5th October 2023 | Sophie Hudson | legal directories
With 19 recommended lawyers from our team ranked for their outstanding contributions to their respective legal fields, we would like to say a huge thank you to our clients and contacts who took time to help the Legal 500 researchers come to their conclusion and continue to rank Sherrards solicitors as a ‘top tier’ Firm.
What is the Legal 500?
For 33 years the Legal 500 has been an influential and widely reconsidered legal directory that provides ranking and reviews of law firms and individual lawyers. The rankings are based on client feedback, submissions from law firms, interviews, and extensive research by experienced legal market analysts.
Why is The Legal 500 important?
The Legal 500 rankings can help to build the reputation of lawyers, law firms, and the work they have done to support their clients over the past year. This helps us as a Firm to highlight our lawyers’ expertise and also helps us to communicate the type of work we do in general.
As an internal communications exercise, it helps us to retain our talent and to attract lawyers and business professionals who want to work for a ‘top tier’ Firm – in other words, a Firm that is exceptionally good at what it does!
Each year, we ask clients and contacts to act as ‘referees’ for us. They kindly take a call from a researcher to help us to rank in this directory. Our ranking is truly down to them and their time, so we thank them profusely.
An overview of how we did:
The Dispute Resolution Department have kept their top tier status and are praised for their “serious, rigorous, but inventive approach”. A client said “The team is highly responsive and demonstrates high levels of knowledge that bring about the right result in complicated matters.”
Practice Head and Partner Paul Marmor has been recognised as a Leading Individual once more with clients noting his extensive experience in international banking and finance disputes. Paul “combines the rigour of a classic commercial litigator with ingenuity and adaptability when faced with novel problems. He is also a delight to work with.”
Greg Pooler, Legal Director is “very hard working and bright, a capable pair of hands, and someone to watch.”
Partner Karen Dobson is recommended for her contentious insolvency work and the ‘excellent and creative’ Marta Grieve is mentioned for her matters relating to the CIS and Eastern Europe regions.
The Private Wealth Team has also maintained their top tier status with Charles, Louise and Nicole all mentioned and recommended for their expertise. A client testimonial was “They are fully interested and engaged in not only finding us the best outcome but also guiding through timings and process. We felt that we had someone on our side that was both batting for us as well as thinking ahead of the game to influence the future outcomes.”
“Charles stands out for his wide knowledge, and enthusiasm to search for options.” Clients says working with him is like they have welcomed a great team member.
The Employment Team remain top tier with clients calling the team ‘exceptional individuals’. Partner and Head of Employment, Mark Fellows has once again been recognised as a Leading Individual which is a great accolade to Mark’s knowledge, expertise and genuine relationships with his clients.
Mark is noted for advising owner-managed businesses and global companies within the pharmaceuticals and retail sectors, and his work within Employment Tribunals while Emma O’Meara has been recommended as a great lawyer with clients stating how she is always accessible and always goes above and beyond.
On the whole team, a client said: “I’ve found this practice to be very down-to-earth and professional. At every stage, they have been accommodating. I’ve had total confidence in the team from the start, due to first-class communication and relevant advice.”’
The Sherrards Corporate and Commercial team also ranked highly. Jean-Paul da Costa and Leigh Head both received high recommendations for their ‘wealth of experience’ in advising owner-managed businesses, and clients in the entertainment and hospitality sectors. Clients said: “The Sherrards team are down to earth, pragmatic and focused on getting the deal done. They are professional yet approachable, and I very much enjoy working with them.”
Another client said that “They are known for ‘never overcomplicating what they do or how they describe what they have done’.
A recent case study mentioned was the team advising Gift Universe on targeted company acquisitions as part of a wider strategic restructure of the group, and the establishment of an employee ownership trust.
The Commercial Property teams in both London and St Albans did well too, with Stephanie Kierans again receiving the Next Generation Partner recognition and Terry Fendt (Practice head), Shane Knight and Guy Morgan recommended for their expertise. The researchers note their demonstratable experience in the hospitality, leisure, retail and charity sectors. Clients said they are “An approachable team, with impressive experience.” and another said they are “professional, helpful and patient.”
On Shane Knight, a client said: “From 30 years of experience in real estate trading, we have never seen such a unique individual, who is so considerate, attentive and responsive.”
Although we could go on, that’s a good place to leave our update.
Well done to each of our teams and their continued hard work. But most importantly, thank you to our clients and contacts who helped us rank highly for another year running. Not only does this help boost morale, but it is important for attracting and retaining talent to the Firm, and the odd client too.