Leading law firm Shakespeare Martineau celebrates its continued success in the latest edition of the Legal 500 and Chamber and Partners directories – both of which critique firms on the quality of their service and expertise.
As the only firm ranked in the top tier of the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners in Leicester, Shakespeare Martineau has been recognised as an outstanding Midlands private client law firm, with Mark Dunkley also rated at the top of the table individually for at least 10 years.
Alongside special recognition from Chambers and Partners for its service to businesses and individuals in Leicester, the firm also has offices in Nottingham, Birmingham, London, Solihull, Stratfordupon-Avon, Sheffield and Milton Keynes.
Shakespeare Martineau prides itself on being a professional adviser for life and in business, and strives to support people through the most important – and sometimes difficult – times in their lives. The firm’s purpose is to unlock its potential to deliver to its clients creative, practical, effective and tax-efficient solutions with passion and authenticity.
With proud roots in the Leicestershire community since before 1830, in recent years with Harvey Ingram LLP, and its successor firms, Mark Dunkley has successfully led and grown a team by offering outstanding client service and unrivalled knowledge in all areas of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, Court of Protection, probate and tax practice. Mark himself is rated by Chambers as a prestigious Tier 1, Band 1 practitioner in this work area.
Mark, who specialises in advising high net worth individuals says: “We are all very pleased that the breadth and depth of our expertise and knowledge has been acknowledged again this year. Although the name of the firm may have changed and evolved over the years, the excellent client service we have always provided has remained consistent and has been consistently recognised. I am immensely proud of the independent ranking in the region”.
The team is well versed in dealing with all areas of its clients’ tax and personal affairs and has particular expertise in representing high net worth clients who are looking to secure and protect their assets for future generations. Suzanne Leggott has an advanced Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (which has over 100 branches and 21,000 members worldwide) qualification in acting for and advising family businesses and she has been instrumental in ensuring that appropriate business succession planning is in place for many families in the region.
The Leicestershire team also has great expertise in assisting vulnerable and elderly clients where Sarah Brack, a highly recommended “Rising Star” in the Legal 500, works with and guides clients and their families through all aspects of powers of attorney and Court of Protection work.
The team continues to draw on the experience and expertise of Stephen Woolfe, a former President of the local Chambers of Commerce, and many in Leicestershire will also recognise him for his great work with many charitable foundations and trusts and projects and he is currently leading the Fundraising Committee for Leicester’s new Children’s Hospital.
As the team in Leicestershire continues to grow from strength to strength Mark Dunkley has recently handed over the reins of leading the team to Suzanne Leggott. Suzanne is a highly respected and knowledgeable private client partner who chairs the East Midlands Branch of STEP, a worldwide body comprising experts in trust and estate practice. Mark continues as the Chair of the STEP Worldwide Mental Capacity Special Interest Group Steering Committee.
Suzanne commented: “Although Mark is a hard act to follow, I am delighted that he remains in the team. We have experts at every level to ensure that this success continues. There will be many challenges facing our clients in the future and we remain firmly committed to working hand in hand with them so as to make sure that their estate planning is right and appropriate, their legal affairs are in order, and that they have the right bespoke legal and tax planning advice. Our leading status makes us the natural first choice in this work area“.
