Michelmores LLP > Bristol, England > Firm Profile

‘The team did everything we needed them to with professionalism. Also very pleasant dealing with them. Very clear on timescales. Always hit deadlines.’

‘Harry Trick was fantastic. Very smart and diligent, but equally approachable and down to earth which meant we got along well and I had a lot of confidence in his approach, work and output. Unique in my experience, he sweats both the details and is very commercial.’

‘The team seemed very down to earth, they took time to explain things in plain English and were always happy to take time to go through any specific detail.’

‘A West Country firm with excellent connections to the City of London and international business.’

‘A senior partner with wide experience as a leading barrister and as a Recorder makes for a well balanced and well connected approach.’

‘Alice Daniels and Sara Chisholm-Batten are both highly experienced.’

‘When Sara Chisholm-Batten is on a case, you know you are in safe hands. She works extremely hard and is more than ready and equipped to deal with any unexpected potholes along the road of litigation.’

‘Jayne Clemens is client focused and extremely approachable, but will fight hard for her clients.’

‘The team is very knowledgeable and that knowledge runs deep; it is not confined to the top tier of the pyramid. The team is very responsive, able to meet tight deadlines and to keep to promised delivery dates.’

‘Forward-thinking, innovative, approachable and honest.’

‘Jonathan Kitchin is knowledgeable, friendly, pro-active, a practical thinker and provides pragmatic advice.’

‘Michelmores always take time to understand the commercial drivers at play, to deliver practical and measured advice, and assist in working towards an acceptable outcome for the business.’

‘Jonathan Kitchin’s methodical and pragmatic approach to delivering acceptable outcomes to, what can often be, complex disputes whilst carefully managing costs remains his key stand out attributes. Notwithstanding Jonathan’s experience and reputation, he is extremely personable and easy to work with.’

‘Excellent service, straight-talking team that provides accurate, concise advice.’

‘Kate Gardner is by far THE BEST employment lawyer in the country in our opinion. Kate knows our business inside and out, provides us with practical operational advice and in a cost-effective manner.’

‘The employment team that we work with at Michelmores are well-versed in the law, providing practical legal guidance tailored to the specific needs of our business and workforce. Rachael Lloyd is our key contact and is always extremely responsive and provides quick, clear guidance on matters when we raise them for advice.’

‘Every individual that we have worked with on various matters at Michelmores has been knowledgeable, kind and helpful. Rachael Lloyd is attentive, knowledgeable, thorough and always helps us get clarity on legal questions in a timely and efficient manner.’

‘Very good.’

‘James Baker is exceptional.  Advice is always effective and tailored to meet the needs of the client. I could not be happier with service.’

‘Vivienne Williams is grounded and sensible and a safe pair of hands. Ben Sharples has litigation experience and is in the forefront on the developing markets for BNG and natural capital.’

‘One of the leading firms in this practice area, with a number of very experienced solicitors who know a great deal about agricultural disputes.’

‘Ben Sharples is an outstandingly good solicitor, with an excellent grasp of the law and of the technical aspects of agriculture and property, and an outstanding tactician. The best there is. Charlotte Razay is very thorough, diligent and reliable and an excellent team player.’

‘Michelmores is the number one leading national agriculture practice, hands-down. No one else beats their team’s breadth of expertise or experience. They really are the agricultural lawyers that you want on your side in every dispute and that you dread being against if you are on the other side!’

‘One of the best teams for this type of work in the country. Strength-in-depth and real understanding of agricultural issues. Great client base and fantastic reputation.’

‘Vivienne Williams is extremely intelligent, hardworking and a pleasure to work with. Charlotte Razay is very capable and always switched on.’

‘I have worked closely with Ben Sharples and Josie Edwards and have always found to be them very approachable and understanding with a desire to work on matters to the benefit of our mutual clients.’

‘Lawyers you want to work with and have fun with. Strong regional presence.’

‘Michelmores offers the complete package, with a strong London and regional presence and with all the other resources in terms of expertise and experience which you could want. They frequently work for large charities as well as private individuals, giving them great insight into the full range of issues and concerns which a dispute of this nature can throw up.’

