Shakespeare Martineau strengthens rankings across leading legal directories
National law firm Shakespeare Martineau has strengthened its position in the latest Legal 500 UK and Chambers UK guides, with new individual and team rankings and improved results across a range of practice areas.
In the Chambers UK Guide 2027, the firm has achieved a new practice area entry, moved up a band in four areas and increased the number of individually ranked lawyers from 45 to 48. In the Legal 500 UK 2027, the firm has secured new individual and team rankings, with four teams moving up a tier.
Shakespeare Martineau managing director Victoria Tester said: “These rankings reflect the quality of the work our people deliver for clients every day and the depth of expertise across the firm.
“It’s particularly pleasing to see new individual rankings, teams moving up the guides and progress in areas where we’ve been building our presence. This is a testament to the talent across our business and the commitment our people bring to their clients and areas of expertise.”
Chambers UK Guide 2027
Shakespeare Martineau secured 28 rankings in the latest Chambers UK Guide, comprising eight Band 1 rankings, eight Band 2 rankings and 12 further rankings.
The firm has achieved a new entry for charities: legacy disputes in the UK-wide rankings and moved up a band in four practice areas – intellectual property in the Midlands is now ranked Band 1, while real estate in the East Midlands has moved to Band 2. Banking and finance in the Midlands is now Band 3, and healthcare: private sector has progressed from Band 5 to Band 4 in the UK-wide rankings after being entered into the guide for the first time last year.
Mark Beesley retained his Eminent Practitioner ranking for litigation and professional negligence, while agriculture consultant Peter Snodgrass and legal planning consultant Simon Stanion maintained their Senior Statesperson rankings.
The number of individually ranked lawyers has risen from 45 to 48, including eight new rankings for corporate partner Michael Squirrell, commercial real estate partner David Smithen, construction partner Jonathan Pawlowski, private client partners Christina Polychronakis and Sarah Brack, banking partners David Adams and Jake Holmes, and wills and probate senior associate Kim Ryan.
A further nine lawyers improved their rankings: commercial real estate partner Peter Dilks, intellectual property partner Mauro Paiano, agriculture partners Amy Cowdell and Jennie Wheildon, family partner Helen Bowns, real estate disputes partner Justine Ball, knowledge management lawyer Lilly Toop, wills and probate partner John Tunnard, and professional negligence partner Michael Young.
IP lawyer Daniel Kelly has been recognised as a Star Associate, moving up from Associate to Watch in last year’s guide. Commercial litigation legal director Marie Bourke and private client senior associate Lauren Crowhurst are new Associates to Watch, while real estate disputes legal director Pia Eames retained her recognition in the category.
Legal 500 UK 2027 rankings
Shakespeare Martineau secured 19 Tier 1 rankings in the latest Legal 500 guide, with 70 lawyers recognised individually across 59 areas of law.
In the East Midlands, the firm has retained Tier 1 status for commercial property; intellectual property; employment; energy; agriculture and estates; charities and not-for-profit; commercial litigation; contentious trusts and probate; family; personal tax, trusts and probate; planning and environment; and sports.
In the West Midlands, the firm retained Tier 1 rankings for education; energy; agriculture and estates; debt recovery; and personal tax, trusts and probate. In London, education: institutions also remained at Tier 1.
The latest guide also includes three new team entries for Shakespeare Martineau, with its commercial property team in the South West and health and safety team in Yorkshire recognised in the Firms to Watch category, and its contentious trusts and probate in the South West entering at Tier 3.
Four teams have also moved up the rankings. Banking and finance in the South East and family elsewhere in the Midlands are now Tier 2, while charities and not-for-profit in Yorkshire and commercial property in Birmingham have moved to Tier 3.
Three lawyers retained their place in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame – Smita Jamdar for education: institutions in London; Andrew Whitehead for energy in the West Midlands; and Lesley Davis for personal tax, trusts and probate in the West Midlands.
There are also 11 new individual rankings, recognising lawyers across a range of practice areas and regions.
Leading Partners include Matt Ainsworth for corporate and commercial in Yorkshire, Peter Dilks for energy in the East Midlands, Ruth Phillips for construction in the West Midlands, and Catherine Rustomji for charities and not-for-profit in Yorkshire,.
Next Generation Partners include Dean Chauhan for corporate and commercial in the East Midlands, Aller Dawlat for commercial property and energy in the East Midlands, and David Browne for employment in the West Midlands.
Leading Associates include Charlotte Cassells for intellectual property in the East Midlands; Lauren Green for banking and finance in the South East; and Josh Morley for planning and environment in the East Midlands.
Selina Hinchliffe and Paul Wakefield have also achieved higher individual rankings, with Selina recognised as a Leading Partner for intellectual property in the East Midlands and Paul as a Leading Partner for planning and environment in the East Midlands.
The Legal 500 and Chambers UK Guide rankings are based on independent research into the legal market, including feedback from clients and interviews with lawyers and other market participants.
