Bath law firms have been named among the best in the South West by the Legal 500, the respected annual guide.
Thrings and Withy King – both of which have large offices in the city – are classed as ‘regional heavyweights’ in the guide, which gauges the strength of the legal sector across the UK and names the country’s leading lawyers. 
Bath-based Stone King is singled out as a leading firm in a number of specialist areas, including charities and education, while Mogers Drewett – the firm formed from the merger last May between Bath-based Mogers and Dyne Drewett, which had offices in Dorset and Somerset – is highlighted for its work in a number of areas
Bath firm Mowbray Woodwards’ family law department is described as ‘excellent in every case’ for its expert handling of child and high-value matrimonial disputes, while the firm’s specialist personal tax, trusts and probate offering is also praised.
Sharp Family Law, based in Bath, is said to offer ‘extremely good advice’ in its area of law.
In a regional overview dominated by large Bristol firms, Thrings is described as ‘a very solid regional practice that punches above its weight’, with praise from its clients for its ‘good, technical, appropriate knowledge’.
Legal 500 says Withy King’s merger last year with Swindon rival Lemon & Co had enhanced its Swindon and Wiltshire offering in private client and commercial matters, including clinical negligence and personal injury.
Peter Cusick and Andrew Braithwaite of Thrings are named among a list of leading individuals from across the region for their expertise in agriculture and estates, and intellectual property respectively.
Louise Hart of Withy King is included for her work in personal injury (claimant) and Jonathan Cheal of Mogers Drewett for agriculture and estates.
Tim Rutherford of Stone King is on the list for his work with charities while John Clarke from the same firm is included as a regional figure in the education sector.
Corporate and commercial
At Thrings, John Davies has ‘the ability to tackle difficult legal concepts without losing sight of the overall commercial objective’. Jonathan Payne and Alex Pyatt are also recommended. New clients include Halfords, Maplecroft and World Fuel Services.
David Cavaliero at Withy King ‘builds an excellent rapport with clients’, and has ‘good commercial focus and acumen’. Associate Rishi Ladwa is also highly recommended. Clients include Lloyds Bank, Portchester Equity and Airsprung Group.
Tom Webb at Mogers Drewett has experience advising owner-managed businesses and SMEs in the media, IT and leisure sectors.
Stone King’s team is now led by London-based Miguel Pereira, following the retirement of Roy Butler. The practice advises a number of charity and education clients, reflecting the firm’s strong focus on those sectors.
Crime: fraud
At Stone King, higher-court advocate Andrew Banks represents clients with public sector links on bribery matters.
Crime: general
Andrew Banks also carries out privately funded work, including sexual offence and corporate crime matters.
Commercial litigation
Leveraging the firm’s strong focus on the charity and education sectors, Stone King’s team, led by the ‘very knowledgeable’ Paul Sutton, advises clients on contractual and other commercial disputes. Peter Steer has a niche practice acting for leading national charities on contentious cases.
Thrings is praised for ‘real attention to detail’, ‘good commercial antennae’ and ‘sound judgement’. Andrew Herridge is ‘a courageous and creative litigator’, who is ‘always ready to take on the most difficult cases’. The team has particular expertise in the automotive, defence and aerospace industries. David Patterson is recommended.
Chris Kane at Withy King heads the highly regarded team, which handles IP, sports, commercial-contract and shareholder disputes. Philip Banks-Welsh is also recommended.
Maeve England at Mogers Drewett works ‘tirelessly for clients’, and ‘very quickly develops a strong rapport’.
Employment
Stone King has a strong focus on the education and charity sectors, including independent schools. Nick Watson is experienced in trade union matters.
Withy King has a particular strength in tribunal work. Malcolm Gregory leads the team, which counts Churchill Investments and Bath Rugby among its clients.
The recently merged Mogers Drewett acts for both employers and employees, and offers fully outsourced HR advice. Clients include the Rugby Players Association. Sean McDonough leads the team.
Thrings supports clients on matters including wrongful dismissal, victimisation and trade union disputes. Kerrie Hunt is the team head.
Clinical negligence: claimant
Withy King is ‘well organised and efficient’. Simon Elliman has expertise in cerebral palsy and dental claims. Richard Coleman has a speciality in bariatric surgery negligence.
