Excellent results again for Ramsdens in the UK Legal 500 Rankings
The Legal 500 rankings are a top, independent guide to the best lawyers and law firms across the UK.
Ramsdens and our dedicated team are delighted to have once again been recognised as one of the leading firms in the UK with our inclusion in this year’s Legal 500.
Even more satisfying is the broad number of services across which we’ve been recognised and some of the glowing words from our clients !
Corporate and Commercial – Tier 5
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP’s corporate and commercial team is co-led by Stephen Newman and Adam Cockroft from Huddersfield. Newman focuses on advising owner-managed businesses on commercial transaction and tax-driven reconstructions. Meanwhile, Cockroft’s practice spans a wide range of corporate matters, including acquisitions and disposal, share sales and purchases, MBOs, and joint ventures. Richard Dean has recently departed the firm.
Practice head(s):
Stephen Newman; Adam Cockroft
Testimonials
‘The personal service at Ramsdens is very good. They have innovative ideas and present them in a way that appeals to clients. Very approachable and highly skilled with fees way below the bigger firms.’
‘Stephen Newman stands out as a highly-skilled corporate lawyer. He has an astonishing grasp of the intricacies of corporate restructuring.’
‘Practical up-to-date advice that businesses can rely on when requiring corporate/business legal advice. The team has significant experience in the area and has proven on multiple occasions a solid grasp of the brief.
Commercial Litigation – Tier 5
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP is praised for its ‘deep expertise and masterful tactics in litigation’ with the team commended for being ‘highly knowledgeable and confident in its advice’. Nick Armitage, a ‘highly effective commercial property litigator’ leads the team that includes Paul Booth, ‘knowledgeable and efficient’ Hilary Garnett, and associate Emily Walker, cited as a ‘skilled and personable litigation solicitor’.
Practice head(s):
Nick Armitage
Other key lawyers:
Paul Booth, Hilary Garnett; Emily Walker; Dean Hill
Testimonials
‘I have worked with members of this team and other solicitors at Ramsdens for 20 years. They are some of the best solicitors I have ever worked with. The team is well organised, reasonably priced for the clients, highly knowledgeable, confident in its advice and offers sensible Yorkshire pragmatism in all the business I have done with it.’
‘Paul Booth, extremely knowledgeable, understanding from a client perspective and has the ability to listen, and delivery / meet our immediate expectations.
‘We have been represented by Dean Hill for several years now, and have recommended him to many contacts. Dean and his team are incredibly supportive, patient, candid, and professional, taking as much time as is necessary to explain the intricacies of the law and its processes. Ramsdens have been supportive and understanding in regard to billing and have provided a wonderful service.
Employment – Tier 5
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP is weighted to senior individuals and matters involving discrimination and whistleblowing. David Bradley heads the Huddersfield team, working on trade unions and changes in management, alongside Paul Booth, who is active in relation to disputes and Employment Tribunal claims.
Practice head(s):
David Bradley
Other key lawyers:
Paul Booth; Emily Walker
Testimonials
‘Emily Walker is extremely responsive, well organised, and has an excellent grasp of the law. She provides a level of service beyond many of her peers practising in London.’
‘Emily Walker was fabulous: she’s young, hungry for success, dynamic, and she worked so very hard on my case; I had every faith in her. She was always there for me, by phone, by email or in person. Nothing was too much trouble; she supported me through an extremely difficult and long employment tribunal.’
‘Emily Walker would always be very clear and concise at delivering all of the facts, and she would speak in layman terms and not in legal jargon. I simply cannot praise Emily highly enough and I’m certain she has the brightest of futures ahead of her.‘
Clinical Negligence: Claimant – Tier 4
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP works across all areas of clinical negligence, advising on claims against NHS Trusts, dental surgeons, GPs, and nursing homes. Nick Armitage now heads up the practice and his team have an established track record in relation to fatal accidents, and representation of family members in inquests and secondary victim claims. Former practice head Natalie Marrison has recently left the firm.
Practice head(s):
Nick Armitage
Other key lawyers:
Rachel Sharp
Testimonials
‘I feel they have been very supportive. I would definitely recommend.’
‘Rachel Sharp and her team were very supportive and reassuring to me. I feel Rachel went above and beyond in my best interest and I am truly so thankful for her. Rachel explained everything I needed to know and advised the best she could; anytime I didn’t understand anything Rachel explained everything. Even after my claim has been settled, Rachel is still so very supportive.’
