legal 500 2024 - the results

This year's Legal 500 results are in! The Legal 500 is an annual directory that rates and ranks lawyers and law firms across the different specialisms within which they work. 

Birkett Long have once again been recognised for our specialisms and lawyers. See the results below:

Hall of Fame, for those who have received constant praise by their clients for continued excellence.

Claire Read in Wills, Trusts and Probate

We have 6 listed as a leading Individuals in 7 areas:

Tracey Dickens in Commercial & Corporate and Public Sector

Peter Allen in Commercial Litigation

Julie Temple in Employment

Melanie Bache in Commercial Property

Philip Hoddell in Family

Amanda Smallcombe in Court of Protection & Inheritance Disputes

4 next generation partners:

Tim Field in Commercial & Corporate

Lisa Collins in Family

Ben Parmenter in Wills, Trusts and Probate

Emma Wraight in Commercial Property

5 rising stars:

Perdeep Grewal in Commercial Litigation

Francesca Cozens in Family

Emma Coke in Agriculture & Estates

Thomas Emmett in Education

Suryen Nullatamby in Construction

Corporate and commercial in Essex - Ranked Tier 2

With offices in Chelmsford, Colchester and Basildon, Birkett Long LLP‘s commercial and corporate finance team is led by expert in M&A and contractual matters Tim Field. With particular strength in investment work, the practice is sought out by national and international clients for advice on an array of transactions, especially in the manufacturing, healthcare and banking sectors. Clients ‘wouldn’t hesitate to recommend’ head of the commercial department Tracey Dickens, who is well versed in corporate transactional and restructuring work, as well as partnerships. David Wisbey is recommended for his expertise in international transactions, and the ‘extremely knowledgeable’ Thomas Emmett’s practice extends to advising buyers and sellers on share and asset deals.

‘A really strong, very approachable and cohesive team of hardworking commercial solicitors, with good legal knowledge. Fully focused on the needs of the client, taking the time to look beyond the legal issues and considering what the practical implications are for our business. The team provides clear and specific communication and has an agile can-do outlook. Extremely impressed by their work and commitment.’

‘Tracey Dickens is someone I wouldn’t hesitate, and have, recommended to others who wish to engage legal counsel in the UK for corporate and commercial matters.’

‘Efficient, knowledgeable and approachable. Appreciated the thorough and complete advice.’

Commercial litigation in Essex - Ranked Tier 1

Birkett Long LLP‘s ‘incredibly versatile’ dispute resolution department is equipped to comfortably operate across all areas of commercial litigation, including construction, intellectual property, insolvency and public procurement matters.  Heading up the North Essex team, Colchester-based Carla Jones joined the team in March 2022 from Palmers, along with Jacqui McGuirk, and offers particular experience in breach of director’s duties, civil fraud and professional negligence claims, while construction expert Suryen Nullatamby in Chelmsford leads the South Essex team. Described as ‘a real presence in this area’, Perdeep Grewal excels in handling contractual disputes, while Peter Allen excels in construction claims. Keith Songhurst left the department in 2022 to head up the firm’s risk and compliance team.

Client Testimonials

‘Large, experienced team, which has succeeded in remaining a genuinely local firm for Essex clients.’

‘Perdeep Grewal is an exceptionally thorough litigator.’

‘The team is a good size with a range of experience at different levels. It is well-organised and focuses on client care.’

Employment in Essex - Ranked Tier 1

Birkett Long LLP advises employees, commercial clients and HR consultancies on the whole spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, with clients describing the team’s work as ‘combining unrivalled legal knowledge with a commercial outlook’. Praised as ‘fantastic to work with’, head of the team Julie Temple in Colchester has a proven track record in successfully representing commercial clients in complex tribunal cases. Helena Oxley and Rianna Billington are also recommended, and involved in the firm’s recent efforts to further strengthen its offering in the education sector. Reggie Lloyd retired in June 2022.

Client Testimonials

‘Julie Temple is very helpful. She manages not only our HR side but also helps put us in touch with the right people for any other legal matters.’

‘Friendly and professional team. Outstanding service with excellent levels of communication maintained.’

‘Approachable, understands the needs of our business. Willing to go the extra mile to provide appropriate advice.’

Insolvency and Corporate Recovery - Ranked Tier 3

The ‘excellent‘ Kevin Sullivan heads up the Colchester-based practice at Birkett Long LLP, which aside from fielding ‘experts in the field‘, often represents directors who are facing disqualification. Sullivan is ‘incredibly knowledgeable and has excellent attention to detail‘ when advising on contentious insolvency matters, and acts for insolvency practitioners, debtors, and bankrupt clients on both corporate and personal insolvency issues.

