The firm and its people have worked hard to achieve a number of accreditations and awards, and professional recognition by various legal publications and directories, some of which are outlined here:
Legal Aid Agency Specialist Quality Mark
The Legal Aid Agency is responsible for the public funding of certain areas of law in England and Wales. Firms that deliver legal aid must hold either the Specialist Quality Mark (SQM) or Lexcel. The SQM is a quality assurance standard for legal providers that:
- supply complex legal help
- offer a full range of legal services, including representation in court (where necessary and permitted) by formally trained professionals
The firm also holds the Family Mediation Quality Mark.
Lexcel
The firm has held the Law Society’s Lexcel practice management standard since 2002. Lexcel is the Law Society’s international practice management standard. The Lexcel practice management standard is only awarded to solicitor practices which meet the highest management and customer care standards. Lexcel accredited practices undergo rigorous independent assessment every year to ensure they meet required standards of excellence in areas such as client care, case management and risk management.
The firm has several solicitors who have gained specialist accreditations from the following organisations:
The Law Society
Many solicitors concentrate their work in one or two areas of law and some solicitors are accredited by the Law Society in their area of specialism. Law Society accredited specialists have expert skills, knowledge and experience that are tested and certified against the highest standards. The firm has Law Society accredited specialists in the following areas:-
- Children Law
- Family Law
- Family Mediation
- Personal Injury
- Criminal Litigation
The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS)
We are a member of the CQS, which means that we meet the high standards the Law Society sets to ensure that we give clients a professional and quality conveyancing service.
Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) has been fighting for the rights of injured people for over 25 years. A not-for-profit campaign organisation, APIL’s 3,800 member lawyers (mainly solicitors, barristers and legal executives) are dedicated to changing the law, protecting and enhancing access to justice, and improving the services provided for victims of personal injury. Head of Clinical Negligence Louise Bush is a 'Senior Litigator' and several members of the Claims team are Accredited Members.
Resolution
Resolution is an organisation which believes in a constructive, non-confrontational approach to family law matters.
- Collaborative Law
- Mediation
- Domestic Abuse
- Children Law (disputes between parents and relatives)
- Complex financial and property matters
- International Child Abduction
- Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence
The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP)
STEP is an organisation which sets out key ethical and professional standards its member should uphold in the field of Estate Planning. Full members of STEP are the most experienced and senior practitioners in the field of trusts and estates.
The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS)
ACTAPS is an organisation for lawyers specialising in contentious trust and probate work.
Legal Directories
We are also very proud to receive regular, independent recognition as a Leading Firm by the Legal 500, and to have been placed in The Lawyer UK 200 for the first time in 2019, and each year since.
