Hardwicke shines in The Legal 500 rankings
Hardwicke continues to score highly in The Legal 500 with several new entries. A total of 31 barristers are recommended as leaders in their field across 16 separate practice areas. Hardwicke is rated as a leading set in three practice areas: Property Litigation, Personal Injury and Education.
Within Hardwicke’s Public Law division the “highly diplomatic” Barbara Hewson and Kerry Bretherton are joined by Fiona Scolding in the Administrative and Public Law section.
Barbara Hewson is also highly ranked for Professional Discipline and Civil Liberties and Human Rights. She “conducts her work in an effortless manner.”
Hardwicke’s Education Team continues to be ranked amongst the ledaers at the Bar. The directory recommends Hardwicke for providing “exceptional level of service’, through high-quality clerks and a number of experienced counsel.” Clive Rawlings is ranked at the top of the table and is described as “competent and experienced“. John Friel is similarly described while Deborah Hay is praised as an “outstanding barrister” and a “formidable negotiator” with “excellent knowledge of the law.” David Lawson has “extensive knowledge of the technical aspects of education law, the workings of the Local Government Ombudsman and the Special Educational Needs Tribunal.” Fiona Scolding is also recommended for being “excellent and very client-friendly.”
Within Hardwicke’s Insurance division Dr Margaret Bloom and Steven Weddle continue to appear as leading juniors in the field of Clinical Negligence. They are joined by Romilly Cummerson. Nigel Jones QC and Paul Reed QC are recommended as a leading Insurance and Reinsurance silks while David Pliener enters the tables for leading juniors.
Once again, Hardwicke’s Personal Injury team is highly ranked as a “firm favourite”. Charles Bagot is recommended for his “analytical approach.” John Gallagher is praised for his “excellent technical knowledge”. Romilly Cummerson, Colm Nugent, Henry Slack and Jasmine Murphy are also listed. “An excellent tactician,” Steven Weddle is mentioned as an up and comer as is Sarah Venn who wins acclaim for being “easily on a par with juniors twice her call.”
Hardwicke’s Property Team is listed amongst the top in the field. The group is assisted by an “accessible and efficient’ clerking team.” John de Waal is noted as a leader in his field because he provides “clear, concise advice” while Michelle Stevens-Hoare is commended as “a very compelling advocate.” Kerry Bretherton is described as “very knowledgeable” while Andrew Lane wins plaudits being “approachable”. Nicola Muir, Alex Bastin, Daniel Gatty and Stephen Lennard are also listed and joined in the table for the first time by Dean Underwood.
Within Hardwicke’s Commercial division Nigel Jones QC “goes the extra mile” and appears as a leading silk for Commercial Litigation, Professional Negligence and Construction. He is joined in the Construction tables by the “approachable” David Pliener.
PJ Kirby is noted as a leader in the field of Costs and Wendy Parker is singled out for her Insolvency work.
In Intellectual Property, Mark Engelman and Madeleine Heal are ranked amongst the leading juniors in the field. Madeleine is also listed in the Media tables.
Hardwicke’s James Watthey continues to appear as a leading Shipping junior.