Client Testimonials

‘The team at Birkett Long are experts in their field. They are able to work closely and expeditiously with other teams in the firm to provide detailed solutions to complex insolvency situations.’

‘Kevin Sullivan is an excellent lawyer. Kevin is incredibly knowledgeable and has excellent attention to detail. Kevin is very approachable when reaching a commercial arrangement so that all stakeholders’ expectations are met. He is also very relaxed in his approach, which makes it a pleasure to work with him.’

‘Excellent knowledge and understanding of Insolvency Act claims and the contentious litigation that often accompanies them. Very commercially minded and easy to work with.’

Agriculture and Estates - Ranked Tier 2

Birkett Long LLP advises families operating in the agricultural sphere with partnership agreements, property sales and purchases, as well as tax planning. Caroline Dowding leads the team and is often engaged in creating trusts to protect assets and handling the deceased’s estates. David Rayner is located in Chelmsford is particularly proficient in construction, development, and energy in addition to environmental matters, while Emma Coke is noted for her two decades of experience in agricultural matters. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Colchester, unless stated otherwise.

Client Testimonials

‘The agriculture and estates team is readily available, approachable, and knowledgeable. They provide answers to queries promptly and in detail.’

‘An excellent team, always polite and helpful with extremely good understanding of our needs and first-class professional knowledge of the subject being dealt with.’

‘I’ve dealt often with David Rayner who is a pleasure to work with.’

Contentious Trusts and Probate - Ranked Tier 2

Home to an ‘experienced and knowledgeable set of individuals’, Birkett Long LLP is led by the ‘complete private client litigation solicitor’ Amanda Smallcombe. The practice head assists clients with beneficial entitlement in property issues and is supported by student member of the Association of Contentious Trusts and Probate Specialists, Lisa Cox. 

Client Testimonials

‘Extremely experienced and knowledgeable, very professional, and courteous at all times.’

‘They stay in constant contact and are so understanding of my needs.’

‘Kay Baker is a leading member of their team, getting to the crux of the matter quickly and providing astute insight on the issues. She is adept at negotiation and excels in achieving the optimum outcome for her clients in emotive but complex legal situations.’

Family in Essex - Ranked Tier 1

Praised by clients as an ‘exceptional firm in terms of breadth of knowledge within the sector’, Birkett Long LLP offers particular strength in advising on the whole range of divorce-related work, including financial remedy and private child law matters. The team is jointly steered by Lisa Collins, who splits her time between Chelmsford and Basildon, and Mel Loxley in Colchester; both are recommended for their capabilities in financial remedy proceedings, cohabitee disputes, and pre and post-nuptial agreements, as well as disputes regarding child arrangements. Philip Hoddell is well known for his strength in complex and high-value financial matters, and Francesca Cozens offers niche expertise in grandparent work, including special guardianship orders and child arrangement orders.

Client Testimonials

‘Birkett Long has a wide breadth of knowledge within its family team, and I know from my own experience they are supportive of each other and all work to a very high level. They are an exceptional firm in terms of breadth of knowledge within the family law sector.’

‘Philip Hoddell is an exceptional solicitor who not only provides clear straightforward and honest advice and guidance, but goes the extra mile to offer reassurance, and care making you feel as a client that your best interests are put first.’

‘Mel Loxley is absolutely fantastic. The service we received was outstanding. We have complete confidence with her expertise and capabilities, and we feel very fortunate that we have such a wonderful solicitor.’

Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate in Essex - Ranked Tier 1

Birkett Long LLP‘s wills, trust and probate team is geared to offer expert advice on complex wills, estate planning for high-net-worth business owners, and the whole array of tax work, including capital gains tax. The team leverages the firm’s other departments, such as the agriculture and estates team, to offer a multi-faceted service to its clients. Known for her ‘excellent legal knowledge’, Emma Clarke heads up the South Essex team, and splits her time between Basildon and Chelmsford. Her areas of work include the administration of estates with cross-border complications, while Chelmsford-based Claire Read leads the private client department and is recommended for wills, trust creation and estate administration. Tax expert Ben Parmenter leads the firm’s Colchester office, and Amanda Smallcombe is highly praised for her Court of Protection and inheritance dispute work.

