In total nine practice areas were recommended in the 2018 edition, with two Partners noted as Leading Individuals, and five Partners and one Associate Solicitor recognised as Next Generation Lawyers.

Ellisons Solicitors has once again been recommended in the 2018 Legal 500. We received notable mentions within the following practice areas: Employment, Personal Injury, Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Litigation, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery, Personal Injury: Defendant, Family, Personal tax, trusts and probate, and Commercial property.

In the Ipswich office, two Partners, Julian Outen and Robert Gair have been noted as Leading Individuals. In his 30 years’ experience, Fellow of APIL, Robert Gair, has earned a stellar reputation for leading complex and high-value personal injury cases.

The Ipswich office also has a highly respected lead partner in Julian lOuten, who is a qualified mediator and has many years’ experience in TUPE matters resulting from outsourcing agreements and business acquisitions and mergers, and in complex litigation including boardroom disputes.

Ellisons currently acts for a large client base in East Anglia and elsewhere in the UK, as well as handling cross-border matters for clients based in Europe, Israel and the US.

In the Corporate and Commercial department, Paul Forsyth, has been named as a next generation lawyer for the second year running, and is now working from Ellisons’ Chelmsford office, as well as from the firm’s head office in Colchester.

Scott Porter, who has recently been promoted to Partner, has been recognised as a next generation lawyer in two practice areas; Commercial Litigation and Insolvency and Corporate Recovery.

Partners and Solicitors named as Next Generation Lawyers are:

This follows continued expansion after rapid growth in all business areas, resulting in new office openings and recruitment in a number of departments.

Guy Longhurst, Managing Partner commented: “It has been an astonishing year for the firm, and it is a great testament to the team across the region to have received such notable recommendations this year. It reflects the team’s hard work and the fact that they ensure the needs of their clients are always put first. Whilst recognition from Legal Directories such as the Legal 500 is positive, it is the feedback from our clients, staff and contacts, which really matters to us.”

“We have plans to continue with this growth, and I look forward to working with our clients, both new and existing, as we continue to cement our position as a leading adviser in the Eastern Region and beyond…”

COMMENTARY OF OUR TEAMS FROM LEGAL 500 BELOW:

CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL: ESSEX

The corporate and commercial team at Ellisons Solicitors has experience in transactions, restructurings, joint ventures, supply agreements, and franchise and financing work, including in-depth knowledge of the banking sector and recent experience with US companies. During 2017, the lawyers advised administrators McTear Williams & Wood on the asset sale of Searon Logistics to Logistic Planning Services. Other highlights include client Gray Dawes Travel’s acquisition of the entirety of CTM Travel Management’s share capital from P & P Associates, as well as client S.A.W. Group of Companies’ purchase of the insolvent company Enigma Insulations.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: ESSEX

The ‘excellent’ Ellisons Solicitors provides ‘knowledgeable, speedy and cost-effective’ litigation services, particularly in commercial, probate, insolvency, debt recovery and banking disputes. Recent highlights include the representation of Southbourne Trading Company regarding the successful dismissal of a winding-up petition from HMRC. The Ministry of Defence (Defence Infrastructure Organisation) and The Book Service/Penguin Books are regular clients. ‘Friendly and professional litigator’ Graeme Wallington has a ‘sensible commercial approach to achieving the client’s objectives’.

INSOLVENCY AND CORPORATE RECOVERY

Ellisons Solicitors’ ‘speedy and cost-effective’ insolvency team has ‘excellent knowledge around the subject and supports the client well’, covering both contentious and non-contentious matters. Its focus areas include bringing or defending against statutory demands and bankruptcy petitions, and representing corporations and individuals in voluntary arrangements, as well as advising practitioners during administrations and liquidations. In a recent highlight, the ‘commercial and sensible all-round expert’ Scott Porter, who is ‘a tremendous asset on any job’, was instructed to defend Southbourne Trading Company in the High Court against a winding-up order petitioned by HMRC concerning one of its subsidiaries. The team also consists of corporate and commercial partner Paul Forsyth on the subject of insolvency-related transactions, including pre-pack sales, loan agreements and business restructurings.

PERSONAL INJURY: DEFENDANT

The personal injury department of Ellisons Solicitors handles motor, employers’ and public liability claims. Previous clients included Markerstudy Insurance Company, Liberty Syndicate Management, Zenith Insurance and Metroline. Catastrophic injury partner and team lead Robert Jones is known for his expertise in paraplegic, amputation, total blindness and brain injury claims. Natalie Simpkins made partner in May 2017, while Edward Weaver was promoted to associate in the same year. Experienced chartered legal executive Steve Garthwaite specialises in motor liability matters.

FAMILY: ESSEX

Ellisons Solicitors’ family department undertakes family litigation and collaborative law relating to matters such as divorce, property disputes between unmarried couples, dissolution of civil partnerships, financial remedies, disputes about children, TOLATA claims and domestic violence injunctions. Nicky Coates, who leads the department and is a financial divorce claims and pre-nuptial/cohabitation agreement specialist, Resolution-accredited associate Lisa Dawson and Children Act matter expert MaryCarmel Langley are the key contacts.

PERSONAL TAX, TRUSTS AND PROBATE: ESSEX

The private client department at Ellisons Solicitors is ‘valued’ for ‘providing a professional service and expertise in all matters of law’ to its client base of high-net-worth individuals and local business professionals. The main focus areas include tax planning and probate administration, as well as lasting powers of attorney, Court of Protection and elderly client matters. A recent highlight was the representation of executors in the administration of an estate worth 3.5m, involving multiple properties, investments, a trust and life assurance policies. Clients recommend ‘very experienced, friendly and amenable’ managing partner and practice lead Tim Logan and solicitor Chloe Baldwin, who is ‘eager to learn’ and often assists Logan on his matters.

COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: ESSEX

The commercial property team at Ellisons Solicitors is renowned for realising transactions involving plots of land, as well as advising investors and engaging in secured lending work. Recent highlights include team lead Philip Roberts’ representation of a logistics company in its 20,000 acquisition of 300,000 square feet of land and the related negotiation of a development agreement for the construction of a new logistics centre in Peterborough. Roberts also acted for an investment fund regarding its purchase of an investment property and fixed assets for 10.5m from a company based in the British Virgin Islands. Senior partner Guy Longhurst and partners Andrew Miranda and Kevin Wilsher are other key members of the team. Property finance partner Ross Wiltshire and development and strategic land expert Tim Bacon both joined from Prettys Solicitors LLP in spring 2017.