Tony Cockayne is really focused on achieving the best outcome for his clients and keeps the right level of involvement and oversight in his cases. He has an excellent sense of how a case will develop and where a deal may lie.’

‘Jasmine Ivory in particular is excellent: she absolutely gets to grip with the detail of a case and deservedly wins the trust of her clients and the respect of her opponents.’

‘William Coon is outstanding – very knowledgeable, pragmatic, and client focused. He is a pleasure to work with. ’

‘This is a very good firm which comes up to the quality of London firms in terms of its contentious trusts and probate work.’

‘William Coon has been very diligent, professional, tenacious, always willing to listen to his client and to adapt his strategy accordingly. A great communicator, taking the time to explain complex issues to his clients. Where he might be unsure of something, he says so and seeks relevant advice. Couldn’t ask for better representation. ’

‘Tony Cockayne is an affable statesman, who gets excellent results with charm and good humour. William Coon is a solid associate. Emily Peacock is definitely going places.’

‘Georgia Wookey – available to discuss matters on short notice, clearly concerned with delivering a high quality of service.’

‘Daniel Eames is a specialist in international family law cases and is good at thinking about the knotty legal problems that can arise. He is not afraid to give difficult advice to clients in tricky positions, but he will work hard to get them the best result possible and is not afraid to tackle an appeal if necessary. ’

‘The go to family law firm in the South West for big money cases and knotty international cases. The team has great strength at all levels. ’

‘Daniel Eames remains one of the best solicitors in England, not just the South West. His case load encompasses many London cases, usually complex big money cases. He brings a strategic mind to cases and always has a novel approach to resolving the disputes his clients find themselves in.  He is quite brilliant at complex European regulation and other international issues.  Pippa Allsop is a total star and an excellent solicitor. She runs her case effectively and with great charm. Her clients lover her.’

‘Excellent firm with a range of talent in complex jurisdictional family matters for private children and financial cases. The firm also has excellent partners and associates with experience in complicated legal cost funding applications, financial provisions for children, financial matters arising from divorce, and private children disputes.’

‘Daniel Eames is a leader in complicated international jurisdictional matters. Pippa Allsop is a superstar in complex financial matters.’

‘Sarah Green is a dream combination of down to earth user-friendliness and very high ability as a family lawyer.’

‘The family team one of the best in the area, with a well deserved reputation fantastic client care and strategic representation. They offer a high-level service that is then reflected in proceedings where bundles/pleadings are prepared immaculately and clients feel supported and confident. I am always delighted to work with Michelmores, knowing that the brief and papers will be immaculate and the client’s expectations well managed. ’

‘The family team at Michelmores has gone from strength to strength since being headed up by Daniel Eames. The team has expanded including by establishing a thriving office in Bristol. The family team at Michelmores have high quality work as a result of the excellent service the team provides. The team provides a high level of representation across the range of levels of seniority. Clients are represented by strong, determined solicitors who fight hard to secure the best outcome. ’

‘They understand the technical matters impacting on rural businesses and can apply that to the appropriate business in an understandable way.’

‘The team in Exeter are very responsive and extremely competent. They are very strong on substantial estates and trusts. They are an increasingly rare commodity in regional firms.’

‘James Frampton is very responsive and knowledgeable. Very happy to recommend him. He is very ably assisted by Charlotte Coombs, who is technically very strong.’

‘Iwan Williams is strong, amicable and very knowledgeable alongside being client focused.’

‘James Frampton is a legend when it comes to landed estates and tax planning for families and farms. Not only does he know every corner of the subject inside-out, but he has a way of handling clients and guiding them in the right direction which puts them entirely at ease.’

‘The team have a very good understanding of their clients and their requirements and are very responsive. They have strength in depth, so team members are able to cover all issues which might arise.’

‘The individuals we work with are always accessible, with a firm knowledge and understanding of the cases they deal with and the legal issues involved. Our main contacts are James Frampton, Caroline Alexander, and Charlotte Coombs.’

