Legal 500 Success

Tuesday, 29 September 2009 00:00

Devon law firm, Tozers LLP, has again been recognised as one of the South West's top performing firms of solicitors in the Legal 500.

The Legal 500 has been published for over twenty years and the 2009 edition has made it onto the shelves this month, providing the most comprehensive and worldwide coverage currently available on legal service providers. It is widely regarded as offering the definitive judgement of law firm capabilities.

Despite the recession, Tozers is expanding and we have recently strengthened our Department of Environment, Energy and Planning with the appointment of leading energy and environmental solicitor, David Sumner. However, it is in the areas of family law, charities and medical negligence where Tozers has been singled out for praise by the legal industry's 'bible'.

Speaking about Tozers performance in the 2009 Legal 500, Peter Edwards - managing partner - said: "We are very pleased to have three different departments of our firm acknowledged by the Legal 500. It is gratifying to see that the hard work and success rates of our family, charity and clinical negligence lawyers have been reflected in the comments just published in this year's Legal 500."

Tozers has attained, yet again, the status of a first class firm for family law and the 2009 Legal 500 says: "Tracy Lambert heads a five-partner department at Tozers LLP, which advises on public law Children Act matters out of Plymouth and Newton Abbot, while the Exeter and Teignmouth offices provide a complete family service."

Talking of Tozers charities department, the legal industry 'bible' writes: "Tozers LLP advises religious and educational charities regarding delivery of public benefit, with a new focus on sports charities. Richard King leads the team." Richard King adds: "We advise many other types of charity, including those involved with disability and conservation, on a wide range of issues. It is good to see that we are once again recognised for our work in this field."

The Legal 500 said of the clinical negligence department: "One focus of Tozers LLP's four-partner team is complex birth injuries. Tim Dyde's team settled claims totalling £14m in 2008. It continues to advise on cases resulting from cardiac unit failure at Bristol Royal Infirmary."

Tim Dyde is not only delighted that his team has been acknowledged in the Legal 500 this month but also because the medical negligence team at Tozers has been recognised by the Legal Services Commission as one of the highest performers in its field nationally this year. Tim comments: "We are achieving substantial compensation on behalf of our clients and making a real difference to the lives of people who have been injured as a result of medical accidents. We have a large and very experienced team engaged in this work, who over the last eighteen months have settled twenty-six cases for a total of over £22 million in damages. The success rate of up to 60% also means that it is more likely that we will be granted legal aid when we request that on behalf of our clients, who come not only from the South West but all over the country."