Offering integrated partnership, employment and regulatory advice, the ‘standout firm for partnership disputes,’ CM Murray LLP, is headed up by Sarah Chilton, an ’amazingly able’ specialist contentious partnership lawyer who also has expertise in the private equity sector, and Zulon Begum, ‘a top flight non-contentious lawyer’ who predominately focuses on corporate law matters. Acting for clients in the legal, accountancy, consultancy, real estate, insurance, private equity and hedge fund industries, the team has a significant reputation for handling disputes relating to team moves and internal investigations into alleged wrongdoing as well as corporate law matters such as governance of professional service firms. Founding and managing partner Clare Murray, ’a visionary leader in her field’, acts for US and UK professional services firms, as well as equity partners in professional services and investment management firms, handling partner conduct and performance issues, partner exits, restrictive covenants and litigation. Corinne Staves, ‘a superb new addition’, offers experience in advising on international structures and international governance for professional services businesses. David Fisher often represents firms and individuals in contentious partnership disputes and has a particular focus on business protection. Acting as general counsel and specialising in employment and partnership law is the ’standout’ Beth Hale, while Emma Bartlett regularly advises on LLP and partnership matters in the private equity and financial services space. Also of note is Andrew Pavlovic, who offers assistance with sensitive partnership investigations, partnership structuring and law firm mergers.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘A standout firm for partnership disputes. The team are knowledgeable, hardworking, strategic and responsive. They are always a pleasure to work with. Wonu Sanda is an associate with partner written all over her.’
‘Sarah Chilton and Beth Hale are standout individuals at a standout practice. Their knowledge, strategic nous and dedication are second to none.’
‘A highly skilled team of market leading specialist partnership lawyers that offer great strength in depth. Clare Murray and Sarah Chilton are market leaders. David Fisher, Merrill April, Beth Hale and Zulon Begum are all talented partners.’
‘This is probably the best partnership and employment team in London for top echelon partnership disputes. Clare Murray is a legend. She has assembled a fabulously talented team including Corinne Staves, Andrew Pavlovic and Sarah Chilton.’
‘Zulon Begum and Pooja Dasgupta understand the pressures law firm management teams are under and how to provide options to us. They provided advice in line with what they scoped, the time frame agreed and worked to manage costs for us as best as possible. Truly excellent advice on a very difficult subject matter.’
‘Merrill April is a perceptive and astute lawyer that you want advising you. Beth Hale is a delight to work with and Wonu Sanda is an associate on the rise, with great acumen. Zulon Begum applied her knowledge of partnership agreements to our unique business needs.’
‘CM Murray led by the visionary Clare Murray, is hard to beat as a niche partnership boutique practice. They have superb lawyers at all levels and in recent years have developed other areas of practice such as regulatory and non litigious work so they can offer clients a truly all-round service.’
‘Clare Murray is a visionary leader in her field. She is hard to beat as the partnership expert. Sarah Chilton and Beth Hale are amazingly able and technically superb lawyers that run the business.'
Key clients
- Taylor Vinters LLP
- BDB Pitmans LLP
Work highlights
- Advised Taylor Vinters on its full merger with Mishcon de Reya, resulting in a single firm.
- Advised BDB Pitmans on its potential merger with Womble Bond Dickinson.
Lawyers
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.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
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.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Sarah Chilton, Zulon Begum