Praise for our solicitors in the Chambers and Partners legal guide

Following on from the success of our Legal 500 rankings a few weeks ago, we are proud to announce the results of the prestigious Chambers and Partners guide. Our Agribusiness, Family, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury and Corporate departments ranked across the top two categories in the North of England.

Our Agribusiness team continued their success with Head of Department Joanne McKenzie and leading Agribusiness solicitor Richard Miller ranking across the two highest bands, with Diane Barnes classified in the “Associates to watch” category. The department was recognised for its high quality of work, pragmatic approach and its speed of delivery.

Our Family team continues flying the flag and is recognised for its “calm, measured and ultimately supportive” approach with clients feeling they took the time to look after them. Head of Department Simon Mortimer is described as “thorough, thoughtful, accessible and sensitive” and is highlighted for understanding the difficult emotions and traumatic situations that surround divorce proceedings, while Associate Solicitor Emma Armstrong is ranked as an “Associate to watch” and is recognised for her adaptability and expertise in handling cross-border children law matters.

Our Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury teams were well represented with our Head of Department and spinal injury specialist Spencer Knaggs, delayed cancer diagnosis specialist Lynne Hall, brain injury specialist Paul Brown and birth trauma specialist Michelle Armstrong, all ranking highly and recognised for their expertise. Our Personal Injury team as a whole was highlighted for its work with claimants with high-value claims including severe brain and spinal injuries as well as orthopaedic injuries from road accidents and injuries at work.

The Clinical Negligence side of the department was recognised for its work on high-value and complex obstetric cases, including brain and birth trauma resulting in cerebral palsy, as well as psychiatric injuries, delayed diagnosis, GP negligence and fatal claims. The team was hailed as attentive throughout the process and efficient at handling claims; as well as fast to adapt its procedures to ensure claims were still progressing during COVID-19.

Our Corporate team was highlighted as a “key player in the Cumbrian market with a considerable presence in the region” alongside being “knowledgeable, professional, capable” and offering first rate advice and communications to clients. Both Head of Department Vaughan Jones and Partner Michael Walby both received high rankings and are described as commercial, proactive and driven, with professional and timely advice.

Our Banking and Commercial Property departments were also given an honourable mention with the guide singing the praises of Helen Hayward, Head of Commercial Property, describing her as “knowledgeable, commercial and available” and going on to say that she truly understands the companies she works with.

Our Managing Partner Nick Gutteridge said of the results: “I am delighted that Burnetts, as a whole and our solicitors individually, are being recognised for their hard work in providing high-quality legal services both in Cumbria and the North East where we are based, and also throughout England which we also service. We have an expert and proactive team and I am so pleased this is being recognised.”