Partnership
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameLewis Silkin
Partner: Clive is a Partner in the Professional Services and Dispute Resolution Groups. He specialises in commercial dispute resolution and is experienced in High Court Litigation, International and Domestic Arbitration and Mediation. Particular expertise in advising Management Committees and Managing Partners of LLP's and partnerships operating in the Professional Services sector on all aspects of LLP and partnership law, including partnership agreements, LLP members' agreements, partners / members internal disputes, team moves, behaviour and conduct of individuals, breaches of duty, compulsory and voluntary retirement, expulsion, remuneration structures, restrictive covenants and issues related to lateral hires and new partners / members.
Hall of fameLewis Silkin
Consultant. Specialises in advising on limited liability partnership and partnership matters, mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures, with particular experience of professional services and communications sectors.
Hall of fameAddleshaw Goddard
One of the acknowleged leading individuals in the field of LLP and partnership law in the UK. He advises professional services firms on the full range of issues and is frequently instructed on the most difficult partnership disputes. He also specialises in mergers and de-mergers, the acquisition of professional services firms, partnership downsizing, governance, structuring and internal arrangements. He has wide experience in the management of distressed partnerships, and assisting in the use of partnerships and LLPs in finance, insurance, media, real estate and private equity. William has been at the forefront of advising law firms and other commercial organisations on the advent of alternative business structures under the Legal Services Act 2007. William frequently lectures and commentates on all issues concerning professional services firms and is leading the Group’s response to the opportunities provided by the Legal Services Act 2007. He is Chairman of the Association of Partnership Practitioners and is one of The Times Law 100 Panel of leading practitioners. William previously practised at the Bar.
Hall of fameHerbert Smith Freehills LLP
Alan is a disputes partner and the firm’s Head of Global Class Actions, Head of Commercial Litigation UK and Co-Head of Partnerships.
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Fox & Partners
Shoshana is a highly experienced Senior Associate specialising in the full range of contentious and non - contentious employment law matters and legal issues relating to partnerships, LLPs and their members. Shoshana advises across a number of sectors, including the financial, legal and other professional services sectors. Shoshana has led high value, sensitive and highly charged matters to a successful conclusion through both the Employment Tribunals and alternative dispute resolution. Shoshana is regularly instructed to advise on disputes arising out of breaches of partnership or members’ agreements, including the actual or threatened expulsion of partners/members from LLPs and traditional partnerships, changes to partners’ remuneration or other rights, decision-making processes and breaches of restrictive covenants. She advises employees and workers in relation to conduct investigations, performance management, reorganisations, restrictive covenants and dismissals. Bringing and defending discrimination and whistleblowing allegations is a core area of her practice. Shoshana often advises on misconduct investigations, including harassment, involving senior individuals in regulated sectors, working with regulatory and PR specialists where necessary. Shoshana also has experience being appointed as independent external investigator for sensitive confidential investigations. Shoshana has significant experience negotiating and improving settlement terms and exit deeds in relation to sensitive disputes for senior executives and partners. She has also developed expertise in workplace disputes involving private members’ clubs and religious institutions. Shoshana combines professionalism and commercial awareness with compassion. She focuses on understanding her clients’ goals so that she can provide tailored strategies to achieve their objectives. Shoshana is recognised in the Legal 500 for her expertise in Partnership law. She has been ranked as a Rising Star by the Legal 500 since (2020).
