Sydney Mitchell is recognised in the Top Tier of the Legal 500 and is ‘commercially minded’, ‘quick off the mark’ and ‘one you would want on your side rather than against you’ for dispute resolution and commercial litigation matters.
Sydney Mitchell has again been recognised as a Tier 1 firm for its Contentious Wills and Probate work; with Kamal Majevadia handling a significant increase in contentious estates and ‘…is well-known for his expertise in advising estates with cross border assets and complex commercial and company share issues.’
In total the firm has obtained recommendations in 12 areas of legal practice; Contentious Probate, Commercial Litigation, Debt Recovery, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery, Employment, Clinical Negligence, Personal Injury, Professional Negligence, Family, Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, Commercial Property and Property Litigation.
Karen Moores, Senior Partner, Sydney Mitchell commented:
What another superb result this year for Sydney Mitchell, with the firm maintaining its ranking in Tier 1 for our Contentious Probate work with Kamal Majevadia and myself identified as within the elite ‘leading individuals’ in the Midlands”. We are really pleased with the recognition and of course all of the support that we receive from our quality legal minds within the firm.
We also have Emma-Louise Hewitt noted as a rising star, heading up our employment team, plus we have 10 Lawyers recommended; many also receiving outstanding comments from clients including
‘quick to respond, accurate and concise advice’, ‘cuts to the chase and focus on the outcome...’ ‘quality and scope of work covered excellent’ and ‘…efficient litigation… able to handle legally and factually complex matters’, and ‘outstanding lawyer with an impressive legal brain coupled with exceptional emotional intelligence’.
“What more can you ask for than recommendations from your clients for the excellent service received for work undertaken by our legal teams.
Dean Parnell is recognised as '…a tough negotiator and always gets the best deal for his clients’ and ‘…Sydney Mitchell is regarded locally as punching well above its size, largely due to the expertise and personality of Dean Parnell.’
Karen Moores and the Family Team, are recognised as being ‘hardworking and conscientious… working cohesively and all members are helpful in handling your case or query efficiently. Karen is ‘beyond capable… has a knack for seeing the issues… the necessary outcome and executing a strategy to get there but delivered in a highly personal, relaxed and ease setting manner’.
Leading Midlands Law firm Sydney Mitchell is ranked in 12 Legal 500 categories and has been short-listed in the Excellence Awards in London for 2019 and in the Solihull Chamber Awards for the Large Business of the Year.
A full breakdown of the recommendations and comments on Legal 500 are shown below.
TOP-TIER FIRM RANKINGS
FIRM RANKINGS
- West Midlands: Dispute resolution
- West Midlands: Finance
- Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Employment
- Clinical negligence: claimant
- Personal injury: claimant
- Professional negligence
- Family: Birmingham
- Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Commercial property: Birmingham
- Property litigation
- West Midlands: Human resources
- West Midlands: Insurance
- West Midlands: Private client
- West Midlands: Real estate
WEST MIDLANDS: DISPUTE RESOLUTION
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION: BIRMINGHAM
Commercial litigation: Birmingham - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP's skillset in litigation centres around contractual disputes and fraud claims. Dean Parnell - 'a lawyer that you want to be on your side rather than against you' - jointly leads the team and has broad experience in commercial litigation, with notable expertise in search orders. Fellow practice head Kamal Majevadia focuses on contentious trusts and estates.
Practice head(s):Dean Parnell; Kamal Majevadia
TESTIMONIALS
'A very good reputation as one of the better dispute resolution teams in the West Midlands. They place great importance on client service and making sure the right person is selected for the job.'
'A good combination of specialist intellectual property knowledge and general litigation experience.'
'This firm is regarded locally as punching well above its size, largely due to the expertise and personality of Dean Parnell.'
'Dean Parnell is an exceptional lawyer, but more importantly, he is an exceptional problem-solver. He is highly motivated, a clever tactician and a brilliant lateral thinker who can find a way through the most impenetrable of legal problems.'
'Dean Parnell would run a marathon for you if he felt it could make a difference.'
'Dean Parnell is definitely a lawyer that you want to be on your side rather than against you.'
'Dean Parnell is a highly respected dispute resolution solicitor. He is intelligent, engaging, commercial, thinks outside the box and always goes that extra mile. He does his utmost to achieve the best result possible.'
DEBT RECOVERY
Debt recovery - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP's debt recovery disputes work is handled by Birmingham- based Leanne Schneider-Rose and Kamal Majevadia, who works from the firm's Shirley office. Schneider-Rose acts on matters relating to personal and commercial bankruptcies, while Majevadia is experienced in both insolvency and corporate recovery.
