This year Howard Kennedy has been ranked in 27 categories, demonstrating the breadth and depth of expertise the firm offers. This includes new team rankings for "Corporate and commercial: commercial contracts" and "Crime, fraud and licensing: Private Prosecutions", as well as new individual rankings for Arish Bharucha and Ian Ryan.
The Legal 500 is an independent guide, and firms and individuals are recommended purely on merit. The rankings are based on recommendations by fellow professionals and clients garnered through a rigorous and comprehensive research process.
The Business Crime team has been ranked for the first time in the Crime, fraud and licensing: Private Prosecutions category. Sources note "the leading private prosecutions in the country have been handled by Howard Kennedy over the past few years. A number of extremely high profile private prosecutions are in the pipeline. They have a deep understanding of the role and obligations of a prosecutor and are thus able to deliver a smooth, efficient and legally robust service".
In another win for the Business Crime team, Ian Ryan, has been recognised as a Leading Individual in the Crime, fraud and licensing: Crime: general category. Ian who has been ranked for a number of years in Crime, fraud and licensing: Fraud: white-collar crime (advice to individuals) is described as "the very top of the tree in London. A big reputation which is thoroughly deserved by the service he and his team deliver to Howard Kennedy’s increasingly impressive roster of high profile clients".
The firm has also been ranked for the first time in Corporate and commercial: commercial contracts, owing to work done for clients such as Pandora and Wicked Food, Inc. Sources comment "the advice is thorough; solicitors are knowledgeable, personable and easy to work with".
The Dispute Resolution team has improved its ranking in Dispute resolution: International arbitration. The team are praised for being "absolutely excellent" and having a "truly personalised service – the lawyers work tirelessly for their clients’ specific needs. This approach has come from the top – partners are hands on, and engaged – but has trickled down to all levels of the business".
Another success for the Dispute Resolution team is a new individual ranking for Arish Bharucha. Arish, who joined the firm in 2021, has been ranked as a Next Generation Partner in Dispute resolution: Commercial litigation: mid-market. He is recognised for being "a thoughtful partner, but with a strong sense of what is commercially practicable. Excellent at advising clients, particularly on strategic decisions in cases where the position changes as the proceedings progress". The team is also noted to have "all the skill of a Magic Circle firm".
In good news for the Private Client team, they have improved their rankings in both the Private client: Contentious trusts and probate and Private client: Personal tax, trusts and probate categories. Commentators note that the firm's "very strong" contentious trusts and estates team gives clients a "Rolls-Royce service" and is a "stellar practice that is going from strength to strength". On the non-contentious side, the team have gained a reputation for being "a very experienced team with an amazing list of clients. Nothing they can’t do".
The Real Estate team has also improved its rankings in both Real estate: Planning and Real estate: Property finance. The Planning team are praised for "always understanding the client’s needs balanced against probability of success". Meanwhile sources note that the Banking & Real Estate Finance team has "excellent client handling skills and have the ability to manage complex property finance transactions with ease. They are a pleasure to deal with".
To see the full list of the firm's rankings, as well as numerous positive client and contact testimonials, please click here.
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