‘Being based in the south west means clients living in the area have local access to high-quality advice in respect of, for example, the UK tax treatment of US trusts, whereas historically it is likely they would have had to look to London-based firms. James Frampton and Mathew Hiatt are friendly and are able to break down complex matters so clients can understand the situation.’

‘Very experienced team of property lawyers with many years dealing with all aspects of development site acquisitions and property sales.’

‘Lucy Smallwood and her team have provided many years of close advice on development sales and acquisitions.’

‘Richard Walford is our point of contact. He is extremely good at the detail.’

‘Very approachable and very capable, giving confidence to all parties.’

‘Elizabeth Newson – outstanding top of the pile service. Incredibly diligent and her calm, imaginative and firm manner leads to efficient negotiation of sticking points and rapid settlement of documents for the benefit of all parties.’

‘We have worked closely with Stephen Newson on several projects, and have been thoroughly impressed. He has consistently provided swift and excellent advice and managed our expectations well through strong communication.’

‘Stephen Newson immediately understood our needs as a client, allowing us to be as involved as necessary to build trust so that both parties built a strong working relationship. We have worked with many of the top firms in industry, and none have been as capable, responsive and overall exceptional as Stephen.’

‘Diligent and cohesive, the team works as one, considering the details of the deal in conjunction with the priorities of the client. Partner-led, the team offers experienced insight, with juniors capable of both speaking to any particular matter and actioning instructions. A force to be reckoned with in the market.’

‘Ben Hogan has technical expertise and is a good communicator.’

‘Jo Spalding is a star of the future. Alive to the commercial issues that matter and a great foil to Ben Hogan’s leadership.’

‘The team members are all multi disciplined, which suits our needs due to complex legal structures of our projects. Michelmores provide an additional dimension to their advice through their ability to structure commercial deals. They are well respected by their peers too.’

‘With such a consistent set of individuals, they know the projects are more agile in being able to respond to any issues as they arise. The partners length of service and experience is invaluable. All are worthy of mention for their support to us over the past 12 years.’

‘Great depth of experience and very practical. The level of service is what you would expect from a firm of their high calibre.’

‘Anna Wood is excellent all round; a hard worker and very knowledgeable.’

‘This legal practice stands out for its unique blend of expertise and innovation, tailored to meet the diverse needs of its clients. I believe that potential clients would benefit from the team’s strengths, including their extensive experience across various legal fields, their proven track record of successful cases, and an unwavering dedication to providing a personalised service.’

‘This construction team truly stands out for their proactive approach and attention to detail. They’re not just reactive; they anticipate potential issues and work tirelessly to mitigate risks before they arise. This proactive mindset not only saves time but also gives peace of mind knowing that our projects are in safe hands.’

‘Among the stand-out partners, Anna Wood deserves special mention for exceptional leadership and strategic vision. Their wealth of experience in construction law is matched only by their dedication to client satisfaction.’

‘Maria Greener stands out’.

‘The partners are very hands on and are always thinking ahead to anticipate any future problems that may arise.’

‘Helen Hutton is especially dedicated and will have considered every potential angle before giving her advice. Helen is very charming and a very trustworthy and competent lawyer. Her turnaround rates are extraordinary.’

‘The team at Michelmores LLP are extremely knowledgeable, experienced, helpful and friendly. They are truly a pleasure to work with.’

‘Sarah Reardon is the stand out individual I have had the pleasure to work with. Sarah’s communication, knowledge and mannerisms make working with Sarah very comforting and easy.’

‘Helen Hutton was great to work with. Very good eye on detail, exceptional at ensuring we kept to programme. Kind and highly capable.’

‘What makes Michelmores stand-out is their client focus.’

‘Helen Hutton gives practical, commercial advice and excels in seeing the way through complex problems. She is also a wizard at coaxing local authority lawyers to get the job done.’

‘The team have a pragmatic, commercial approach and have lots of experience in geospatial data licensing. Overall, they are timely and responsive, giving clear guidance and flagging areas of concern.’

