We are proud to celebrate another landmark year of recognition following the publication of The Legal 500 2026 rankings in the UK.
The firm has been recommended in 11 practice areas, an increase of two from last year, reflecting the continued dedication and excellence across the business.
Notably, Slater Heelis achieved a tier increase in both Contentious Trusts and Probate now in Tier 2 as well as Crime now in Tier 3, recognising the growing strength and expertise of these two teams. The firm has also secured a new listing, as Corporate & Commercial in the Elsewhere in the North West return to the rankings with a Tier 4 listing.
Alongside practice-wide recognition, several individuals at the firm have also been celebrated in this year’s guide. Four partners; Simon Wallwork, John Gorner, Mark Heptinstall and Jay Lafinhan have been named as Leading Individuals, while Debbie Coyne makes her debut as a Next Generation Partner, an accolade that reflects her outstanding contribution and reputation in her field of Employment law.
Rachel Fletcher, Managing Partner at Slater Heelis, commented: “These results represent our strongest performance in The Legal 500’s to date and I’m incredibly proud of the entire team. To be ranked in 11 practice areas is a significant achievement, but what makes this particularly special is the recognition in new and returning areas. It demonstrates the breadth of expertise we have across the firm and the excellent service we continue to deliver to our clients.
“The tier increases in both Crime and Contentious Trust and Probate are fantastic achievements; and I’m especially delighted to see individual colleagues recognised for their talent and dedication. This year’s results reflect the outstanding people we have at Slater Heelis and I look forward to building on this success as we embark on another recruit drive and period of growth for the firm.”
In their own words, The Legal 500 highlights the practice area teams who are providing the most cutting edge and innovative advice to corporate council and is compiled based on feedback, submissions, interviews and researchers who have unrivalled experience in the legal market.