‘Ramsdens is a people-centred firm whether it is with clients or staff. It is always timely with responses and explains all steps of any case from the beginning. All staff I have dealt with have been approachable on the phone and at conferences.
Personal Injury: Tier 4
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP covers the full spectrum of injury claims and related areas, focussing on litigation concerning employers’ liability, public liability, and RTAs. Nick Armitage now heads up the practice and his team work with those who have sustained significant orthopaedic, brain or spinal injuries amongst many other areas of injury.
Practice head(s):
Nick Armitage
Testimonials
‘Ramsdens is a people-centred firm, whether it is with clients or staff. It is always timely with responses and explains all steps of any case from the beginning. All staff I have dealt with have been approachable on the phone and at conferences.’
‘Practitioners are caring and decisive and move cases along in a timely manner. They are available to speak to when needed. Support staff will always provide back-up with research, updates and technical advice.’
‘They always come across as very responsive and knowledgeable about their field of work. They also keep you informed on cases in a timely way and are open to discussion at any point if anything is unclear in their relationship with you and with the task itself.
Contentious Trust and Probates: Tier 3
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP‘s inheritance, trust and will disputes department in Huddersfield has particular expertise regarding agricultural succession disputes, including proprietary estoppel claims. It is noted for its ‘local presence with national expertise’, dealing with a range of will and trust issues from will validity disputes to Inheritance Act work. Former practice head Nazia Nawaz left the firm in September 2023.
Other key lawyers:
Katie Whitehead
Testimonials
‘My experience of the team has been excellent. I feel all information requested has been forthcoming, in a prompt and professional manner. I have felt satisfied and looked after by the lawyer, and her team.’
‘Very professional, knowledgeable yet friendly and approachable.’
‘Ramsdens have always been thorough, timely, and very professional. They have always followed through where needed.’
Family: Tier 3
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP's family team is led by Helen Thewlis, who has notable expertise in complex ancillary proceedings, and ‘top-class’ head of care Joanne Coen. It advises on a range of matters, from asset division disputes in relationship dissolution to pre- and post-nuptial agreements, alongside extensive experience in children cases. The firm recently launched an emergency protection domestic abuse team, led by Wakefield senior associate Rebecca Sergeant and it operates out of 12 offices across Yorkshire, including Leeds, York, Huddersfield and Wakefield.
Practice head(s):
Joanne Coen; Helen Thewlis
Other key lawyers:
Vikki Horspool; Rebecca Sergeant
Testimonials
‘Clear advice and balanced and effective representation of children and young people. Confidence in the specific area of law.’
‘Prompt responses. Confident, well-informed and balanced advice offered in a clear and understandable manner.’
‘A team that oozes quality from every branch office in its empire. Doing important work in relation to the safeguarding and protection of children throughout the county.
Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate: Tier 4
The Huddersfield-based private client offering at Ramsdens Solicitors LLP is led by Veronica Mullins, a panel deputy. The team advises on all aspects of wills, trusts, estates and tax planning, and care and capacity matters. It includes a specialised intestacy practice, with experience identifying and escalating potential creditor fraud.
Practice head(s):
Veronica Mullins
Other key lawyers:
Michael Robinson; Natalie Lang
Testimonials
‘From my experiences and knowledge of Ramsdens, they provide a much more personal service than other legal firms with the simple example that they are willing to jump in the car and meet clients in person whereas other Leeds-based firms will only do an initial consultation by phone.’
‘My interactions with the firm mainly involve deputyship or trust cases, and they are exceptional at both.’
‘They are the first firm I refer to clients for wills and power of attorney needs’.
Commercial Property: Tier 5
Ramsdens Solicitors LLP continues to expand its presence in the investment and development space, advising a number of property holding entities on acquisitions, funding activities, and construction and planning agreements in connection with industrial and retail development schemes. Huddersfield-based partner Kirsty Jackson leads the team and specialises in handling commercial development work. In January 2023, the team welcomed Gwen Sharp, an investments and transactions specialist, from Pinsent Masons LLP.
Practice head(s):
Kirsty Jackson
Other key lawyers:
Gwen Sharp
Testimonials
‘Fast, efficient, down to earth, easy to deal with.’
‘Fantastic communication and organisation. Prompt replies and easy to get in contact with.’
‘Very proactive commercial property team. Can be relied upon to meet tight timescales.