SEVERAL Dorset law firms have been highly rated in the Legal 500 guide to their profession.

All firms and individuals mentioned in the guide come recommended by its compilers, whose website attracts more than four million visitors a year.

In its comments on the legal scene in the south west, the Legal 500 notes: “Steele Raymond LLP and Lester Aldridge LLP are among the firms seeking dominance in Bournemouth – the centre of gravity for the Dorset and South Wiltshire market – and Laceys Solicitors incorporating HLF has taken further steps towards internal consolidation following its merger with HLF in 2015.”

Steele Raymond, based in Richmond Hill, Bournemouth, gained top-tier ranking in company and commercial, commercial property and dispute resolution, which it has achieved for the 13th consecutive year. It also added employment law to its top tier rankings.

Partner Chris Twaits in commercial property and chairman Tim Stone in company and commercial were both recognised as ‘leading individuals’, and there was praise for partner Jennifer Rogerson, development partner Emma Stainwright and partner Carol Elliott, all of the commercial property team.

Mentions also went to senior associate Lindsay Halliwell in family law; Simone Ritchie in property litigation; partner John Andrews in private client, education, court of protection litigation and inheritance disputes; partner and head of private client Sue Adams and consultant Paul Causton. Employment solicitor Amy Cousineau Massey was recognised as a top ‘next generation lawyer’. Managing partner Peter Rolph was recommended in dispute resolution.

The company was in the third tier for family; personal tax, trusts and probate; and education; and fourth tier for contentious trusts and probate and property litigation

Chairman Tim Stone said: “Achieving a Top Tier ranking for the 13th consecutive year in our three core practice areas is pleasing, but to see our employment law team achieving top tier status is just reward for the quality of work we have provided in this area for a number of years. “It is also pleasing to see the proper recognition going to many other areas of expertise including family, private client and property litigation, something I am immensely proud of. The rankings are the result of a great team effort across the entire firm and reflect the huge effort that everyone puts in, day after day in looking after and representing the very best interests of our clients."

Lester Aldridge achieved first tier rankings in corporate and commercial, with Grant Estherhuizen singled out as a leading individual and Edward Adamson as a next generation lawyer; commercial litigation; employment; health and safety, with Michael Veal as a leading individual; and commercial property, with Suki Samra a leading individual.

Lester Aldridge was also in the second tier for personal injury; contentious trusts and probate; family; and health. It was in the third tier for debt recovery; personal injury; charities and not-for-profit; personal tax, and fourth tier for professional negligence and property litigation.

Dutton Gregory was in the first tier for employment, with Nick Hanning named a leading individual; third tier for clinical negligence; and fourth tier for personal injury.

Laceys incorporating HLF was in the second tier for commercial property; and tier for licensing, commercial litigation and family; and fourth tier for personal tax, trusts and probate and property litigation; and fifth tier for intellectual property.

Ellis Jones was in the second tier for commercial litigation, employment and family, with Katie Taft as a next generation lawyer; and third tier for contentious trusts and probate.

Frettens in Christchurch was in the second tier for employment; third tier for commercial property; and fourth tier for personal tax, trusts and probate.

Blanchards Bailey was in the second tier for employment; and the third tier for commercial litigation; agriculture and estates; and personal tax, trusts and probate.

Battens, of Weymouth and Yeovil, was in the third tier for commercial litigation and the fourth tier for family.

Kemp Jones was in the second tier for employment.

Trethowans, of Poole and Salisbury, was in the first tier for commercial property; second tier for agriculture and estates; and fourth tier for personal tax, trusts and probate.

Coles Miller was in the third tier for clinical negligence and personal injury.

Woolley & Co was in the third tier for family.

Porter Dodson in Dorchester was in the third tier for family and fourth for personal tax, trusts and probate.

Farnfields was in the fourth tier for personal tax, trusts and probate.