Ellisons is once again pleased to be recognised in the latest edition of the Legal 500 directory.
The firm received notable mentions within the following practice areas: Commercial Property, Corporate and Commercial, Employment, Immigration, Banking and Finance, Wills, Trusts and Probate, Contentious Trusts and Probate, Insolvency and Corporate Recovery and Claimant Personal Injury.
LEADING PARTNERS:
- Philip Roberts, Partner, Commercial Property
- Adam McCaw, Partner, Insolvency and Debt Recovery
- Sohan Sidhu, Partner, Immigration
- Paul Forsyth, Partner, Corporate and Commercial
NEXT GENERATION PARTNERS:
- Petra Sharp, Partner, Corporate and Commercial
- Stevan Stratton, Partner, Claimant Personal Injury
- Kay Baker, Partner, Contentious Trusts and Probate
- Bethan Williams, Partner, Commercial Property
- Nicola Healy, Legal Director, Wills, Trusts and Probate
- Ian Johnston, Partner, Wills, Trusts and Probate
CORPORATE AND COMMERCIAL
The ‘solution-focused’ team at Ellisons is lauded for providing ‘London expertise in the provinces’, with a broad offering spanning a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions. Paul Forsyth leads the team, working on a variety of share sales, including sales to employee ownership trusts, as well as demergers, reorganisations and the implementation of enterprise management incentive option schemes. Abigail Williamson supports the practice on transactional matters, with a particular focus on employee ownership trusts and management buyouts.
Ellisons ‘understands the importance of excellent communication and practical, commercial advice’, and clients praise its ’strong, can-do, pragmatic culture’. Led from Essex by Paul Forsyth, the practice continues to build on its presence in East Anglia through ‘standout partner’ Petra Sharp in Ipswich and David Heller in Bury St Edmunds. Heller ’always cuts to the chase with pertinent advice’.
Testimonials
‘The team is incredibly solution-focused with diverse skill sets. They are prepared to look at all available options and extensively research where appropriate.’
‘Paul Forsyth has been excellent drawing on commercial expertise to deliver exceptional results.’
‘A team that works closely together that understands the importance of excellent communication and practical, commercial advice.’
‘Petra Sharp is a standout partner. She understands our business inside out and always provides us with quick and accurate advice – would highly recommend.’
COMMERCIAL PROPERTY
Leveraging its ‘breadth of experience’, Ellisons advises a broad client base including developers, investors, financial institutions and public bodies on matters ranging from site assembly and development agreements to secured lending, lease work and complex funding arrangements. The Colchester team is jointly led by managing partner Guy Longhurst, who handles leases, secured lending and the acquisition and disposal of residential, commercial and mixed-use sites, and Christopher Harvey, who specialises in residential development site mandates. Ross Wiltshire oversees the team in Chelmsford, focusing on development and secured lending matters, while Philip Roberts is praised for being ’highly pragmatic and efficient’ in advising clients across a range of property transactions.
At Ellisons, new practice head Ellen Petersen, who joined from Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP in 2024, oversees a strong bench of talent in Ipswich. A prime example is the ‘very efficient’ Toby Kramers, who handles secured lending work, and the acquisition and disposal of residential, commercial or mixed-use investment properties. The ’pragmatic, communicative and responsive’ Bethan Williams is ‘astute and one to watch for the future’. In Bury St Edmunds, Susan Ryan specialises in landlord and tenant agreements and high-value commercial property sales.
Testimonials
‘The team is local in the Essex area, and has a great amount of local knowledge and a breadth of experience. The team are always available, friendly and responsive in a timely manner.’
‘Philip Roberts is an extremely dedicated individual to his clients and works tirelessly to get our acquisitions completed. He is extremely knowledgeable, and his extensive experience has meant he has provided agreeable solutions to both parties in situations when negotiations have stalled. Philip is always friendly, approachable and professional, and is a credit to Ellisons.’
‘I have used Ellisons for over 20 years and have always found them approachable and communicative.’
‘Toby Kramers is the standout person at the firm. I have always used him and recommend him to clients. Bethan Williams is astute and one to watch for the future.’
BANKING AND FINANCE
The banking and finance team at Ellisons is led by Phillip Slater, who divides his time between the firm’s Chelmsford and Ipswich offices. Slater, who is ‘always very clear and practical in his advice’, has solid expertise in handling a broad range of matters, including secondary debt trading, derivatives, balance sheet management and leveraged finance, as well as advising on international transactions with a UK nexus. Slater is ably supported by Ross Wiltshire, who focuses on investment finance work, and draws upon the strength of the firm’s broader property practice to provide support on complex real estate finance mandates.
