Clarkslegal celebrates strong results in the Legal 500 UK 2027

Clarkslegal is delighted to announce another year of strong results in the prestigious Legal 500 UK Solicitors 2027 Guide, with the firm retaining its rankings across all practice areas and notable individual recognition for team members.

The latest results highlight Clarkslegal’s continued commitment to delivering outstanding legal advice and client service across its core practice areas.

Individual recognition

Clarkslegal is proud to have a number of its lawyers recognised in the Legal 500 UK 2027 Guide. We are particularly pleased to congratulate Emma Butcher, who has been promoted from ‘Next Generation Partner’ to ‘Leading Partner’, and Jack Hobbs, who has achieved a new ‘Leading Associate’ ranking.

We are also delighted to see Antony Morris and Michael Sippitt retain their ‘Hall of Fame’ rankings, while Chris Tayton, Monica Atwal and Simon Ralphs have all retained their ‘Leading Partner’ rankings. In addition, Ruth Karimatsenga has retained her ‘Leading Associate’ ranking.

These individual achievements demonstrate the depth of talent across the firm and the outstanding contributions our lawyers made in supporting clients throughout the year.

Practice area rankings

We are pleased that all of Clarkslegal’s practice area rankings have been maintained in the 2027 Guide, including Commercial Litigation, Commercial Property, Corporate & Commercial, Employment, and Immigration, reinforcing the strength and consistency of the firm’s legal services across its key sectors and specialisms.

The continued recognition reflects the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our teams, as well as the trust placed in us by our clients.

Thank you to our clients

We would like to thank our clients, referrers, and contacts for their ongoing support and valuable feedback during the Legal 500 research process. Their testimonials and insights play an important role in helping independent researchers assess the quality of legal services delivered by firms across the UK.

Commercial Litigation

The Reading-based team at Clarkslegal LLP’s assists a varied client base, which includes leading names in the automotive, financial, and TMT sectors. The team has experience in handling cross-border cases, as well as those involving novel issues. Its wide-ranging practice encompasses professional negligence claims, product liability, and specialist automotive matters. Antony Morris spearheads the offering and is noted for his experience acting in High Court actions and significant breach of contract claims. Chris Tayton assists in claims for injunctive relief, including those relating to the misuse of confidential information or copyright infringement. Emma Butcher is the name to note for product liability and public procurement matters. Jack Hobbs is another key team member.

“Attentive, attention to detail, and being available when required. Always going above and beyond to find a solution to any commercial litigation that we may have.”

“Emma Butcher is thorough, personable, and has a good understanding of each case. She takes a pragmatic approach when sometimes the law might see otherwise.”

“Their junior fee earners are ahead of their years. They are rounded lawyers, capable of taking on complex cases and are good with clients. I would happily recommend even their most junior fee earners to a client.”

“Great people to work with, which makes the difference, particularly on difficult cases. They demonstrate the same high level of care and interest across their caseload, from the relatively large value cases to the relatively small.”

“Antony Morris – a highly experienced, no-nonsense commercial practitioner. Jack Hobbs – one of the best associates I have worked with, wise beyond his years. An up-and-coming star, seems years ahead of his peers I work with in City firms. Chris Tayton – deceptively laid-back partner, excellent to work with. Superb judgment.”

“It’s a very high-quality, close-knit team, with great strength in breadth. There are some very strong associates (Jack Hobbs) who work well with the partners and have a great deal of autonomy and confidence.”

Corporate & Commercial

Clarkslegal LLP’s practice assists clients operating in a diverse range of sectors on complex and cross-border corporate transactions, restructurings, and asset and business transfers. Ashan Arif leads the team and is a trusted adviser to early-stage and scaling businesses. Stuart Mullins is also a key team member.

“An approachable and helpful team that knows what the client needs due to the experience they have.”

“Clarkslegal’s Corporate and Commercial team combines excellent legal expertise with a highly commercial and pragmatic approach. What sets the team apart is their ability to understand the wider commercial context, communicate clearly, and provide practical solutions to complex issues. They act as a genuine business partner and trusted adviser, consistently delivering a high level of service and support.”

“Ash Arif is the partner I have worked most closely with and always recommend to my network who are looking for corporate legal advice. Ash is very direct and highlights the legal issues quickly and directly so that the client can make informed decisions in a timely fashion.”