Personal injury: claimant
Headway panel member Withy King has expertise in brain and spinal injury work. The three-partner team includes leader Louise Hart, and Stuart Brazington, who ‘provides first-class support and guidance’.
NewLaw Solicitors, which has an office in Bath, is a rapidly growing ABS, with six qualified lawyers handling high-value claims, including motorcycle injuries.
Thrings’ personal injury operation is now Novum Law, and focuses on high-value claims.
Commercial property
At Thrings, Alex Pinhey acts for national and independent providers of self-invested pension funds. Bath-based Ben Jones has notable experience advising corporate occupiers. Alan Goulding is also recommended.
Withy King’s practice was boosted by the May 2014 merger with Lemon&Co. Paul Daniels’ team saw a number of impressive client wins including Bristol Water, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and Oak Furniture Land. Peter Foskett, Greg Callard and Edward Cooke are recommended.
Construction
Litigator Chris Kane heads the team at Withy King, which handles both contentious and non-contentious matters. Graham Street and Philip Banks-Welsh are recommended for construction-related disputes.
Steve McCombe and Eric Livingston are recommended at Thrings.
Environment
Alex Madden at Thrings is ‘a highly competent and thorough performer’.
Planning
Thrings’ ‘highly competent’ team, which includes Alex Madden and Peter Cusick, is recommended for rural planning, and advises members of rural organisations, including NFU.
Property litigation
Warren Reid at Thrings is praised for his ‘sound advice’. New clients include Jelf Group, Matchesfashion and Abu Dhabi Petroleum. Michael Tatters is an ‘excellent communicator’.
Caroline Preist’s team at Withy King acts for commercial landowners, tenants and private clients.
Wansbroughs’ Oliver Price has experience in handling tenant-related disputes.
IT and telecoms
Thrings advises on software as a service, contract drafting and disputes. In addition to local SMEs, Rickett Benckiser and Sportsdata are clients.
Jessica Bent’s team at Withy King has ‘good expertise in both contentious and non-contentious work’, and advises medium-sized businesses. Bath Rugby is a client.
Intellectual property
Thrings has expertise in consumer goods and service rights. Andrew Braithwaite has ‘lots of practical experience in setting up commercial arrangements to exploit IP’. Clients include Lovehoney and MAN.
Withy King assists businesses with contentious and non-contentious IP, patent and trade mark issues. Jessica Bent leads the team.
Media and entertainment
Thrings advises digital businesses on content licensing, compliance and privacy. Clients include gift-card manufacturer Carte Blanche, for which the practice acted on licensing Moshi Monsters-related IP from Mind Candy. Graeme Fearon leads the team.
Withy King provides support on passing off, content licensing, film investment and web 2.0 terms and conditions.
Sport
Thrings handles disciplinary, regulatory and contractual work for clubs and sportspeople. Andy Braithwaite leads the team.
Family
Withy King handles high-value, difficult matrimonial work, and complex child disputes. Sharon MacDonald is ‘a sympathetic and professional divorce lawyer’.
Stone King’s ‘efficient and thorough’ team advises on child issues and high-value financial provision. John Brownrigg is ‘the ideal strategist’.
Thrings’s team, which is led by the ‘extremely experienced’ Matthew Kellow, acts in conventional and collaborative matrimonial disputes. James Myatt is ‘a stalwart in the Bristol family law scene’.
Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors has a two-partner department that is ‘excellent in every case’; the firm acts in child and high-value matrimonial disputes. Tracey Smith has ‘all the qualities you would want in a matrimonial solicitor’.
Bath firm Sharp Family Law gives ‘rapid and personal responses, with extremely good advice’. Richard Sharp is recommended for collaborative work, and Sharon Giles has a ‘no-nonsense, can-do attitude’.
Personal tax, trusts and probate
Stone King’s ‘superb’ team handles estate planning and trust creation, with a focus on senior and agricultural clients. Alison Allen is department head.
Thrings advises landed, business and agricultural clients on legacy planning and tax. Team leader Malcolm Emery is dual-qualified as a tax adviser.
Withy King is ‘excellent’ for wills, trusts for accident victims, and inheritance tax planning.
Mogers Drewett is ‘efficient and thorough’ with Rebecca Beresford is recommended.
Mowbray Woodwards Solicitors’ ‘professional, friendly and trustworthy’ team acts on international estates. David Whitworth, who heads the department, is ‘sensible and reliable’.