Practice head(s):Leanne Schneider-Rose; Kamal Majevadia
KEY CLIENTS
AIB
West Bromwich Commercial Limited
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Instructed by Goldhill Finance Limited to recover a shortfall in the sum of £130,000 on a loan following repossession and sale of a property over which the client held a legal charge.
WEST MIDLANDS: FINANCE
INSOLVENCY AND CORPORATE RECOVERY
Insolvency and corporate recovery - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP provides comprehensive advice to lenders, insolvency practitioners and trustees on a range of insolvency and bankruptcy issues, including the recovery and sale of assets and claims involving transactions defrauding creditors. Leanne Schneider-Rose is the key member of the practice.
Practice head(s):Leanne Schneider-Rose
TESTIMONIALS
'A balanced approach and quality legal advice.'
'Leanne Schneider-Rose will always respond quickly, giving accurate and concise advice.'
'Leanne Schneider-Rose works really hard for her clients and is focused on getting results. She is a pleasure to work with.'
'Very proactive, knowledgeable about insolvency and good to work with.'
KEY CLIENTS
AIB Group (UK) Plc
West Bromwich Building Society
Dains LLP
Poppleton & Appleby
FRP Advisory LLP
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Acting for lenders in cases involving the Land Registration Act 2002 to validate an otherwise invalid legal charge.
- Acting for the trustees in bankruptcy and advising upon the vesting of property assets in a bankruptcy estate subject to alleged trust issues.
- Dealing with applications under the Insolvency Act to defer the dissolution of a company from the company register.
- Advising a liquidator on the status of an inquorate Liquidation Committee and dealing with obtaining fee approval via an application to the court for directions.
- Advising a liquidator of a member's voluntary liquidation in respect of converting to a creditor's voluntary liquidation when new claims place the company into an insolvent position.
WEST MIDLANDS: HUMAN RESOURCES
EMPLOYMENT
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Senior associate Emma-Louise Hewitt joined Sydney Mitchell LLP in September 2018 from Standley & Co Solicitors to become the new department head. Hewitt's team handles a mix of claimant and respondent matters, with recent work including whistleblowing cases, unfair dismissal claims, and matters involving disability discrimination and sexual harassment. Dean Parnell is another key member of the group, which acts for companies and senior employees.
Practice head(s):Emma-Louise Hewitt
Other key lawyers:Dean Parnell
TESTIMONIALS
'Responses were immediate and professional'.
'The firm gives practical no nonsense advice. It is not so big that its clients are just another number'.
'Dean Parnell is very knowledgeable, commercially minded and quick off the mark. He is a really tough negotiator and always gets the best deal for his clients'.
'Dean Parnell is a brilliant lawyer who naturally commands respect. He is analytical, a master tactician and a very bright individual. He has excellent attention to detail and is a very effective negotiator'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt was very quick at putting my mind at ease on a very complex case'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt is an outstanding employment lawyer. Emma is not only a great technical lawyer but one who has great empathy and compassion for her clients and I feel that she always go the 'extra mile' for them'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt is conscientious, diligent and always keen to get the best result for her clients'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt gives me practical advice that I can understand'.
'Emma-Louise Hewitt was brilliant in helping me achieve what I wanted out of my case'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Represented a client in a claim for race/religious discrimination, harassment and victimisation against one of the biggest insurance companies and obtained a large settlement.
- Represented a client in a claim for unpaid commission and obtained a favourable settlement.
- Succesfully assisted a client who was alleged to have committed a serious sexual assault on a fellow colleague - all allegations have been dropped and the client has returned to work following a police investigation and 4 months on suspension.
- Represented a client in a collective redundancy exercise.
- Represented a company in redundancy process.
Emma -Louise Hewitt - Sydney Mitchell LLP
WEST MIDLANDS: INSURANCE
CLINICAL NEGLIGENCE: CLAIMANT
Clinical negligence: claimant - ranked: tier 3
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP handles the full range of clinical negligence claims, including cases involving negligent treatment and delays in diagnosing cancer. Other matters stem from cosmetic surgery, brain surgery and gastric bypass surgery. In addition, other claims are connected with laparoscopic cystectomy, dentistry and gynaecology. It predominantly represents local clients in claims against local hospitals. The head of the team is Mike Sutton.
Practice head(s):Mike Stutton
Other key lawyers:Adam Hodson
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is extremely thorough'.