‘Tom Torkar is an experienced partner, very strong and well respected, excellent at giving pragmatic, commercial advice.’

‘Chloe Vernon-Shore is an excellent partner, great at coordinating work to the right conclusion and bringing out the best in her team. Gives good pragmatic advice.’

‘Phillipa Collison is a strong associate, good at building relationships and delivering excellent work.’

‘Great experience and insight which includes detailed knowledge of public procurement which was a significant advantage from our perspective.’

‘Nathaniel Lane, a strong associate, is excellent at technical and detailed work and good at keeping complex projects moving.’

‘Working with Tom Torkar, his ability to engage directly with clients and speak a language that they (and a non-IT lawyer) can understand is just terrific. He is really helpful, patient and pragmatic.’

‘Ben Sharples is an outstandingly good solicitor with an excellent grasp of the law and of the technical aspects of agriculture and property, and he is an outstanding tactician. The best there is.’

‘A true heavyweight firm in the field of agriculture and estates, Michelmores deserves its reputation as one of the go-to firms in the country.’

‘Adam Corbin is a very effective litigator who leads a fine team; with an in-depth knowledge of the sector he combines legal and commercial skills to excellent effect.‘

‘Vivienne Williams is one of the best. A leading practitioner who knows how to test and probe the tricky legal issues in a case.’

‘One of the best in the sector. Real specialists in agriculture and estates work. Strength in depth. Very strong client base.’

‘Vivienne Williams is exceptionally clever and user friendly. Charlotte Razay is very diligent, on the ball and commercially minded.’

‘True experts in agricultural law, with a talented team of lawyers. Vivienne Williams is very intelligent and knowledgeable, and a great leader of her team.’

‘Michelmores is well and long-established as the practice with the best resources and greatest breadth and depth of expertise in this area. Their capacity to conduct work in this area at the highest level is unmatched by any competitors.’

‘The team is very well run, and goes the extra mile to ensure that all avenues are explored in order to provide the best possible representation for clients. The team has a wealth of experience in this area.’

‘Andrew Oldland KC is an exceptional team leader with the gravitas and experience to reassure clients and pursue a comprehensive and highly effective case strategy.’

‘Scott Love is hardworking and bright, with excellent communication skills with clients, experts and counsel.’

‘They are tenacious in getting the best result for the client. Technically they are very good, and the overall impression is one of exceptional efficiency.’

‘Dynamic team always ready to push the matter forward and to come up with innovative solutions.’

‘Charlotte Curtis is a very clear thinking and direct lawyer who negotiates well under pressure. Her legal skills are second to none and she easily gains the trust of clients. Sophie Carey has been a tower of strength in long drawn-out litigation – never losing enthusiasm and humour.’

‘The Michelmores real estate/property litigation team is one of the best in the south-west. They are entrusted with complex, technical, high-value disputes and it is a pleasure to work alongside the team. The team is pragmatic and precise.’

‘In recent years I have worked with Charlotte Curtis and Lydia Robinson. Both are sensible, easy to contact and a pleasure to work alongside. They are mindful of the nuances and complexities of cases and have a good appreciation of litigation risk and how that can affect cases.’

‘Hannah Venn-Munns is very knowledgeable and understands the issues extremely well. She works in the best interests of the client.’

‘Jonathan Kitchin is knowledgeable, practical and fun to work with. He provides clear communication and gives advice and a view.’

‘Alexa Payet is technically very able and meticulous in her analysis and work product. She cares intensely about moving her client’s positions towards their objectives.’

‘Natasha McKeever is a charismatic leader. She softens her robust determination with a disarming charm. Clients adore her.’

‘Emma Bryson is amiable, confident and has developed a solid technical knowledge. She’s an excellent associate.’

‘This is a strong team with a deserved reputation in this area. New partner Alexa Payet was a great hire for the disputed wills and estates team at Michelmores.’

‘Alexa Payet deserves recognition as a highly effective litigator with the real subject matter expertise that is essential in this area. She is really great with clients.’

