‘Rapid ascent’ continues for firm promoted in five categories

DWF has continued its “rapid ascent” in the West Midlands, the Legal 500 has said, after it elevated the firm’s rankings in five out of 18 categories.

The law firm was the region’s stand-out success in the 2016 edition of the legal rankings. It was promoted up a level in corporate and commercial, debt recovery, insolvency and corporate recovery, professional negligence, and contentious trusts and probate.

The Legal 500 said: “DWF’s rapid ascent in the region, by way of a takeover of Buller Jeffries, shows no sign of abatement. The team has particular strength in commercial litigation and impresses with its new premises at One Snowhill.

Buller Jeffries became part of DWF in 2012, followed by Cobbetts in early 2013 – ahead of its move to One Snowhill later that year. It now employs 123 people at its Birmingham office.

Caroline Coates, executive partner for DWF’s Birmingham office, said she was “proud” of the firm’s achievements in the last year.

She said: “We’ve acted on some really high-profile work for key clients and recently been appointed to the West Midlands Combined Authority’s legal panel which is testament to the strength of the team and the breadth and depth of expertise we’re delivering.

“We’ve seen significant growth particularly in our counter fraud insurance team which has resulted in national recognition. We’re continuing to attract key talent across various practice areas to help develop new areas of work and expand the services we can offer to clients, particularly in the insurance sector where our Birmingham office is a national leader in delivering tech-driven solutions for national and international insurers.

“With the investments we’ve made in our people and service delivery capability this year, we are very confident about the year ahead.”

DWF is ranked in the top tier in two areas in the West Midlands – commercial litigation and personal injury: defendant – and in the second tier in eight categories.

It moved down in two areas – construction, following the loss of department head James Bessey at the end of 2015, and employment, where former head Kathy Halliday left to move to Veale Wasbrough Vizards.