Swindon law firms Thrings and Withy King have been named as ‘regional heavyweights’ in the latest Legal 500, the annual guide that identifies the UK’s best-performing legal firms and individuals.
In a regional table dominated by Bristol firms Thrings, which has the largest of its string of offices in Swindon, is ranked in the fourth tier while Withy King is in the fifth.
The respected publication also names Richard Clark and Jeremy Holt, partners at Swindon firm Clark Holt, among the region’s top lawyers along with a number of individuals from Thrings and Withy King.
The Legal 500 says Thrings ‘stands out in the region for its enthusiasm, breadth of knowledge and experience’ while it describes Withy King’s client base as including leading local businesses and high net worth individuals.
Thrings, Clark Holt and Withy King are named among the top firms for corporate and commercial work on the M4 corridor
At Clark Holt, Richard Clark is an experienced corporate finance lawyer, while Jeremy Holt handles a broad range of commercial matters and has particular expertise in employment law.
Thrings advised the Watson family on the £117m sale of Watson Petroleum to World Fuel Services. The Legal 500 says: ‘The breadth of knowledge across the team is very strong’; John Davies in Swindon is ‘a highly experienced and engaging lawyer’, and Alex Pyatt gives ‘robust and pragmatic advice’.
Withy King’s four-partner team is led by David Cavaliero. Clients include banks such as HSBC and Lloyds, listed companies such as Airsprung Group plc, and prominent local businesses such as Alfresco Drinks and Clever Digit Media.
Withy King and Thrings are named among the top M4 firms for commercial litigation.
Thrings has ‘broad expertise in commercial litigation’, and wins plaudits for its ‘high-quality legal advice, tempered by sound commercial judgment’. The firm has particular strength in the automotive, defence and aerospace industries. Andrew Herridge ‘presents well-constructed and persuasive cases’, and David Patterson is also recommended.
Withy King ‘always gets to grips with the key issues of a matter’, and provides ‘workable solutions’. Philip Banks-Welsh is ‘very experienced and easy to work with’. Practice head Chris Kane recently advised a building society on contractual issues arising out of the insolvency of a developer.
Thrings is ranked in the South West’s third tier for insolvency and corporate recovery with The Legal 500 saying it has ‘strength in depth and offers good value for money’, giving ‘constructive, clear and concise advice’. Practice head Mark Cullingford is ‘thorough, knowledgeable and approachable’.
Withy King is in the M4 top rankings for employment. Malcolm Gregory is said to have particular expertise in tribunal litigation and company restructuring, and Richard White is an expert in discrimination and employment issues arising from corporate transactions.
Thrings and Withy King are among the top firms for commercial property along the M4 with Clark Holt among the third grouping. ‘Work is dealt with promptly’ at Thrings, says The Legal 500. The team, which includes Alex Pinhey in Swindon and Ben Jones in Bath, is praised for its ‘up-to-date knowledge of the market’, and acts for clients such as MAN Truck & Bus, Capita SIP Services and Newland Homes.
Withy King wins plaudits for its ‘excellent response times, very good knowledge and well-priced advice’. Team head Paul Daniels, who handles large transactions and pensions-related work, advised M J Church on the purchase of a water transfer station. Development and charities expert Edward Cooke is also recommended.
Head of real estate Alasdair Kirkpatrick is recommended at Clark Holt.
Withy King and Thrings are in the fourth group of regional firms for their construction work. Thrings ‘delivers a very responsive and comprehensive service’. Eric Livingston is ‘knowledgeable and approachable’. Practice head Steve McCombe has been acting in a number of disputes, including some cross-border matters.
Working across both contentious and noncontentious matters, Withy King is ‘responsive and approachable’, and ‘good value for money’. Commercial litigator Chris Kane heads the team following the move of former practice head Louise Garcia to Keystone Law.
Both firms are ranked among the tier four firms for property litigation.
Thrings’ Warren Reid is ‘calm and patient, and follows through even with the most difficult of tenants’. Landlord clients include St John’s Hospital Bath and Capita SIP Services.
At Withy King, Caroline Preist’s ‘level-headedness and measured approach mean that advice is carefully thought through and all risks considered’.
Thrings is named among the region’s strong firms for environmental and planning law. On the former Alex Madden ‘understands and deals well with problems in the environmental field, whether civil or criminal’ while the firm is described as ‘very knowledgeable in the field, with a wide range of experience’ for the latter with the ‘very personable’ Alex Madden again recommended.
Withy King is named among the top regional firms for both its clinical negligence: claimant and personal injury: claimant work. The Legal 500 says of the former that it has a ‘well-organised’ team of 28 specialists is led by Simon Elliman, whose expertise includes dental negligence cases. Paul Rumley is ‘a meticulous and tenacious lawyer’ with particular experience in cardiology and cancer cases and fatal claims.
