising Babcock Marine and National Grid Gas.

David Pomeroy, one of Ashfords’ elite ‘2010 Leading Individuals’, comes highly recommended and leads an Insolvency and Corporate Recovery team across Ashfords’ Bristol and Exeter offices.

Debt Recovery works alongside Insolvency and more specifically Allan Bennett.  The Debt Recovery team lawyers are ‘extremely good’ and ‘respond immediately’.

Private Finance Initiative rises one tier to a well deserved top tier position.  ‘Delivering a strong seamless service’ to clients, it has been advising Viridor Waste Management on the £3bn Greater Manchester Waste PFI project and acting for Biffa Waste Services on the Leicestershire Waste PFI project.  The exceptional Ruth Murray heads the team which includes the highly recommended Clare Brewer.   Having risen two tiers last year, this year’s promotion to the top league completed a three tier promotion in just two years.

Clare Brewer also heads the Banking & Finance practice which is ‘well resourced and knowledgeable’.  Rebecca Dury is ‘experienced, calm, commercially minded and responsive’.  The team enjoys a good reputation for asset finance, having recently acted for CGL (a subsidiary of Societe Generale) as lender in the financing and registration of several super yachts.   

The Ashfords’ Employment team, based in their Exeter, Plymouth and Taunton offices, is ‘as good as it gets’.  Consistently commanding a tier one ranking, the team is led by the ‘very confident’ Charles Pallot.  Highly rated and ‘dealing promptly with matters’, Rhiain Lewis is singled out for praise.

Personal Injury is a practice area showing consistent performances on both Claimant and Defendant briefs.  Displaying ‘striking promptness and attention to detail’ in dealing with RTA, employers’ liability, public liability and industrial disease claims, Stephen Walker co-heads the Claimant Group with Darren White whose advice is ‘clearly set out and well reasoned’.  The Defendant Practice has a ‘user friendly style’ and a ‘first rate service’, attracting clients such as Cornish Mutual Assurance.  Flora Wood and Sarah Harvey are ‘excellent all-round performers’.

Rory Mac Neice, a former National Hunt Jockey, has driven both the Bloodstock and Sports practices to a podium finish achieving promotion for both practice areas from second tier positions in 2009 to top tier finishes in 2010.  Demonstrating ‘extensive industry knowledge’ and ‘admirable speed, quality and accuracy’, Rory Mac Neice, with the recently promoted fellow Partner Jamie Horner, runs a Sports practice which is ‘extremely efficient and thorough’ and provides ‘first class advice and guidance’.  Clients across both practice areas include the Racehorse Association, the British International Clay Target Shooting Federation and Northampton County Council which it advised on the Silverstone Circuit racetrack pit lane redevelopment.  

Local Government jumps one tier to a second tier ranking under John Bosworth who ‘protects his clients well’.  The ‘fantastic’ team won several panel appointments in addition to advising Torbay Council on its £400m services outsourcing project.  The team includes Mark Jury who is an ‘excellent lawyer with foresight and an international reputation’.

West Country Commercial Property and Construction both retained their second tier rankings.   Andrew Rothwell’s nine Partner Commercial Property team is considered to be staffed by ‘first class specialists’ who are ‘extremely diligent and professional’.  Construction is based out of two offices, Bristol and Exeter, and is considered to be ‘extremely responsive and unfussy’, ‘always giving practical advice’ under the guidance of Exeter based Stephen Homer.

The ever buoyant and responsive Ashfords Shipping team come recommended with the ‘excellent’ Charles Hattersley and the ‘highly competent’ Jonathan Hadley-Piggin acting for CGL on super yacht financing, representing Scott Trawlers in a number of contentious matters and advising Lloyds TSB on repossession matters.  This practice area consistently performs at the top of its industry holding its top tier ranking.