The Legal 500 rankings have been released and we’re delighted to say that the Firm has once again been recognised as a leading law firm in the prestigious industry guide. The Commercial Litigation, Employment, and Family teams have received the highest possible ranking, with the Immigration team featuring for the first time. Read on for the full details.
In addition to retaining the highest ranking in three sections of the 2025 guide, collectively we have 19 rankings in total. Our legal advisors are ranked in seven areas, with rankings based on feedback received from both clients and peers. Additionally, ten of the Firm’s legal advisors have been highlighted for praise, with one Partner moving up on the list.
Newly Ranked
For the first time, the Immigration team are ranked, achieving Tier 2 status. It’s a terrific triumph for the team, with one client saying, “Second-to-none in the South West, with an emerging national presence and expertise specifically as providing a bespoke multi-departmental service to the social care sector, at a time of exceptional and demanding changes.”
Another client added, “Lisa Mulholland, Partner, heads the Immigration team. Her client skills are exceptional, specifically with those who are vulnerable and facing deportation. Her sharp eye provides an effective approach to litigation, and successful teamwork. Lisa is a pleasure to work with.”
Partner in the Family team, Sarah Atkinson’s expertise saw her move from Next Generation Partner to Leading Partner.
Commercial Litigation
The Tier 1 team received extensive praise, with one client saying, “One of the strongest, all-round commercial litigation teams in the South West.”
Another picked out Leader Partner Cat Mathews for praise, calling her, “An experienced and effective litigator.”
Employment
Another top ranked team scoring highly, a client said, “They take the time to get to know you and your business/sector. Pragmatic approach.”
Singling out some of the team for their work another client said, “Ellie Hibberd and Joe Nicholls are personable, knowledgeable, approachable, pragmatic and understanding.”
Family
The Tier 1-ranked team received high praise, with one client telling the guide, “The team at Stephens Scown are friendly and approachable. They are good at maintaining communication and ensuring that matters are handled efficiently.”
Further praise came from another client who added, “The individuals really care about the work that they undertake and results from their clients. They put real time and effort into achieving the best outcome possible, while giving realistic advice when prospects are difficult. One gets the sense that they are really invested in the outcome of proceedings for clients, and this shows up the quality of work done.”
The ranking is the latest success for the team following its four nominations in the LexisNexis Family Law Awards in the categories of Family Law Firm of the Year – South, Family Law Young Solicitor of the Year – Megan Eaton, Family Law Legal Support of the Year, and Family Law Workplace of the Year.
Leading Partners and Next Generation Partners
Three Partners also retain their ranking as Leading Partners for their excellent work, Richard Bagwell, Laurie Trounce, and Cat Mathews.
Ellie Hibberd, Ian Thomas, Thea Bennun, Kate Westlake and Richard Slater retained their status as Next Generation Partners.
On the Rise
Congratulations to Tim Lane who kept his listing as a Leading Associate (a category that was previously named rising star).
Additionally, in recognition of the great work that partner Steve Panton has been undertaking at the firm since joining last year, Stephens Scown has also been highlighted as one of the ‘Firms to Watch’ in the Environment (Real Estate) category, with The Legal 500 stating that the “practice stands out for its critical incident support with substantial experience in pollution issues, waste management and environmental investigations.”
Talking about the results of the 2025 guide, Managing Partner Richard Baker said, “Congratulations to the Immigration team whose work is rightfully recognised and ranked for the first time. Sarah Atkinson’s move to Leading Partner is also a great reflection of her superb expertise in the Family sector.
“Featuring so heavily in one of the definitive legal guides is a tremendous achievement. The range of entries shows that we have the best in the business across a range of sectors, and our clients know they’re getting expert advice.
“The guide is based on testimonials from clients and peers, so these results reflect the outstanding experience they receive from us. We know how committed we are to delivering the best possible service, and these latest rankings are proof that our efforts are highly valued and making a difference to the lives of our clients.”