Rollits recognised in Legal 500 for excellence of people and services
Rollits has underlined the value and versatility of its work for clients across the Yorkshire and Humber region with recognition for the excellence of its people and services in the latest edition of the profession’s most prestigious directory.
Rollits has again demonstrated the depth and breadth of its knowledge and expertise by securing rankings in the 2023 edition of the UK Legal 500 for several areas of its work. A number of the firm’s practitioners also received individual recognition.
The Legal 500 has been ranking the best lawyers and law firms for more than 30 years, measuring against criteria which include technical ability available for the most complex and innovative work, individuals with the contacts at – and credibility with – the top clients, and in-depth capability beyond just star partners.
The research also takes into account the prestige of a firm’s clients, the firm’s reputation for handling complex and innovative deals, evidence of clear investment for the future in a particular practice area and a strong commitment to IT and the use of IT to improve client services.
In Hull and East Yorkshire, Rollits earned a tier one Legal 500 ranking in the categories of Corporate and Commercial, Employment and Commercial Property.
The listings recognise John Flanagan in Corporate and Commercial and Chris Crystal in Commercial Property as leading individuals. James Peel is referenced in the directory as a Next Generation Partner.
In Corporate and Commercial the report highlights the role of Rollits in some major deals with testimonials from clients praised the flexibility, agility and knowledge of the “friendly, helpful, very engaging and supportive team with broad experience that can cover every eventuality.”
Chris Crystal is recognised for his leadership of a Commercial Property team which operates out of the firm’s offices in Hull and York. The report also highlights Chris’s expertise in secured lending and clients praised the department’s technical understanding and local knowledge as well as its responsiveness, thoroughness, and clarity in communicating advice especially when under pressure.
The Commercial Litigation team is recognised for its “considerable track record in a variety of contentious matters spanning shareholder and partnership disputes, sale of goods and product liability cases, business protection matters and commercial contract disputes.”
The Legal 500 enthuses about the “outstanding” employment team which is recognised as “modern and progressive” with experience in contentious tribunal matters and particular expertise in TUPE and the Equality Act as well as unfair dismissal complaints. Clients told of their reliance on the Employment team’s expertise and sound advice.
Across the Yorkshire and Humber region, Rollits is also recognised for Agriculture and Estates, Charities and not-for-profit, Family and Education. It is also listed for Planning, IT and Telecoms and Intellectual Property.
The Agriculture and Estates team which acts for farmers, families and estates across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Cumbria is acknowledged for their particular expertise in Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancies, the “has substantive experience in major land sales and purchases”. Clients praised “excellent people skills and the ability to translate complicated technical issues into practical scenarios,”
The Charities team at Rollits is praised the professionalism of the team and the quality of communication demonstrated by their ability to respond in an efficient, effective and timely manner.
The Legal 500 researchers noted that the Family team focuses on high-value relationship dissolution financial disputes, with particular expertise in matters involving family-run businesses and farming assets. It also works on matters involving relationship planning, including pre and post-nuptial agreements, as well as advising on complex children cases, often involving custody or contact arrangements.
The Education team at Rollits advises on the full range of clients including colleges, universities, student unions, schools, single and multi-academy trusts, nurseries, awarding bodies, and charitable and private training providers. Clients acknowledged that they receive regular and trusted advice on an increasingly wide range of matters from people who are professional, friendly and approachable and who benefit from having strong local knowledge.
Other areas highlighted in the directory include the firm’s Planning team for their work on planning and infrastructure agreements. The team is praised for its “excellent reputation for client relationships”, particularly with landowners.
The Legal 500 also notes the work of the firm’s IT and Telecoms team, which acts for clients in healthcare, education and charity sectors, as well as IT and telecoms suppliers, on non-contentious matters ranging from software licenses and procurement contracts to ecommerce and date protection issues.
The firm’s IP team is also recommended for its work advising clients across the food and drink, manufacturing, technology and charity sectors on non-contentious matters.
Ralph Gilbert, Managing Partner of the firm, said: “The Legal 500 is one of the country’s respected legal publications and we are delighted that the firm is once again recognised for its expertise across so many different practice areas.
“The listings demonstrate the quality and strength in depth of our lawyers and highlights the flexibility and agility of our services, and how departments work together to provide effective and relevant legal services in an increasingly complex world.
“We are pleased to be featured in some many categories and that is a reward for our cross-departmental approach, maximising our strength in depth to deliver a wrap-around, end-to-end service for clients.”