Shropshire legal outfits named in industry 'bible'

The Legal 500 makes recommendations about leading law firms and lawyers from all over the UK, based on its analysis of more than 1,000 firms.

Several Shropshire businesses have been recognised in this year's listing, among them Aaron & Partners, FBC Manby Bowdler, Hatchers, Lanyon Bowdler, Linder Myers, and mfg Solicitors.

The latest release marked the fifth consecutive year that Manby Bowdler was placed in the top tier of corporate and commercial law firms, where it was joined by Lanyon Bowdler, which itself received a total of 11 recommendations in the guide.

Manby Bowdler was also in the top tier for its performance in commercial litigation, and for agriculture and estate and family services in its private client department.

It was also the county's top performing firm for commercial property services and planning, and was hailed in lower tiers in a swathe of categories, as well as having 10 individuals recognised.

Kim Carr, of Manby Bowdler, said: "This is independent confirmation that we are continuing year-on-year to provide stellar, value-for-money service to people and businesses across the West Midlands and Shropshire."

Aaron & Partners, which took over Bennett's Legal to open an office in Shrewsbury last year, was recommended in 14 practice areas overall including three as a "top-tier firm" in the North West – where the company is headquartered – by the guide.

Chief executive Andy Duxbury said: "We've been steadily expanding and broadening our service offering, taking on a number of new, high-calibre partners, as well as promoting many of our existing members of staff and rewarding their hard work."

Linder Myers, which has an operation in Shrewsbury town centre, was also classed as a North West firm, and it received eight listings covering employment, family, tax, trusts and probate, contentious trusts and probate, insolvency and corporate recovery, clinical negligence and personal injury.

Shrewsbury-based Hatchers was recognised in the corporate and commercial, employment and professional negligence sections, with two individuals – Nichola Gallen-Friend and Nigel Harrison – listed in the guide.

Seven solicitors from mfg, which has offices in Telford and Ludlow, were named, and the company listed for its work in corporate and commercial, licensing, dispute resolution, employment, agriculture and estates, family, personal tax, trusts and probate and commercial property.

And Martin Kaye Solicitors in Telford was recognised for its performance in corporate and commercial, commercial litigation, employment and commercial property.