Buyers guide to legal services

Dispute Resolution

As a business owner, ensuring the money arrives on time and contracts are met to the letter can be the difference between success and failure, particularly in a straightened marketplace.
For the purpose of the Legal 500, lawyers specialising in dispute resolution are divided into debt recovery and commercial litigation.

Legal Topics

West Midlands
For commercial litigation, DLA Piper UK LLP, Eversheds LLP, Hill Hoffstetter LLP, Pinsent Masons and Wragge & Co LLP made up the Birmingham top tier. Elsewhere in the region, Beswicks Solicitors LLP, Harrison Clark LLP, Higgs & Sons, KJD Freeth LLP, Knights solicitors LLP and Wright Hassall LLP were in the top bracket.

Some of the above firms also ranked in the combined top category for debt recovery, with the list comprising Coltman Warner Cranston LLP, Knights solicitors LLP, Martineau, Wragge & Co LLP and Wright Hassall LLP.

East Midlands
Browne Jacobson and Eversheds topped the commercial litigation category for Nottingham and Derby, while elsewhere in the region Gateley and Harvey Ingram (both Leicester) and Hewitsons LLP of Nottingham were listed.

Gateley was joined in the top bracket for debt recovery by Shoosmiths, in a category that spanned the East Midlands.

Legal 500 top firms

East Midlands: Nottingham and Derby

Level 1

Browne Jacobson LLP Nottingham
Eversheds LLP Nottingham
For the full table click here

Elsewhere in the East Midlands

Level 1

Gateley Leicester
Harvey Ingram LLP Leicester
Hewitsons LLP Northampton
For the full table click here

West Midlands: Birmingham

Level 1

DLA Piper UK LLP
Eversheds LLP
Hill Hofstetter LLP
Pinsent Masons LLP
Wragge & Co LLP
For the full table click here

West Midlands: Elsewhere in the West Midlands

Level 1

Beswicks Solicitors LLP Stoke on Trent
Harrison Clark LLP Worcester
Higgs & Sons Brierley Hill
KJD Freeth LLP Stoke on Trent
Knights Solicitors LLP Newcastle under Lyme
Wright Hassall LLP Leamington Spa
For the full table click here

Leading Individuals: West Midlands

Stephen Barker Hill Hofstetter LLP Commercial litigation
Alex Bishop Shoosmiths Commercial litigation
Stephen Goodrham Gateley Commercial litigation
Jonathan Hofstetter Hill Hofstetter LLP Commercial litigation

Leading Individuals: East Midlands

Nicky Calthrop-Owen Actons Debt recovery; insolvency
Philippa Dempster Freeth Cartwright LLP Commercial litigation
Qamer Ghafoor Flint Bishop LLP Commercial litigation
Dominic Hopkins Hewitsons LLP Commercial litigation
Ashwin Mody Spearing Waite LLP Commercial litigation