Clarkslegal thank clients for exceptional feedback in Legal 500 rankings

Clarkslegal are delighted to announce that Legal 500 UK has recognised the firm for its work in the following areas of law: Construction, Commercial Litigation, Commercial Property, Corporate & Commercial, Employment and Immigration.

The Legal 500 is an independent guide that reviews and recognises the strengths of law firms and their lawyers based on extensive research and feedback from clients and peers.

Along with the recognition of our practice areas, four of our outstanding solicitors have been recommended by the directory; Antony Morris, Emma Butcher, Michael Sippitt and Monica Atwal.

The strong rankings are further endorsed by highly complementary client and peer feedback.

Please see below a selection of client quote extracts from the editorial:

Commercial Litigation

Praised for its ‘focused and commercial approach to litigation’, Clarkslegal LLP is frequently instructed by high-end automotive clients on significant and high-profile cross-border disputes. The team is based in Reading and led by ‘great litigator’ Antony Morris. Christopher Tayton, hailed as ‘thoughtful, thorough and balanced’, sports a broad dispute resolution practice which emphasises commercial injunctions and fraud claims. Stephen James is a fellow key contact, notable for his work on contentious construction, employment and insolvency matters. The ‘excellent’ Emma Butcher maintains her strong practice across commercial and property disputes, alongside public procurement and product liability matters.

“The Clarkslegal litigation team is knowledgeable, approachable and prompt. They understand commercial clients needs and provide concise advice in a timely manner.”

“Antony Morris is a measured lawyer who takes real ownership of the case. Collaborative and keen to make sure the right decisions are taken. Gets stuck into the detail but keeps a weather on the overall strategy.”

“Emma Butcher was able to build a strong rapport with the client team and was diligent in her review of the evidence and tenacious in pursuing the gaps.”

“The team at Clarkslegal has a focused and commercial approach to litigation. Important points are taken, others are avoided. The team is very competent all around as well as responsive. A very safe pair of hands.”

“Emma Butcher is excellent. She provides sound, commercial advice and has got exceptional client management skills. Her drafting makes her stand out. Emma is very responsive and clearly cares to achieve a good outcome for her clients.”

“Christopher Tayton is an experienced litigator. He’s a very safe pair of hands.”

“Emma Butcher is an absolute star. Hard-working; great judgment calls; amazingly efficient. Great with clients.”

“Antony Morris has the ability to solve novel problems; to find necessary expertise and to order complex legal issues to support logical decisions.”

Construction

The Reading-based Clarkslegal LLP construction team has a long-established reputation for advising on major construction and development projects, and has recently demonstrated considerable growth in the contentious arena. Practice head Stephen James gives ‘excellent and practical advice’ during dispute resolution proceedings, defending clients in arbitration and Part 7 and 8 litigation claims. ‘Master tactician’ Antony Morris brings vast expertise in engineering and professional negligence disputes, as well as health and safety issues, to the team.

“The construction team has a strong partner makeup, which means that any matter or dispute receives attention and handling from senior practitioners who have been working in the field for many years. Each of them is highly experienced and knows the subject matter inside-out.”

“The geographic spread of the firm is nicely balanced. They are well set up, in terms of offices, infrastructure and technology, to make it work seamlessly. I am not aware of a firm in the Thames Valley region that matches them in experience, attention to clients or complexity of work.”

“Stephen James is extremely knowledgeable about construction, and consistently gives excellent and practical advice. He has a well-developed following of developer and contractor clients, who like his approachability.”

“Antony Morris is a master tactician. He has practised in litigation for very many years, and is brilliant at setting the direction of the case from the outset, and navigating it through to a conclusion.”

“Responsive, perceptive, experienced, strategic, good managers of the process.”

“They are persistent at achieving a good result.”

“The advice is well thought out.”

“Readily available and precise with their advice.”

Employment

Clarkslegal LLP‘s multi-disciplinary team handles a full range of complex employment law mandates, particularly those with high value and international elements. Complex multi-party litigation, major corporate projects including restructurings and TUPE transfers, as well as redundancy programmes and industrial relations strategies are among the ‘truly exceptional’ team’s core specialisms. Helen Beech leads the practice group, predominantly handling restructurings, change programmes, TUPE transfers and contingency planning. Industrial relations expert Michael Sippitt remains a pre-eminent employment lawyer and is a key contact alongside managing partner Monica Atwal, who advises across all aspects of employment law.

