A HOST of Dorset lawyers are included in the UK’s most comprehensive guide to the profession.

The 2014 edition of the Legal 500 is based on research conducted among thousands of professionals and their clients.

It includes regional league tables by discipline, as well as a list of the best individual lawyers.

Bournemouth firms Steele Raymond LLP and Lester Aldridge LLP both feature heavily in the guide, scoring several ‘top tier’ rankings each plus numerous other mentions.

Steele Raymond received top tier ranking for its main commercial areas of company commercial, commercial property and dispute resolution. It is the 10th consecutive year that the firm has received top tier mentions.

Its corporate and commercial work included advising the president of Sunseeker over the luxury yacht-maker’s £300m takeover and dealing with the sale of Bournemouth firm Bath Travel. Practice head Tim Stone was singled out.

Mr Stone said: “I am delighted to see this independent recognition that Steele Raymond continues to maintain its dominant position at the heart of commercial law in Dorset.”

Lester Aldridge – based in Bournemouth, Southampton and London – was ranked a top tier firm in four practice areas in the south west, as well as two in the south east.

It was also singled out as a “heavyweight firm in Dorset” and recommended for 20 practice areas.

Managing Partner Mich-ael Giddins said: “I am delighted that we have increased our rankings for another year running in this leading independent directory.”

Coles Miller – with offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Broadstone and Wimborne – was the only Dorset law firm to be listed for clinical negligence claimant cases, as well as appearing for its personal injury work.

Partner Adrian Cormack was listed for his specialist expertise in complex brain injury cases.

Partner David Simpson was highlighted for his expertise in medical neg-ligence and partner Christopher Whittle for specialisms in industrial illnesses and other work-related cases.

Where Dorset companies figured on list

Regional heavyweights: Lester Aldridge Corporate and commercial in Dorset and South Wilts. 1st tier. Lester Aldridge LLP, Bournemouth: Grant Esterhuizen, David Ashplant. Steele Raymond LLP, Bournemouth: Tim Stone. 3rd tier: Frettens LLP, Christchurch: Matthew Fretten. Laceys, Bournemouth: Sam Freeman. Preston Redman, Bournemouth: John Buchanan.

Licensing. 1st tier: Horsey Lightly Fynn, Bournemouth: Lionel Fynn, Jon Payne, Philip Day.

Commercial litigation: Dorset and South Wilts. 1st tier: Lester Aldridge: Michael Giddins, Michael Veal. Steele Raymond: Robert Bajaj, Peter Rolph. 2nd tier: Frettens: Michelle Hayter. Laceys: Brendan Herbert.

Debt recovery. 2nd tier: Lester Aldridge: Karen Savage, Saljuq Haider.

Banking and finance. 4th tier: Lester Aldridge: Karen Savage.

Insolvency and corporate recovery. 4th tier: Lester Aldridge: Stephen Allinson.

Employment, Dorset and South Wilts. 1st tier: Lester Aldridge: Sue Evans. 2nd tier: Steele Raymond: Peter Rolph and team, Simon Outten, Tim Stone. 3rd tier: Frettens: Kate Fretten.

Health and safety. 2nd tier: Lester Aldridge: Michael Veal.

Clinical negligence: claimant. 3rd : Coles Miller Solicitors LLP, Poole: David Simpson.

Personal injury: claimant. 3rd tier: Coles Miller Poole, Bournemouth, Charminster, Christopher Whittle.

Professional negligence. 4th: Lester Aldridge.

Charities and not for profit. 3rd tier: Lester Aldridge: Geoff Trobridge and team, Geoff Thomas Contentious trusts and probate. 2nd tier: Lester Aldridge: Geoff Thomas. 3rd tier: Steele Raymond: John Andrews.

Family. 2nd tier: Lester Aldridge: Jane Porter. 3rd tier: Laceys: Jonathan Talbot. 4th tier: Battens Solicitors Ltd, Yeovil, Dorchester, Sherborne, Weymouth: Martin Davis.

Personal tax, trusts and probate. 2nd tier: Lester Aldridge: John Maddocks. 3rd tier: Steele Raymond: Paul Causton. Frettens: Lee Young. 4th tier: Laceys: Kate Mansfield.

Education. 3rd tier: Steele Raymond: John Andrews.

Health. 1st tier: Lester Aldridge: Peter Grose, Guy Morgan, Susan Cowan.

Commercial property: Dorset and South Wilts. 1st tier: Steele Raymond: John Daniels, Chris Twaits.

2nd tier: Lester Aldridge: Mark Benham. 3rd tier: Frettens: Oonagh McKinney. Horsey Lightly Fynn: Anthony John. Laceys: Jonathan Ogden.

Planning. 4th tier: Horsey Lightly Fynn: Lionel Fynn. Lester Aldridge: Andrew Hignett.

Property litigation. 3rd tier: Lester Aldridge: Jenny Hermer. 4th tier: Laceys: Mark Timberlake. Steele Raymond: Robert Bajaj, Julian Fenn Shipping. 2nd tier: Steele Raymond.

LEADING INDIVIDUALS David Ashplant Lester Aldridge, corporate and commercial; Lionel Fynn, Horsey Lightly Fynn, licensing; Paul Longland, Steele Raymond, corporate and commercial