Law firms bask in recognition from latest Chambers and Partners rankings
Manchester commercial law firm, Kuits solicitors, has once again received excellent rankings in the Chambers UK publication which recognises the top legal talent and practices across the country.
The guide ranks the top four per cent of law firms globally, focusing on those that provide the best client experience across the board.
Kuits has been recognised for its exceptional expertise across multiple practice areas.
It received commendations in Corporate/M&A, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Employment law, Licensing and Tax Investigations.
Additionally, several of Kuits’ leading lawyers have been individually ranked for their exceptional client service, in-depth industry knowledge, and significant achievements in their respective fields.
Robert Levy, Executive Partner at Kuits, said; “We are pleased to be recognised once again in the Chambers UK guide. These rankings reflect the commitment and hard work of the entire team who remain dedicated to providing practical, commercially focused legal advice that helps our clients and their businesses thrive.”
Chambers includes feedback from clients and industry peers, which it said makes it one of the most respected legal directories in the world.
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Daniel Long
North West law firm Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall (WHN) Solicitors has strengthened its place in the Chambers 2025 guide as a record number of its teams and solicitors have been ranked in the latest annual edition.
WHN Solicitors, which has nine offices across Greater Manchester and Lancashire, has bolstered its presence in the rankings with the Real Estate Litigation team maintaining its band three rank. Strengths highlighted by Chambers and Partners include providing ‘exceptionally high standards of knowledge and guidance’ and having ‘a proven record of winning cases for clients’.
Daniel Long has maintained his personal band three ranking, described by clients as ‘always accessible and responsive’ and providing ‘detailed but measured and commercially relevant advice’. In addition, associate director Eleanor Longworth has been included for the first time as an ‘Associate to Watch’, described as being ‘held in high esteem by clients for her capable handling of commercial and residential landlord and tenant matters’.
The firm’s Real Estate team has been ranked for the first time, featuring in the ‘up to £10m’ category, with director Nicola Phelps, described by clients as a ‘brilliant lawyer to deal with’, also included for the first time.
The team’s strengths highlighted by Chambers include providing ‘an impressive professional and personal service’, having ‘the experience to raise issues that may not at first be apparent’ and applying ‘a realistic and commercial approach in resolving them’.
Paul Matthews, who leads WHN’s corporate and commercial team, has once again been included for corporate mergers and acquisitions work in the SME/owner managed business category, with clients saying he is a ‘highly trained and seasoned expert in his field’ and ‘a highly experienced and trusted lawyer on corporate matters’.
For the 2025 edition, Chambers and Partners has launched new tables which recognise firms focused on the 99.9% of businesses in the UK that are SMEs.
WHN has been included as a spotlight firm for corporate and commercial work in the UK-wide SME Focused Firms table, with Paul Matthews listed as a key contact, illustrating the firm’s national strength acting for SMEs.
In the listing, Chambers and Partners stated: “Woodcocks Haworth and Nuttall in Manchester advises family, owner-managed and SME businesses on the full suite of work related to incorporation, constitutional structure, fund raising and commercial and corporate transactions.
“The firm also has expertise in employment and shareholder matters, and partnership agreements and company reconstructions.”
Daniel Long, director, WHN Solicitors, said: “Without the contribution of our clients and professional contacts, we would not have gained this recognition in Chambers and Partners. We would like to thank each of them, not only for taking the time to give their feedback during the research process but for trusting WHN with their important legal matters.”
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Nicola Simmons
Express Solicitors has been ranked for Personal Injury for the first time in Chambers, making its debut in Band 3, and has maintained its ranking for Clinical Negligence in Band 4.
Comment from personal injury clients featured in the guide include: “The lawyers are excellent at managing client expectations. All their responses are very timely. Their high levels of preparation and attention to detail along with good client support are designed to establish the best outcome for their clients. The lawyers are well placed and qualified to handle both complex and sophisticated matters diligently.”
