The leading independent guides to UK law firms, Chambers UK and The Legal 500 undertake extensive research to ensure that their rankings and editorial comments are fair and objective. Here is what the latest on-line and hard copy editions of Chambers UK (Autumn 2017) and The Legal 500 (Autumn 2017) say about the team at Fox & Partners.
PARTNERSHIP
Respected employment and partnership law boutique with a long history in the market. Advises both partnerships and individual partners, often on complex and highly contentious issues such as exits and partnership dissolutions. Regularly acts for traditional professional services partnerships and continues to develop its presence in the financial services sector, including in relation to private equity firms, hedge funds and venture capital funds.
Long and thorough immersion in the sector is identified as a key reason for this team’s assured handling of mandates.
Fox & Partners is an instantly recognisable player in the world of partnership law, so much so that “in any complex partnership dispute, especially one requiring practical commercial feel, the firm’s name has to be in the mix”. The team has particular strength in advising individuals and groups of partners in relation to team moves and exits, but has extensive experience in all areas of contentious and non-contentious partnership law across a variety of sectors.
New partners Caroline Field and Catriona Watt are “strong and very effective”, while the “calm and measured” Dean Fuller, who has also joined the partnership, and Shoshana Bacall are also key contacts in the practice group. One source reports of the team that they have: “Seen it all before and have a tremendous wealth of experience that allows them to navigate easily the most unpleasant of disputes”.
Other team members include founding partner Ronnie Fox who is “Unparalleled in his experience, has seen it all and done it all many times before and knows the path of least resistance out of every situation”. Senior associate Neena Patel is “extremely talented” and acted for multiple partners in what was one of the most significant team moves in the legal sector in 2016.
Caroline Field specialises in such contentious matters as inter-partner and intra-LLP disputes, focusing primarily on the professional and financial services sectors. Sources consider her to be “very highly regarded” in the market, and report that she “really knows the area”.
Catriona Watt is identified by sources as a “rising star” of the partnership space. She advises clients from the legal and financial services sectors across a broad range of matters, including on general points of partnership law and on specific issues affecting sensitive departures and arrivals.
Ronnie Fox’s name continues to command instant recognition in the partnership sphere as an “admirable, vastly experienced practitioner who never loses his energy” and a “perfect choice for major issues and big, bet-the-partnership disputes”. He is best known for his handling of partnership disputes, and also receives praise for his advice on structuring matters. In The Legal 500, Ronnie is described as a Leading Individual in the Partnership field.
Neena Patel, ranked as a Next Generation Lawyer in The Legal 500, acts prominently on contentious issues, often relating to team or individual partner moves, and also advises extensively on contractual arrangements. Appreciative clients characterise her as “very sharp and business minded” and attest that she is “abundantly talented, diligent and dependable”.
In Chambers UK, Fox & Partners is ranked as a leading firm. Ronnie Fox is ranked as a Star Individual for Contentious Partnership and a Leading Individual for Non-contentious Partnership. Caroline Field, Neena Patel and Catriona Watt are ranked as Lawyers to Watch for Contentious Partnership.
EMPLOYMENT
Boutique employment law firm offering expert advice to senior executives, with noted work on restrictive covenants and boardroom disputes. Regularly instructed by high-profile individuals from the financial and professional services sectors. Also capable of advising employer clients.
Clients say the firm provides “great client service” and describe the lawyers as “professional, transparent and strong”.
“The technical advice I received was clear and concise, and the pragmatic advice was invaluable” one client notes.
Ronnie Fox commands a strong reputation for his work on senior executive departures and restrictive covenant matters. Sources consider him to be “incredibly expert, clear and strategic”.
Fox & Partners is ranked as a leading firm in Chambers UK and Ronnie Fox is ranked as a leading individual for Senior Executive Employment work.
