Ellisons is once again delighted to have been recommended within the Legal 500 directory.
The firm received notable mentions within the following practice areas: Commercial Property, Corporate and Commercial, Employment, Immigration, Banking and Finance, Property Litigation, Wills, Trusts and Probate, Claimant Personal Injury and Family.
LEADING INDIVIDUALS:
- Philip Roberts, Partner, Commercial Property
- Adam McCaw, Partner, Insolvency and Debt Recovery
- Sohan Sidhu, Partner, Immigration
- Julian Outen, Partner, Employment
- Paul Forsyth, Partner, Corporate and Commercial
- Jonathan Greenhalgh, Partner, Commercial Property
NEXT GENERATION PARTNERS:
- Petra Sharp, Partner, Corporate and Commercial
- Stevan Stratton, Partner, Claimant Personal Injury
- Kay Baker, Partner, Contentious Trusts and Probate
IMMIGRATION: EAST ANGLIA
Ellisons Solicitors in Bury St Edmunds has ‘a great team’ headed by the ’brilliant’ practice head Sohan Sidhu. Vastly experienced senior counsel Graeme Kirk remains active in the practice with huge experience in all aspects of immigration law. Sidhu acts for numerous private individuals, many of whom rely on his ability to speak Punjabi and Hindi, as well as advising corporate clients and entrepreneurs. He frequently handles matters concerning business immigration including the Points Based System, and also advises on Innovator and Start-Up visas. His work on UK immigration law is sought after by clients in a diverse range of sectors, among them IT, healthcare, horse racing, fashion and professional services.
Testimonials
‘Great team, very knowledgeable and helpful.’
‘Sohan Sidhu was brilliant. Extremely helpful and professional.’
BANKING AND FINANCE: EAST ANGLIA
At Ellisons Solicitors, the finance team is ‘calm and patient and explains every query so any layman can understand the complex details easily’. Legal director Phillip Slater, who joined from Dorsey & Whitney, brings to the firm City-quality expertise in and leveraged finance, real estate finance, general corporate lending, balance sheet management, secondary debt trading, and derivatives. Slater ‘goes above and beyond to provide support and guidance’ and significantly enhances the firm’s finance practice, which hitherto focused predominantly on real estate finance.
Testimonials
‘The friendly personal service makes Ellisons such a good company to deal with. The team is calm and patient and explains every query so any layman can understand the complex details easily. As a start up we free supported and the team have boosted our confidence. As a team with a female leadership team we feel incredibly supported with our business ambitions to drive sustainable and positive change.’
‘The level of knowledge and experience is vast and nothing is too much trouble. They make you feel your business is just as important as a huge multi national brand. You are always welcomed with a smile and genuine interest in your business that is rarely found in banks and law firms. Phil Slater goes above and beyond to provide support and guidance.’
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: EAST ANGLIA AND ESSEX
Ellisons Solicitors is noted for handling a vast array of issues involving development site acquisitions and disposals, planning and environmental matters, and option agreements. The group regularly acts for developers, financial institutions, and landlords and tenants. The department is jointly headed by Ross Wiltshire in Chelmsford, and Colchester’s Guy Longhurst, who are both recommended for their knowledge of secured lending. Philip Roberts‘ primary areas of expertise include property portfolios, and development and leasing agreements. Specialising in development work, Bethan Williams and Chris Harvey were promoted to partner in 2024, with Harvey focusing on residential development sides, and Bethan being well-versed in option, promotion, planning, and statutory agreements.
Ellisons Solicitors joins the ranking having expanded its commercial property team in East Anglia with the hire of Jonathan Greenhalgh in early 2024 from Howes Percival LLP. His broad practice encompasses high-value acquisitions, development work, option and promotion agreements, and secured lending. He joins a ‘highly professional and very responsive’ practice led from Essex, which is growing its presence in both Ipswich, where newly promoted Bethan Williams is increasingly active, and Bury St Edmunds, which is Greenhalgh’s primary location.
Testimonials
‘Strong commercial property team throughout Essex and Suffolk.’
‘The service is very professional and highly responsive.’
‘Ellisons is extremely capable at dealing with all aspects of conveyancing. I have recently bought a large asset using them as my solicitors, the team were very willing and knowledgable and would not hesitate to resolve every detail when asked – reporting back to us in a timely manner with the relevant answers etc.’
‘The commercial property team are all very personable and make it easy for clients to understand any issues regarding a transaction.’
CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL: EAST ANGLIA AND ESSEX
Ellisons Solicitors is noted for its renewed focus on leveraged financing, subordinated debt, and balance sheet management matters. The group was bolstered by the arrival of Chelmsford-based Philip Slater, whose vast expertise spans acquisition and real estate finance, corporate lending, debt financing issues. Dividing his time between the Chelmsford and Colchester offices, practice head Paul Forsyth routinely assists clients with sales and acquisitions, group reorganisations, shareholder and partnership agreements, and commercial contracts. Forsyth is well supported by Abigail Williamson, who is adept at advising on share sales, management buyouts and employee ownership trusts.
The Ipswich office of Ellisons Solicitors plays a central role in the firm’s corporate and commercial practice, which is led from Chelmsford by Paul Forsyth. ‘The depth of expertise is truly impressive’, remarks one client. The experience of M&A specialists Petra Sharp (who is known for ‘clear, good and timely advice’) and Andrew Fleming is key to the local offering. ‘Approachable and accessible’ senior associate David Heller in Bury St Edmunds is also recommended. He assisted Sharp with advising Playdate App Limited on numerous angel and VC investments.
Testimonials
‘I found them extremely professional and able to provide unique skills from across the company to help with any twists and turns that occur in the legal world. Ellisons were outstanding and I will never use another legal firm. they have me as a customer for life. A legal company you can trust.’
‘Paul Forsyth worked with us under tight deadlines, picked the case up extremely quickly and was very thorough in his checks and feedback on how to progress.’
‘We have worked recently with Petra Sharp on a number of matters and are very happy with Petra’s engagement, advice and the outcomes achieved. ’
‘As a client of Ellisons Solicitors, I had the privilege of experiencing first hand their exceptional service and expertise during our business sale process. From the initial consultation to the final negotiations, the team at Ellisons provided invaluable guidance and support, ensuring a smooth and successful business sale transaction.’
PRIVATE CLIENT > PERSONAL TAX, TRUSTS AND PROBATE: EAST ANGLIA
Ellisons Solicitors continues to grow its presence in Ipswich for trusts and probate work, and it has recently launched a specialist Court of Protection team. ‘The level of client care and attention makes you feel like you’re their only client’, say clients of practice head Nicola Weldon and senior associate Rachel Dawson. Weldon frequently acts for UK-domiciled and non-domiciled clients with world-wide assets, and high-net-worth clients across the region. Many lawyers are Dementia Friends.
Testimonials
‘Rachel Dawson and Nicola Weldon. The level of client care and attention makes you feel like you’re their only client. Friendly and caring with the knowledge and expertise to back this up.’
‘Nicola Weldon and Rachel Dawson are stand out individuals within the team. Both are highly professional, personable and keen to work alongside other professionals to ensure the very best outcomes for clients. Mutual clients speak very highly of their experiences working with Nicola and Rachel and the firm in general.’
More details here.