Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors > Wokingham, England > Firm Profile
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors Offices
22-24 BROAD STREET
WOKINGHAM
RG40 1BA
England
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors > The Legal 500 Rankings
Real estate > Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 2
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors‘s varied real estate practice comprises capabilities across acquisitions and disposals, residential development mandates and agricultural related work, alongside the handling of various premise types. Practice leader Jonathan Foulds advises an array of clients across the full spectrum of commercial property matters such as portfolio management issues, refinancings and business acquisitions as well as head office moves, while Ian Graham is regularly engaged by residential developers and charities. Transactional expert Spencer Grimshaw further bolsters the practice.Practice head(s):
Jonathan Foulds
Other key lawyers:
Ian Graham; Spencer Grimshaw; Lydia Methven
Testimonials
‘Responsive, professional and approachable. Close collaboration between Transactional and Litigation teams.’
‘Extremely organised and responsive, gives clear and concise advice with strong intellect. Excellent communication/people skills. The complete package, must be destined for greater things.’
‘They go above and beyond to help with all aspects of my business and have never failed me. The whole firm is punctual, honest, trustworthy and efficient.’
‘Very efficient and diligent. Conclude work in a timely manner.’
‘Lydia Methven is highly knowledgeable and capable. She is very personable in her approach.’
‘It is a relatively small team but their readiness and availability is second to none.’
‘Jonathan Foulds’ understanding of our sector and his willingness to help really does go above and beyond. He is more than happy to listen, help and strategise with us.’
‘Lydia Methven is truly incredible dealing with some very complex issues with great knowledge and professionalism, always aware of the client needs and concerns, very impressed.’
Key clients
Lawsons Holdings Limited
Nike Group
Natta Group
Work highlights
- Dealing with disposals of new build residential properties for the Natta Group with a value in excess of £6.5m.
- Acting for the Nike Group in relation to the disposal of a large freehold development site and premises comprising a former leisure centre, a disused ice rink and parking areas.
- Advising Lawson Holdings Limited on the property aspects on various company acquisition transactions including in relation to several leased properties, and also advising on both freehold and leasehold acquisitions and lease management for existing branches.
Private client > Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 3
The Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors family team operates across Reading and Wokingham, and is praised for being ‘extremely pragmatic and solution focused'. The 'exceptional and tenacious' Anne Deller heads the Reading team, and is noted for advising unmarried couples. Complex children cases involving allegations of violence are handled by Rekha Joshi, head of the Wokingham team, while Lisa Lee is recommended for assisting vulnerable clients in children cases. Laura Inskip is a key name within the practice.Practice head(s):
Anne Deller; Rekha Joshi
Other key lawyers:
Testimonials
‘Lisa Lee has been a rock to me throughout my whole case. She always gives realistic feedback and no question or query is too much trouble.’
‘Rekha Joshi is a well-known star. She does a lot of the complicated Children Act and Matrimonial Finance work in the area. Clients trust her for her insight into cases. She knows when to litigate and when to settle. She always gets a good deal for her client.’
‘Anne Deller is an exceptional and tenacious lawyer whose attention to detail is second to none.’
‘Lisa Lee is a fountain of knowledge, always on the ball and has an excellent client manner. Lisa has a great ability to break complicated matters down to ensure clients understand in a way others simply cannot do. Lisa is a real superstar.’
‘Laura Inskip is a fantastic solicitor and a pleasure to work with. Laura’s advice and client care is always excellent. Laura always manages client expectations well and it seems, with ease. She always remains cool, calm and collected even when under pressure by either the nature of the case and/or tricky clients. Clients are always so grateful for Laura’s time and advice, and the manner in which she communicates the same.’
‘The team are incredibly approachable and provide thorough and realistic advice. They put their clients at ease and guide them through often complex legal and emotional processes with professionalism and care.’
‘Rekhi Joshi does an incredible job at listening to her clients carefully. She works very hard to ensure that the applications are made in good time.’
‘The Clifton Ingram family team are small but perfectly formed. They offer clients a personal and close relationship with the team, which retains a personal approach where they will know exactly who is working on their case. They are an extremely pragmatic and solution focused team; they settle many complex cases well without the need to go to court because they strive to do so and give clients realistic advice from the outset.’
Work highlights
Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 4
Routinely operating for SME clients and large owner-managed businesses, Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors is praised for its ‘customer focused’ nature. ‘Top quality’ practice head Barry Niven possesses a wide range of experience, extending from M&A and venture capital investments to shareholders’ agreements and restructuring mandates.Practice head(s):
Barry Niven
Other key lawyers:
Lily Holland
Testimonials
‘Responding to issues very quickly.’