Of the Clinical Negligence department the guide says: “Express Solicitors has an accomplished practice with a growing reputation in clinical negligence. The firm is frequently involved in negligent surgery and delay in diagnosis claims. The team is particularly adept at assisting claimants with cases involving brain and birth injuries, including cerebral palsy cases, as well as misdiagnosis of cancer claims. It is additionally experienced in fatal incidents.”
Head of Clinical Negligence, Carlos Lopez, has been ranked as a Leading Individual for the first time in Band 3. Of him, the guide said: “Carlos is very understanding and knowledgeable. He is extremely experienced and very dynamic. Carlos is very committed and works very well with clients.”
Richard Lowery, Partner and Head of Employers’ Liability at Express Solicitors is ranked in Band 2 as a Leading individual in this field for the third year running.
Of him the guide says: “Richard is an excellent lawyer. He is very personable and extremely dedicated to his clients. Richard takes on the most difficult of cases and achieves excellent results for clients.”
And Michael Hardacre, a Partner in OL/PL, who was named as a Leading Individual last year while at Slater & Gordon, has continued his Band 2 ranking now he’s at Express.
Of him, the guide has said: “Michael is a very good personal injury lawyer. He knows how to run cases and is very well prepared. Michael is a highly knowledgeable solicitor who is very experienced in dealing with complex personal injury claims. He is tenacious and thorough.”
Nicola Simmons, who joined Express just over a year ago from Thompsons, has been consistently ranked in the Chambers Directory, this year in Band 3.
Her comments include: “Nicola is a knowledgeable solicitor who has considerable experience in dealing with complex legal issues. Nicola cares passionately about her clients. She works so hard and she thoroughly understands the process.”
CEO, James Maxey, said: “We’ve done a lot to further bolster our expertise over the past year so it’s great to see both new and old staff members being highlighted in the Chambers & Partners guide and this year we’re ranked in both personal injury and clinical negligence.”
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John Chesworth
Harrison Drury has had four of its legal services ranked in an esteemed guide to the best law firms and lawyers in the UK.
Its agricultural, corporate, family, and real estate law teams have all been included in the 2025 UK edition of Chambers and Partners.
The firm, which has seven offices across the region, has also had five of its lawyers recognised in the influential annual guide.
Joseph Mitchell has been ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ for agricultural and rural affairs, Mark Traynor is ranked for corporate mergers and acquisitions, and David Vayro for construction.
James Robbins has been ranked for his expertise in insolvency and restructuring with Peter Barlow also ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ in this area.
John Chesworth, executive chairman at Harrison Drury, said: “To achieve inclusion in Chambers and Partners, firms go through a detailed independent research process which assesses legal ability, client service, commercial awareness, cost-effectiveness and strength in depth across the team.
“Feedback from our clients and other professional contacts is central to this research process and so these rankings provide a powerful independent endorsement of the quality of both the advice and the service we provide.”
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Simon Wallwork
Slater Heelis is celebrating continued success in the newly released Chamber Rankings.
Four teams have now been recognised in the rankings with the firm’s Corporate division leading the way having bolstered its position to a Band 1 ranking for the first time, with Partner and Head of the team, Simon Wallwork also recognised individually for his outstanding performance, ranked in Band 1 for the third consecutive year.
Will Henson and Zara Banday’s Real Estate team is also ranked for the first time in Band 3 while the Crime team has retained its position in Band 2 and the Family team also ranking Band 2.
Partner and Head of the Corporate team, Simon Wallwork said: “We are incredibly proud of our achievements and to have this recognised with a solid Band 1 ranking is testament to the team who work tirelessly for their clients and with unwavering support for each other.”
Five more individuals within the firm are also ranked with Ken Salmon in the Construction team marking a decade as Senior Statesperson, first charting in this position back in 2016.
Rachel Fletcher (Crime) and Mark Heptinstall (Family) are ranked Band 2. Kim Aucott and Charlotte Beck, both in the family team are ranked in Band 4.
Managing Partner, Rachel Fletcher, said: “Our teams work incredibly hard day in, day out and so to receive such prestigious recognition for their efforts is a real career and company highlight and testament to their individual and collective efforts.”
