Longmores has moved up to the Top Tier category with the launch of The Legal 500 UK Solicitors 2026 rankings.   Team success comes in the form of Private Client, Company Commercial and Dispute Resolution all being promoted up a tier.  Plus four partners have been recognised with individual rankings for the first time: Alastair Liddiard, Michael Budd, John Wiblin and Tracey Dargan.

Seven teams and seven individuals have been ranked in total with a further eight individuals being recommended in the guide for the Beds, Bucks, Herts, Middx region.  Here is an overview of the rankings.

Private Client | Personal tax, trusts and probate: Tier 1 

Leading the way is the firm’s oldest department with the Private Client team being promoted into Tier 1.  Richard Horwood retains his Leading Partner status and is joined in the individual rankings by Alastair Liddiard as a Next Generation Partner.  Also making her first appearance in the guide is Victoria Wood.

Richard Horwood: Leading Partner

Alastair Liddiard: Next Generation Partner

Victoria Wood: Recommended

Corporate and Commercial: Tier 2

The heavyweight offering within the region from this small but mighty Company Commercial team is acknowledged with its Tier 2 ranking and Leading Partner status for Michael Budd.

Michael Budd: Leading Partner

Dispute Resolution | Commercial Litigation: Tier 2

The expertise within the Dispute Resolution team has been noted with its move up into Tier 2.  Individual rankings for John Wiblin as a Leading Partner and Nat Young as a Next Generation Partner plus Lauren Mackenzie’s Recommended status also recognise the breadth of knowledge across the team.

John Wiblin: Leading Partner

Nat Young: Next Generation Partner

Lauren Mackenzie: Recommended

Employment: Tier 2

Employment continue with their Tier 2 ranking and round off a hat trick for the commercial teams.  Miranda Mulligan retains her Leading Associate individual ranking and Richard Gvero is once again Recommended in the guide.

Miranda Mulligan: Leading Associate

Richard Gvero: Recommended

Family: Tier 3

In the Family team, Tracey Dargan steps up to Leading Partner  and Kerrie Hall and Jessica Goozee (née Few) both continue to be Recommended in the guide and maintain their Tier 3 position in this very competitive area.

Tracey Dargan: Leading Partner

Kerrie Hall: Recommended

Jessica Goozee (née Few): Recommended

Real Estate | Commercial Property: Tier 3

The combined forces of our Commercial Property and Property Litigation teams are acknowledged with a Tier 3 ranking in Real Estate. The firm is also acknowledged for its Rural expertise with a Tier 3 ranking in Agriculture and Estates.  Recommended in the guide are Rachael Spalton, John Wagstaffe and Hayley Grantham.

Rachael Spalton: Recommended

John Wagstaffe: Recommended

Hayley Grantham: Recommended

About The Legal 500

The Legal 500 is a leading directory of law firms and solicitors in the UK with rankings which are independently researched using information submitted by firms about their specialist areas of practice and work undertaken, client feedback and the opinions of other professionals.

Every member of our teams has played a part in the achieving these rankings with the care, time and expertise put into our clients’ matters.  Gratitude is also extended to our clients and professional contacts who participate in the research by providing references.