Lewis Silkin
Managing Associate: Frances advises national and international businesses on a broad range of commercial disputes with a particular focus on the professional services sector. She works closely with clients to develop appropriate and effective strategies to progress and resolve disputes in a timely and cost effective manner taking into account each client’s priorities and objectives. Frances is a member of the Association of Partnership Practitioners, the London Solicitors Litigation Association and the Young International Arbitration Group of the LCIA. She has higher rights of audience (civil) and has represented clients in applications made before the Interim Applications Court (High Court) and in the county courts. Dispute Resolution Frances advises businesses, directors and shareholders on a range of complex contract disputes including claims arising out of corporate transactions and in relation to conduct issues such as breach of fiduciary duties. She also frequently advises clients in relation to claims concerning allegations of professional negligence and misrepresentation. In addition to assisting clients with disputes proceeding in the High Court and Court of Appeal, Frances also advises clients in relation to the institution and progression of arbitration including those conducted under the LCIA, ICC and UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules. Her disputes work includes: Advising a cloud technology and hosting provider on a team move and breach of restrictive covenant dispute commencing with an urgent interim injunction and proceeding as an expedited matter in the High Court. Assisting the client in successfully resisting an appeal of the injunction granted by the High Court in the Court of Appeal. Acting for an international construction contractor in an ICC arbitration successfully defending against claims valued at over €300 million arising out of the construction of a gas pipeline. Acting for a multinational telecommunications company in an ICC arbitration concerning claims arising out of the construction and maintenance of telecommunication towers in an EU member state. Acting for a large European mining company in an LCIA arbitration concerning breach of warranty claims and the reconciliation of post-completion accounts. Also advising on related High Court proceedings seeking enforcement of provisions of the underlying Share Purchase Agreement and the successful challenge of an order obtained against the client in the Court of Appeal. Partnerships & LLPs Frances advises a variety of businesses and individuals in different sectors on contentious matters arising in relation to limited liability partnerships (LLPs) and limited partnerships (LPs). She acts for individual partners, advising on their duties and obligations arising out of partnership agreements, and also has experience acting for both individual partners and Management Committees / Managing Partners advising on matters such as retirement and expulsions, restrictive covenants and partner conduct. Professional Services Frances advises businesses and individuals in the professional services sector with a particular focus on, and experience in, the legal and accountancy professions.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Lewis Silkin
Partner: Chris has specialised in advising professional services firms and other businesses structured as partnerships or LLPs (including hedge funds and private equity houses) for over 10 years. His core practice is focused on working closely with senior management at UK and international professional services firms, financial services firms and other owner-led / people businesses on a broad range of non-contentious issues, including strategic transactions and projects, governance and constitutional arrangements, UK and international structuring and regulatory issues, commercial agreements, funding arrangements and partner matters (including profit sharing, performance management, restrictive covenants and other business protection issues). He is also experienced in advising on negotiated and contentious partner exits and related issues.
Farrer & Co
Kathleen is a Partner in the Employment Team who is recognised for her pragmatic and commercial advice. Her national and international practice focusses on resolving high level complex employment law issues for senior executives, individual partners, employers and partnerships. She is experienced in advising and negotiating on contractual issues, employee relations, employee regulatory issues, mediation and litigation. Kathleen has particular experience in advising senior partners and partnerships and is a member of the firm’s Professional Practices Group. She has hands on experience of working in a large international professional services firm during a year-long secondment. She advises senior executives across the City negotiating their entrance and exit, including issues relating to post-termination restrictions. She regularly advises partnerships and employers across sectors on issues such as discrimination, mediation, employee relations, contracts, TUPE transfers and large scale redundancies. Kathleen also focuses on the education sector and is a member of the firm’s Higher Education Group and Child Protection Unit. She is a regular speaker at external national and international conferences and is a member of the Union Internationale des Avocats.
Fox Williams LLP
Partner specialising in advice to employers and employees on all aspects of employment law, primarily in the financial and professional services sectors. Particular expertise in supporting City employers in dealing with complex HR law matters with regulatory issues. Experienced in managing high-value employment and partnership disputes involving whistle-blowing, discrimination, bonuses, restrictive covenants and team moves.