On the latter it says Louise Hart is ‘extremely knowledgeable and thorough’, and heads the firm’s complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) practice. The team also handles claims for severely injured victims of cycling accidents. Stuart Brazington specialises in high-value brain and spinal injury claims.
Thrings’ personal injury:defendant and personal injury: claimant work earns it a third regional tier placing in both areas with the team specialising in the former described as ‘excellent, efficient, knowledgeable and thorough’ while, for the latter, Andrew Herridge’s team specialises in the defence of employers’ and public liability claims.
At Devizes firm Wansbroughs, personal injury lawyer Robert Hams is experienced in defending civil claims brought against local authorities and other public bodies, and Sarah Beresford-Smith handles claims against social services and the police.
Thrings earns top regional ranking for its agriculture and estates practice with Withy King among the third placements. However, Withy King’s bloodstock team are judged as joint best in the region.
Thrings’ expertise spans non-contentious and contentious matters, with Peter Cusick and litigator Russell Reeves the key contacts. The growing team saw the arrival of, among others, Jane Oakland and Victoria Smyth, both from the Bristol office of national firm Clarke Willmott.
Withy King advises agricultural clients on property and business issues, and tax and estate planning Angus Williams gives ‘good clear advice on complex issues’. The firm's Marlborough-based bloodstock practice advises on a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious equestrian matters. Richard Brooks specialises in dispute resolution and sports regulatory work, and Andrew Chalk focuses on sports-related commercial contracts.
In sport law, Thrings is said to ‘always operates with a commitment exceeding clients’ expectations’.
Thrings, Withy King and Clark Holt are also recommended for their IT and telecoms work.
Thrings’ team ‘works hard to achieve the desired outcome’, and Andy Braithwaite is ‘exemplary at understanding the client’s risks’, and ‘presents practical solutions’.
Jessica Bent heads the team at Withy King, which assists clients on non-contentious and contentious IT matters.
Clark Holt advises on software licences, and e-commerce and cloud computing agreements.
Intellectual property is also a strong area for Thrings and Withy King. Thrings’ IP team advises luxury brand owners and manufacturers, in areas including brand portfolio and trade mark protection. Other sector strengths include defence, media and technology.
Jessica Bent heads the team at Withy King, which advises businesses and individuals on contentious and non-contentious matters.
Both firms’ work in media and entertainment is also highlighted. Thrings counts Bristol Media among its clients and has experience in areas including broadcasting agreements.
Withy King advises on licensing, digital media exploitation agreements, and audio and TV production agreements.
Withy King is among the region’s top firms for contentious trusts and probate. The team is praised for its ‘timely communication’ and ‘excellent knowledge’, and is ‘good value for money’. Amanda Noyce ‘goes above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that the highest standards of service are delivered’. Mike Muston is also highly recommended.
Withy King also gains a first group placing for its family practice with Thrings among the second group. Withy King ‘stands out for its unrivalled level of advice’. Team head Richard Ellis has particular expertise in child protection work, and Rebecca Stevens is ‘highly successful at achieving the very best outcomes, whether through a negotiated settlement or contested proceedings’, while at Thrings Matthew Kellow specialises in high-value ancillary relief and Children Act matters. Fiona Kellow deals with high-net-worth matrimonial finance.
Both firms are among the third tier regional firms for their personal tax, trusts and probate work. Thrings’ Michael Young has expertise in inheritance tax planning and tax restructurings. The team saw the arrival of Victoria Smyth from Clarke Willmott.
At Withy King, James McNeile has expertise in estate planning, trusts and tax planning, and acts for a range of high-worth families and non-UK individuals. Samantha O’Sullivan joined from pre-merger Mogers Solicitors in Bath along with three others from Thrings.
In the health sector, Deighton Pierce Glynn, which has an office in Swindon, has particular expertise in representing migrants seeking treatment, as well as acting for prisoners and immigration detainees in claims relating to the provision of healthcare. The highly regarded Adam Hundt heads the team, and Polly Glynn, Frances Lipman and Zubier Yazdani are ‘steadfast in their approach, with a strong sense of social justice’.
Commenting on the South West legal market, the report says: “The region saw some improvement in economic sentiment in 2013, as business confidence returned to the UK.
“There was an uptick in activity in key practice areas, with an increase in residential property development projects a particular highlight for real estate departments. The renewable energy market remains strong in the South West, and a number of significant new projects are planned.
“The change in employment tribunal fees resulted in a considerable drop in claims, and pushed law firms towards more complex employment disputes and advisory work. In personal injury, firms saw fewer low-value public liability cases being brought in the post-Jackson era, as the impact of the reforms and the banning of referral fees continued to be felt.”
