‘Regional heavyweight’ law firm, asb law, has seen its Banking and Finance team move up the rankings to top tier status in the new edition of Legal 500, a leading independently researched legal services directory. The firm’s Aviation and Employment teams also retained their top tier rankings.
As the only Kent and Sussex-based firm to receive a top tier ranking in the Banking and Finance practice area, the team, led by Claire Williams, was praised for highlights including advising Seventeen Group on a multimillion-pound refinancing and acquisition facility, and assisting Amadeus Properties with its £11m refinancing of a property portfolio. With no fewer than five individuals singled out for praise, leading individual Russell Bell’s “combination of technical legal knowledge and commerciality inspires confidence”, whilst consultant Shaun Kelly “has some of the best banking experience of any lawyer in the region”. Andrew Hoad and Helen Mead were also recognised as key partners in the well respected team.
asb’s renowned Aviation team was once again recognised in the top spot for being “extremely approachable and responsive” and exhibiting “varied and strong knowledge of the aviation sector”. Led by “commercially focused” Alina Nosek, the team acted for Casco during the highly publicised purchase of a Boeing 737-400 from Luxair, whilst Rebecca Thornley-Gibson, a leading individual in the world of Travel, continued to advise easyJet on various commercial agreements.
The firm’s Employment team was recognised for advising clients such as EasyJet, Mid-Sussex District Council and Heritage Lottery Fund on the full spectrum of employment issues.
The rankings also see the firm’s Commercial Property team move up the rankings to tier 2. The team, led by Partner, Jonathan Cavell was recognised for advising Persimmon Homes on its purchase of a greenfield site in Sussex, and assisting City & Urban Securities with its £10m sale of development land to Bellway Homes.
Making its debut, the firm’s “active” Vulnerable People team, headed up by Glen Miles, who is classed as being “exceptionally experienced, knowledgeable and [who] demonstrates a true empathy with his clients” ranked in the Court of Protection practice area.
Francis Lacy-Scott, who heads up the firm’s “well regarded”, specialist brain injury team, retained leading individual status and was praised for providing “an outstanding service” and “has clients’ best interests at the centre of all that he does”.
Commenting, managing partner, Andrew Clinton said: “To get independent endorsement for 22 practice areas in Legal 500 is a fantastic achievement and reflects the efforts we put in to developing the knowledge and services we offer, as we strive to be the law firm that clients would design.
“I am also delighted that no fewer than 23 of our partners and lawyers are recommended, with 3 of them receiving leading individual recognition.”
Legal 500 undertakes in-depth research amongst clients, professional advisers and peers from other firms throughout the UK to determine its rankings and recommendations.