Bath’s best law firms and their top-performing lawyers have been recognised in the annual Chambers guide – often viewed as the sector’s ‘bible’ and a reference tool for businesses buying in legal services.
The best firms and individual lawyers across more than 70 different practice areas are highlighted in the publication which is based on the research of 140 full-time editors and researchers, interviews and information supplied by firms – making it the most in-depth review of the profession available. 
The city’s four major law firms – Mogers, Stone King, Thrings and Withy King – feature strongly in the guide in legal areas such as corporate/mergers and acquisitions (M&A), clinical negligence, employment and real estate. A number of individuals in these firms are also highlighted as experts in their field along with lawyers from smaller firms. The strengths of both firms and individuals are considered, based on interviews with clients (with their comments used here in italics).
Chambers also gives an overview of recent work. Bath is included in the Somerset section of the guide.
In the corporate/merger and acquisition category Withy King was ranked as a ‘band one’ firm with Mogers and Stone King placed in band two.
Withy King’s corporate team includes four partners and two other qualified lawyers and is known for specialising in acting for owner-managed businesses on matters including private equity investment deals. The team was recently been strengthened with the arrival of Simon Clegg.
Its strengths are seen as its responsiveness:“Withy King has been hugely supportive at all times. They are clear, responsive and knowledgeable” and client service: “They are without exception engaging people and a delight to work with.”
Highlights include acting for Knightwood Care on the sale of its care home business to Milestones Trust and advising the management team on the MBO of racing yard business Horses First Racing.
Notable practitioners are David Cavaliero who heads the department and acts on group reorganisations as well as company sales, acquisitions and investment matters.
Katharine Mortimer specialises in advising clients in the healthcare sector. Sources say: “She was very easy to work with, very empathetic with the client. She had a practical and pragmatic outlook, and the issues were dealt with very sensibly.”
Significant clients include Portchester Equity, Adam Matthew Digital, JJ Beanos, Leiths School of Food & Wine, Handelsbanken.
Mogers’ team has two partners and two other qualified lawyers and acts for business owners operating both regionally and nationally. It has a growing presence advising clients from the renewables sector.
Notable practitioners are Tom Webb, who advises on acquisitions, disposals and financing for private companies including leisure sector operators.
Its significant clients include ZaisGroup, Renaissance Land Regeneration, Coffetek, Inspecs Holdings, Lloyd & Whyte.
Stone King’s team has one partner and three other qualified lawyers and is particularly active in the charities and education sectors.
Its strength is its industry knowledge: Clients praise the firm’s depth of understanding of corporate and charity law.
Its notable practitioner is Roy Butler and its significant clients include Royal Society of Medicine, Society of Authors, Sherbourne School, Nazareth Care, British Eventing.
Stone King is ranked in band one for private client work with Withy King in band two.
Stone King’s team has three partners and four other qualified lawyers and is known for its commendable prowess across the range of private client work, with a strong focus on elderly client care planning. Advice on cross-border trusts and asset protection are also a forte. Chambers says it maintains a diverse client base, from high net worth individuals to farmers, landowners and family business owners.
It strengths are its efficiency: “I like them because they are not a large London firm; they have the rural feel, but also the infrastructure behind them to be efficient and provide a good service” and its client service: “They show confidence in dealing with very complex matters. Most importantly, we were treated with kindness and understanding during an emotionally difficult period”.
Notable practitioners are Alison Allen, who primarily handles elderly client care matters and has a practice which spans both private client and Court of Protection work. Sources praise her ability to communicate effectively with clients and assert that “she is outstanding. Her expertise in long-term care funding is second to none”.
Rachel Curtis continues to impress with a diverse portfolio of private client work.
Withy King’s department has four partners and seven other qualified lawyers. It is known for traditional private client work encompassing trust administration and probate litigation. Works in close conjunction with the firm’s Court of Protection group to both advise and serve as professional deputies to vulnerable clients. Becky Ricards-Small joined the team from Thrings in 2012. She focuses her practice on business property and agricultural issues.
