Addleshaw Goddard's 'professional' and 'market-leading' team is instructed by national and international professional service firms on the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious partnership matters. The group has expertise in incorporation, governance and constitutional matters for partnerships and limited liability partnerships (LLPs), in addition to international structures, such as Swiss vereins and the use of LLPs in corporate groups. On the contentious front, the group regularly handles partner disputes and exits, including partner moves and discrimination issues. William Wastie leads the professional practices group, which includes Aster Crawshaw (who specialises in accounting firms) and financial services expert Jonathan Cheney. Senior managing associate Chris Hallinan is noted for his knowledge of governance and constitutional issues, as well as international regulatory matters. Managing associate Sarah Mathers joined from Norton Rose Fulbright in May 2018.

CM Murray LLP is a specialist UK partnership firm, with 'one of the legal world's strongest offerings in this area'. The group's main focus is contentious work, including partner conduct, performance, team movement and restrictive covenant issues, all of which are areas of expertise for Sarah Chilton and founding partner Clare Murray, who is noted by one client as 'one of the industry's most energetic and driven practitioners'. It is also developing an active non-contentious practice under the leadership of Zulon Begum; handling matters such as LLP agreement reviews, new law firm office set-ups, partner remuneration advice and review of partnership indemnity agreements and structures for both domestic and international law firm structures. David Fisher is another key name with experience in advising on partner team moves, lateral hires and the enforcement of partner restrictive covenants, while Samantha Mangwana draws on extensive experience in partnership litigation involving partner discrimination and whistleblowing claims, often working with Beth Hale, who was promoted to partner in January 2019. Esther Martin left the firm in 2019, going in-house at the Financial Ombudsman.

Fox Williams LLP stands out for its track record handling high-profile mergers of international and UK law firms and other professional practices, exemplified by strategic consultant Tina Williams' advice to Andrews Kurth Kenon LLP on its transatlantic combination with US firm Hunton & Williams LLP to form Hunton Andrews Kurth. The group also assists clients with organisational structuring, strategic management, conversion to LLP structures and team moves and tax, as well as the range of partnership disputes. Daniel Sutherland heads the professional services group, regularly handling strategic and constitutional matters. Other noted individuals include contentious partnership lawyer Gavin Foggo; mergers expert Doug Preece; and Joanna Chatterton, who specialises in the intersection of employment and partnership law, including discrimination issues.

The 'highly impressive' team at Maurice Turnor Gardner LLP stands out for its non-contentious partnership work, which includes advising clients on international governance and structures. The group is instructed by a number of large international firms, as well as individual partners on issues such as innovative partnership and LLP structures in the legal and private wealth sectors. On the contentious front, the group handles partner exits for partnerships and partners. Corinne Staves leads the team and specialises in partnerships from a private wealth perspective. Also noted is co-founder Richard Turnor.

Farrer & Co's team has particular expertise in corporate and commercial partnership matters concerning property, intellectual property, family, private client, tax and employment issues. The group also has a strong partnership structuring and regulatory offering, which sits alongside its disputes practice. Clients span the professional services and other regulated businesses. Department head Jonathan Haley  specialises in partnership and LLP law and is instructed on a variety of non-contentious issues. Kathleen Heycock focuses on complex team moves, international partner disputes and acquisitions, and Andy Peterkin predominantly advises financial services firms. Litigator John Wilkinson and employment law expert Rachel Lewis are recommended for contentious matters, while Anna Birtwistle, who joined from CM Murray LLP in June 2019, has significant experience of advising on misconduct investigations, discrimination and whistleblowing claims and restrictive covenants.

Fox & Partners is a go-to firm for partnership expertise in the professional and financial services sectors, with a varied client roster of partners, partnerships and LLPs. The group has developed a niche in partnership disputes relating to partner exits and the enforceability of restrictive covenants and team move clauses. The department is jointly led by Catriona Watt (who focuses on partner moves) and commercial litigator and partnership disputes expert Caroline Field. The group also includes founding partner Ronnie Fox, who provides strategic advice to a variety of lawyer and firm clients. Senior associate Shoshana Bacall has experience in assisting departing individuals and firms on exit arrangements and negotiations to join other firms.