‘Tony Cockayne has built an excellent team around him. He is very experienced and has an excellent sense of how a case will develop and where a deal may lie. He is very strategic in his approach and is always looking for the other side’s pressure points.’  

‘Tony Cockayne is a fantastic elder statesman with the rare ability to build a rapport with opponents and make progress on a case.’

‘Alexa Payet is an excellent lawyer and Emily Peacock is her assistant. They are both pragmatic and sensible to work alongside. ’

‘James Frampton is a highly regarded, technically strong adviser on complex private client matters. He is rigorous in his understanding of client’s circumstances and objectives and provides thorough and well considered advice.’

‘A good professional and knowledgeable team providing a timely service at regional rates. Good knowledge of trust law and inheritance tax and personal tax planning.’

‘Michelmores is fantastic value for money. They have technical expertise and punch above their weight. James Frampton has developed a very strong niche on US-connected matters. He has a deep understanding of the US issues, which is invaluable.’

‘Strong team who are able to collaborate and advise on multiple jurisdictions and asset classes. Dhana Sabanathan’s strengthens include a strong legal and tax knowledge, a focus on relationship management and great communication skills with her clients.’

‘They have a real personal touch – they make me as a client feel incredibly valued. Dhana Sabanathan is excellent both as a technician and with clients.’

‘The team that I work with at Michelmores is focused on a very specific niche – non-dom private client work for American citizens – and they are consistently excellent at what they do.’

‘They have some preeminent practitioners who are at the top of the field, especially James Frampton. Their advice is detailed and highly specific, and they deliver it in a way that clients easily understand.’

‘James Frampton and Matthew Hiatt are friendly and readily provide assistance. Their advice is clear and easily understood by clients. They both have a great presence in the South West region.’

‘Michelmores have worked with us for a number of years, they are approachable, transparent, and provide pragmatic, commercially focused work. They have a great understanding of our business and the wider industry and are responsive to our needs.’

‘The output quality is always high, and they represent us as if they were an employee.’

‘Tom Torkar and the team are always able to make time for us, often at short notice.’

‘Tom Torkar provides pragmatic, commercially focused advice, and has a great understanding of our business and industry, while Chloe Vernon-Shore is skilled at co-ordinating workloads.’

‘Nathaniel Lane and Phillipa Collison are detail orientated and able to deliver complex work in a timely manner.’

‘Very knowledgeable and they provide first-class advice.’

‘An efficient and very commercially minded team.’

‘Michelmores LLP has strength in depth, with professionals who are available to assist in all areas of UK and international law.’

‘They are responsive, attentive and transparent.’

‘Jonathan Kitchin is both astute and tactically aware. The combination proves most effective.’

‘Jonathan Kitchin works tenaciously to achieve the desired result.’

‘Marie-Louise King and Daniel Lampard take ownership of the problems that clients face and present various solutions swiftly.’

‘Peter Sigler – it is hard to find greater experience and strategic nous.’

‘Fantastically committed, experienced and knowledgable team.’

‘Jayne Clemens is truly fantastic for her commercial astuteness and attention to detail.’

‘Jayne Clemens has the talent and skill to keep the most challenging of clients on board with her advice and strategy. She is a master of diplomacy and empathy. This is a very important quality for success in litigation. She truly understands what her client needs from their lawyer, and she is very experienced and knowledgeable in this field.’

‘Jayne Clemens leads an excellent team in media and communications law matters.’

‘This practice is able to offer a wide variety of services to its clients, which incorporates reputational management, defamation and criminal law. They are the go-to firm for those who need a joined-up approach.’

‘Jayne Clemens gets to the heart of the matter in cases of defamation. Andrew Oldland KC is a master tactician.’

‘Highly focused on understanding and serving the needs of the client and providing measured advice in what is often a fast-developing crisis.’

‘Marie-Louise King is extremely capable, technically and tactically, and shows great integrity. Calm in a crisis and a highly experienced litigator. Works impressively with UHNWs and HNWs on very sensitive work.’