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LAW SOUTH EAST – THE LEGAL 500 39


’Positive’ sentiment across the South East


The Legal 500, the ’bible’ for law firms in the UK, has now been published. In the pages that follow, we carry exclusive extracts from the 2014 annual, covering many of the key legal firms in the region


While stability rather than growth remained the watchword for South East firms, the outlook was less bleak than in 2013, when firms were discussing the real possibility of branching out into non-legal services such as consultancy or shedding whole departments to concentrate on core strengths as a response to the recession and the advent of alternative business structures to the market. The mood a year on can justifiably be described as cautiously optimistic and even positive.


One trend which did materialise as predicted was increased consolidation. The much-vaunted merger of equals between Bond Pearce LLP and Dickinson Dees LLP completed in 2013, creating Bond Dickinson LLP, although the effect on the long-established practice in Southampton is not yet clear. The merger in July 2014 of Morgan Cole LLP and Blake Lapthorn (albeit without Boyes Turner) created a firm which rivals Shoosmiths LLP and Penningtons Manches LLP for regional coverage: Blake Morgan LLP now has the strongest presence in the Thames Valley, with three offices, as well as the former Blake Lapthorn offices in Southampton and Portsmouth. The combination of Blake Lapthorn’s sector expertise in areas such as aviation and construction with Morgan Cole’s legacy strength in big-ticket commercial work for the public sector makes for a unique new challenger in the market.


Penningtons Solicitors’ widely reported pre- pack administration acquisition of Manches LLP – to create Penningtons Manches – was less about prevailing economic conditions and more about cashflow. Despite the less-than-welcome circumstances, the combination of two major South East brands creates a firm with the equal widest office coverage in the region, alongside Thomas Eggar LLP, and Manches’ core legacy strengths in life sciences and IP remain more or less intact.


Also of note were the merger of Cripps LLP and Vertex Law LLP, enhancing the former’s already leading presence in Kent; Thomas Eggar LLP’s combination with London-based corporate boutique Pritchard Englefield; and Pitmans LLP’s tie-up with Lamport Bassitt in June 2014, extending the Reading-based firm’s coverage to Hampshire.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2014


In the Thames Valley, Osborne Clarke and Shoosmiths handle high-end corporate work for major players in the area, while Pitmans services a range of blue-chip clients from its bases in Reading and Southampton, as well as handling notable work in areas such as IP, corporate tax and dispute resolution. Smaller Reading-based players Blandy & Blandy LLP and Field Seymour Parkes LLP rank strongly in most areas, while continuing to make inroads into the market shares of national firms. Henmans Freeth has a very strong reputation for its private client work in particular; and Clarkslegal LLP has notable strength in environment, public sector and dispute resolution, as well as having a very highly- regarded employment practice.


In Hampshire, the team at Bond Dickinson enjoys an excellent reputation for corporate and commercial property work, and Paris Smith LLP is noted for its private client capabilities. The main players remain Shoosmiths and the legacy Blake Lapthorn team at Blake Morgan in Southampton, with niche expertise in transport, aviation and infrastructure. Clarke Willmott LLP continues to expand its commercial property and employment capabilities, and has an experienced and highly respected private client team. Thomas Eggar’s Southampton office maintains its strong personal injury, IP and real estate capabilities.


The Kent, Surrey, Sussex region is home to City brand names Charles Russell LLP and Clyde & Co, which operate from offices in Guildford and are well known for their private client and insurance practices respectively, with the latter firm also notable for its leading professional negligence group in Oxford. DMH Stallard and asb law both rank highly for their public sector expertise, in areas such as education, employment and local government; and Guildford-based Stevens & Bolton maintains its well-established reputation for corporate and commercial work.


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Bond Pearce LLP/Dickinson Dees LLP • Bond Dickinson LLP – Morgan Cole LLP/Blake Lapthorn • Blake Morgan LLP – Penningtons Solicitors/Manches LLP • Penningtons Manches – Cripps LLP/Vertex Law LLP – Thomas Eggar LLP/Pritchard Englefield – Pitmans LLP/ Lamport Bassitt – Boyes Turner – Osborne Clarke – Shoosmiths – Blandy & Blandy LLP – Field Seymour Parkes LLP – Henmans Freeth Clarkslegal LLP – Paris Smith LLP – Clarke Willmott LLP – Charles Russell LLP – Clyde & Co • DMH Stallard – asb law – Stevens & Bolton


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