Over 60 gunnercooke lawyers been recognised in the Legal 500 UK 2027 Guide

Over 60 gunnercooke lawyers have been recognised in the 2027 edition of the Legal 500 UK Solicitors Guide. The firm is recognised in 28 practice areas across London, the North West, Yorkshire, the East Midlands, the South West and the South East.  

Of these lawyers, 12 received special distinctions: three in the Hall of Fame, six Leading Partners, one Next Generation Partner and two Leading Associates. 

Highlights for the firm include: 

• Six Leading Partners, double last year’s number 

• Three lawyers in the Hall of Fame 

• Three new individual rankings for the firm 

• 13 lawyers recognised with gunnercooke for the first time 

• A tier rise in both Corporate & Commercial (now Tier 4) and Commercial Litigation (now Tier 5) in Manchester 

• Tier 2 rankings for FinTech regulatory in London and Commercial Property in Nottingham and Derby 

Paul Ryman has been promoted from Next Generation Partner to Leading Partner for Employment in the North West. James Pheasant has been named a Leading Partner for Commercial Litigation in Bristol. They join Sydney Fulda, Clive Smith and James Burnie, who all retain Leading Partner status, with James Burnie now a Leading Partner in two FinTech rankings. 

Recent joiners are already making their mark, bringing new rankings for the firm with Julian Pike ranked as a Leading Partner for Sport, Robert Nieri recognised for Charities in the North West, and Martin Thomas, Property Litigation in London, joins Rob Fawke and Brendan Walsh in the Hall of Fame, the guide’s highest individual accolade. 

The firm’s rising talent has also been recognised, with Anna Willetts retaining Next Generation Partner status for Planning & Environment in the North West, and Sarah Gunton retaining Leading Associate status for Commercial Property in Nottingham and Derby. David Joseph, Laura Davison, Joe Fawcett, Thomas Hulme, Julie Taylor and Katie Stewart are all newly recognised with gunnercooke this year. In total, 13 lawyers are recognised with the firm for the first time, reflecting gunnercooke’s continued growth. 

Darryl Cooke, Founder of gunnercooke, commented on the results: “gunnercooke continues to attract some of the best legal talent in the market. Highly regarded lawyers choosing to join us, alongside doubling our number of Leading Partners, is proof of this. Congratulations to everyone recognised and thank you to our clients for taking the time to share their feedback”

One testimonial for the FinTech team added:  “This is a genuine standout area for gunnercooke. Their fintech regulatory capability, particularly around crypto-assets and digital finance, is among the best we have worked with. They are at the forefront of a fast-moving regulatory landscape and give advice that is both technically rigorous and commercially usable. The direct, partner-led relationship means you get senior expertise on every matter rather than work being pushed down to juniors.”

Further client feedback includes: 

“The (Employment) team at gunnercooke stands out for being highly responsive and easy to work with. They take complex areas of employment law and make them straightforward and practical, which is rare. They invest time in understanding our business and context, so their advice feels relevant rather than generic. They have supported us through a number of complex situations and have been calm, clear, and pragmatic throughout. Compared to other firms, they feel less transactional and more like a genuine partner. Their approach is collaborative, commercially aware, and focused on outcomes rather than theory. From a delivery perspective, their flexibility and accessibility are strong differentiators. They are quick to respond, easy to engage, and consistent in the quality of advice.”

“Anna Willetts is simply unrivalled. Her knowledge of the waste and environmental industry stands her above her competitors and makes her a force to be reckoned with. Combined with her passion for fairness and justice, she wins every case I’ve worked on with her. For clients, her ability to break down technical speak into easy-to-understand language is invaluable and puts minds at rest.”

“David Joseph – David is an elder statesman of the North West property litigation market. David is an excellent solicitor with a wealth of experience. He is a reliable pair of hands who is well experienced in dealing with complex litigation.”