Law firm recognised by clients and peers in Legal 500
A leading Yorkshire law firm is heading into its 180th anniversary year on the back of ringing endorsements from clients for a range of specialist services and the highest professional recognition for key individuals and departments.
Rollits LLP, which has offices in Hull and York, is ranked by the 2020 edition of the Legal 500 as a top tier firm in Hull and East Yorkshire in the categories of Corporate and Commercial, Commercial Litigation Commercial Property, and Employment.
Across the Yorkshire and Humber region the firm is ranked in the top four tiers in 11 additional categories including Health and Safety - where its expertise has this year led to the formation of a Business Response Team - Planning, and Education.
Three of the firm's solicitors are recognised individually for their work - John Flanagan in Corporate and Commercial, George Coyle in Commercial Litigation and Chris Crystal in Commercial Property.
Key areas of Rollits' activity highlighted by the Legal 500 in the Corporate and Commercial sector include advising on a major acquisition by a top food company in East Yorkshire, assisting a long-established media company with a partial management buy-out and providing expert advice on the disposal of assets after a company in the construction sector went into administration.
The Commercial Litigation team was singled out for its defence of a client in a case at the High Court which focused on an international dispute over supply prices.
Highlights for the Commercial Property department included advising on the £18m acquisition of a multi-let commercial and industrial property, assisting a housing charity with the relocation of its headquarters to a new-build site and advising a heritage trust on a successful lottery application to support a construction project.
The guide noted the department's expertise in property acquisitions, disposals and development matters for a varied client roster including developers, banks, charities, retailers and higher education providers.
Rollits is noted in the Health and Safety category across the Yorkshire and Humber region for its strong regulatory defence practice which is in-demand from owner-managed businesses and corporate clients engaged in health and safety investigations and disputes.
Shortly after lodging its Legal 500 submission this year the firm bolstered its Health and Safety activities with the creation of a Business Response Team bringing together specialist lawyers with a range of skills and expertise with the aim of helping businesses to Get SET - survive, emerge and thrive - as they prepare for life after lockdown.
Rollits' Planning department is recognised regionally for a caseload which extends from East and North Yorkshire to the south east and south west of the UK, advising public and private entities on complex planning and infrastructure issues and handling litigation against local authorities.
Among the attributes of the Education department acknowledged in the Legal 500 are the level of expertise in the issues facing further education colleges and the support and advice with such matters as the de-merger of colleges and litigation management. The department's clients include colleges and academy trusts across the north of England.
Rollits is also listed as a tier two firm in the Legal 500 Family category which notes that financial issues make up the core of the department's work and the firm's York-based associate Karen Myles is recognised as a key player.
Ralph Gilbert, Managing Partner at Rollits said: "We began the year by setting out our commitment to nurture, recruit and retain the region's very best talent as part of our promise to offer a first class level of service and to keep improving.
"The latest edition of the Legal 500 provides plenty of evidence that we are adhering to that pledge as individuals, as department and as a firm. We have a long and proud history and we clearly have the talent and dedication within our team and the respect of our clients and peers to build on that as we enter our 180th year in 2021."
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