Dorset law firm Ellis Jones Solicitors has gained its second round of praise in an influential legal guide in less than a fortnight.
It is rated in two separate practice areas – Family/Matrimonial and Commercial Litigation – and seven individuals are recognised for their excellence in the prestigious Chambers UK Legal Guide 2025. Ellis Jones is also ranked as one of the best SME-focused firms in the UK.
The success follows hot on the heels of the firm’s rankings in the recently published 2025 Legal 500 industry ‘bible’.
Ellis Jones, with 178 staff including 24 partners, has offices in Bournemouth, Canford Cliffs (Poole), Swanage and Wimborne.
Nigel Smith, Managing Partner, said: “Like the Legal 500, Chambers’ rankings represent coveted and independent endorsement from an influential industry guide.
“The guide is meticulously researched and compiled with a robust analysis of the capabilities, expertise and knowledge of the UK’s law firms and their leading individuals.
“We are thrilled to receive this recognition which, along with our Legal 500 achievements, are a hallmark of excellence that allows us to stand out from other law firms.
“It is testament to the talent, hard work and passion of the fantastic team that I am privileged to lead at Ellis Jones Solicitors.”
Ellis Jones’ Family/Matrimonial team is described as having a ‘broad spectrum of experienced practitioners, ranging from the most junior to those at the top of their game’.
Joint Heads of Family Deborah Leask and Sean McNally are Ranked Lawyers along with Partner Katie Taft. Senior Associate Solicitor Georgina Emerson is highlighted as an Associate to Watch.
Deborah is described as ‘tenacious, robust with a keen eye for details in complex financial disputes’ while Sean has ‘a no-nonsense, driven manner’ and ‘gives sensible advice and deals with cases in a very cost-efficient way’.
Katie is praised for operating ‘well beyond her years of experience’ and is ‘well-respected and very hardworking’ while Georgina is ‘tactically astute and knows where the case will end up before others do’.
Ellis Jones’ Commercial Litigation department – including Dispute Resolution and Banking and Finance teams – is praised for its ‘outstanding’ client care and ‘excellent’ partners.
On testimonial reads: "Ellis Jones is one of the only firms I know where you can guarantee their partner quality is excellent. They only seem to hire people who have that client care quality that is so important."
Head of Dispute Resolution Lauren Day and Head of Banking and Finance Litigation William Fox Bregman are both highlighted as notable practitioners.
Head of Business Services Neil Cook is noted as a key contact in Ellis Jones’ ranking as one of the best SME focused firms UK wide.
The firm is described as occupying a ‘strong position on the South Coast’ whose business services team regularly represents small and medium-sized companies, managing directors and shareholders in key corporate and commercial transactions, as well as on employment and HR matters.
Chambers and Partners has been publishing detailed rankings of lawyers, legal departments and law firms for more than 30 years.
It conducts tens of thousands of interviews a year with in-house counsel and third-party experts such as barristers and accountants to reach its findings.
Ellis Jones was rated in the Legal 500 earlier in October. Commercial Litigation - including dispute resolution and banking and finance teams – and Family were among seven departments ranked for their excellence in the guide.
A total of 17 partners and solicitors were mentioned in their own right or as part of their team in the guide.
They were Lauren Day (Leading Partner), Paul Kanolik (Next Generation Partner), Victoria Riddleston (Next Generation Partner), Katie Taft (Next Generation Partner), Conor Maher (Leading Associate), William Fox Bregman, Deborah Leask, Sean McNally, Ian Butterworth, Georgina Emerson, Kate Brooks, Rebecca Goudy, Neil Cook, Wayne Spolander, Diane Pearce, Carla Brown and Florence Newton.
Visit https://www.ellisjones.co.uk/about/awards-accreditations/ to find out more about Ellis Jones’ awards and accreditations.