Fox & Partners
Catriona Watt is a Partner specialising in contentious partnership law as well as employment and discrimination law. She advises professional firms, partners, senior executives and employers, focusing primarily on the financial, insurance, private equity and professional services sectors. Her unique experience of acting on both sides of disputes stands her in good stead to understand the pressures and leverage of each. Catriona has a wealth of experience in advising on complex team move situations in which there are usually allegations of breach of restrictive covenants and fiduciary duties and potential forfeiture claims. Catriona brings a strategic and commercial approach to advising on senior and board level disputes and contentious exits from partnership structures. She advises on other contentious senior level employment and partnership issues and has particular experience in dealing with private equity partnership disputes. Catriona often advises on misconduct investigations, including harassment, involving senior individuals in regulated sectors including legal and financial services, working with regulatory and PR specialists where necessary. Where litigation cannot be avoided, Catriona draws on her varied experience of litigating partnership and employment disputes in the High Court, Employment Tribunal and in arbitration. Catriona is recognised in Chambers UK and the Legal 500 for her expertise in contentious partnership and employment law: “She’s good at developing strategy for litigation and is creative about identifying legal avenues we can use in addition to being very thorough with her preparation. “Catriona is endlessly patient with clients and really takes her time to find out what they need or want to achieve in litigation, as well as being intelligent and creative in getting them to the position they need to be in.” “She is very calm, sees the bigger picture and takes strategic oversight of the matter.” (Chambers 2022)
Leading individuals
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Addleshaw Goddard
Jon is a partner in the Professional Practices Group and advises on a broad range of partnership and LLP issues, including LLP conversions, mergers and de-mergers and joint ventures, as well as partnership disputes. He advises businesses in all sectors of the professional services industry and is noted for his expertise concerning the financial services sector.
Addleshaw Goddard
Aster is a partner in Addleshaw Goddard’s professional practices group, described as ‘pre-eminent in terms of overall experience and depth of resource’ by the ‘Legal 500’. Aster advises professional practices on governance, structuring, partner and risk management issues, with a particular emphasis on international structuring matters. He also advises on mergers, acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and LLP conversions (both from general partnerships and limited companies). In addition, he works with businesses in the financial services sector, including hedge funds and private equity houses on partnership and the use of LLPs and partnerships.
Weightmans LLP
Andrew has over 25 years' experience in commercial litigation and dispute resolution including High Court proceedings, injunctions, domestic and international arbitrations and mediation. He acts for UK and international clients on a broad range of commercial and contractual matters including shareholder and joint venture disputes, breaches of contract and warranty claims, the enforcement of contractual obligations, maintaining confidentiality and terminating commercial relationships. He has a particular expertise in partnership disputes and acts for Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) and professional partnerships (solicitors, accountants, financial services businesses, doctors and dentists) as well as for outgoing partners on individual and team moves. He also specialises in enforcing and resisting restrictive covenants and advising partnership management on constitutional and management issues and procedures. Andrew has been ranked for over a decade as a leader in the field of partnership law in independent directories Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500.
Fox & Partners
Caroline is a Partner and head of Fox & Partners’ litigation practice. Caroline frequently acts in high-value and sensitive City disputes arising from a fall-out between (i) employers or professional firms (LLPs and traditional partnerships) on the one hand and (ii) employees, shareholders and directors or LLP members/partners on the other, and in senior executive and partner moves. Advising partners and firms, typically in the professional services and financial services sector, such as complex hedge fund and private equity structures, is the cornerstone of Fox & Partners’ practice. A great deal of Caroline’s time is spent acting on disputes arising out of breaches of partnership agreements (often relating to actual and threatened expulsions or compulsory retirements, changes to remuneration and decision-making processes), performance and misconduct investigations, unfairly prejudicial conduct, alleged discrimination and whistleblowing. Caroline regularly advises on business protection cases, providing strategic advice in relation to team moves, restrictive covenants, fiduciary obligations and duties of confidentiality. She has significant experience defending and enforcing such provisions, including by obtaining and defending interim injunctions. With experience acting for employers/firms (former and recruiting employers) and moving employees or partners, she offers a unique perspective and understanding of the pressures on both sides. Caroline is recognised by the independent guides to the legal profession for her work representing employees and partners before the employment tribunal and courts. Restrictive covenants are a noted area of strength. One client observed: “she is strategically astute and does not neglect any aspect of the case before her…she is also very supportive and empathetic, making her an ideal legal adviser to navigate uniquely complex legal situations” (Chambers UK 2021). Caroline was included in Management Today’s prestigious 35 women under 35 list in 2018.