Hempsons stands out for its expertise in medical partnerships; providing strategic advice to GPs and dental practices, as well as devising and implementing new structures for primary care at scale and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs). The group has particular experience in establishing and reorganising GP Provider Organisations, in addition to advising on acquisitions of failing practices by such structures. Ross Clark and Ian Hempseed jointly lead the department, and are ably supported new arrival Alison Oliver, who joined from Ward Hadaway in January 2019 and specialises in partnership and company law, NHS primary care and community services contracts. The group is on a number of panels, including NHS Resolution, Health Trust Europe and Crown Commercial Service.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP is particularly noted for its disputes practice, acting for partnerships, LLPs and their members. The multi-disciplinary team is made up of disputes, corporate, employment, incentives, regulatory and tax specialists, enabling it to provide a full-service offering. On the non-contentious side, it advises on partnership strategy, notably assisting Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner on the employment and partnership aspects of its day-to-day operations and integration following the merger between Berwin Leighton Paisner and Bryan Cave; a matter handled by Tim Leaver. Malcolm Lombers and Alan Watts jointly head the department.

Lewis Silkin LLP's group, jointly led by Fergus Payne and  Clive Greenwood, advises UK- and overseas-headquartered professional services firms on a range of legal and regulatory issues. On the non-contentious side, it advises on the formation and implementation of new and updated LLP and partnership agreements, restructurings and mergers. The team also has experience in contentious issues, such as allegations of partner misconduct and claims of harassment or bullying. Drawing on specialisms in the wider firm, it has developed a niche in assisting clients with the impact of GDPR on their business structures. Karen Baxter leads the professional services sector group and specialises in the cross-over between employment and partnership law.

Weightmans LLP's team stands out for its work in the legal and medical partnership spaces. The group draws on the wider firm's strong regulatory and compliance practice, offering a broad service to clients nationwide; work led by Michelle Garlick. The group also has substantial experience in partnership restructuring and insolvencies as well as incorporating new LLP vehicles for offshore investors. The national team is led by partnership disputes expert Andrew Cromby, who is supported by regulatory lawyer Richard Corran; Edwina Farrell and Nathan East lead on medical partnerships.

The 'outstanding' Jo Keddie heads the team at Winckworth Sherwood LLP, which provides a full service to clients in the professional services and regulated sectors, including a specialism in the private equity space. The group also has a niche in providing partnership advice to developers and housing associations in relation to joint ventures for strategic land investments and development projects. The contentious team continues to expand, with the arrival of Bettina Bender (who represents firms and individual LLP members) from CM Murray LLP in June 2018. John Hiscock is noted for his expertise in the formation of UK and overseas investment fund partnerships.

The team at Bristol-based Burges Salmon LLP handles the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious partnership issues, including advising on 1890 Act partnerships, LLPs, quasi-partnerships, fund structuring and the use of partnerships in private tax planning. The group has particular expertise in disputes involving farming and agri-businesses, for which it is instructed by clients nationwide. Sian Edmunds leads on partnership disputes, Chris Godfrey heads investment fund-led work, while John Barnett has substantial experience advising private clients on partnerships in relation to family businesses and succession planning.

Dechert LLP's cross-departmental partnership group brings together lawyers specialising in employment law, financial services, corporate, tax, litigation and regulatory compliance. The group advises partnerships, LLPs, LPs and individuals on the spectrum of contentious and non-contentious issues, with a real focus on the fund and asset management sectors. The team is led by Jason Butwick and includes financial services experts Christopher Gardner and Gus Black, and Charles Wynn-Evans, who acts for a variety of individual partners and members in disputes.

Howard Kennedy LLP's practice spans partnerships and LLPs, with expertise in formation, employment matters, financial regulation, business recovery and reconstruction. The group also handles disputes for LLPs and partnerships, as well as their individual members and partners. The team is jointly headed by partnership formation and structure specialist Robert Craig and Jane Amphlett, whose main focuses are strategic partner appointments, departures, remuneration structures and the enforcement and defence of restrictive covenants.

Kingsley Napley LLP's department acts for professional firms and LLPs, as well as their individual members and partners, mainly in the financial services and professional sectors. The group draws on the firm's wider expertise in employment law, regulatory and professional discipline, white-collar crime and business immigration to provide clients with a full partnership disputes service. The team is jointly headed by regulatory expert Iain Miller and Adrian Crawford, whose practice spans contentious partnership and employment law.

John Dodsworth chairs Macfarlanes LLP's cross-departmental professional practices and LLPs group, which excels in M&A and structuring work, as well as advising on employment, tax and regulatory issues that arise out of partnerships. On the contentious side, the group regularly handles partnership disputes, leveraging the firm's broader litigation capabilities. Jessica Adam is another key name; notably advising Slater and Gordon on the separation of its UK operations from its Australian-listed parent.

