South West law firm Coodes wins praise in prestigious legal directory

Lawyers at the South West’s longest established law firm Coodes have been singled out for praise in the latest rankings by the prestigious national legal directory Chambers & Partners, published today (19 October 2023).

The 2024 edition, which highlights the UK’s top solicitors, features Coodes’ Agriculture and Rural Affairs and Clinical Negligence teams and shines a spotlight on the firm’s long-standing legal expertise, friendliness and high levels of client care.

Coodes, which has a network of offices across Cornwall and Devon, celebrated its 275th anniversary last year and has a specialist team offering expertise across a wide range of legal areas.

It’s a significant achievement for Coodes to again be recognised in two practice areas and for four lawyers at the firm to be listed in what is one of the world’s most respected guides.

For more than 30 years, Chambers & Partners has delivered detailed rankings and insight into the world’s leading lawyers and law firms, based on detailed written submissions, interviews and in-depth independent research which takes into account law firms’ technical legal abilities, professional conduct, client service excellence, commercial astuteness, diligence, and commitment to clients.

Clinical Negligence The Coodes’ Clinical Negligence team is described in Chambers as “very professional” and as having “a wealth of experience and knowledge”.

The guide goes on to say that “Clients are the forefront of consideration at Coodes” and “The team’s service to its clients is first-rate.” Partner and Head of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Rachel Pearce and Clinical Negligence Partner Julie Hatton have each achieved individual rankings for a second year as well as the team for a fourth consecutive year.

Both Rachel and Julie are exceptionally experienced in dealing with particularly complex and challenging clinical negligence cases including birth injuries, brain injuries, surgical errors, misdiagnosis, substandard midwifery and nursing care and fatal claims.

Both Partners are accredited under the Law Society Clinical Negligence Accreditation Scheme and are Senior Litigator and Accredited Clinical Negligence specialist with the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers.

Chambers 2024 said of Rachel Pearce: “She is acknowledged for her work on misdiagnosis and delay in treatment claims, as well as birth injury cases. Pearce also acts on cases of negligent care and assists clients with inquests.”

Rachel is described as, “very personable, approachable and able to deal with sensitive cases. She deals with clients well too.” “Rachel is very supportive, with a high level of professionalism and expertise.”

Julie Hatton is described as “very experienced, very conscientious” and “very good.”

Chambers 2024 states that “Julie is extremely helpful, supportive and highly professional, with an expertise in personal injury and medical negligence. “Julie attends to her cases with expertise and empathy for clients who often have suffered life-threatening or life-changing injuries.”

Rachel Pearce, Partner and Head of Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence, said: “I’m very proud that the team has maintained its record of being ranked within the prestigious Chambers & Partners and that the expertise, hard work and commitment of the team, and in particular our focus on client care, is so strongly highlighted. I am delighted that Julie Hatton is once again deservedly recognised and of course I’m honoured to maintain my ranking in the guide.”

Rural Services Chambers describes Coodes’ Rural Services team as well-established and advising on a wide range of agricultural matters, saying the firm is “notable for advising local farmers and other landowners over several generations”.

It says “Coodes have a very good team” and again, client care is highlighted, with the 2024 guide saying “Client care comes across very well from the solicitors at Coodes: they are a friendly bunch. The whole team seems close and works well together.” Partner and Rural Services Team Leader Pam Johns is again singled out in the guide, for a third consecutive year, ranked Band 2, and Abi Lutey, who heads Coodes’ Commercial Disputes and Employment team, is recognised for the first time for her work handling rural issues, including agricultural tenancies, boundary disputes, and farming partnership disputes.

Pam Johns, who set up Coodes’ Holsworthy office in 1998, has more than 40 years’ experience and is a Fellow of the Agricultural Law Association. She specialises in advising farmers and landowners across the South West on buying and selling farm businesses, setting up Community Land Trusts, farm tenancies, disputes, diversification, trusts and tax, partnerships, and environmental issues.

She is described as, “an extremely competent agricultural lawyer with wide experience of dealing with land purchases and mortgage issues.”

Abi is a Partner and head of the Commercial Disputes and Employment team. Abi regularly advises farming and rural business clients on a number of contentious matters. Abi is also a member of the Agricultural Law Association.

Chambers 2024 quotes: “Abi Lutey was leading the team and really good in dealing with the client – Abi really cares about the results she gets and is hard-working.”

Partner and Rural Services Team Leader, Pam Johns said: “We are delighted to see the longstanding expertise of the Coodes rural team once again recognised in Chambers & Partners.’m also very pleased to see Abi Lutey receiving well-earned recognition for her expertise.”

The news of the latest ranking by Chambers & Partners comes just days after Coodes was again recommended by the 2024 edition of UK’s other leading legal directory, the Legal 500.

Peter Lamble, Partner and Chairman of Coodes, said: “We are delighted to again be recognised by Chambers & Partners. Today’s announcement, and the references within it, is a wonderful

endorsement and recognition of the expertise and hard work of the entire team and the focus on high quality service and client care that runs right through the firm.”

Full details of the legal services that Coodes Solicitors offer businesses and individuals across the South West can be found on the firm’s website.