Top spot for Lodders in 2022 Legal 500

The 2022 edition of the UK’s leading guide to the best law firms and lawyers, has awarded four of Lodders’ specialist legal services teams the highest, top tier rankings.

For the fourth year running, Lodders Private Client (Personal Tax, Trust and Probate) team, Agriculture, Family and Real Estate teams, retain the highest top tier position in the Legal 500 UK directory (published 28 September 2022).

Real estate: top tier

As well as retaining its top tier ranking, the Real Estate team – one of the largest in the West Midlands with more than 30 legal experts in planning, highways, construction, renewable energy and environmental issues – is recognised as the only tier one firm for commercial property work elsewhere in the West Midlands outside of Birmingham. Legal 500 highly rates the team ‘for its far-reaching capabilities helming a number of nationally significant land and residential development projects’.

The Guide also gives recognition to several of Lodders’ partners, including Mark Lewis (head, Charity Law), Beverley Morris (head, Family Law) and Mark Miller (head, Real Estate Group). Victoria Longmore (Real Estate) is also recognised as a next-generation partner, and Dan MacLeod – senior associate in the real estate group – and Jennifer Russell – associate in the private client team – as ‘rising stars’.

Also ranked again this year are the Charities team (Tier 2), Commercial Litigation (Tier 3) and Company Commercial (Tier 4). The Construction team headed by Heidi Brennan is also named as a Firm to Watch.

Described by Legal 500 as a ‘knowledgeable and personable team of lawyers offering high quality advice’, Lodders Private Client team receives praise for its ‘excellent reputation for work on a wide spectrum of private client matters, including estate and tax planning for wealthy individuals’.

Head of Lodders Agriculture team James Spreckley is handed several plaudits for his work with farming and landowning clients. Also recognised are John Rouse – particularly for his tax and planning advice and ‘expertise in succession planning for businesses and farmers’ – Caroline Nemecek and Nicola Beach.

Describing the Family Law team as ‘excellent’, Legal 500 highlights Beverley Morris’ expertise in financial remedy work, partner Vivienne Middleton’s skills in resolving financial and children’s disputes, and Caroline Dresden – partner and collaborative lawyer – for her pensions advice on divorce.

Quality and excellence

Paul Mourton, Lodders managing partner, says: “Once again, Legal 500 gives Lodders the highest of rankings and recognition across the board. We are delighted to have retained our top tier ranking in the 2022 edition for four of our five sector-leading groups, and for so many of our lawyers to be singled-out for recognition, as well as for the first time, to be named the only tier one firm for commercial property work elsewhere in the West Midlands.

“Lodders is known for its ambition, vision, legal talent and agility, unique culture and drive. This combines to make Lodders one of the leading and fastest-growing law firms in the region. The Legal 500 rankings further demonstrate our strategic focus on a consistent flight to quality and excellence, as the team continues to deliver exceptional legal advice with quality, partner-led client service.”

Innovative advice

The Legal 500 analyses the capabilities of law firms across the world, with a comprehensive research programme that brings vision of the global legal market, and assesses the strengths of law firms in over 150 jurisdictions. The rankings are based on a series of criteria, and the Legal 500 highlights the practice area teams providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice. All rankings and listings in the 2022 UK edition are available here.