Debenhams Ottaway celebrates continued success in The Legal 500 2027

Debenhams Ottaway has maintained its strong position in The Legal 500 2027 rankings, with team and individual rankings remaining consistent across the firm.

The latest rankings continue to recognise the strength of our core legal teams, reinforcing Debenhams Ottaway’s reputation as a leading trusted legal adviser to businesses, individuals and families in St Albans, Hertfordshire and beyond.

In the latest lawyer recognitions, we have retained one Hall of Fame recognition, nine leading partner rankings, two next generation partner rankings and one leading associate ranking.

Consistent rankings across key practice areas

These achievements are about much more than rankings. They reflect the exceptional work of our people, the strong relationships we build with clients and referrers, and the positive feedback shared during The Legal 500’s independent research. Most importantly, the consistency of our results is clear evidence of our firmwide strategy in action: working as one team to deliver excellent service and build lasting relationships as trusted advisers.

Team rankings

• Commercial property – tier 1: The team is highly responsive and keeps you informed throughout, as well as being efficient in their work and a delight to recommend.
• Corporate and commercial – tier 1: They are responsive, collaborative, and focused on finding solutions rather than overcomplicating matters, which is particularly valuable in fast-moving transactional environments.
• Family – tier 1: They know their stuff, prompt and efficient… Clients are always very well represented and they always have an attentive point of contact.
• Personal tax, trusts and probate – tier 1: What really sets them apart is the way they deal with sensitive matters with both professionalism and empathy. They are clear, responsive, and able to explain complex issues in straightforward terms. We would have no hesitation in recommending them.
• Charities and not-for-profit – tier 2: The team is very knowledgeable on a range of topics and has advised on complex matters for a mutual charity client. They have tackled projects both big and small and are diligent to ensure that the outcome is most appropriate for the client.
• Commercial litigation – tier 3: Their breadth of capability and the quality of the team has been of a consistently high standard, which has provided a reassuring and high standard of customer service.
• Employment – tier 2: They are all extremely professional, efficient, and always pay attention to detail. They are always available and report back in a speedy manner. I would not go to any other practice as I have complete faith in them at all times.
• Insolvency and corporate recovery – tier 4: The team is effective and responsive. They are complete enough to deal with the typical insolvency issues that spill into other fields.

Leading and next generation partner rankings

• Louise Attrup (employment) has been my go-to since I joined this company and gives me the confidence to deal with issues that I encounter while giving me sound advice at all times. She is never judgmental and totally supports me through all issues.
• Ruth Boulton (commercial property) is very good at guiding you through difficult situations and explaining things step by step.
• James Brawn (corporate and commercial) has invested time in building relationships with key individuals at our firm, and together with the great service provided, this has led to the firm being a trusted partner whom we are very happy to refer work to as we know our clients will be in good hands.
• Susan Glenholme (Hall of Fame) is very effective at coordinating with other specialists where needed, which means clients benefit from joined-up advice rather than fragmented support.
• Rachel Hyndman (personal tax, trusts and probate) is quite outstanding, with expert knowledge and a sympathetic manner with clients, often in bereaved or delicate situations. She provides clear explanations beyond the norm in other practices.
• Natalie Lester (family) is a standout partner. She is very capable and comfortable with complex issues and financial structures.
• Neil Mercer (commercial property) is excellent whenever I have worked with or recommended him. He is communicative and provides an excellent and efficient service for clients.i
• Alexander Neale (commercial litigation) operates in a highly efficient way, with strong commercial judgment and an eye for detail. I value his ability to unpick complex situations and map out a way forward.
• Andrew Yates (corporate and commercial) combines strong technical legal knowledge with a pragmatic approach, ensuring matters continue progressing efficiently while still protecting client interests. He is particularly effective at balancing legal risk with commercial realities and is someone clients trust to guide transactions constructively.

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 latest rankings on The Legal 500 UK website.