Another strong performance from Blake Morgan across the south coast in Chambers & Partners 2021

Teams and leading individuals from Blake Morgan’s south coast teams are celebrating another strong showing in the 2021 edition of the Chambers & Partners Guide, which recognises and recommends the best performing lawyers and legal firms across the UK.

This year, 11 Blake Morgan practice areas across the south coast were ranked as either Band 1 or 2.  The Band 1 ranked practice areas across the south coast were Banking and Finance, Intellectual Property, Professional Negligence, and Pensions.  In Band 2, the firm saw Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Family / Matrimonial, Construction, Employment, Litigation, Real Estate and Corporate all ranked.

This year, the firm’s wide-ranging expertise and a detailed commercial understanding were common themes, with one client noting that the firm’s lawyers are ‘exceptionally commercial with appropriate, realistic advice and suggestions on offer at all times.’ Another client said the firm ‘are hugely experienced and very knowledgeable.’

The Guide also recognises leading lawyers from across the industry. This year, 10 of the firm’s lawyers across the south coast were ranked as Band 1 or 2.  Those listed in Band 1 included Kath Shimmin, Partner and Head of the Banking and Finance team, Simon Burge, Partner in the Family Team, Jill Bainbridge, Partner and Head of Intellectual Property, Susie Dryden, Partner in the Litigation team and Richard Portlock, Partner in the Professional Negligence team.

The firm’s future leaders throughout the region – those listed as ‘Associates to Watch’ – also had a good year with four individuals listed in the 2021 Guide. Those listed were: John Shallcross from the Agriculture and Rural Affairs team, Jennifer Williamson from the Family and Matrimonial team and Ben Evans from the Intellectual Property team. Anna Larbi from the Real Estate team was also ranked as an ‘Associate to Watch’ and received special praise from one client who noted ‘she is very knowledgeable and gives you confidence that you are well supported’.

Mike Wilson, Managing Partner at Blake Morgan, said: “While this year has included its fair share of challenges, these impressive rankings are a credit to the firm and are just reward for the hard work of all of our teams across the south coast.  To have several Band 1 ranked teams in areas such as Intellectual Property and Pensions which are set to be key areas of national debate heading forward is especially pleasing.

“I’m also delighted to see so many individuals rewarded for their hard work.  Having a series of both Band 1 Partners and several ‘Associates to Watch’ gives me confidence the teams on the south coast can continue to thrive both today and into the future.  I’m very proud of these rankings and would like to thank our partners and their teams for all their hard work.”