Ashton Graham received over 17 recommendations for work undertaken in all of its major fields of expertise in the 2010 Legal 500 which is seen as the definitive guide to law firms across the United Kingdom, the researchers have identified five specialist areas worthy of higher ranking. This includes a move for the Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate Department in Ipswich to tier 1 where it joins the Corporate and Commercial, and Commercial Property departments. Agriculture and Estates, Employment, Family and Licensing have all moved to tier 2.

Mark Merriam, Ashton Graham’s Managing Partner, said: “This year’s Legal 500 has confirmed that we are maintaining and continuously improving our service to clients. It is particularly pleasing to have increased our rankings in five practice areas during the last 12 months and we would like to thank our clients and peers for all the positive comments and quotes provided to the guide.”

With regards to the Tier 1 ranking for Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, Alan Brown has been commended as ‘very attentive to detail, fair and prompt’ and for his work elsewhere in the region as ‘exceptionally good.’ Alan Brown is ‘efficient and practical, and combines competence with genuine empathy for his client’. Ian Reed who now heads the Private Client department is noted as being ‘very helpful and understanding’ ‘low key, yet incisive and supportive’.

The Employment Department has this year moved to tier 2. The ‘approachable and understanding Julian Outen and Matthew Potter help to balance caution with commercial outcomes’. ‘Very service orientated, it has a wealth of strong legal professionals who are popular among SMEs as well as PLCs.’ For Health and Safety ‘Julian Outen’s growing employment practice at Ashton Graham has considerable experience advising on HSE matters.’

The Family team which has also moved up to tier 2 have been recommended as ‘far more proactive and cost effective than other firms’, Ashton Graham ‘includes a number of highly regarded practitioners, such as Stephen Williams, who is particularly adept at advising on Children Act matters.’ Williams is praised for his ‘ability to cut through to the essentials and handle clients in a sympathetic way’. In litigation or collaborative work the firm is a strong local favourite.

Jonathan Long who heads the Agriculture department which is now in tier 2 is seen as ‘prompt, user friendly and technically sound’, and with ‘a font of knowledge’ Ashton Graham is well rooted in the local agricultural community. Jonathan Long ‘has the experience and wisdom to match any lawyer from any firm’. The ‘acclaimed agricultural specialist’ Jeanette Dennis has recently joined Jonathan in the Agricultural team.


Ashton Graham, Partner and Head of Personal Injury ranked in tier 2, Robert Gair, continues to be named as a leading individual (for the fourth consecutive year), praising him as: “very thorough” and “the consummate lawyer in Personal Injury cases.” ‘Richard Foyster, Michael Wangermann and consultant Neil Cawthorn are praised for their dedication and clear communication. The team is lauded for its common-sense approach and its ease in dealing with complex issues; it is always polite and prompt, and the level of service is excellent.’

The firm’s French Legal Services team, headed by Matthew Cameron and launched in 2009, has also achieved significant growth and is recognised in his first year with the firm by the Legal 500. The other more established areas of the firm such as:

The Corporate and commercial department feature in tier 2 and are seen as ‘A leading legal services provider in the area’, ‘Ashton Graham is particularly strong in relation to franchising and franchise businesses. The approachable and commercially switched on Paul Whittingham gives clients confidence in a very difficult area of law. He and Petra Sharp, who are very organised, with an excellent eye for detail, are key to a team recommended when value and efficiency are a high priority’. For their work elsewhere in the region where they rank in tier 1 they are noted as being ‘Pleasant and efficient, and able to build long-term, effective relationships with clients’ Ashton Graham acts for a franchise trade association and numerous medical commissioning companies.

‘Rob Adam and Mark Merriam are prominent among the region’s litigators. Adam successfully secured a High Court injunction concerning the buyout of a co-director.’ With regards to Property Litigation the ‘team has handled a growing share of property disputes; esteemed litigators Rob Adam and Mark Merriam advised on contentious planning issues for a rendering plant, as well as handling boundary issues and lease forfeiture matters.  Ashton Graham’s recent highlights for Commercial Litigation ‘include representing a Hong Kong based businessman in a worldwide warranty dispute. Rob Adam and Mark Merriam are recommended.’

Rob Adam also Heads up the Debt Recovery, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery as well as Professional Negligence Departments within the firm. All of which are ranked in Tier 2. The Legal 500 has noted that the Debt recovery department has a ‘high success rate and benefits from a bespoke IT system run by Sarah Lock’. For Insolvency and corporate recovery, Ashton Graham is noted for its ‘proactive management of cases, Headed by the practical and commercial Rob Adam, the firm more than holds its own against firms across the region’. Both Rob Adam and Mark Merriam ‘have seen an abundance of work’ for Professional Negligence claims, ‘ranging from a £300,000 sex discrimination claim against a solicitor, to defending a client alleged to have given erroneous advice on a £2m intestate estate.’

Toby Kramers who heads the Commercial Property department has an ‘accurate and pragmatic approach’, and now acts for an operator of wind farms optioning land. Andrew Roe is ‘courteous, professional and knowledgeable’. For their work elsewhere in the region where they are ranked in tier 1, Andrew Roe,
is ‘top class for client care, a good listener and counsellor, and very thorough’, while Matthew Cameron’s French legal services practice handles cross-border property deals. The departments Licensing expert Amanda Timcke is much sought after for her ‘ability, knowledge and attention to detail’ and has been ranked in tier 2.

For further information on the Legal 500 please go to www.legal500.com