‘We have a very varied workload and Clifton Ingram have always been able to meet our needs with a strong team of specialists. The sound advice has protected our long-term interests on a number of occasions.’
‘Barry Niven has provided us with top quality service.’
‘Customer focused.’
‘Very personable, react face to issues.’
Key clients
Lawsons Holdings Limited
Longacres Garden Centres Limited
Sandhurst Autoprint Limited
Jondo UK Limited
PDAS Holdings Limited
Greencore Homes Ltd
Work highlights
- Acting for Greencore Homes Ltd, a sustainable housebuilder, on a capital raising from M&G Catalyst.
- Acting for Prospect Holdings (Reading) Limited on its buy and build strategy.
- Acting for Longacres Garden Centre Limited on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of a company operating a garden centre.
Employment > Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 Tier 4
With core strength in the tech and pharma sectors, ‘responsive and professional’ Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors routinely operates for multinationals, start-ups, and high-net-worth individuals. Alison Gair helms the team, contributing her expertise across the employment aspects of corporate transactions and various contracts and agreements, among others. Robert Cherry leverages his dispute resolution experience to assist with employment mandates.Practice head(s):
Alison Gair
Other key lawyers:
Robert Cherry
Testimonials
‘From our initial contact, Clifton Ingram have been responsive and professional. The company is quick to react and has been highly professional in all of our dealings with them.’
‘Alison Gair has been our principal contact. She is pragmatic, efficient and responsive at all times. Email enquiries are dealt with promptly and are focused to our needs. The experience has been very positive at all times.
‘Robert Cherry has provided us with excellent advice over many years, always looking for solutions whilst considering the challenges.’
‘They provide good practical solutions to the issues in hand. Robert Cherry is someone we can rely on for the right advice.’
‘The team are knowledgeable, friendly and helpful and, unlike other firms, whilst explaining the options, are prepared to “get off the fence” and offer a considered opinion on the best way to progress to obtain the desired outcome.’
‘Robert Cherry is outstanding. He is easy to contact, responds quickly and provides an exceptional service. Robert Cherry builds a great rapport to the point that you feel you are obtaining advice from a friend.’
‘Robert Cherry was very clear, authoritative and decisive.’
‘Clearly very experienced and calm throughout a difficult situation.’
Work highlights
Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery Tier 4
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors is known for advising on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency and is often instructed on both contentious and non-contentious mandates from clients including insolvency practitioners and asset-based lenders. Barry Niven leads the department and acts for insolvency practitioners on a wide range of matters including the making of appointments and the legal aspects of business sales.Practice head(s):
Barry Niven
Key clients
KRE Corporate Recovery Ltd
Work highlights
Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors > Firm Profile
Clifton Ingram is an established, professional and trusted law firm, providing legal advice over the full range of corporate and private client services.
The firm: Clifton Ingram LLP was founded over 100 years ago and has grown both organically and through various acquisitions to become one of the largest full-service law firms based in the Thames Valley.
Known for being proactive, capable and honest, Clifton Ingram attracts significant and high-value work to its offices in Reading, Wokingham and Farnham. Its increasing client base ranges from multinational organisations to individuals, and it has a reputation for providing practical, plain-speaking legal advice and for putting client care foremost in its priorities.
The firm is currently recruiting to increase its commercial capacity, and will continue to grow both organically and through further acquisition.
Types of work undertaken
Corporate services: Clifton Ingram’s corporate team is regularly instructed to advise on acquisitions and disposals, MBOs and MBIs, corporate finance, joint ventures, shareholder agreements, buy-back of shares, reduction of capital, company reorganisations and general company law issues. The emphasis is on owner-managed businesses and professional practices, but the client base also includes several large organisations and banks.
Intellectual property: the firm’s IP expert provides advice in relation to all aspects of IP law, trade marks, designs, names and reputation.
Insolvency and corporate recovery: the team regularly advises on all aspects of corporate and personal insolvency, and has specialists in both the contentious and non-contentious aspects of insolvency law. Clifton Ingram is regularly instructed by insolvency practitioners, asset-based lenders, banks and fixed-charge receivers, directors of companies, creditors and other stakeholders, (such as shareholders, charge holders and landlords), and debtors.
Employment: the employment team handles a broad spectrum of contentious and non-contentious work, predominantly for UK-based SMEs and foreign-owned subsidiaries, as well as employees. All aspects of employment law are handled, including TUPE, discrimination, redundancy, contracts and tribunal cases.
Commercial property: the firm has one of the largest commercial property departments in the area. The team operates a diverse practice, specialising in leasehold work for both landlord and tenant for office, industrial, educational, licensed and retail premises, residential development work for both developers and landowners, and agricultural-related work encompassing farmland and large country estates. In addition the team has wide experience of commercial property litigation, planning law and related areas, including enforcement and lawful use issues.