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Peter Swinburn
The Manchester office of national law firm Clarke Willmott has achieved impressive rankings once again in the 2025 edition of the Chambers and Partners Guide.
The office has retained its Band 3 ranking for social housing while a new Band 2 ranking is listed for Corporate/M&A: SME/Owner-Managed Businesses.
Eight Manchester lawyers were named in the individual rankings: Ed Foulkes and Lindsay Felstead in Band 2; new ranking Lynn James in Band 3; James Driver, Chris Longbottom and new ranking Harriet Atkin in Band 4; Emily Finn in ‘associate to watch’ and Matthew Wilson in ‘up and coming’.
Clarke Willmott CEO, Peter Swinburn, said: “The excellent testimonials from our clients who are quoted in the guide are always rewarding to read and much appreciated by our talented and hard working lawyers. It is an honour to receive this recognition from Chambers and Partners, which reflects the dedication, skill, and hard work of our entire team.”
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Jeremy Orrell
SAS Daniels is celebrating resounding success as it receives high-profile recognition in the prestigious Chambers UK Legal Guide 2025.
The business has secured several coveted rankings within the directory, a definitive mark of excellence in the sector delivered by independent legal research company Chambers and Partners. SAS Daniels’ chief executive officer, business owner, partner and head of corporate, Jeremy Orrell, has been ranked as a Band 3 Corporate/M&A: SME/Owner-managed Businesses lawyer.
Significantly, the firm’s family team was also highly praised, with Band 4 rankings secured for both the Family/Matrimonial department and individually for Claire Porter, a partner at SAS Daniels’ Chester office. Claire, who has extensive experience in dealing with divorce and finance matters, children matters and putting in place agreements to protect individual wealth, has been recognised for her ‘notable expertise in cases that are cross-border in nature’.
SAS Daniels has additionally been highlighted as an SME-focused Firm within the guide, with the new table showcasing successful law firms that cater to smaller businesses. Chambers and Partners acknowledged that ‘the firm has a full-service offering and can assist small and medium businesses on everything from corporate and commercial law, through to disputes, real estate and employment.’
Jeremy Orrell said: “It is an honour to be hailed once again by an esteemed, industry standard. The Chambers UK Legal Guide is highly regarded in the sector and we are proud of our diligent team for their dedication and professionalism – it is a key achievement to secure several rankings for both our practice areas and individuals within the firm.”
SAS Daniels LLP is a Cheshire-based law firm with offices in Stockport, Chester, Macclesfield and Congleton, servicing both businesses and individuals throughout the local area and nationwide.
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From left: Jonathan Carroll, Kathryn Pretswell-Walker, Mark Jackson
The agriculture team at Cumbrian law firm Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors has been ranked as one of the best in the country for the fifth consecutive year in the Chambers UK Legal Guide 2025.
The industry recognition comes less than a month after the department retained its Band 1 rating in The Legal 500 professional law rankings.
Director, Mark Jackson, was one of three team members singled out for praise in the Chambers Guide which cited the firm’s ‘long standing expertise across agriculture and rural areas’ and its ‘efficient, knowledgeable and courteous’ lawyers.
Mark said: “To be recognised as one of the best rural property teams in the country is testament to the knowledge, expertise and dedication of the whole team.”
Head of department, Jonathan Carroll and Director Katherine Pretswell-Walker were also name checked in the Chambers Guide. Both started their careers as trainees at Cartmell Shepherd and have progressed to directors at the legal firm.
Mark added: “I am very proud of the achievements of the team in the last few years and particularly the way in which our associate solicitors, Bethan Griffiths, Emma Blamire and Holly Berwick have worked hard to become outstanding agricultural specialists. The team has been strengthened further this year with the addition of the very capable Sam Fawcett and Joseph Halvorsen as trainees, who I am sure will become the next generation of agricultural lawyers in time.”
Cartmell Shepherd Solicitors operates across Cumbria, Northumberland and nationally and has offices in Rosehill Carlisle, Carlisle city centre, Brampton, Hexham, Haltwhistle, Penrith and Cockermouth.