'Adam Hodson is an outstanding lawyer who has an impressive legal brain coupled with exceptional emotional intelligence'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Acting in a complex case against four defendants involving a late diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis, with liability and causation disputed throughout and ultimately achieving a favourable settlement.
- Acting for a patient with oesophageal cancer who underwent surgery which was performed negligently and led to life-long and debilitating consequences.
- Advising on negligent medical treatment that was carried out by an urological surgeon to treat prostate cancer that was unsuitable and resulted in avoidable urological consequences.
- Advising on a claim involving a new born child, where the failure of the trust to monitor the bilirubin levels and administer appropriate treatment resulted in brain injury.
- Acting in a claim involving an admitted 18 month delay in diagnosis of lymphoma but the trust is disputing causation and is seeking to argue that the disease w
PERSONAL INJURY: CLAIMANT
Personal injury: claimant - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP advises local clients on matters involving very minor injuries (as a result of minor road traffic accidents) to accidents resulting in very serious injury. Practice head Mike Sutton is skilled at representing clients who have suffered injury as a result of accidents at work, on the road or any other public place.
Practice head(s):Mike Sutton
Other key lawyers:Adam Hodson
TESTIMONIALS
'Adam Hodson is very thorough and fights hard for his clients. He leaves no stone unturned and has superb attention to detail'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Representing a claimant in a high value claim where the claimant has had some fingers amputated as a result of a work accident and who is likely to require prosthetic fingers to improve appearance and function of hand.
- Acting in a claim for compensation for a pedestrian who was knocked over as a result of an accident involving an uninsured driver and who suffered a traumatic brain injury.
- Represented a client who suffered a brain injury as a result of a road traffic accident and whose claim was settled.
- Settled a claim for the claimant who was involved in a serious motorcycle accident who suffered a serious shoulder injury resulting in him being unable to return to his pre-accident employment.
- Acting in a claim for a motorcyclist who suffered significant leg injury, described as a “de-gloving” injury and which required extensive surgical management.
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
Professional negligence - ranked: tier 4
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP handles a wide range of cases, including those involving negligence by solicitors, surveyors, accountants and architects. Other matters concern negligent advice by valuers on property transactions. The team, which is led by Kamal Majevadia, advises individuals, companies and financial institutions.
Practice head(s): Kamal Majevadia
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Advised on the recovery of damages against a solicitor firm that failed to ensure that the client's lease was contracted out of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954.
- Acting in a claim for damages for overvaluing a property, when connected individuals were committed of fraud in the Crown Court and received custodial sentences.
- Acting in a negligent claim against a valuer.
- Advising an individual on a claim arising out of missing the limitation date for a claim under the Inheritance Act (family and Dependents) Act 1975.
- Advising on a claim for solicitors negligence and breach of a solicitors undertaking arising out of failing to obtain a first legal charge.
WEST MIDLANDS: PRIVATE CLIENT
CONTENTIOUS TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Contentious trusts and probate - ranked: tier 1
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP has a thriving contentious probate department, which works closely with its busy private client department. It has recently witnessed a significant increase in the number of estates where there is a dispute relating to the ownership of private companies. Team head Kamal Majevadia is well-known for his expertise in advising on estates with cross-border assets, complex commercial and company share issues.
Practice head(s):Kamal Majevadia
Other key lawyers:Hayley-Jo Lockley; Chloe Bolton
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is experienced in contentious probate matters and is easy to deal with. They know their stuff'.
'Excellent team with an all-round attention to detail and a commercial, pragmatic approach'.
'Kamal Majevadia is a strong lawyer, practically astute and is always sensible and willing to reach a pragmatic solution'.
'Kamal Majevadia is very thorough and personable'.
'Kamal Majevadia applies a sound commercial approach to this litigation'.
' Hayley-Jo Lockley is experienced in this field and applies a good pragmatic approach to her cases'.
'Chloe Bolton is a very promising junior member of the team. Diligent, and a pleasure to work with'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Represented the executors in respect of a claim made by an only child of the deceased pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 in respect of a large estate.
- Instructed on two claims, one by an adult son of the deceased to make a claim pursuant to the Inheritance (Provision for Family & Dependants) Act 1975 in relation to a large estate, and one by the granddaughter of the deceased .
- Instructed by the claimant to bring a claim pursuant to the Trusts of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 for an order that the property she jointly owns with the defendant be sold, with an option for the client to purchase the property.
- Instructed to issue a claim pronouncing against the validity of a will of the deceased.
- Instructed by the clients in relation to a dispute regarding various parcels of farmland and to issue a claim pursuant to the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996 for an order for sale of the farm land.