Dispute resolution: dispute resolution expertise covers all litigation, ranging from High Court and County Court proceedings, to ADR and arbitration. The team has specialists for both residential and commercial property disputes, corporate and partnership matters, debt, contract and intellectual property disputes.
Family: Clifton Ingram is renowned for its family work and has one of the largest dedicated family teams in the Thames Valley, which specialises in matrimonial finance, private law children and care work.
Private client: Clifton Ingram has long been regarded as one of the leading firms in the Thames Valley in both the non-contentious and contentious private client fields. In addition to advising on and conducting the administration of estates and trusts (whether acting as executor and/or trustee or not), the preparation and drafting of wills, codicils and lifetime disposals, the team specialises in advising clients in relation to tax affairs at every stage of their lives, with a view to implementing tax-efficient financial arrangements during their lifetimes and for passing on wealth for future generations.
Residential property: accredited by the Law Society with the Conveyancing Quality Scheme in recognition of the high levels of service, Clifton Ingram’s residential property team is committed to providing a first-class service for clients purchasing or selling properties throughout the UK.
Other offices: Reading and Farnham
Main Contacts
| Department | Name | Telephone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dispute Resolution & Employment | Robert Cherry | ||
| Corporate & Commercial | Barry Niven | ||
| Commercial Property | Ian Graham | ||
| Wills & Inheritance | Peter McGeown | ||
| Wills & Inheritance | Stephanie Rose | ||
| Family | Anne Deller | ||
| Family | Rekha Joshi | ||
| Employment | Alison Gair | ||
| Residential Conveyancing | Lorna Thomson | ||
| Commercial Property | Jonathan Foulds |
Lawyer Profiles
| Photo | Name | Position | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Mr Robert Cherry | Partner | View Profile |
|
Ms Anne Deller | Senior Partner and Head of Family Law | View Profile |
|
Mr Jonathan Foulds | Managing Partner and Head of Commercial Property | View Profile |
|
Ms Alison Gair | Head of Employment and Intellectual Property | View Profile |
|
Mr Ian Graham | Partner | View Profile |
|
Ms Rekha Joshi | Partner | View Profile |
|
Mr Peter McGeown | Partner & Joint Head of Wills & Inheritance | View Profile |
|
Mr Barry Niven | Partner and Head of Corporate and Commercial | View Profile |
|
Lorna Thomson | Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing | View Profile |
Staff Figures
Number of UK partners : 14 Number of other UK fee-earners : 43Languages
PunjabiMemberships
Law Society ELA (Employment Lawyers Association) Law Society Children Panel ResolutionClient Testimonials
CLIENT: Michelle Weiss
COMPANY/FIRM: Just Eat plc
TESTIMONIAL: I’ve worked with the Commercial Property team at Clifton Ingram for 8 years. They have always given top notch professional support and advice and dealt with matters in a straight talking, efficient and friendly manner. Clifton Ingram supported me and the business with some very complex lease agreements which helped us to grow from a tech startup to FTSE 100.
CLIENT: Rick de Kerckhove
COMPANY/FIRM: Longacres Garden Centre Ltd
TESTIMONIAL: Our business has a very varied demand for legal services and Clifton Ingram have always been able to respond exceptionally quickly to our needs and demands. Over the last twenty years they have taken us step by step through many complex issues, making it easy to understand and fully informing our decision making processes in matters such as commercial property law, business acquisitions, tax planning, employment law and dispute resolution as well assisting on personal concerns including conveyancing, family law, wills and probate. We regularly work with Tim Read, Lewis Djemal, Louise White, Lydia Methven, Barry Niven, Tina Crow, Lesley Bacon and Peter McGeown and would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending their services to others.
CLIENT: Paul Ellison
COMPANY/FIRM: KRE Corporate Recovery LLP
TESTIMONIAL: At KRE we have worked with Barry Niven and Joel Malloy for about 7 years and their corporate recovery offering is one of the best in Thames Valley. They are fast in reaction and their advice is clear and well supported and we would have no hesitation in recommending their services as they are one of our preferred suppliers for legal advice.
CLIENT: Chris Nike
COMPANY/FIRM: The Nike Group of Companies
TESTIMONIAL: We take great pleasure in recommending the legal services of Clifton Ingram Solicitors LLP. Having used their services for the last two years we have found their experience on how to deal with negotiations very professional and practical and field specific specialists have been tremendously helpful. We were kept up to date from start to finish and assistance was provided when we needed it with an outstanding reaction and response time. The quality of service was of the highest possible standard and we would not hesitate to use Clifton Ingram again in the future.
