Wollastons is named as a 'Regional Heavyweight'
We have once again been named in the September 2009 edition of The Legal 500 as a "Regional Heavyweight" for the eighth year running. We are the only Essex firm ranked as a "Regional Heavyweight" across the entire South East Region running from Southampton up to Milton Keynes and across to Essex and Kent. This is no mean achievement in a region generally regarded as the economic heartland of the United Kingdom.
In addition to maintaining our exclusive top-tier ranking corporate team, we have received the highest rankings for commercial litigation, employment and family. All other areas of practice are very highly rated including commercial property, insolvency and corporate recovery, banking and finance, personal tax, trusts and probate.
A few of the outstanding recommendations in the Legal 500, 2009 edition, and which can also be viewed online at www.legal500.com, are:
Corporate and Commercial
Wollastons continues to command a "heavyweight presence" in Essex. Nicholas Burnett provides "thorough analysis and advice", while the "unfailingly responsive" Rafael Ruiz receives praise for his commercial expertise.
Commercial Litigation
Wollastons handles heavyweight claims ranging up to and beyond £20m, and has a dedicated IT and IP litigation practice. Clients recommend Jon Legorburu, who was described as "experienced, intelligent and takes a very commercial approach."
Employment
Wollastons has a "highly experienced" employment figure in Kevin Palmer, who is also a Judge in the Employment Tribunal and who is currently advising on a number of contentious TUPE disputes before the Employment Tribunal.
Commercial Property
Wollastons has a diverse portfolio of clients which includes property investment companies, banks and public sector clients. Consultant Nicholas Cook has been advising the landowner of a material public interest development currently assessed at over £70m.
Family
Melanie Wilson, Wollastons' head of Private Client and Family, was praised for her "good technical knowledge and response times", and her handling of complex, high-value matters, including a recent £14m case involving foreign property matters.
Banking, Finance and Insolvency
Special mention was also given to the Banking and Finance team who offered an “excellent service” and to Rafael Ruiz, who was described as the "lynch pin" of the Insolvency and Corporate Recovery department. This department has shot up the rankings to tier 2 across the entire South East Region, outperforming all other Essex firms.
Leading Individual
Particular recognition was given to the work undertaken by founding partner Richard Wollaston, who was singled out as a corporate mover and shaker and awarded "leading individual" status across the South East.
When interviewed, Richard said "we are very pleased to have retained the goodwill and confidence of our clients and the wider community in these difficult and trying times. Wollastons' success is, and always has been, built upon the existence of a resilient and versatile business community, which is still plainly evident, and played no small part in us achieving this recognition today."
Conclusion
The directory concludes that we are "personable, accessible and proactively involved within the local community" and continue to command a "heavyweight" presence in Essex and the South East.
Date added: Tuesday 22nd September 2009
Latest updated: Tuesday 9th March 2010