“The team is very proactive in their approach to the assignments we have worked on together. As it is a smaller firm, you receive more partner time, which tends to accelerate the pace compared to other firms I have worked with, where junior staff need to have their work reviewed. Clarkslegal is looking at how AI can help to develop their team, which will have a knock-on positive impact on their client engagements.”

“Small firm with high-quality access – the partners are always engaged in the deals.”

Employment

Clarkslegal LLP‘s team in Reading assists with a broad range of contentious and non-contentious matters. Its client base features senior executives, and large national and international companies. Experienced representing clients in High Court and tribunal litigation, the group is well-positioned to handle disputes, as well as cross-border advisory work and major projects such as restructurings and TUPE transfers. At the helm is Monica Atwal, who has notable expertise in discrimination cases. Katie Glendinning is a key team member, with education sector expertise. Helen Beech and Michael Sippitt are also key contacts.

“A very ‘personal’ service. The whole team knows our organisation very well and can respond quickly and effectively to any of our queries and issues.”

“We find their advice to be practical, commercial, and tailored to our business. They have taken the time to understand our business culture and appetite for risk, and I always feel that their advice is appropriate for us.”

“Katie Glendinning is always calm, personable, and adaptable. I always feel that she understands the challenges of running a growing business and tailors her advice to us. We are increasingly working with Shauna Jones, who gives practical, balanced support.”

“The team provides practical, solution-focused advice delivered in a clear and straightforward manner and has supported us through some very challenging situations. They are approachable and take the time to ensure a thorough understanding of each situation. Their responsiveness is particularly valuable, enabling issues to be addressed efficiently and with confidence.”

“I worked with Lucy White, and she was brilliant! It was clear she knew employment law inside and out. She was also thorough about going over everything I sent her and spent even extra time working on my case. She clearly showed that she supported me while remaining very professional.”

Commercial Property

Clarkslegal LLP’s team advises its clients on large development projects and transactions, covering sectors including hotels, leisure and hospitality, as well as education, healthcare, and motor retail. Simon Ralphs leads the team and acts primarily for institutional investors, retailers, property funds, and industrial landlords and tenants. Pierre Dutton works on a multitude of commercial real estate matters from Reading, including acquisitions and disposals.

“This practice stands out for its combination of deep sector expertise, commercial pragmatism, and consistently strong client service. Clients benefit from a team that is responsive, approachable, and genuinely understands their business. Compared to other firms, the practice offers excellent value for money without compromising on quality.”

“They combine technical excellence with strong commercial awareness and an ability to build trusted, long-term relationships. They are good at striking the right balance between protecting the client’s position and getting deals done. Their reliability, responsiveness, and value for money make them trusted advisors rather than just external lawyers.”

“Friendly and efficient service; the people we deal with take into account the commercial requirements of the transaction as well as the legal aspects.”

“What we value most about Clarkslegal’s Commercial Property team is their combination of strong technical expertise and a highly commercial, pragmatic approach. The team is consistently responsive, partner-led, and focused on delivering practical solutions efficiently. The accessibility of senior lawyers and focus on achieving commercially sensible outcomes distinguish the team from many other firms.”

Immigration

Counting corporates, financial institutions, and technology businesses on its client roster, Clarkslegal LLP is informed on sponsor license applications. In Reading, managing partner Monica Atwal’s key strengths lie in the global transfer of staff and their families, as well as projects involving sponsored employees. Ruth Karimatsenga is well regarded in the engineering, finance, and healthcare sectors, and is knowledgeable of global workforce mobility.

“Genuine desire to help.”

“In my experience, the team’s strength was client service and care.”

“What really stood out about the team was how approachable and supportive they were throughout the entire process. They clearly have a strong depth of expertise in sponsorship licenses and Certificates of Sponsorship, but what made the difference was how simply and clearly they explained everything. At no point did it feel overwhelming or overly technical. They were consistently responsive, organised, and easy to work with, which made what can be quite a stressful and time-sensitive process feel very manageable. Overall, it was a very smooth experience.”

“The individuals we work with are knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely invested in achieving the best outcome for their clients. They combine strong technical expertise with commercial awareness and communicate advice in a way that is clear and actionable. What we value most is their responsiveness, professionalism, and willingness to take the time to understand our business and objectives.”

“I have a great working relationship with both Ruth Karimatsenga and Monica Mastropasqua. They are both extremely knowledgeable and provide me with up-to-date advice when needed.”

We are proud of this year’s achievements and congratulate all those recognised in the Legal 500 UK 2027 Guide.

To view Clarkslegal’s full Legal 500 2027 rankings, click here.