CLIENT: R P COFF
COMPANY/FIRM: HARRY A COFF LIMITED
TESTIMONIAL: We have been using Clifton Ingram LLP for our Commercial/Development Business for some 20 years now (which I think is a testimony in its self) they have dealt with transactions up to £5 million. I have personally dealt with Mr Tim Read since we started to use them and have always found him to be efficient and enjoyable to work with. In the last couple of years I have also dealt with Mr Lewis Djemal in the Commercial Property Department who did his training under Tim and as such works in a very similar manner which suits the way I like to work.
Client Testimonials
COMPANY/FIRM: Lawsons Whetstone Ltd TESTIMONIAL: Extremely satisfied with the exceptional service we receive from the team at Clifton Ingram and would strongly recommend them to anyone looking for a diligent acquisitions and conveyancing service. All communication is transparent and the team keep us fully informed at all times. Lawsons have worked with Tim, Barry and the team on many occasions. Efficient, professional and reliable, we will continue to use Clifton Ingram for all our property purchases and legal matters.
CLIENT: Nigel Page
COMPANY/FIRM:TESTIMONIAL: Private Client We have probably all met law firms whose expertise is unquestionable, but where the human touch is demonstrably less evident. Having had the opportunity to work with various Clifton Ingram practices over the years, I can attest first hand to the attention which goes beyond the legal advice per se, and considers you, the individual, not as some cog in the machine, but as a true partner in the process. Highly recommended!
CLIENT: Michelle Weiss
COMPANY/FIRM: Just Eat PLC
TESTIMONIAL: I’ve worked with the Commercial Property team at Clifton Ingram for 8 years. They have always given top notch professional support and advice and dealt with matters in a straight talking, efficient and friendly manner. Clifton Ingram supported me and the business with some very complex lease agreements which helped us to grow from a tech start-up to FTSE 100.
CLIENT: Rick de Kerckhove
COMPANY/FIRM: Longacres Garden Centre Ltd
TESTIMONIAL: Our business has a very varied demand for legal services and Clifton Ingram have always been able to respond exceptionally quickly to our needs and demands. Over the last twenty years they have taken us step by step through many complex issues, making it easy to understand and fully informing our decision making processes in matters such as commercial property law, business acquisitions, tax planning, employment law and dispute
resolution as well assisting on personal concerns including conveyancing, family law, wills and probate. We regularly work with Tim Read, Louise White, Lydia Methven, Barry Niven, Lesley Bacon and Peter McGeown and would have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending their services to others.
CLIENT: Chris Nike
COMPANY/FIRM: The Nike Group of Companies
TESTIMONIAL: We take great pleasure in recommending the legal services of Clifton Ingram Solicitors LLP. Having used their services for the last two years we have found their experience on how to deal with negotiations very professional and practical and field specific specialists have been tremendously helpful. We were kept up to date from start to finish and assistance was provided when we needed it with an outstanding reaction and response time. The quality of service was of the highest possible standard and we would not hesitate to use Clifton Ingram again in the future.
CLIENT: Paul Ellison
COMPANY/FIRM: KRE Corporate Recovery
TESTIMONIAL: At KRE we have worked with Barry Niven for about 7 years and their corporate recovery offering is one of the best in Thames Valley. They are fast in reaction and their advice is clear and well supported and we would have no hesitation in recommending their services as they are one of our preferred suppliers for legal advice.
Diversity/community
At Clifton Ingram we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace. We value and celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings to our organisation. Inclusion and diversity are a key part of our culture and core values. We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, religion or sexual orientation. Our diversity makes us stronger and gives us the power to better serve our clients.
Our diversity and inclusion policy
Clifton Ingram is fully committed to the elimination of unlawful and unfair discrimination and will not discriminate because of:
- age,
- disability,
- gender reassignment,
- marriage and civil partnership,
- pregnancy and maternity,
- race (which includes colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins),
- religion or belief,
- sex or sexual orientation.
Clifton Ingram will not discriminate because of any other irrelevant factor and will build a culture that values meritocracy, openness, fairness and transparency.
All employees are responsible for the promotion and advancement of this policy. Behaviour, actions or words that transgress the policy will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in line with the organisation’s disciplinary policy.
Our diversity and inclusion policy is applicable to all employees, secondees, agency staff, clients, communities, suppliers and contractors, whether permanent or temporary. The policy applies to all processes relating to employment and training and to any dealings with clients. Decisions relating to clients and communities will be based on business-related criteria only and any irrelevant information will not form part of the process.
Our diversity policy is reviewed on an ongoing basis to reflect changes in the law, demographics and internal business requirements.