Bristol’s law firms are growing steadily as the regional economy continues its recovery, particularly in areas such as property, energy and private wealth, according to the 2015 edition of Legal 500, the sector’s respected research-based publication. 
Most firms had benefited from a general increase in activity and market confidence across the region, it says.
The regional heavyweights such as the ‘big two’ of Burges Salmon and Osborne Clarke and third place TLT, are increasingly styling themselves as City firms operating from Bristol – a move reflected in the fact that they are securing ever-bigger work from national and in some cases international clients.
At the same time, the national firms with offices in Bristol – such as Bond Dickinson, DAC Beachcroft and Bevan Brittan – are basing more work into the region.
Legal 500’s overview of the South West market says: “Many lawyers in the larger, national practices regularly divide their time between London and South West.”
The guide, which is compiled from research among lawyers themselves and their clients, also says Bristol’s position as European Green Capital 2015 and the plan to develop a large district energy network will guarantee a wide range of work for firms in the coming years.
The real estate market was returning to health, particularly in residential property development, it added, and private wealth and inheritance work was a growth sector following the recession, more of which was becoming contentious due to blended families and an increasingly litigious society.
However, Legal 500 points out that it has not all been good news for Bristol firms.
Employment work for claimants has been hit very hard by the employment tribunal fees system, which has resulted in an up to 70% drop in claims, although employer firms are adapting to this by increased focus on non-contentious, HR-integrated work.
Insurance and negligence work are also facing difficulties at the volume end of the market, due to the Jackson reforms of the civil justice system, but this is not having a large effect on the more serious injury and medical negligence claims, says Legal 500.
The top slice of transactions remains heavily weighted towards the regional heavyweight firms, each of which reported a strong year, the guide adds.
It says Burges Salmon gives ‘a City service from Bristol’, and attracts praise for its ‘deep sector knowledge’ in the energy, transport, financial services and infrastructure sectors.
Airbus, Eurostar International and the Department for Education are featured among its client list. The firm’s energy team benefited from the arrival of experienced banking specialist Nathan Curtis from ‘magic circle’ firm Clifford Chance.
Osborne Clarke stands out for its ‘wide range of industry expertise’ and ‘international reach’, says Legal 500. It is praised as the ‘best real estate firm in the South West’, and is also strong in corporate, technology and finance matters. The litigation practice regularly handles high-value, international work for corporates, and international arbitration for clients with a UK base. Energy partner Simon Hobday joined this year from Pinsent Masons.
TLT provides ‘City-level service without City prices’; the team ‘responds quickly’, ‘takes time to understand clients’ businesses’, and is ‘commercial in its approach’. It has a growing energy practice, having acted on some of the largest renewables projects in Europe. The firm has a client base made up of high-growth businesses and an increasing number of FTSE-listed, national and international businesses, including Dyson, BBC and Barclays Bank.
Foot Anstey continued to boost its Bristol offering with a number of significant hires across core practice areas. It attracts praise for its ‘excellent legal knowledge, and concise, commercial advice’. The firm, which also has offices in London, Exeter, Plymouth, Taunton and Truro, also has notable experience in Islamic finance.
Ashfords, with bases in London, Exeter, Taunton, Plymouth and Tiverton as well as Bristol, is ‘excellent’ and ‘always on top of its cases’. Project finance, commercial property and local government are areas of particular strength. It also has a niche offering in the fields of renewable energy and energy from waste.
The public service law firm Bevan Brittan, with offices in Bristol, London, Leeds and Birmingham under managing partner Duncan Weir attracts praise for its ‘value for money and excellent expertise’ across its core markets. It acts for local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations and other public bodies.
For some, Bond Dickinson is ‘a first-class regional firm’, particularly in the rail and transport sectors. The corporate team had a particularly strong year, advising clients including Piper PE, Vitol and Sumitomo Corporation. The firm has eight UK offices including Bristol.
International firm’s Bristol office DAC Beachcroft has a good reputation in the insurance and healthcare sectors, and its ‘strong, relevant knowledge of the NHS sector ensures appropriate advice’. Its real estate group advised on the £400m sale of Westfield’s interest in the Merry Hill shopping centre. The corporate team was boosted with the arrival of Jonathan White from Burges Salmon.
Thrings, whose chain of offices stretch along the M4 from Bristol to London, is ‘a very solid regional practice that punches above its weight’, and clients praise its ‘good, technical, appropriate knowledge’.
Veale Wasbrough Vizards, with bases in Bristol, London and Birmingham, has a strong reputation acting for educational and charitable organisations, and the team is ‘always ready and prepared to support’ via the lawyers praised as ‘experts in their chosen fields’.
