What is the Legal 500?
The Legal 500 prides itself on highlighting the teams providing the ‘most cutting edge and innovative advice’ in their fields.
The submission process is rigorous – with applications, interviews and testimonials from clients and colleagues to ensure that only leading lawyers are included in the official rankings.
There are various criteria that need to be fulfilled to try and secure a spot in their publications. Areas that are considered include:
- Prestigious clients and customers.
- Strong technical ability and the capacity to take on complex and innovative work.
- The firm’s track record in securing positive outcomes for its clients.
- Clear investment in the future of the firm.
- Commitment to IT and the use of IT to improve client services.
An overview of our recent rankings…
We were delighted that a number of our departments – and quite a few of the talented individuals that work within them, received rankings in the latest Legal 500 directory.
At a glance, we notched up rankings for 10 of our services, from Employment to Wills and Probate. Ken Thomas, Emma Scourfield and Kate Thomas were all named as Leading Individuals, with Lauren Watkins earning the accolade of ‘Next Generation Partner’.
Partner Craig Court was once again named a ‘Rising Star’, with William Watkins and Debra King also recognised for their work.
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The full breakdown:
Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence: Claimant
- Led by the ‘experienced and knowledgeable’ Ken Thomas, Harding Evans… has an excellent knowledge of the local market’.
- As well as the firm’s capability and willingness to take matters through to trial, the team is ‘often able to settle cases on excellent terms, without even needing to issue a claim’.
- Emma Scourfield is a ‘first-class practitioner’.
Commercial Litigation
- Harding Evans… provides ‘balanced, informed and insightful advice’ to local and national businesses across a wide array of disputes.
- The ‘brilliant’ Ben Jenkins has a great rapport with his clients… he cares, he is vested in both his practice and his client’.
Debt Recovery
- ‘Personable, friendly and efficient’, Newport-based firm Harding Evans is ‘incredibly knowledgeable’ about debt recovery and provides ‘balanced and informed advice’.
- William Watkins ‘leaves no stone unturned to help recover monies owing’.
Public Sector
- Harding Evans has a ‘very impressive’ reputation representing claimants… in civil liberties and human rights-related public law actions.
- The ‘outstanding’ Craig Court is committed to getting results and excels at representing vulnerable clients in judicial review challenges.
Employment
- Harding Evans provides ‘balanced and informed’ advice to a primarily employer-focused client base.
- ‘Commercially-focused team head Daniel Wilde has an excellent reputation in the market and has been extremely active of late advising on Covid-related employment issues.
Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate
- The ‘personable and approachable’ five-strong team provides a ‘genuinely caring service’… on wills and probate work, including matters involving the administration of complex estates.
- Laura Selby displays ‘excellent technical knowledge’ and the ability to explain things in a ‘clear, concise and straightforward manner’.
Family
- Recognised as ‘one of the leading family law firms in the Gwent area… the four-strong Newport-based team provides a ‘helpful and responsive service’.
- ‘Kate Thomas is extremely capable, proactive and displays an excellent attention to detail’.
Sport
- Harding Evans has a ‘particularly strong reputation’ among present and former professional rugby players, which the firm is able to advise across a range of their commercial ventures, employment matters, litigation and private client work-related matters.
Real Estate: Commercial Property
- Led by the ‘professional, courteous and responsive’ Mike Jenkins, Harding Evans provides ‘proactive and solution-orientated’ advice to developers, banks, agricultural landowners and charities’.
- ‘The team is very thorough and extremely accommodating’.
What this means to us.
Joy Phillips, Chief Executive at Harding Evans, commented:
“Here at Harding Evans, we pride ourselves on ‘punching above our weight’ – and these latest rankings serve to support our claim. From leading individuals to some of the ‘Rising Stars’ within our ranks, so many of our departments are continuing to establish and nurture reputations and relationships in South Wales – and beyond.
We are always delighted to receive recognition from publications as prominent as the Legal 500, and even more so in light of the challenges that have faced law firms across the UK this year. The pandemic has heightened the need for efficient, tech-based systems and demanded that everyone in our team, from Partners to Solicitors, Secretaries to Support Staff, adapted their ways of working to ensure that we were able to continue securing the very best outcomes for our clients.
These rankings reflect the hard work, dedication and expertise of every single member of Team HE and are something we should be immensely proud of”.
Your Lawyers For Life
We often state that we are ‘Your Lawyers, For Life’ – but the Legal 500 directories have confirmed it! One testimonial reads:
‘This practice has an extremely wide and diverse client base capable of providing a large menu of professional services.’
So, whether you’re buying a new home or setting up a new company, have been involved in an accident or a work dispute, or have been treated badly by a health provider, public authority or a landlord, you’ll want us on your side.
Whatever your legal needs, we’re here to help.
