We are delighted to announce that we have once again been recognised as a leading law firm according to definitive industry guide, The Legal 500. We are especially pleased to receive the highest possible ranking for commercial litigation, employment and family law.
In addition to retaining the highest ranking in three sections of the latest edition of The Legal 500 guide, released on 28 September, our legal advisers have ranked in a total of 18 sections based on the feedback of clients and peers. On top of this, 13 of the firm’s legal advisers have also been singled out for praise, from rising stars to leading individuals.
The Tier 1-ranked Family team, one of the largest in the region comprising over 50 individuals, also received high praise, with one client commenting: “Stephens Scown is, I believe, unique in its handling of the wellbeing of its clients alongside the exceptional timely and appropriate legal advice provided.” This praise is also backed up by the team’s recent shortlisting for a Wellbeing Award in the national Family Law Awards, with the winner due to be revealed on 28 November.
Our Tier 1-ranked Dispute Resolution team also receives the highest of plaudits, with one client saying, “The personal approach of the entire team we feel makes this practice unique, their key strengths being affective, clear, informative communication which even a non-legal mind can understand.” Meanwhile, our top-ranked Employment team also received great client feedback, with another stating, “We are grateful for the personal touch and knowledge that Stephens Scown have of our diverse organisation, which would be hard to build up anywhere else.”
Kate Westlake, who was recently promoted to partner in our Real Estate team in Cornwall, is named for the first time as rising star for her work in the social housing sector, with one client saying she: “is always quick to answer my questions and very knowledgeable.” Kate joins corporate lawyer Tim Lane, dispute resolution specialist Ian Thomas and family lawyer, Thea Bennun, who all retain their rising star status for another year.
Five partners also retain their ranking as leading individuals, including Laurie Trounce, who jointly heads up our Corporate team with Giles Dunning, board member Catherine Mathews and property litigation specialist Richard Bagwell, while family lawyer Sarah Atkinson, employment lawyer Ellie Hibberd and dispute resolution lawyer Richard Slater have once again been highlighted as next generation partners.
Richard Baker, managing partner at Stephens Scown comments: “As an employee-owned law firm, every one of our people is invested in delivering above and beyond client expectations. Our rankings in The Legal 500, and especially the client and peer testimonials at the heart of the research process that decides these rankings, are testament to this. I am especially pleased to see Kate Westlake rightly recognised as a ‘rising star’ for all her hard work with clients in the social housing sector.”