“The Clarkslegal team is impressive. The team approach means they have specialists in areas other than employment to draw advice from quickly and efficiently where issues falling outside the confines of employment arises, meaning they truly are a full service law firm that can cater for and address all of a client’s legal concerns and issues.”

“Within the employment team, from top to bottom a depth of legal knowledge is apparent. They regularly produce articles, undertake internal training and appear readily cognisant of the latest legal developments in this field.”

“Monica Atwal and Helen Beech are both outstanding. Their significant legal knowledge across all areas of employment law and years of practical experience within the employment tribunal system puts them amongst the best instructing solicitors I have worked with.”

“What sets them apart from their counterparts and makes them truly exceptional is the significant investment of their time and resources which is put into their cases and into understanding and appreciating their client’s needs and concerns whether or not strictly within the legal sphere. In addition they truly appear to have their finger on the pulse in terms of what practical issues are facing tribunals both in Reading and London which is invaluable when making strategic decisions on the conduct of a case.”

“The team work in true partnership with us as a client. Monica Atwal is exceptional and the team at Clarkslegal are all incredibly professional. Clarks work collaboratively with us and in a very commercially focused way.”

“Monica Atwal is outstanding, she balances the need for pragmatism and commerciality in providing successful outcomes. She is very passionate and genuinely cares for us as a client.”

“Excellent service. Responsive, knowledgeable, and committed. They feel like they are on your side, but always remain realistic. They fight hard when required.”

“Helen Beech is a top-class employment lawyer. Always available, always on top of the issues. We have used her for some of our most difficult situations and she always leads an efficient and committed team.”

Immigration

Clarkslegal LLP is well-equipped to assist clients on the full spectrum of business immigration matters, and advises individuals on EEA matters, leave to remain, and spouse visas. Monica Atwal leads the team from Reading and aids entrepreneurs, investors and international companies wishing to establish themselves in the UK with a range of issues. Rebecca Hone splits her time between Reading and London and is seasoned in representing commercial clients in challenging unlawful civil penalties and invalid sponsor licence suspensions issued by the Home Office.

Corporate & Commercial

Ashan Arif heads up the Reading-based corporate and M&A team at Clarkslegal LLP that has the capability to act on a vast array of matters, including cross-border M&A, AIM listings and private equity investments, alongside shareholder issues and schemes of arrangement, to name a few. The practice group’s deal flow also increasingly sees corporate restructurings – Stuart Mullins is the key name here, who also undertakes the full range of general corporate work.

Commercial Property

Clarkslegal LLP is known for its work on major development projects and associated transactions, alongside managing portfolios of real estate investment funds. Partner Simon Ralphs leads the practice and counts institutional investors, large retailers and property funds as key clients. At associate level, Pierre Dutton advises on acquisitions and disposals of investment property, developments, insolvency and restructuring matters, among others.

“The practice is very professional, with helpful and friendly people.”

“Simon Ralphs and Pierre Dutton are the people who mainly work for us. Both are approachable, helpful, professional, knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with.”

“I have worked with Clarkslegal for several years and recommend their services at every opportunity. They are highly experienced, have a pragmatic approach and are always focused on getting the deal done which is exactly what I look for in a solicitor.”

“Simon Ralphs, one of the partners, is my go to solicitor when recommending a local lawyer. I have completed over a dozen deals with him and we have a perfect record of getting deals over the line so I can completely trust that he will do a good job. He is very experienced and knows the local area very well.”

“Pierre Dutton is another member of their team who I can call for advice and help and would also happily recommend.”

“An outstanding firm and always reliable.”

“The team are efficient, value for money and always looking out for us as clients. The people we have looking after our legal work, from leases to disputes are the best we have come across. Always willing to go the extra mile for us.”

“Simon Ralphs is excellent in what he does for us and always delivers. Pierre Dutton is brilliant. Extremely knowledgeable and doesn’t make mistakes.”

You can view Clarkslegal’s rankings on the Legal 500 website here.