Legal directory, The Legal 500 UK, has published its latest results that celebrate the leading law firms and lawyers in the UK. Debenhams Ottaway, is recognised in eight legal areas, seven of which are in the top two tiers, and eight partners have leading or next generation partner status. These rankings firmly cement Debenhams Ottaway as a trusted adviser, helping individuals, families and businesses with their next legal challenge or opportunity.
A highlight this year is commercial property partner, Neil Mercer, and family law and divorce partner, Natalie Lester, both being recognised as ‘next generation partner’ for the first time. Natalie is noted for being “an excellent solicitor. Tenacious but pragmatic. [She] provides robust and realistic advice” and Neil is recognised as “one of the best solicitors that we work with in commercial property. He is responsive…and understands what it takes to move transactions forward.”
Debenhams Ottaway’s divorce and family law team is recognised in tier one for the seventh consecutive year, and is celebrated for its “sound advice and [they] have always explained the process. I have been most impressed with their professionalism and expertise.’
The firm also keeps its top tier ranking for Wills, personal tax, trusts and probate. They are known for having an exceptional team that “has specialisms within the team so any work type is dealt with by a specialist” and provides “empathy with individual clients, often in emotional circumstances and who are “genuinely focused on the best interests of the clients”
The tier two corporate and commercial team at Debenhams Ottaway continues to go from strength to strength hot on the heels of them recruiting a senior commercial lawyer last month. A professional adviser commented that “Debenhams Ottaway has a team of practical, commercial lawyers who provide their corporate clients with advice in the context of the transaction – not picking legal points for the sake of it, but working collaboratively with the team on the other side of the transaction to achieve the transaction completion.”
Other feedback from clients and professional advisers featured in The Legal 500 UK 2025 include:
- The employment team “demonstrates a commitment to understand our business and how to add value in the service they provide.” They also have “excellent interpersonal skills. I don’t find that very common in the legal field.”
- The commercial property team “deliver every time without fail. They are relentless in everything they do. They play a massive part in the local area.”
- The commercial litigation and insolvency team “is pragmatic and sensible with strength and depth at all levels…they are a force to be reckoned with.”
- The charities and not-for-profit sector team has “strong market knowledge and is able to deal with complex issues… This I attribute to the diligence of their team and the care they give their work.”
The Legal 500 is one of the leading legal directories in the UK. It benchmarks law firms and individual lawyers based on independent research and recommendations by fellow professionals and clients. You can find a full list of Debenhams Ottaway’s 2025 rankings on The Legal 500 UK website.
The contents of this article are intended for general information purposes only and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute legal advice. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of this article.