We are now recognised by the Legal 500

Recognised by the Legal 500

On the 30 September 2020 we were very pleased to learn that we have been recognised in the 2021 in edition of the Legal 500 as a leading firm for family law.

The Legal 500 is a respected directory of the legal profession. In order to be included a firm is required to submit information about themselves. The team at the legal 500 will then undertake their own research before completing the directory.

Recognition in the Legal 500 is a helpful indicator about a firm – but it is not the be all and end all. We know outstanding lawyers who are not included.

But it is very nice to be in there!

Our write-up in the Legal 500 2021 edition.

What Legal 500 recognition means to us

In 2013 Ian Walker start our practice as a sole practitioner based in a room in a (very nice) business centre in Honiton. The practice was simply Ian and a computer.

Since 2015 we have started to grow the practice.

Because Ian was well known and respected in the Devon family law community, (including as the chair of the Devon region of Resolution) we were able to attract other respected and experienced senior family lawyers.

Gaining recognition

In 2019 we made a number of strategic decisions necessary to consolidate the progress we had made – but also with and eye to the future. We had outgrown our offices in Honiton. We needed a new home. Whilst we had been a bit shy about the various awards/directories, we accepted the advice that we should be putting ourselves forward for recognition on the basis that this would help clients to decide to instruct the excellent lawyers in our practice, and it would also help with our longer term plans to grow the practice – which required attracting the high calibre family lawyers of the future.

First up was Ian being highly commended at the Law Society Recognising Excellence Awards 2019 in the Category of Practice Manager of the Year.

Next, we were named the Boutique Law Firm (11+ employees) at the Modern Law Awards 2020.

Now we are pleased to be named as a Leading Law Firm for family law in the South-West in the Legal 500.

Our Great Leap Forward of 2020

On a practical level 2020 has also seen us relocate from several rooms in the Business Centre in Honiton where we started, to our own modern offices at Vantage Point, Pynes Hill, Exeter. This is a fantastic workspace for our team – and also a convenient and discreet location to meet clients (when the coronavirus pandemic is eventually over).

Since the beginning of 2020 we have also reorganised our team and gained significant additional strength through the addition of Lauren Preedy (from Porter Dodson) as head of our divorce team, Kris Seed (from Stephens Scown via Everys) as head of our private law children team, Sarah Hindle (from Bindmans) as head of our care team, and Paul Jacobs FCCA (from Foot Anstey) as head of finance as well as the highly respected Bridget Garrood (from Cartridges Law).

In addition, in August/September we have recruited 4 additional paralegals/potential/future trainee solicitors into the team – as part of our long-term talent pipeline (in addition to our current three trainee solicitors and one trainee legal executive).

Our submission to the Legal 500 was submitted at the beginning of 2020 and prior to our move and great leap forward of 2020 – but it is fantastic to have this additional recognition of our team – as we take the next steps in the development of the practice.

Ian is very proud

Of the Legal 500 Recognition, Ian says;

I am absolutely thrilled by our team being recognised by the Legal 500.

We have built a really strong team of family lawyers – and our next step will be to move us up the Legal 500 rankings. Having practised as a family lawyer and mediator in Devon for more than 20 years – I am confident that our team is as good as anyone else in the South-West. I am so proud of what we have achieved.

The recognition of the Legal 500 is greatly appreciated.