Fox Williams LLP
Partner and head of commercial dispute resolution department specialising in: UK and international litigation and arbitration, civil fraud, financial services and banking disputes, transactional breaches of contract and shareholder disputes, directors’ duties, corporate governance and partnership disputes.
Farrer & Co
Jonathan is head of the professional practices group at Farrer & Co. He specialises in partnership and Limited Liability Partnership law, advising a broad range of partnerships and individual partners, including other law firms, surveyors and architects, on their structure, mergers, acquisitions and disposals.
Mishcon de Reya LLP
Jennifer is a Partner in the Employment department, specialising in complex discrimination and whistleblowing claims, High Court injunctions, workplace investigations and partnership disputes. She is best known for advising a number of journalists at the BBC, including Carrie Gracie, on high-profile allegations of equal pay and sex discrimination against the Corporation. Jennifer frequently advises LLPs and their members in the professional and financial services sectors, and has long-standing experience advising the recruitment sector. Jennifer is adept at handling large-scale litigation both in the Employment Tribunal and beyond through the appellate Courts, and has substantial experience in High Court litigation, from high-value breach of contract and bonus disputes to injunction proceedings. Understanding the particular challenges of unfair competition disputes, she prosecutes and defends complex and fast-paced cases involving breaches of restrictive covenants, data theft, team moves and the use of social media. Such cases often involve multi-party claims of breach of contract, breach of confidence, inducement to breach and conspiracy. She is experienced in advising on application of remedies for injunctive relief, including mandatory injunctions such as delivery up and forensic IT searches, prohibitory injunctions such as enforcement of restrictive covenants and springboard relief. Jennifer also has experience of arbitrations under LLP and partnership agreements. As well as providing commercial and strategic advice to HR teams, in-house counsel and boards, Jennifer advises on complex and high-value settlements for senior individuals – employees, directors, LLP members and partners – exiting businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Jennifer frequently advises on the investigation of workplace misconduct, and acts for senior executives defending such allegations. She also has significant experience in conducting workplace investigations, including independent investigations for employers for whom the firm does not act. Jennifer has a leading role in the firm's cross-departmental Recruitment Services Group. She formed part of the Employment Lawyers’ Association’s working parties to respond to the government’s 2016 and 2021 consultations on reform of the law of restrictive covenants and is regularly published in the employment press, quoted in various broadsheet newspapers, and has appeared on news programmes including Newsnight, BBC News, Channel 4, Radio 5 Live, CNN and Sky News to discuss equal pay and gender pay reporting. For her work in the highly topical debate on Gender Pay Equality, Jennifer was named Human Resources: Individual of the year for London in the Legal 500 Awards 2020 and recognised in The Lawyer Hot 100 Awards 2019. She is also ranked as a Leading Individual for Employment: Senior Executives in Chambers 2022 (Band 2), as a Global Leader Labour, Employment & Benefits in Who's Who Legal 2021 and as a Next Generation Partner in Legal 500 202
CM Murray LLP
Corinne Staves advises on all aspects of partnerships, LLPs and professional practices law and practice. For individual partners this includes admission, promotion/demotion, regulation, managing difficult conversations and exit. She advises professional firms on these issues, as well as launching new firms, strategic risk and compliance, regulation, transactions (such as mergers, demergers and LLP conversions), governance and constitutional change and structure (including international structuring). She also has extensive experience advising on bespoke and innovative solutions involving partnerships and LLPs in both a commercial and a family context. Corinne was the first female Chair of the Association of Partnership Practitioners and is recognised in the Legal Directories as a leader in this field. She regularly speaks and writes on topical issues.