Howells Solicitors are delighted to once again be ranked as one of the top law firms across South Yorkshire in the 2018 edition of the Legal 500.
Howells has been recognised for several areas across all family, civil and criminal departments in the professional guide, with more personal recommendations for individuals across the firm.
The Immigration team led by Nadeem Ahmed are proud to have maintained their top-tier status for the 6th year running, with the guide stating “Howells immigration team has particular experience handling asylum matters, human rights issues and family migration.”
The family department has been ranked highly as a firm who “handles the full spectrum of matrimonial work and children law matters.” Partner and Head of Department Alyson Siddall is personally recognised as being “hugely experienced but always still keen to learn” and noted for her work in complex financial arrangements and expertise in private children matters and collaborative law. Partners Sharon Lockwood and Sarah Walker are also noted for their work in finances, divorce and childcare matters.
The criminal defence department has been recommended for both general crime work and fraud across South Yorkshire and Humber with specific mentions for the Partners, stating “John Gibson is regularly instructed by individuals accused of serious crimes, and leads the practice, which also includes the ‘patient and supportive and extremely knowledgeable’ Chris Wong. Wong is recommended for defending clients facing extradition. Rotherham-based Mary Rose Macadam has particular expertise in prison law, parole board work, youth court representations and cases including a mental health element.”
Other departments also ranked highly include human rights where it has been recognised that “Howells undertakes a broad range of civil liberties cases including actions against the police, judicial reviews, prisoner’s rights, immigration, inquests and deaths in custody. The team successfully pursued a challenge in the Supreme Court to the system of disclosure of all cautions and convictions, leading to a change in the law.”
The employment team have also maintained their ranking, “known primarily for its representation of employees in tribunal claims” with both Clare Fowler and Tom Bernard personally noted for their work.
Howells was also recognised for “its ‘longstanding experience in the field’ of clinical negligence and its ‘personal attention to clients’.” “The ‘very experienced claimant clinical negligence solicitor’ Michelle Gyte is singled out for having ‘managed many high value claims” as Sharon Rinaldi and the Personal Injury team were also recognised in the Yorkshire category.