Accolades across the board for Penningtons Manches in Chambers UK 2016

Posted: 03/11/2015

Penningtons Manches has received top rankings in a broad range of practice areas in the latest edition of Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession. The directory, regarded by many as the ultimate authority on the calibre of services provided by both solicitors and barristers, has paid tribute to the ‘business-oriented’ approach and ‘high level of expertise’ demonstrated by lawyers from all parts of Penningtons Manches in its newly published 2016 guide which was launched at a reception at the Waldorf Hilton in London on 29 October 2015. 

In total, 43 of the firm’s practice areas have been recognised by Chambers UK and 60 of its lawyers have been acknowledged as ‘leaders in their field’. Highly-coveted band 1 rankings have been awarded to the clinical negligence, corporate, environment, family, intellectual property, pensions, personal injury, private client and social housing teams. Other groups which have received strong commendations include employment, information technology, litigation, professional regulation, real estate and real estate litigation. 

Among those singled out for praise on an individual level are Alison Appelboam-Meadows (clinical negligence), Simon Bickerdike (corporate), Julie Bond (litigation), Michael Cash (private client), Stephanie Code (clinical negligence), Laura Dadswell (private client), Kerry Fretwell (family), Geoff Hudson (professional discipline), Ruth James (family), Philippa Luscombe (clinical negligence and personal injury), Jane Mitchell (family), Maria Riccio (pensions), Chris Shelley (intellectual property), Richard Smith (environment), David Tighe (corporate) and Katrina Wingfield (professional discipline), who are all ranked in band 1. Partner Sam De Silva (information technology) is listed as a 'star individual' and senior counsel Louise Spitz (family) as a 'senior statesman' while Catherine Bradshaw (social housing) is recognised as a 'star associate' and Lyndsey Whittell (real estate) and Sabrina Furneaux-Gotch (real estate litigation) are 'associates to watch'. 

Comments such as ‘they are enormously strong in all areas’, ‘their commercial awareness is excellent’, and ‘they are very solution-focused’ are typical of the effusive feedback on the firm which features in the 2016 directory. One client describes Penningtons Manches’ lawyers as ‘head and shoulders above the rest in terms of breadth and experience’ while another says that ‘they genuinely understand the culture of our organisation and seek to recognise that in the advice they give’. 

The Chambers guides have been ranking the leading law firms since 1990 and now cover 185 jurisdictions throughout the world. A team of 150 full-time editors and researchers employed at the publisher’s London head office conduct in-depth telephone interviews with both lawyers and clients which form the basis of its comprehensive and independent analysis.

For full details of Penningtons Manches' rankings in the 2016 edition of Chambers Guide to the UK Legal Profession, please click here.

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