Testimonials
‘The entire team, and Phillip Slater in particular, were excellent in every respect, very knowledgeable and responsive.’
‘Phillip Slater gave very clear advice to our client and was available to deal with issues throughout.’
WILLS, TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Ellisons‘ strong Essex-based offering in private client matters is bolstered by its practitioners in Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds, opening up work across East Anglia. The ’considered and well judged’ advice of practice head Nicola Weldon is a boon to clients, and team leader for Bury St Edmunds, Rachel Dawson, who was promoted to the partnership in May 2024, is a specialist in trust creation, administration and winding up. Lorna Denton-Cardew is an additional contact to note. The team was also strengthened by the March 2025 hire of Peter Crix from Gotelee Solicitors.
Ellisons is particularly noted for its expertise in complex estate planning, cross-border matters and trust administration, often acting for high-net-worth individuals, families and agricultural estates. Ian Johnston, who leads the Chelmsford team and brings extensive experience in tax and succession planning, and Amy Burton in Colchester, whose expertise lies in tax advice for multi-jurisdictional estates. Nicola Healy joined the firm from Thompson Smith and Puxon and advises clients on a range of estate planning matters, including succession and tax considerations.
Testimonials
‘The team are knowledgeable, approachable and responsive. In times of stress there was an immense amount of support and every team member listened with an intention to listen. The advice was easy to understand and options were discussed.’
‘Nicola Weldon led her team well and was extremely personable. She clearly went the extra mile. Her advice was considered and well judged.’
‘Amy Burton was always very welcoming and was very easy to communicate with. She set out a very clear plan and kept me updated via telephone, email and office visits. I always felt like a special customer when I visited the office!’
‘I have had the pleasure of working with multiple people across Ellison’s private client department in varying offices. Each office offers a seamless level of efficiency and communication, which is refreshing in comparison to other multi-office firms that are seemingly disjointed. Everyone seems in Ellisons to communicate internally & externally impeccably well. It is always an easy transaction, irrespective of the location of their office or the work in question.’
IMMIGRATION
Sohan Sidhu leads the immigration law team at the Bury St Edmunds office of Ellisons. Sidhu assists with all aspects of business immigration, including the points based system, and has experience acting for entrepreneurs regarding innovator and start-up visas. The practice is also well-versed in matters pertaining to the UK expansion visa, often assisting clients looking to set up entities in the UK. Meenal Goyal is the other key name of note, with her expertise spanning all aspects of UK immigration law, routinely advising individuals, families and businesses.
CLAIMANT PERSONAL INJURY
Led by Stevan Stratton, a specialist in claimant side personal injury litigation, the practice at Ellisons is a reliable choice for clients seeking extensive rehabilitation or compensation recovery. Stratton has experience acting in cases involving all types of injury, including spinal and brain injuries. Bernice Spurgeon is a further key name.
Testimonials
‘Ellisons is a small but mighty team with some exceptional talent.’
‘Stevan Stratton is a first rate personal injury lawyer. An excellent lawyer, strategist and pragmatist. However, what sets him apart is how empathetically he deals with each client and how tenaciously he fights for each one.’
CONTENTIOUS TRUSTS AND PROBATE
Lauded as a ‘standout team’, Ellisons’ broad footprint covers Chelmsford, Colchester, and Ipswich. Kay Baker oversees the practice and is skilled at Court of Protection matters, and ’strives for the best outcome for her clients’ with a ‘tenacious approach’.
Testimonials
‘Kay Baker is excellent and strives for the best outcome for her clients. She goes above and beyond, supported by a very capable team.’
‘Kay Baker and her team are crafting an excellent service in a growing area. They are doing this by being practical, cost-conscious, and supportive whilst acting in the best interests of their clients.’
INSOLVENCY AND CORPORATE RECOVERY
The practice at Ellisons, led by Colchester-based Scott Porter, stands out for its growing reputation in the insolvency law space, often handling a high volume of contentious work. Adam McCaw in Bury St Edmunds is ‘first-rate’. Lyndsey Squirrell in Ipswich is a practitioner to note.
Testimonials
‘The insolvency and corporate recovery team at Ellisons are going from strength to strength. They’re astute and experienced, and determined to get the job done.’
‘Adam McCaw is a first-rate lawyer. For difficult legal issues, he’s the one you want on your side.’
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