Blake Morgan celebrates increase in number of South Coast leading lawyers in Legal 500

Leading law firm Blake Morgan is celebrating a strong presence in the 2017 edition of the prestigious Legal 500 directory, which sees an increase in the number of lawyers achieving the highest accolade.

The directory, just published, reviews the strengths of lawyers across the UK and recommends them based on how they are seen by clients and their peers.

Ten partners from the firm’s Portsmouth and Southampton offices were named as “leading individuals” – the highest accolade the directory can give. This represents an increase on the eight partners given the elite status in the previous year.

They include Jill Bainbridge, who heads the firm’s intellectual property group and “impresses with excellent client care”; John Hamilton, head of pensions and benefits, who “distils complex technical matters into clear and practical advice”; Sadak Miah, regional senior partner who specialises in debt recovery; licensing specialist Jon Wallsgrove, described as “highly regarded”; banking and finance lead Kath Shimmin; commercial specialist Penny Rinta-Suksi; construction head Richard Wade; employment specialist Max Craft, who is “noted for his expertise in handling contentious strategic exits”; and commercial litigation specialist Susie Dryden, who is described as ‘effective, very personable and good with clients’.

Listed as “recommended” by the directory were 43 lawyers who work across Blake Morgan’s offices at New Kings Court, Southampton, and its Portsmouth office at North Harbour. This is an increase on the 36 lawyers achieving the status in the previous year.

The Legal 500 placed 14 practice areas in the firm’s South Coast offices in its top-rated Tier 1 ranking – among them Corporate and Commercial, Licensing, Debt Recovery, Banking and Finance, Employment, Charities and Not-for-Profit, Education, Health, Construction and Commercial Property. The results reflect the firm’s deep understanding of its clients’ sectors and the regional markets they operate in.