Client Testimonials

‘Always polite and helpful.’

‘Emma Clarke continues to offer an extremely friendly service. She is always helpful, and her legal knowledge is excellent.’

‘Always treated with good professional advice and friendly people to work with in all aspects of our needs.’

Public Sector - Ranked Tier 2 

With a strong healthcare practice and an experienced education team, Birkett Long LLP broadens its offering with expert knowledge on regulatory law. Tim Field leads the business team, and excels in contractual matters, as well as high-value M&A. Expert for partnerships and corporate transactions Tracey Dickens heads up the firm’s commercial department, and is respected by clients for the ‘high standard’ of her advice. Head of education Thomas Emmett‘s recent workload includes advising on health and safety issues, discrimination law and issues of governance.

‘Each team member I dealt with was efficient, polite and knowledgeable. Dealing with the problem I faced was made much easier with their calm and professional approach to the work they do. I would recommend the team to my own colleagues.’

‘Tracey Dickens was quick to grasp the difficulties I had, and readily responded to various questions that arose, as the matter was dealt with. She was easily contactable and prompt in her replies, and the work done was of a high standard.’

‘Approachable and efficient solicitors.’

Commercial Property in Essex - Ranked Tier 1

Praised by clients as ‘experts in the field’, Birkett Long LLP‘s Colchester-based real estate department is equipped to handle an array of commercial real estate work, including acquisitions, site set-ups, plot sales and financing issues, with established expertise in the healthcare, environment and education sectors. Group head Emma Wraight is well versed in strategic land matters, such as option and overage agreements, acquisitions and dispositions, and acts for major banks in securing charges.‘Stand-out partner’ Melanie Bache has a track record in complex and high-value work, acting for some of the firm’s leading clients, while Sian Taylor is noted for her specialist knowledge of landlord and tenant matters.

Client Testimonials

‘They are experts in their field. They are able to work closely and expeditiously with other teams in the firm (e.g. insolvency and litigation) to provide detailed solutions to complex property situations.’

‘Emma Wraight is a superb solicitor, who has a deep knowledge and understanding of commercial property matters and has been able to assist on some complex insolvency scenarios.’

‘Highly proficient in a range of sectors.’

Intellectual Property - Ranked Tier 4

Birkett Long LLP‘s caseload features activity in contentious IP issues in addition to contractual and transactional matters. Head of the team Jonathan Perlmutter has thorough expertise in multi-jurisdictional intellectual property filings, while Christopher Burnett handles an array of design and trademark issues. All of the individuals that have been mentioned are located in Colchester.

‘The individuals had specific knowledge of technology.’

Crime and Fraud - Ranked Tier 4

Tej Thakkar has led Birkett Long LLP‘s regulatory department since 2021, and clients note that the group has gone ‘from strength to strength’. The team specialises in regulatory work that involves criminal liability and sanctions issues, and has further strengthened its general crime offering with the hire of Zoe Hoskings from Hodge Jones & Allen in December 2022, who as a strong background in legal aid work before the magistrates and youth courts.

‘I think the way the team is able to work seamlessly as a cohesive unit but also recognising the individual strengths of each member works exceedingly well.’

‘The team has gone from strength to strength. Tej Praful Thakkar brings London-style commercial approach to his cases.’

‘Tej Praful Thakkar is exceptional. He knows his cases inside-out and is able to guide both high-net-worth and corporate clients through complex regulatory and criminal investigations and prosecutions. He is able to balance commercial advice with a bold approach when it is in the client’s best interests, and works very well as part of a team.’

Construction - Ranked Tier 3

The Birkett Long LLP construction group is ‘extremely helpful and knowledgeable’, representing clients from across the sustainability, hospitality, and property spheres in complex adjudication claims as well as advising on non-contentious matters. Based in Chelmsford, Peter Allen and senior associate Suryen Nullatamby co-head the team, with the former offering in-depth experience in advising on breaches of contract, professional negligence, and public procurement issues, while the latter focuses on arbitration, litigation, and contract repudiation.

‘Extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and they give the best advice on a broad range of issues.’

‘Peter Allen is our “go-to” for all contractual negotiations. Peter continuously provides us with excellent and timely advice, his experience and knowledge is of the highest quality and we are certain that he is always looking after the best interests of our business and our team.’

‘Peter Allen acts as a trusted adviser as well as a lawyer. He has good strategic sense and gets his clients results, whether that means a good settlement or fighting the case all the way. His case analysis is excellent.’