The Legal 500, an independent, impartial and international guide of the best law firms across the globe, has published its rankings in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2021 edition. At Clapham & Collinge Solicitors, we are delighted to be recognised in a record-breaking 13 practice areas, with 2 elite 'leading individuals', 2 'rising stars', 15 recommended lawyers and testimonials including:
'The firm has dynamic and well-coordinated teams who are passionate at doing the best possible jobs for their clients.'
'Client-focused and extremely competent, the firm provides full, comprehensive and sensible advice given to every client.'
'A very competent and capable firm, with the particular skills set needed to deal with older clients. Unlike some firms, each client is treated as important, and not just a number.'
Mark Kermez, Managing Partner said: ''Once again a fantastic result! This is testament to the hard work and dedication of our lawyers; and fantastic news after several months of challenging trading conditions. We're proud to be recognised as a leading regional law firm with a record-breaking number of recommended lawyers across the firm.''
Our Legal 500 2021 Highlights:
Corporate and Commercial – Norwich:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors has seen growing activity for its corporate and commercial department, with the support of consultant Hugh Berridge and an expanding team of junior lawyers. The firm acts for numerous SMEs in Norfolk but its client base includes a growing number of large business owners and high-net-worth individuals.
Corporate and Commercial - Elsewhere in East Anglia:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is primarily based in Norwich, but its North Walsham and Sheringham offices play important roles in the firm's growing presence in the Norfolk market. The practice acts for many large companies in the county, as well as for high-net-worth individuals across East Anglia, in corporate transactions and investments. 'The team is well organised, supportive to clients and efficient,' remarks one client.
Commercial Property – Norwich:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors expanded its commercial property team in 2019 with the recruitment of junior lawyers, so legal executive Sarah Garlish leads a seven-lawyer group that advises public and private sector clients on the sale and acquisition of business premises, landlord and tenant matters, property finance and development work. The firm has grown its client base across Norfolk and continues to invest in the commercial side of its business to act for more high-net-worth individuals and large companies in the county.
Commercial Litigation – Norwich:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors has become one of the key dispute resolution firms in Norfolk with a growing team of litigators acting in disputes between businesses and individuals involving issues of consumer rights and restrictive covenants. The practice is led by managing partner Mark Kermez, who works closely with vastly experienced partner Philip Lumb and consultant Michael Olmer.
Debt Recovery:
'The firm has dynamic and well-coordinated teams who are passionate at doing the best possible jobs for their clients,' say clients of Clapham & Collinge Solicitors in Norwich. The firm acts predominantly for large companies in Norfolk. 'Knowledgeable, thorough and tactical' managing partner Mark Kermez oversees the practice, in which legal executive Kate Smith is recommended as a 'strong and robust litigator'.
Employment:
'Each team member showed compassion for our case,' remarks a client of Clapham & Collinge Solicitors. 'They put the needs of the client at the forefront of everything they do,' remarks another. The firm acts predominantly for claimants in contentious matters, though it is steadily growing its roster of advisory work for employers. The 'compassionate, professional and exceptionally approachable' Nicola Strefford in Norwich leads the practice, which includes one newly-qualified solicitor and a trainee.
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence – Claimant:
Norwich is home to a personal injury practice at Clapham & Collinge Solicitors that handles work across Norfolk, including through its offices in North Walsham and Sheringham. The firm's work includes industrial disease, asbestos, serious injury, accident at work and road traffic accident claims. Lead partner Philip Lumb is a respected litigator for whom personal injury is a key focus. Legal executive Kate Smith also has more than ten years' experience in this area of law.
Professional Negligence:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors handles a range of claimant work involving solicitors and other professionals, though it also has the capacity to defend claims. Lead partner Philip Lumb has 17 years' experience in litigation, with professional negligence a prime focus for his practice. His team is based in Norwich but also provides services through the firm's offices in North Walsham and Sheringham. The firm recruited a solicitor and a legal executive to handle its growing workload.
Charities and Not-for-profit:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors launched its charities department five years ago and has built an impressive client base around its headquarters in Norwich and in other parts of East Anglia. Its work encompasses charity formation, trustee compliance issues, mergers, property transactions, employment law and litigation. Neale Grearson, who leads both the family and charities practice groups, calls upon Nicola Strefford for employment matters.
Contentious Trusts and Probate:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is 'client-focused and extremely competent; the firm provides full, comprehensive and sensible advice to every client'. Neale Grearson in Norwich, who is head of the family and charities departments, also leads the contentious trusts and probate practice, which acts for clients across Norfolk. Solicitor and 'extraordinarily competent young lawyer' Emerald Priscott focuses predominantly on contested probate and family matters. Head of litigation Philip Lumb and property consultant Michael Olmer also provide support to the practice.
Family:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors handles a broad range of divorce and separation, financial relief, children matters, as well as advising unmarried couples on property rights and TOLATA claims. Based in Norwich, the firm has a major presence across North Norfolk through its office in North Walsham. Head of family and charities Neale Grearson has more than 25 years' experience in handling divorce and separation matters, which increasingly involve high-net-worth clients with overseas assets. Solicitors Emerald Priscott and Caroline Eaton, who frequently advises cohabitees on cohabitation agreements and property rights on separation, also play key roles in the practice.
Personal Tax, Trusts And Probate – Norwich:
The team at Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is 'easy to work with, knowledgeable, economically priced and accessible'. The firm has one of the largest private client practices in Norfolk and practice head Lin Whitehead is 'meticulous and practical, a pleasure to work with'. A STEP member, she also handles clinical negligence claims, which sees her act in Court of Protection matters and as deputy for personal injury trusts. Ben Lowe handles family, personal injury trusts and charitable trusts, and the administration of estates worth up to £50m. Senior lawyer Lauren Abbs is also recommended.
Personal Tax, Trusts And Probate - Elsewhere In East Anglia:
Clapham & Collinge Solicitors is primarily based in Norwich, where practice head Lin Whitehead is highly regarded, but its other Norfolk offices also handle a significant flow of private client matters. Julie Sheldrake in North Walsham, who joined from Fosters, and Joseph Keeping, who works between both offices, handle the full range of work, with particular focus on the needs of the elderly and those with dementia.
*Extracts taken from The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2021 edition.
If you have a legal query and would like to speak to a member of the Clapham & Collinge team, please contact our dedicated Client Relations Team on 01603 693500 or email us using the 'Make an Enquiry' online form on our website.
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