15th November, 2016

Aaron & Partners continues legal industry guide success

Leading law firm Aaron & Partners has received top reviews in the prestigious Chambers UK 2017 rankings, maintaining its position as a leader in legal services with rankings across a variety of specialisms and individual rankings for ten of its lawyers.

Since 1990 Chambers has published the world’s leading guides to the legal profession and has built a reputation for in-depth, objective research delivered by a team of 100 researchers who conduct thousands of interviews with lawyers and their clients to ascertain the leading solicitors in specific areas of law.

Lawyers at Aaron & Partners who all achieved top rating include Clive Pointon, head of Wills, Tax & Trusts; Richard Barge, head of Family law and Tim Culpin, head of Transport law.

Senior partner Simon Edwards said,

“As a well-respected independent guide, Chambers & Partners provides a fair and informed assessment of the legal services firms provide.

To be recognised regionally and nationally in a variety of specialisms and be individually ranked for a number of leading practitioners, is a reflection of our strong commitment to the quality of our work and gives clients present and future confidence when instructing us to represent them.”

The guide acknowledged Aaron & Partners Solicitors for eight of its services and specialisms including: top band rating in the practice area of Private Client; Band 2 in the practice areas of: Transport: Road: Regulatory, Planning and Agriculture & Rural Affairs. It also recommended the firm in four other key practice areas in Bands 3 – 5: Corporate and Commercial; Litigation; Employment and Real Estate.

Regionally the Agriculture & Rural affairs team were praised for their ‘clear and practical advice’ and ‘impressive standard’ of work and the Litigation team were recognised for their ‘excellence’.  The Transport team was singled out for significant praise, in the UK-wide category, as being ‘reliable’ and providing ‘a service above and beyond the expected requirement’.

Elsewhere in the guide professionalism and efficiency were judged to underpin the success of Corporate and Commercial under Stuart Scott-Goldstone, highlighted as ‘very fair and pragmatic’.

Aaron’s work advising professional practices and education clients in employment tribunals, workplace mediations and high-level investigations  also attracted a notable ranking, with the Employment team recognised as ‘extremely approachable’ and possessing ‘a good understanding of the true environment in which organisations have to operate as well as the legal implications.’ Claire Brook was specifically highlighted for her excellent level of service and advice.

In addition to its ranked services, Aaron & Partners is delighted to have increased the number of ranked individual leading practitioners in Chambers & Partners.

Transport and Logistics expert Tim Culpin, is described by the guide as ‘experienced’ and ‘very knowledgeable and pleasant to deal with’; Justin Neal, environmental specialist, who is praised by clients for his ‘fair advice’ and ‘friendly, easy to talk to and informative’ approach  and Richard Barge in the Family and matrimonial sector highlighted as ‘a skilled collaborative lawyer’ recognised for his ‘excellent knowledge and negotiation skills.’

This year also sees two new entries for the Family law team: Lorraine Saunders, Family Law Partner, who ‘demonstrates expertise in her field with empathy and understanding’ and Sandy Edwards, Senior Associate, deemed as one to watch.

Personal rankings

Corporate/M&A: SME/Owner-managed Businesses – North West

Stuart Scott-Goldstone (Band 2)

Employment – North West

Claire Brook (Band 3)

Environment – UK-wide

Justin Neal (Band 2)

Family/Matrimonial – Chester and surrounds

Richard Barge (Band 1)

Lorraine Saunders (Band 2)

Shrewsbury and surrounds (Associates to watch)

Sandy Edwards

Licensing – The Regions

Barry Holland (Band 3)

Partnership – UK-wide

Private Client – Chester and surrounds

Clive Pointon (Band 1)

Transport – UK-wide

Tim Culpin (Band 1)

Firm rankings

Chester and surrounds

Agriculture & Rural Affairs (Band 2) 

Advises farmers, landowners, estates and local authorities on a wide range of agricultural matters. Known for its expertise in rural businesses and regularly acts on development agreements, renewable schemes and renewable projects. Also offers tax and financial planning to support rural and farming businesses.

Quotes from clients – “Their advice was clear and practical and I was very impressed by the overall standard of their work. They were incredibly intuitive at knowing what we required.”

Notable practitioners – Simon Ellis is a key contact for this practice area.

Private Client (Band 1) 

Highly rated private client practice which offers a comprehensive range of services connected to wealth management. Provides advice in the area of tax planning with a particularly strong record advising high net worth clients on capital gains and inheritance tax. Also offers advice on charity law, deputyship matters and Court of Protection work.

Quotes from clients – “I was impressed by them; they are doing high-quality private client work.”

“They have a formidable reputation and attract high-profile clients.”

Notable practitioners – Clive Pointon leads the firm’s private client team and is described by market sources as “a formidable lawyer who always fights for the best result for the client.” He advises on wills, trusts and tax matters and has specialist expertise in Court of Protection matters.

North West

Corporate/M&A: SME/Owner-managed Businesses (Band 3) 

Chester-based practice with core strengths in M&A, restructuring and investment work. Acts mainly for SMEs and owner-managed businesses, in addition to banks and private equity houses.

Quotes from clients – “They are accessible, professional, efficient and they are good communicators.”

Notable practitioners – Stuart Scott-Goldstone advises on the full spectrum of corporate finance transactions, in addition to company reorganisations and restructurings. Clients describe him as “very fair and pragmatic.”

Employment (Band 4) 

Acts for professional practices and education clients in employment tribunals and general advisory matters. Additional services include high-level investigations, workplace mediation and acting for senior-level claimants.

Quotes from clients – “They’re very professional, organised and have the ability to quickly respond to any matter put in front of them.”

“They’re extremely approachable with a good understanding of the true environment in which organisations have to operate as well as the legal implications.”

Notable practitioners – Claire Brook is known for her advocacy work, with clients reporting she “approaches matters on a very thoughtful basis, gives excellent advice and acts in a timely and proper manner.”

Litigation (Band 4) 

Multi-service practice, handling issues such as shareholder disputes, professional negligence matters and property cases. Particularly represents clients in the transport and real estate sectors.

Quotes from clients – “They are excellent, with a focus on the commercial outcome.”

“They tell us what to expect and deliver it – very good from the client’s eye.”

Notable practitioners – Nick Clarke is a key contact.

Planning (Band 2) 

Highlighted for its adept handling of planning matters in the renewables, minerals and waste sectors. Advises clients including retailers, developers and major utilities on an array of contentious and non-contentious matters.

Quotes from clients – “They are reliable and easy to get on with.”

Notable practitioners – David Delaney heads the planning department.

Real Estate (Band 5) 

Strong regional practice with a varied property offering. Acts for a number of financial clients on investment and property finance matters. Also regularly acts for clients in the education, charity, utilities, waste and energy sectors. Additional expertise in handling agricultural and landed estate work.

Quotes from clients – “The communication is always excellent.”

Notable practitioners – Simon Ellis is a key contact.

UK-wide

Transport: Road: Regulatory (Band 2)

Highly respected team with substantial experience advising waste, goods and passenger carriers in public inquiries and criminal prosecutions. Also adept at providing strategic compliance advice.

Quotes from clients

“They are totally reliable and provide a service above and beyond the expected requirement. We now consider them our first port of call should we require expert advice.”

Notable practitioners

According to sources, Tim Culpin is “very knowledgeable in the area of transport law. He always looks after his clients and is very pleasant to deal with.” Clients praise his “in-depth research, correspondence and legal knowledge.” He is experienced in representing clients at both Traffic Commissioner and Magistrates’ Court proceedings.

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