B P Collins is delighted to share that the Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) Guide for 2025 has ranked its family team for the first time. The guide also continues to rank B P Collins’ private wealth law and private wealth disputes’ practices in Band 1– the guide’s top ranking – and its high value residential team also retains its high ranking.
Individual rankings
Several B P Collins lawyers have been ranked for the first time in the guide including family partners, Laura Mortimer and Emma Leavesley; Naadim Shamji, private wealth lawyer and Imogen Pike, private wealth disputes lawyer.
Martina Razaq, a partner in the residential property team, continues to be recognised, alongside Sharon Heselton and Dominic Ibbs, both principal lawyers in the private wealth law team and their practice group leader and partner, Lucy Wood.
Private wealth dispute partners, Matthew Brandis and Craig Williams also continue to retain their high rankings.
Family practice
Clients have been hugely positive of their experience with the newly ranked family team with one commenting: “B P Collins go above and beyond and display, as a team, exceptional client management skills.”
On the team’s family partners, another client says: “Laura Mortimer is very personable and empathetic and takes an intelligent approach to a case. She gives the client strong advice and thinks about how best to achieve the best result for them.”
Laura advises clients on the full range of issues that arise on separation, from disputes relating to children, including how their time is to be shared between their parents, and where they are to live, to the division of high net worth and ultra-high net worth finances on divorce.
Meanwhile Emma Leavesley, who is experienced in preparing pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements and separation agreements “… is very calm and reassuring for clients. She has an excellent manner and very good judgement. “
Private wealth disputes practice
The guide reports that clients rate the Band 1 practice highly because of its “…strengths in knowledge, service and execution. It puts clients first and is used to dealing with both straightforward and more complex areas.”
Partner and practice group leader, Matthew Brandis, who has conducted litigation in most civil divisions of the High Court and in the Court of Appeal and is an accredited and experienced Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) mediator, acting for both Claimants and Defendants in a range of complex cases, is highly ranked in the guide with one client saying that he is, “… a strategic litigator. He delivers excellent results…”
The guide also describes Band 1 partner, Craig Williams, who represents clients in complex, high-value contentious trust and estate matters, as “excellent,”with one impressed client explaining that he:
“…is a brilliant litigator and a great negotiator. He is empathetic in his advice and he has an admirable blend of pragmatism and robustness.”
Meanwhile, newly ranked ‘Associate to Watch’ Imogen Pike, who has experience advising on a range of disputes concerning the validity of wills, testamentary capacity, undue influence, claims under the Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 and disputes over the administration of trusts and estates, is recognised as being, “…trusted to run the complex and high-value matters. She is very switched on.”
High value residential property practice
The Chambers HNW Guide reports that B P Collins’ high value residential property team, “…has the ability to grasp intricate details. It approaches complicated issues by breaking them down into manageable parts to find effective solutions.”
On the ‘outstanding’ Martina Razaq, B P Collins’ residential property partner, who regularly advises high net worth buyers and sellers on high-value transactions in the Thames Valley and London, one client states that she, “…is highly professional, knowledgeable and personable…[and]…a pleasure to work with.”
Private wealth teams
According to a client interviewed by Chambers, B P Collins’ private wealth team, “…has extremely able lawyers, with the added benefit of excellent client care skills. They are not at all fazed by complex and sophisticated matters.”
Practice group leader, Lucy Wood, who advises clients on wills and lasting powers of attorney, as well as trust matters and estate administration, is, according to one client, “… always exceptional and is led by wide technical awareness and a focus on getting the best possible client outcomes.”
Dominic Ibbs, a qualified notary public, who advises on trusts and estate administration, is reported to be, “…exceptionally client-focused while always striving for the best outcome for clients.”
Another client, advised by probate and estate planning specialist, Sharon Heselton, says, “Sharon is exceptionally strong in complex estates. She is always determined to get clients the best possible outcomes. In complex areas, she takes the time to find the right course.”
Naadim Shamji, a newly ranked ‘Associate to Watch’ in the guide, has particular expertise advising on asset protection, typically through the use of trusts and loans agreements. One of his clients states that he, “…is very technically aware. He combines this with a focus on getting the best outcomes and giving the best service to his clients.”
Senior partner, Simon Deans says:
We’re pleased to see the firm’s continued recognition in this year’s Chambers HNW Guide. The feedback reflects our commitment to client service and the strong relationships we’ve built over time. Consistency, attention to detail and a client-focused approach remain central to the way we work. Thank you to our clients and congratulations to all involved and to the practice teams and lawyers who have been ranked for the first time.
B P Collins’ rankings and client feedback are available to view on the Chambers HNW website.
For more information on B P Collins, visit www.bpcollins.co.uk or email enquiries@bpcollins.co.uk.
