Pinney Talfourd LLP is delighted to announce another year of success in the Legal 500 UK 2026 rankings, with recognition across 11 practice areas and five individual lawyer rankings. These results reflect our strength across a broad range of practice areas and highlight the exceptional talent of our lawyers, who continue to deliver outstanding service to clients across Essex, London, and beyond.
Family Team Secures Tier 1 Ranking for the Ninth Year Running
Our Family team has once again secured a Tier 1 ranking, marking nine consecutive years at the very top.
The Legal 500 noted: “An exceptional team of family lawyers experienced in all aspects of family law.”
Maintaining Tier 1 status year after year is an outstanding achievement for the whole team and reflects the depth of experience, specialist knowledge, and unwavering commitment to clients shown by every single member of our Family team.
Head of the Family Team, Catherine Polli, said: “I am proud to head such a talented family team and retaining Tier 1 status in Legal 500 in recognition of the talent in the team and their unwavering commitment to our clients.”
Recognition Across Ten Additional Practice Areas
Pinney Talfourd has been recognised across ten further practice areas, demonstrating the breadth of our expertise and our continued commitment to delivering exceptional client service.
Ranked areas include:
- Clinical Negligence
- Commercial Litigation
- Commercial Property
- Contentious Trusts & Probate
- Corporate & Commercial
- Debt Recovery
- Employment
- Personal Injury
- Personal Tax, Trusts & Probate
- Property Litigation
Individual Rankings
Five of our lawyers have also been recognised individually in this year’s rankings, reflecting both the depth of expertise within the firm and the personal dedication to client care that define our team.
Leading Individual
- Catherine Polli, Partner, Head of Family and Client Services – “Catherine Polli stands out due to her extensive experience in all family law matters, approachability and clear communication style. She has great negotiating skills but is a force to be reckoned with when needed.”
- Michael Sheville, Partner in our Family Team – “In Hornchurch, Michael Sheville specialises in complex financial matters and private children law.”
- Matthew Edwards, Partner and Head of Private Client – “Matthew Edwards, head of the private client department, regularly handles Court of Protection matters and acts as an independent administrator for estates.”
- Nick Hatchett, Partner and Head of Commercial Litigation – “Practice head Nick Hatchett is praised for being ’approachable and commercially aware’, specialising in advising on director and shareholder disputes, as well as insolvency-related matters.”
Next Generation Partner
- Alex Pearce, Partner and Head of Employment – “Alex Pearce is personable and sharp, and inspires trust in his clients.”
Comments from Managing Partner, Philip Cockram
“We are delighted with the 2026 Legal 500 results and immensely proud of these achievements. It is testament to the excellent lawyers we have at the firm and to the hard work and dedication of everyone here to provide the very best service to our clients.”
More Information
For the full results, visit the Legal 500 UK website or contact a member of our team on 01708 229 444 to learn more about how Pinney Talfourd can support you.
More information
At Pinney Talfourd, our specialist divorce lawyers are members of Resolution, dealing with many matters using a collaborative approach. We want to help our clients to achieve a fair settlement. If you are considering a divorce and want to find out some more information, please contact a member of our family team to book a free initial consultation.