Longmores Solicitors LLP

About us
Longmores is a progressive firm of specialist solicitors renowned for its professional yet personal service that has been advising businesses and individuals in Hertfordshire and across the country since 1819.  All their solicitors are specialists in their respective areas of law acting for a wide range of commercial and private clients.

Longmores commercial solicitors work with businesses across numerous industry sectors.  They advise both market leaders and smaller enterprises on all aspects of their commercial matters including company formation, mergers and acquisitions, contracts and agreements, intellectual property, employment and dispute resolution.

They provide specialist advice on matters relating to property across commercial property, rural land, residential conveyancing, disputes about property and advice for landlords, tenants, management companies and managing agents.

Longmores also help individuals and families through life’s major events and with planning for the future.  The provide advice about divorce, financial settlements and arrangements for children as well as wills, powers of attorney, trusts, probate and inheritance tax matters.

Longmores holds many accreditations including Lexcel, ISO 9001, Customer Service Excellence and Cyber Essentials+.  Other organisations to which particular lawyers are accredited include the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS), Wills and Inheritance Quality Scheme (WIQS), Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), the Association of Lifetime Lawyers, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb).

Everything they do is underpinned by their core values:

> Open and honest
> Working together
> Valuing people
> Taking pride in what we do

Our history
Much has changed since Longmores was founded in 1819.  Our values and our approach to our work with clients have not.

We continue to pride ourselves on our legal expertise.  Clients tell us that they value our common sense approach, our clear advice and the fact that we make practical recommendations rather than simply reiterate the law.

They like the robust manner in which we negotiate on their behalf and how we present their case when it comes to litigation.  They know that we seek to avoid the cost, distraction and risks of litigation where we can, through the use of alternative approaches such as mediation, so long as that will secure the best outcome possible.

When it comes to non-contentious work our clients say they like the fact that we focus on the outcomes that matter to them and that we communicate proactively and effectively.  That means that they understand how things are progressing at every stage of our work with them and can make informed decisions on their options if choices need to be made.  These characteristics are simply part of the way we do things across the firm.

Although the geographic reach of our work is greater than it was some two centuries ago, we remain involved in the community of the Hertfordshire area.  Our leading lawyers have always made time to give back, through public service holding positions such as Chair of the County Council, President of the Law Society, county coroners, judges, high sheriffs and trustees.

Our hardworking spirit has been passed on from generation to generation.  Today, Joint Senior Partners, Chris Pease and Richard Gvero, aspire to continue the firm's traditions whilst leading a progressive team of experienced solicitors.  Many join us because they feel they can make a real difference for our clients and because they value our culture of client service and intelligent delivery of professional expertise.

Our services
Commercial Property: all aspects of commercial property transactions including acquisition and disposal of business premises, property development agreements, promotion and option agreements (including overage), business leases and landlord and tenant advice.  The team has a specialism in dealing with rural land transactions.

Company  Commercial: acting for corporate and commercial clients across numerous industry sectors. The firm’s expertise includes business sales and purchases; mergers and acquisitions; company formations and reorganisations; joint ventures; shareholder agreements; share buybacks; share option schemes; commercial contracts; software licensing, IT service and outsourcing agreements; intellectual property; partnerships and LLP agreements.

Dispute Resolution: most aspects of commercial litigation such as director, partner or shareholder disputes (and some private litigation) are undertaken. The team has higher courts advocacy expertise and includes a mediator and an arbitrator. Specialist knowledge of insolvency matters, search orders and other emergency remedies is offered. The team has significant expertise in matters involving the recruitment industry.

Employment: the specialist team deals with all aspects of employment law, contentious and non-contentious, and provides comprehensive support for owner managed businesses and HR departments. It also specialises in post-termination restrictions and TUPE. The team has developed a niche in the recruitment and education sectors.

Family: advising clients on divorce and separation, financial settlements, pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements, dissolution of civil partnerships, protective injunctions and child related disputes.  The team work with other solicitors within the firm on issues such as tax, trusts and company law and have access to a network of experts outside the legal field.  The solicitors are members of Resolution.

Private Client: acting for individuals, including those with business and agricultural interests, providing advice on inheritance tax planning, wills, trusts and powers of attorney as well as the administration of estates and charitable giving.  Within the team are solicitors specialising in issues affecting older and vulnerable people such as Court of Protection matters, care funding decisions, issues around capacity and Lifetime Trusts. All the solicitors are full members of STEP (Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners).

Property Litigation: across-the-board property law expertise with a depth and breadth of knowledge that few other firms can match. Advising on commercial, residential and rural property, the team also has a particular speciality in residential block management. Typical clients include management companies, managing agents, commercial landlords and tenants, investors, developers and rural landowners.

Residential Property: specialist residential property solicitors with broad experience dealing with all kinds of properties, ranging from listed buildings to new builds.  The team helps clients with buying and selling homes, remortgages, holiday and buy-to-let investments, disputes, shared ownership and transfer of equity.

Rural Land: acting for clients including estate owners, farmers, owner-occupiers, high net-worth individuals, investors and businesses.  The team advises on a range of rural land matters including freehold acquisitions and disposals, option and pre-emption agreements, overage clauses, commercial leases, sale and purchase of farm land, and the purchase of unregistered land.