The Legal 500 Clients’ Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2011

The Legal 500 Clients’ Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2011

On 21 September 2011 The Legal 500 published the 2011 edition of their Guide to Law Firms in the United Kingdom.  This is one of the leading independent directories of UK legal services, identifying the leading firms and lawyers in the UK.

In this most recent edition, BCL Burton Copeland has been recommended as a leading firm in eight different practice areas as follows:

  • Fraud: Corporate Crime
  • Fraud: White-collar Crime
  • Crime
  • Customs & Excise
  • Health and Safety
  • Financial Services
  • Fraud: Civil
  • Administrative and Public Law

The Legal 500’s editorial for each practice area is set out below.

Fraud: Corporate Crime

This year BCL moved into the top tier of leading firms for this practice area.  The directory states:

The team at BCL Burton Copeland has considerable strength in depth.  ‘Consummate team leader’ Ian Burton is widely thought of as ‘the finest criminal fraud lawyer by a long stretch’; ‘if there is a chance of nipping an investigation in the bud, he will do it.’  Praise is also high for Richard Sallybanks.  The team recruited Michael Drury, previously of the SFO and more recently director for legal affairs at the Government Communications Headquarters.

Fraud: White-Collar Crime

BCL remains at the top of the table for this practice area with The Legal 500 stating:

BCL has an outstanding reputation.  Harry Travers is ‘an excellent tactician’; Jane Glass ‘brings in one great result after another’; Brian Spiro is ‘clear thinking, calm, unfussy, and courageous’; and Ian Burton and Richard Sallybanks are also recommended.  Recent work includes acting for directors and senior employees involved in the SFO’s separate investigations into Kaupthing Bank, BAE, and Alstom.

Crime

As in previous years, again BCL tops the table of leading firms with the directory stating:

BCL Burton Copeland is ‘superlative, and most certainly the one with the greatest strength in depth in its field’.  Recent work for practice head Mark Haslam includes acting for high-profile clients in death by dangerous driving or careless driving cases, and his ‘sense of humour, experience and hard work amount to a masterful combination’.  Paul Morris (‘charm on top, hard as nails underneath’) successfully represented a Premier League footballer in an attempted murder case.  Ian Burton, Ellen Peart and Rachel Hubbard are also highly recommended.

Customs & Excise

BCL is listed as one of the leading firms in this practice area with The Legal 500’s commentary stating:

BCL Burton Copeland has a ‘growing’ profile in customs and excise matters, and is notable for its expertise in fraud and other cases with a criminal dimension.  The ‘highly competent’ Harry Travers delivers ‘imaginative solutions’ to clients’ needs and is widely respected in the area.

Health and Safety

BCL moves further up the list of leading firms in this practice area.  The directory states:

BCL Burton Copeland stands out for its focus on the gravest contentious cases, on behalf of the defence, and for ‘doing it with real attention to detail’.  Recent clients include Trafigura, in international criminal investigations; an employee of MITIE, in relation to a hospital fatality; and transport, haulage and food preparation clients in relation to fatalities.  Guy Bastablecombines intellectual rigour with an unrivalled commitment to each case’.

Financial Services

BCL moves into the list of leading firms for this practice area.  The directory states:

BCL Burton Copeland advises in relation to insider dealing and market abuse matters, and other enforcement action.  Ian Burton is ‘hugely experienced’; Richard Sallybanks is ‘extremely good’; and Guy Bastable ‘possesses a fearsome intellect’.

Fraud: Civil

BCL moves further up the list of leading firms in this practice area with the directory stating:

The vastly experienced Harry Travers at BCL Burton Copeland ‘brings an unrivalled versatility and a deep knowledge of commercial wrongdoing to civil fraud litigation’.  The team is increasingly handling large civil fraud cases, and has defended a number of clients in high-value civil proceedings brought by HMRC.

Administrative & Public Law

BCL is a new entry to this practice area and the directory states:

At BCL Burton Copeland, Jane Glass is ‘selfless, devoted and exceptional’, and Michael Drury is a ‘safe pair of hands’.