An ever-changing scene
It's been a good year for the region's law firms, from a buoyant corporate market to an increased workload on the private client side. And the sense of optimism is reflected in the 2007 edition of the Legal 500, which analyses in detail the differing strengths of the UK's biggest law firms. |
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Eventful year will bring expansion
MILLS & REEVE: National law firm Mills & Reeve aims to continue its expansion over the next 12 months following an eventful year which produced another record-breaking set of results in addition to some high-ranking management changes. |
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Work is a full-time job
EMPLOYMENT: Eversheds' seven-partner department acts for national and international clients. Owen Warnock leads the team in Norwich, where Tracy Yates stands out for executive severance work and advice to the NHS. |
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More disputes boost business
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: A rising tide of disputes and litigation is proving lucrative business for Norfolk's law firms, with Birketts, Howes Percival, Mills & Reeve and Steeles rated most highly by the Legal 500. |
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Birketts maintains momentum
BIRKETTS: From Ipswich roots established in 1864, Birketts was born out of a merger with Westhorp Ward and Catchpole in 1989 and in the last five years has seen a spell of rapid growth. |
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Ambition and drive
STEELES: Another highly successful year of continued growth for Norwich-based Steeles has seen the appointment of a new managing principal.
Stephen Drake plans to reshape and reposition the firm to ensure it continues to prosper in the challenging times that lie ahead for the legal sector nationally. |
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Busy teams attract nationwide clients
PLANNING: For planning work, Eversheds and Mills & Reeve receive top billing from the Legal 500, with Kester Cunningham John, Birketts and Steeles also mentioned. |
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A year of continuing progress
CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL: The corporate and commercial teams of Norfolk's law firms have enjoyed 12 months, with Mills & Reeve continuing to dominate the market place, but other players led by Birketts and including Howes Percival, Steeles, Kester Cunningham John and Leathes Prior all making progress. |
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'Best litigator outside London'
PROPERTY LITIGATION: James Falkner in Mills & Reeve's Norwich office works with planning, private client and property teams in East Anglia and Birmingham. |
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More growth on the cards
HOWES PERCIVAL: Expanding its litigation, property and estates work has been among the priorities for Howes Percival's Norwich office during another strong year. |
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Growing list of property clients
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: Norfolk enjoys great strength in depth in commercial property, with law firms acting for regional and national clients.
The Norwich team at Mills & Reeve, where Robert Hutton, Tim Ryan and experienced partners Keith Hamilton and Caroline Dean, newly arrived from Eversheds, are praised for their quality. |
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Growth in key areas
LEATHES PRIOR: 2006 was a highly significant year for Leathes Prior. The restructure of the practice as a commercial and private client firm was completed with the acquisition of additional premises in Tombland to house the expanding corporate team. |
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Pragmatic approach wins clients' backing
PERSONAL TAX AND PROBATE: Justin Ripman's six-partner non-contentious team at Mills & Reeve in Norwich is respected for its 'effective, pragmatic' approach. |
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Intervening in complex disputes
CHARITIES: Hansells' Philip Norton is one of the foremost practitioners in the region, acting for many local and some national charities in increasingly complex matters including trustee disputes. |
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Good things come three-fold
KESTER CUNNINGHAM JOHN: With successful strides being made in the commercial, private client and property markets, East Anglian firm Kester Cunningham John (KCJ) has achieved a third year of rapid growth with turnover hitting just under £12m. |
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Savvy new look for long-standing firm
One of the oldest and most respected legal firms in the county, Cozens-Hardy is reinventing itself under managing principal Simon Whipp as a savvy, modern firm capable of providing the whole gamut of legal services. |
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Patience a virtue in family law
FAMILY LAW: Hansells' David Sisson, praised for his patience and his non-confrontational approach, is a recognised expert for his work for high net-worth clients in the UK and abroad. |
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Mills & Reeve in front - but don't bank
For banking and finance work, Mills & Reeve is seen as the leader, although competition is provided by Birketts, Eversheds and Kester Cunningham John. |
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Insolvency work is a growth area
Mills & Reeve's Jamie Wheatley often handles disputes for insolvency practitioners and underperforming businesses, though his non-contentious advice is also much valued. |
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 If a thing is worth doing ...
Hatch Brenner is to offer specialist corporate and commercial services in an important move which sees the Norwich-based firm determined to establish a niche presence in the world of mergers and acquisitions. |
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