Kamal Majevadia - Sydney Mitchell LLP
FAMILY: BIRMINGHAM
Family: Birmingham - ranked: tier 2
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP has an excellent collaborative law practice, with it fielding three fully-qualified collaborative lawyers. Its group is well regarded in complex and high value financial remedy matters, complicated Children Act cases, as well as other areas, such as protective injunctions. It also has expertise in asset preservation by way of pre- and post-nuptial agreements. Karen Moores and Mauro Vinti jointly lead the team.
Practice head(s):Karen Moores; Mauro Vinti
Other key lawyers:Amanda Holland
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is unique in its ability to cut to the chase and focus on the outcome, but in a way that keeps clients constantly at ease'.
'The family team is extremely hardworking and conscientious. It works cohesively and all members are helpful in handling your case or query efficiently'.
'Karen Moores is beyond capable. She has a knack for seeing the issues, seeing the necessary outcome and executing a strategy to get there - but delivered in a highly personal, relaxed and ease setting manner'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Represented the client in financial remedy proceedings following a long separation and successfully negotiated an order which ring-fenced the husband’s pre and post acquired pension.
- Representing a father who is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order in respect of an application to see his children.
- Representing the wife in financial remedy proceedings where she was the primary wage earner.
- Advising on a declaration of parentage case.
- Advising on Child Arrangements Order with a foreign jurisdiction element.
Karen Moores - Sydney Mitchell LLP
PERSONAL TAX, TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Personal tax, trusts and probate - ranked: tier 2
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP's team has a wealth of experience of a wide range of private client matters, such as advice on succession planning for individuals and families (including small to medium-sized business owners). It has also recently had a significant increase in mandates from elderly clients, for whom the scope of the work includes advice on continuing health care (assessments and appeals), care placement and care funding. Tracy Creed leads the team.
Practice head(s):Tracy Creed
TESTIMONIALS
'What a great team! '.
'Tracy Creed is very thorough'.
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Advised on the administration of an estate with a mixture of beneficiaries, some of whom were chargeable and some were not chargeable to IHT.
- Prepared a submission for an appeal against an ‘ineligible’ decision for Continuing Healthcare.
- Advised on a complex estate and a deed of variation.
- Advised on a complex estate where poor advice had been given from previous firm of solicitors and accountants.
- Advising on an application for business property relief in an estate (Holiday let).
WEST MIDLANDS: REAL ESTATE
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY: BIRMINGHAM
Commercial property: Birmingham - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP
Sydney Mitchell LLP assists Midlands-based private individuals, lenders, property developers and corporate occupiers with acquisitions, leasing, secured lending and development matters. Energy and leisure are among the practice's sector expertise. Richard Cox joined as a consultant from Shakespeare Martineau LLP in November 2018.
Practice head(s):Div Singh; Fahmida Ismail
Other key lawyers:Georgina Walsh
TESTIMONIALS
'The team is always engaging and looking for solutions in an easy-to-understand way.'
'The quality and scope of the work covered is excellent.'
PROPERTY LITIGATION
Property litigation - ranked: tier 5
Sydney Mitchell LLP
At Sydney Mitchell LLP, we advise landlords and tenants on a range of commercial and residential property issues, such as neighbour disputes, adverse possession claims, dilapidations claims against, repair covenants, unlawful evictions and collections of rent arrears. Kamal Majevadia handles trespass claims and fraudulent transfers of property.
Practice head(s):Kamal Majevadia
TESTIMONIALS
'Sydney Mitchell has an efficient litigation practice. They are able to handle legally and factually complex matters'
'The firm gives clear direction for the client's benefit'
WORK HIGHLIGHTS
- Representing a client in a dispute with his neighbour, who was granted planning permission to build a two-storey house in his garden, which will impact the client's property.
- Advising a client on a land dispute relating to a claim for adverse possession of a parcel of land and a further application for first registration of certain unregistered land.
Please see below links for all areas covered in the Legal 500 to read more information about Sydney Mitchell LLP.
WEST MIDLANDS
Offices in Birmingham, Shirley, and Sheldon
- Dispute resolution : Commercial litigation: Birmingham
- Dispute resolution : Debt recovery
- Finance : Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Human resources : Employment
- Insurance : Clinical negligence: claimant
- Insurance : Personal injury: claimant
- Insurance : Professional negligence
- Private client : Contentious trusts and probate
- Private client : Family: Birmingham
- Private client : Personal tax, trusts and probate
- Real estate : Commercial property: Birmingham
- Real estate : Property litigation
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