Mishcon de Reya LLP fields a cross-departmental team dealing with the life cycle of partnerships and LLPs. It is most noted for its work handling partnership disputes, and is often instructed in cases involving discrimination and whistleblowing claims, worker status issues and exit terms. The group is led by Joanna Blackburn, who focuses on the intersection between employment law and partnerships. Blackburn is supported by Daniel Naftalin, who has experience in the range of contentious partnership matters.

RPC advises professional service firms, as well as funds, on a range of matters, including the establishment of partnerships and LLPs, mergers and dissolution, as well as contentious partnership issues, with recent experience in cases arising out of the MeToo movement. The group is jointly headed by experienced litigator Geraldine Elliott and Patrick Brodie, who handles high-value partnership terminations, re-organisations and mergers. In February 2019, Anthony Shatz left to join Fladgate LLP.

VWV has a full-service professional practices team, which advises a range of clients, with a particular specialism in medical and accounting partnerships. The group is also noted for advising both law firms and individual solicitors on partnership disputes. Jos Moule heads the team, which includes London office managing partner David Emanuel, who has experience in partnership mergers and healthcare partnership specialist Oliver Pool.

At Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, contentious partnership matters are handled by Michelle Chance, who acts for partnerships, LLPs and their individual members in matters including partner exits and terminations, as well as discrimination and whistleblower cases. Barry Stimpson leads on non-contentious work, which includes working with the real estate department to advise developers and real estate investors on the use of LLPs for high-value redevelopments. Stimpson also has an active advisory practice for fund managers and clients in the legal and accountancy sectors.

Charles Russell Speechlys LLP's team has strength in the financial services, professional practices and property development sectors. Non-contentious work includes transactional, corporate, tax structuring matters and change management, which bring together expertise from other departments in the firm. The group is also noted for handling disputes both for partnerships and individual partners. Financial services expert David Hicks leads the team, utilising experience in complex structures, conversions to and transactions involving LLPs, governance issues and restructuring.

Clyde & Co LLP's offering benefits from the firm's wider expertise in professional liability, led by Sarah Clover, setting the team apart in professional liability claims, regulatory investigations and proceedings against professional firms. The group also advises on structuring professional service networks for insurance and regulatory purposes. Other areas of expertise include assisting clients with matters pertaining to the cross-over of partnership and employment law; matters handled by Chris Holme. On the transactional front, Simon Vere Nicoll is regularly instructed on partnership M&A and joint ventures.

Disputes boutique Cooke, Young & Keidan LLP handles the spectrum of contentious partnership work across a wide range of industries. In particular, the team has experience in matters relating to allegations of fraud against the partnership by members, misappropriation of partnership assets, breach and enforcement of restrictive covenants. Clients include partnerships, LLPs, LPs and their members. Lydia Danon leads on partnership-related work, and is supported by Sinead O’Callaghan, whose clients include a mixture of high-net-worth individuals and hedge funds.

Keystone Law's lawyers main area of expertise is advising clients on drafting agreements for a variety of partnership structures, including for traditional partnerships and LLPs. The group also handles alternative business structures, M&A, restructuring, employment issues, insolvency, risk management and regulatory issues, as well as partnership disputes. Experienced commercial litigator Peter Garry leads the team, which includes  Emma Clark, whose practice spans advisory and disputes work, particularly relating to discrimination and whistleblower cases.

Khiara Law LLP is a partnership boutique, advising professional practices and legal services business on all aspects of governance, structuring and financing. Founding partner Rachel Khiara, who left RSM Legal LLP in 2018, has superlative experience in specialist capital and profit-sharing arrangements, regulatory aspects of M&A and the establishment of new partnerships and LLPs.

The group at Payne Hicks Beach is comprised of lawyers from the firm's personal tax, financial services, corporate, employment and dispute resolution department and advises clients on the full life-cycle of partnerships, LLPs and LPs, including structuring, set-up, administration and dissolution. The group also draws on its expertise in private wealth to advise on the use of partnerships as investment vehicles. Jonathan Gatward leads the team and is supported by corporate lawyer Marcia Kidd.

Simmons & Simmons excels in advising clients in the financial services industry on partnership matters, with a particular strength in advising alternative investment fund managers on complex and often international structures. The core partnership group is supported by the firm's tax, financial markets litigation, employment, regulatory and funds departments, allowing it to provide a full partnership service. Colin Leaver heads the team, which includes asset management expert Ania Rontaler.