It strength is its practical advice: “Any issues or queries are dealt with pragmatically and solutions are found.” Its notable practitioner is James McNeile.
Withy King is a band-one firm for Intellectual Property with its team of four partners and one qualified lawyer.
The team is known for its outstanding reputation for contentious and non-contentious IP matters, its excellent ties to the media, technology and creative sectors and is also recognised for its expertise in branding matters. Simon Clegg, who has joined the firm as a partner, is particularly experienced working with clients in the media and television sectors.
Its strength is its client service: “We have found them to be very practical and effective, and their actions resulted in our interests being protected”.
It assisted Forces Reunited with a cybersquatting issue and successfully argued for the transfer of the disputed domain name to Forces Reunited.
Jessica Bent, who is named as a notable practitioner, assists clients with a broad range of matters, including branding, patent licensing and infringement, and research agreements. She took the lead in the Forces Reunited domain name dispute.
Significant clients include Applicable, Professional Jockeys Association and Triumph International.
Withy King is also a band-one for construction with its team of two partners and three other qualified lawyers recognised as highly-regarded practice and known for its focus in the retail, housing and education sectors.
Its strengths are its client service: “The team has been hugely supportive at all times” and technical ability: “The practice is clear, responsive and knowledgeable.”
Louise Garcia, who has been promoted to head of department, is listed as a notable practitioner noted by clients for “cutting to the chase” and “negotiating well”. She leads on several significant contentious and non-contentious instructions while Graham Streett is a key partner in the practice. His clients include Modcell and That Bournemouth Company.
The team’s significant clients include Lorne Stewart, Kier Construction, Geoffrey Osborne and Rotary North West.
Stone King is in band one for charities. Its team of one partner and seven other qualified lawyers is highly regarded for its advice to clients on incorporation, constitutional issues and governance and is known for its broad client base, including several dioceses and religious organisations, as well as care homes, schools and amateur sport clubs.
Its strengths are its client service: “The firm stands out for the service it provides. For this reason, I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who desires a first-class service”, and value for money: “The fee arrangements were very fair and reflected the degree of expertise provided by the firm”.
Work highlights include assisting The Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth Charitable Trust with a major restructuring process and providing constitutional advice to Bearwood College as it settled its protracted dispute with the Royal Merchant Navy School.
Notable practitioners are Michael King, who impresses clients with his “comprehensive knowledge of educational charity law,” and he is noted for his “ability to identify and pursue the key issues with professionalism”. He regularly advises charities on constitutional matters.
Leading associate Alexandra Whittaker is commended for her willingness to “take time to fully understand what clients are looking for, and then to undertake the relevant work in a diligent manner”.
Significant clients are St Benedict's School, Roy Fletcher Charitable Trust, Nonna Materkova, Religious Sisters of Charity, Porticus UK.
Thrings is rated as a band-one firm for agriculture and rural affairs.
Its team of 16 partners and 11 other qualified lawyers is known for its advice to landed estates, farmers and producer organisations in a range of matters and its activity also includes contentious matters, including cases before UK courts and the ECJ.
Its strengths is its client service: “They're always very easy to work with. They're good on client care and they're a good firm” and its work highlights include advising the NFU and Country Land & Business Association (CLA) regarding a potash pipeline in the North of England. Estimates suggest the project could generate £4bn in investment.
Its notable practitioners are Peter Cusick, who leads the agriculture team and has recently acted for producer organisations. One interviewee observed that “he gave us excellent service and worked determinedly on our behalf”.
Neil Barbour is well known for acting in property transactions, particularly those involving farms. Sources describe him as “a leader in his field” while Duncan Sigournay is an expert in matters of agricultural property, including tenancies and transactions, sporting rights and rights of way. He was a lead partner in the abovementioned work for the NFU and CLA. Russell Reeves is a litigator with specialisms in agricultural and regulatory law, and is noted for his handling of high-value farm partnership disputes.
Caroline Priest of Withy King is recognised as a notable practitioner for real estate litigation and is described as “a very organised” solicitor with “a strong understanding of everything in the field”. She has particular specialisms in easements and covenants.
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